Replies

1. 
   JonE | Nov 01, 2006 03:14pm | #1

   I have two RO sanders and just bought a third.  The two I have are an older Bosch 3107, which is a 5" model.  It is a nice sander and fairly aggressive, tends to leave swirl marks on the wood.  The other one is a Ridgid 5" model that is a palm-grip (the Bosch isn't), I got that one because I needed a second one for another person to use at the same time, it was very slightly used and cheap at a local used-tool store, and had gotten some excellent reviews.  I have bought the P-C 333VS as a gift for a couple different people and they like it.

   The one I just bought and am waiting for to arrive, is a Bosch 1250DEVS, their "flagship" 6" orbital - similar to the Festo and Fein 6" models.  I needed an aggressive sander for edging on hardwood floors and didn't need a dedicated floor edge sander.  I will probably get rid of the old Bosch if this one works the way it's supposed to. 

   If you're only looking for a smaller 5" palm-grip then go with the Porter-Cable 333VS or the Ridgid.  Neither one is a dog.

    

2. 
   rompus62 | Nov 01, 2006 03:17pm | #2

   Fine woodworking did a test recently, the bosch was top choice in finish quality.

3. 
   scrubplane | Nov 01, 2006 04:07pm | #3

   I purchased a bosch 5" for finer sanding and the porter cable 6"ros for the bulk sanding. At the time I looked at the festool 6" and hand extreme sticker shock. Now a year later... I wish I had bought the Festool. The PC has vibrated apart many times and does not produce a fine surface,. The bosch just is too small to get the job done quickly, but sands a very fine surface. When I reciently bought a festool router, the salesman demonstrated the sander to me. He took a rough sawn board and sanded it to a smooth perfect surface in moments. Next time the Porter Cable falls apart... it will be replaced.

4. 
   nikkiwood | Nov 02, 2006 12:41am | #4

   If you don't want to spring for a Festool sander, I can testify to the virtues of the Makita.

   This one with a handle:

   http://www.makita.com/menu.php?pg=product_det&tag=BO5021K

   And its sister sander without the handle:

   http://www.makita.com/menu.php?pg=product_det&tag=BO5010K

   I have both, along with some Festools, and the Makitas compare very favorably in terms of ergonomics, vibration, and overall effectiveness.

   The dust collection bags work very well -- not as good as the Festool with a vac attached, but you're still not going to create a cloud of dust.

   I have a flock of other sanders, and the Makitas are my favorite.

   ********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

5. 
   cadiddlehopper | Nov 02, 2006 02:45am | #5

   Being unconvinced of any advantage to random orbit, I just purchased a Bosch 1/2-sheet orbital sander. I can't testify to its durability, but I could not be more satisfied with its performance. It doesn't vibrate, collects dust very well, uses ordinary sandpaper sheets, & comes equipped with paper hole punch & sawdust collector/filter. The collector provided me with nice sawdust for making my own pore filler.

   Cadiddlehopper

6. 
   RodWolfy | Nov 02, 2006 07:06am | #6

   The Makita 5" ROS (I think 5010 or some such number, several years old design) has had a lot of positive responses. I had a DeWalt 5" ROS and it was just OK. FWW recently had a review and the Bosch 1295 came out on top (it was introduced this year). They did a test to see how much wood it removed and it was the best of the bunch w/ vibration and swirl patterns factored in. I can attest to it being a great 5" ROS. I've used it a lot recently and I really like it. A huge factor with any ROS is the dust collection. I bought an adaptor to hook it up to my Fein vacuum. Definitely the way to go. You will find that if you don't hook it up to dust collection, a lot of dust is left on the wood and it won't be nearly as aggressive (any sander) as you are sanding wooddust, instead of a fresh surface.

   I bought the Festool 150 FEQ for larger surfaces as it has two modes. I still have a Metabo 450 dual mode 6" which was also made in Germany, but I'm selling it as I thought the Festool was better (and I don't need two!). The Metabo is also being sold at HD as a re-badged Rigid, however, these ones are made in China.

   Rod

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   Edited 11/2/2006 12:38 pm ET by RodWolfy

   
   

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   Edited 11/2/2006 12:39 pm ET by RodWolfy

1. 
   frenchy | Nov 04, 2006 03:12am | #11

   Rod,

    Let me second the Mikita 5010 I have tried several (most and it's the quietest least vibration does the smoothest and fastest job. I won two of them and they have taken most of my 35,000 bd.ft. of hardwoods down in steps to 220.

      

    

7. 
   PADDYDAHAT | Nov 02, 2006 08:05am | #7

   S, I have a pc 333 vs and looked for a 6" and some folks here spoke of a Ridgid #2610 made by Metabo in Germany for $129 at Home Despot . It"s a killer, good weight, dual orbit, dust collection and speed select. It's the OLD model so look for it, the new one is the #2611 made in China and a dog. The home dopy folks don't care so root it out if it's there. Good luck, Pat

1. 
   rickswoodworking | Nov 02, 2006 05:57pm | #9

   Pat,

   I've got the same PC3333 model you have and I also have the Ridgid 5" ROS - I really like them both.  I usually use the PC333 for smaller type jobs and use the Ridgid for table top work etc. as it is a bit heavier than the PC.

   RickRick in Cowichan Bay, B.C. - 50km north of Victoria, B.C.

   My Website:  http://www.rickswoodworking.ca

8. 
   MosesN | Nov 02, 2006 08:17am | #8

   I have the new Bosch 5" and I am quite pleased with it. Very little vibration, quiet and captures a good deal of the dust. The rigid dust container takes a while to get used to but it works very well and e,pties easily enough.

    

9. 
   BilWil | Nov 03, 2006 05:29pm | #10

   I've been through a number of sanders in my time and whenit comes to 5 inch ROS I use a Festool in the shop and PC333 in the field.  When I've taken the Festool out in the field i end up getting other guys wanting to try it.  The PC 333's last between 2 and 4 years for me, depending on how often I remember to blow tham out with compressed air. 

   Now that B&D has purchased PC I don't know if I'll stick with them.  I've been through 5 or 6 DeWalt 5 inch ROS and they haven't held up as well, for me at the PC.  I tried the Ridgid, but got the one made in China and it ground itself to death in less than one year.  I didn't know that some were made in Germany, maybe I will try them again if I can find one that says it was made in Germany.  Bosch has worked for me, but they were/are more expensive that the PC and I didn't get any more service from them, they did feel better.

   If you are looking at a 6 inch ROS then Festool or Bosch seem to be the favorites.  I have an 8 inch Fein, and it does a job, but I don't carry it everywhere, it has good dust collection as does the Festool.

10. 
    Shalom | Nov 29, 2006 11:58pm | #12

    Thanks to everyone who responded to my question about a random orbit sander. I finally went with the variable speed Makita. It's light, it doesn't vibrate much, and given the low volume of work I produce,I don't realy mind that it's a little less aggressive than some of the other great models. Perhaps the deciding factor was thar FWW rated it's dust collection highly. I find this forum a blessing. I'm always amazed at woodworkers' willingness to share information. Thanks again. Shalom