bushwacked Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Ok so I was reading a post a week or so ago about the orbital sanders and which one to get blah blah blah ... My question is ... What makes a good sander? Why are some cheap and some not so cheap. What should you be looking for in them? To me as a new person on the outside looking in .... I would say dust collection would be somewhat important. Then the actual sand paper being used would seem like the big deals?? I just don't see why the price differences? Yes I know you have some bigger ones and smaller ones for different jobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Dust collection is king! Paper is either stick on or hook and loop and you can get great paper for both. From there, if the sander isn't going to stand up to numerous hours of sanding before burning out, then it's not worth the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Why is a Ferrari more expensive than a Ford Focus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted November 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Well true I get that But is it mainly the fact that cheap sanders can't hold up to hours of sanding like TIODS mentioned or what? From what I've seen the Ferrari is not always the best (festool) in this case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 There is so much.... Sealed bearings and motors with air paths that cool without introducing fine dust. Balance and insulation that keep your hand from tingling. The geometry of the randomized pattern. Oh wait, Eric already said all of that. As a hobby guy, I have a cheaper one speed DeWalt. It plays nice for as much as I sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Well true I get that But is it mainly the fact that cheap sanders can't hold up to hours of sanding like TIODS mentioned or what? From what I've seen the Ferrari is not always the best (festool) in this case. Just like with the car, once you drive one and get to enjoy the features, it's hard to go back to driving the Pinto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted November 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 There is so much.... Sealed bearings and motors with air paths that cool without introducing fine dust. Balance and insulation that keep your hand from tingling. The geometry of the randomized pattern. Oh wait, Eric already said all of that. As a hobby guy, I have a cheaper one speed DeWalt. It plays nice for as much as I sand. Oh the hand tingling is not normal? Haha I just thought that was common with all orbital sanders. My cheap dewalt does that to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 No, a better sander and you'll see much less of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted November 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 No, a better sander and you'll see much less of that. Oh that would be nice. What price range does that start at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 About 200 and go up from there for FT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted November 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 Dang. I guess I'll stick with the tingling for now haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 Dang. I guess I'll stick with the tingling for now haha It's like most things, you get what you pay for. When combined with a CT, the performance is awesome as is the dust collection. The issue is you pay for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 Dust collection is a big part of it. When you use a sander with good dust collection you don't load up the paper so much, which increases heat and the paper wears out quicker. If you have good collection that paper lasts much longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted November 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 It's like most things, you get what you pay for. When combined with a CT, the performance is awesome as is the dust collection. The issue is you pay for it. CT? Sorry don't know that yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 CT? Sorry don't know that yet Their vac that links up with their tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted November 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 Oh I see now. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 You can get them in packages which makes each less expensive even tho you spend more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 Sanding sucks and the Festool system just makes it suck the least. No dust and you can actually feel your fingers when done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 I just upgraded to a festool (check out my review) and I should have done it long ago. I went through three other ROs before I arrived at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raefco Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 Are you talking air or electric, I have worked around the auto body business my whole life, my dad has had a restoration shop in the same location for 35 years. We have air filtration in the shop but dont use anything dustless, I help in the shop but the job that pays my bills is masonry so my work life is all about dirty, with that said my dust collection is a mask. we have around 20 sanders of all sorts of makes and price ranges including several from hutchins, mirka, Ingersoll I/C and my favorite sander is this 35.00 piece from harbor freight, i dont know who makes it but Eastwood has the same one. I am sure plenty of people on here will scoff at the notion, but it is a smooth, fairly efficient in its use of air and its speed is very adjustable. I have been considering a electric sander so I dont have to turn on the compressor every time I want to do any about of sanding but i haver not even given it a serious look, is anyone making any brushless models? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chefmagnus@grics.net Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 What am I doing wrong? I have a herd of sanders and none have ever failed. I even still have my dad's 50 year old 1/3 sheet model. I blow them out with compressed air and change the pads every now and then but I still have all of them working. I hear about people burning up sanders but never have. Am I sanding wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chefmagnus@grics.net Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 Do you have a link for the HF model? I have a extra 20% coupon for my birthday and was thinking about a pneumatic sander or a powder coat gun(I have an extra oven) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raefco Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-self-vacuuming-air-palm-sander-98895.html I dont know what we're doing wrong, air file boards are the only sanders I seem to wear out before I just get tired of or drop and break Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfitz Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 Just like with the car, once you drive one and get to enjoy the features, it's hard to go back to driving the Pinto Especially when this happens 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 I have been considering a electric sander so I dont have to turn on the compressor every time I want to do any about of sanding but i haver not even given it a serious look, is anyone making any brushless models? The Mirka Ceros is brushless, as is the latest Festool ETS EC 150, though the Festool ETS EC isn't available in the USA yet, and who knows when it will be available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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