Replies

1. 
   ring | Mar 23, 2005 05:57pm | #1

   Our shop went through 5 Bosch tools before we put up the money and bought the Festool.  I know it's a lot more, but if you are more than a casual user the Festool is in a class of its own.

   DR

2. 
   BenA | Mar 23, 2005 11:37pm | #2

   I would look at the Fein sander, IMO I think its one of the best out there, see link below. good luck

   http://www.feinus.com/p/newdustfree/New-6ros.htm

3. 
   user-343246 | Mar 24, 2005 06:16am | #3

   I really like the Metabo. I've got the 6" and it works great, especially when hooked up the Fein vac. Last year, I used it to sand a 12' x 14' floor. Six hours of heavy sanding and it didn't even get warm. If you don't have a Metabo dealer near you, some of the Ridgid sanders at HD are identical.

4. 
   woodman54 | Mar 24, 2005 07:09am | #4

   I have 3 brands of 5" sanders but none of them can compare to the 6" Rigid, it has great dust pickup and runs quiet and smooth. You can buy the hook and loop disks from Magnate Inc. 50 heavy duty 40 grit disks for only $ 18.00 or 100 disks of 150 grit for $ 27.00

5. 
   CRAIGCONEY_M | Mar 24, 2005 07:22am | #5

   Festool. My Bosch & PC now sit in drawers unused.  No comparison.

6. 
   nikkiwood | Mar 24, 2005 03:27pm | #6

   I think the Fein, Metabo, and Festool are probably the best of the class -- but if you don't want to spend that kind of money, Makita makes a fine alternative, at considerably less cost.

   I have both the Makita models -- the palm grip, and the handled version. They are identical machines, but with a handle added to the latter -- 5", hook and loop, with a dust bag. The handled version seems slightly more aggressive, and the dust colection (with the bag) for either one is effective; and most important, neither produces swirl marks -- as long as you step through the grits as you are sanding your work piece.

7. 
   Elcoholic | Mar 24, 2005 04:13pm | #7

   I have 2 5" RO's a handled Bosch EVS (plastic housing) and a Makita palm.  I use the Bosch for more aggressive sanding and finish up with the finer grits with the Mak.  Like the previous guy said no swirl marks with the Mak.  If you wore out a Bosch in 3 years it sounds like you need a Fien or Festool 6".

   BTW has anyone tried the combination 5 & 8 hole disks from Norton?  I bought two boxes at HD then after closer inspection returned them.  I decided there was just too much missing abrasive and too much of the hook pad exposed.  I'll hold out 'till I get Mirka.

   John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   The more things change ...

   We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized.  I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.

   Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC

1. 
   parrothead | Mar 24, 2005 08:21pm | #8

   John, I tried the Norton disks. I got some free samples at a wood working show. I was not very impressed. They did not cut any faster or last any longer than the disks that I get from online industrial supply. The finer grits (180 & 220) actually seemed not to last as long as what I have been using.We are the people our parents warned us about. J. Buffett

8. 
   Tomknixx | Mar 24, 2005 10:41pm | #9

   What about the De Walt 5 inch variable ROS?  I'm looking for something that will last a while doing weekend stuff but I want it to produce good results and not fall apart in a year.

   Tom

1. 
   Olebiker | Mar 24, 2005 10:52pm | #10

   I have been using the DeWalt 421 for years and have no complaints about it at all.

   Dick Durbin

9. 
   billballeza | Mar 24, 2005 11:53pm | #11

   DeWalt 5" ROS. Hard to beat.