Replies

1. 
   Jfrostjr | Jan 04, 2010 09:58am | #1

   I have a Porter Cable 5" ROS and am very happy with it. My first one finally wore out (after many years) and I replaced it with an identical unit.

   I also have a Festool dual action (circular and random orbit options) and do not find it as compatible with finish sanding as the PC. Perhaps because of the way it is balanced it is easier to catch an edge.

1. 
   stantheman | Jan 04, 2010 06:36pm | #4

   If I had to have one, it would be the ROS - I like my Bosch. However, I like having both 1/4 and ROS and use the 1/4 for lower grits, and ROS for sanding at final grits.

2. 
   woodroad | Jan 05, 2010 07:52pm | #8

   thanks

2. 
   Westchester | Jan 04, 2010 10:07am | #2

   The 1/4 sheet sander is better for getting into corners or against higher edges - the ROS is the work horse for everything else

   SA

1. 
   Hastings | Jan 04, 2010 03:35pm | #3

   The Festool ETS 150/3 is considered to be one of the best finish sanders on the market. It us excellent dust collection, though it requires the Festool (or other) vacuum. The variable speed is excellent when you just want to de-nib or after a coat of primer.

   In comparison to many similar sanders, it is expensive. I think they are worth it (I have two); but, you may not. Festool is best thought of as an integrated system where many of the tools work together.

   Hastings

3. 
   RMillard | Jan 04, 2010 09:35pm | #5

   I have a DeWalt RO sander and a PC 1/4 sheet orbital sander. I use the DeWalt all the time and the PC so rarely, I’m not sure where it is. I have had 3 Dewalt’s, with the first two, wearing out in fairly short order. The last one, a variable speed model has held up well and the variable speed feature is handy. I’m sure it is a common feature, but the DeWalt has an efficient dust port that extracts all the the dust when hooked up to a shop vac.

   Rob Millard

   http://www.americanfederalperiod.com

4. 
   zgmc | Jan 05, 2010 09:09am | #6

   The Porter Cable ROS is a good little sander. I use it for the first round of sanding. For almost final finishing I break out the Porter Cable 505.It is a 1/2 sheet sander, very powerful, with almost no vibration transferred to your hands. Final sanding is always by hand, with a block, to get rid of any swirl marks.

   I have been thinking of purchasing a Festool sometime this year. I have heard that they do not leave swirl marks behind, eliminating the need to block sand. Is this true?

5. 
   bones | Jan 05, 2010 09:43am | #7

   I have both the PC variable speed ROS and the 6" Festool ets150. I had the PC for a long time prior to getting the ETS. No comparison hands down the Festool. The PC will get the job done, but will vibrate the living heck out of you and you'd better wear muffs it's loud. Secondly, the DC is ok, but not great. Now the Festool is completely different. It is very well balanced, the DC is the best I've ever seen. It will actually create a suction to the piece and just glide over it. It's my go to sander now. It's quiet and just a world above the PC. It has multiple heads for different applications such as a stiff to keep from sanding over on veneers to 2000 grit for superfine sanding.

6. 
   SteveSchoene | Jan 06, 2010 08:24am | #9

   A 5" ROS is a good all around sander. It's about all I use, but then I do very little sanding for finishing, mostly by hand, not with any machine. If I made more contemporary designs that demanded really flat surfaces I would want to add a 1/2 sheet finishing sander. The ROS sanders can leave subtle undulations that only show up when the finish becomes glossy.

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Jan 06, 2010 09:54am | #10

   I got rid of my PC and Bosch 5" when I purchased a Milwaukee 5" ROS. The Milwaukee is well balanced and a pleasure to use. The dust pick-up is excellent on it also. I also have a Ridgid 6" from the period it was made by Metabo in Germany and it gets the call on larger flat surfaces. The dust collection on it is excellent also.

1. 
   Brian_Hinther | Jan 10, 2010 10:30pm | #11

   FWW July/August 2006 had a tool test on 5" ROS. They appeared to like the Bosch 1295DVS. Said it had the best scratch pattern.

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Jan 11, 2010 09:56am | #12

   And possibly what FWW did not say was that the dust adapter peice that was designed for using a hose is a cheap.. tinny piece of garbage and the reason I got rid of the Bosch I had and got the Milwaukee. Plan to use lots of duct tape if you use a sander alot as you are going to hang the hose on a bench corner and even duct tape won't hold it in a lot of cases due to the poor design IMO.

   At this point I would not purchase any ROS unless it has the built on 2 1/2" and smaller fitting inside that outer fitting built on the sander itself. Also.. the FWW test was done in 2006 and a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then along with some totally different designs hitting the market as I found on the Milwaukee I currently use.

   As far as scratch patterns... I suggest anyone heed the advise given earlier and make a final pass with the highest grit with the grain. Takes only minutes and at that point there are no scratches left.