Random Orbiting Sanders

[Anthony]

I have found the ROS head and shoulders above other sanders in reagrds to surface prep/finishing of flat areas.But the 1/4 inch palm sander is also usefultome,especiaally in projects that do not have areas large enough to support the ROS. I have used the ros with grits up to 1000-1500 with SLIGHT amounts lubricant to finish surfaces.


A question in the samethread, I have a ridgid 5" that i always thought real well of, variable speed. However, is it my tool,or do all of the ROS, at this level of price, bog down a bit and stop spinning/ rotating when some downward pressure is applied?
This has become apparent when i was sanding parts of my deck for refinishing, and it limited the usefulness for me. Are these other , much higher priced models more effective, more aggressive, in this regard? because i am willing to immediately upgrade ..Removeing old finish and surface prep is a chore enough.
With regards to other sanders,i have a refurbished Makita 1/4 sheet sander which has been invaluable in this project as well as a fein multimaster, also a sanding mainstay. The belt sander for the flat tops of the rails but i wouldhave prefferred the ROS for this spot.
Seems to me you often need all types to keep the struggle,time to a minimum...
Regards
Anthony

[wardprobst]

(snip)
A question in the samethread, I have a ridgid 5" that i always thought real well of, variable speed. However, is it my tool,or do all of the ROS, at this level of price, bog down a bit and stop spinning/ rotating when some downward pressure is applied?
This has become apparent when i was sanding parts of my deck for refinishing, and it limited the usefulness for me. Are these other , much higher priced models more effective, more aggressive, in this regard? because i am willing to immediately upgrade ..Removeing old finish and surface prep is a chore enough.
With regards to other sanders,i have a refurbished Makita 1/4 sheet sander which has been invaluable in this project as well as a fein multimaster, also a sanding mainstay. The belt sander for the flat tops of the rails but i wouldhave prefferred the ROS for this spot.
Seems to me you often need all types to keep the struggle,time to a minimum...
Regards
Anthony

I think you are a little undergunned- a bigger unit will cut the amount of time and effort tremendously.
DP

[lcm1947]

I'm going to throw my 2 cents in although I may be off. You say you have to bear down on the sander when working on the desk. I am assuming you are talking about finishing it? If so I kind of remember reading or hearing somewhere that you don't or maybe they said shouldn't have to do that or maybe that it was not desirable to do so. Hopefully somebody will come along that knows for sure. Anyway with my same sander I don't seem to have to bear down. course I use that sander for light sanding not trying to take off a lot of wood. For that the belt sander is what I have and use. It'll take off some serious wood and in some cases you really have to be careful but I'm thinking the Ridgid we have is for light stuff. Maybe that was 3 cent's worth?