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Re: Tools: Best ROS?
By:Dan Caouette (CSCWC)
Date: 3/27/2013, 12:24 pm
In Response To: Re: Tools: Best ROS? (JohnAbercrombie)

One thing to consider in the calculation of cost/value for a sander: replacing the velcro pads.
I've had quite a few ROS sanders over the years , mostly Bosch (which I wouldn't recommend) and cheap DeWalt sanders. When the velcro pads on the Bosch sanders needed replacing, the cost was almost as much as a new 'POS' DeWalt.
With a Festool, there'd be no question, since the tool is so expensive, but with a mid-range tool like the Bosch it does make you wonder if you are 'throwing good money after bad' by replacing worn-out parts.

What's the pad life on the expensive sanders?

A new pad is between $30 to $40 and they last a long, long time. They make a bunch of different one depending on the soft/hardness of the foam. They take seconds to change without tools. I have two pads. For the boats I use mostly the soft and the medium that came with it. After 6 years and about a 1000 sheets of paper I may need to replace the soft pad soon.


And, do other sanders besides the Festool require proprietary sanding disks?

From what I've seen most are 5 or 8 hole. Festool has their unique 9 hole pattern but it does work. The disks are high quality, last a long time and very reasonably priced. A 50 count box of P80 Rubin (for bare wood) costs $28 ($0.56 a disk). Unlike a lot of companies they also make different disks depending on the surface you're sanding.

I don't get paid by Festool to use or endorse their products. I'm just a convert. It's tough going back once you try one. Soon to be coming home to the shop is the RO90 sander. 3" orbital, ROS plus detail sander.

Messages In This Thread

Tools: Best ROS?
Dale Welch -- 3/26/2013, 5:14 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/26/2013, 5:18 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Daniel Thaler -- 3/26/2013, 5:39 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Brian Nystrom -- 3/27/2013, 6:55 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Jay Babina -- 3/27/2013, 9:02 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/27/2013, 9:43 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Jay Babina -- 3/27/2013, 2:06 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
JohnAbercrombie -- 3/27/2013, 11:35 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/27/2013, 12:24 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Robert Horstmann -- 3/27/2013, 1:13 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/27/2013, 1:55 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 3/27/2013, 2:26 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Robert Horstmann -- 3/27/2013, 7:25 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Matt Jakubek -- 3/27/2013, 5:14 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/27/2013, 5:29 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/27/2013, 5:31 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Matt Jakubek -- 3/27/2013, 6:48 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Matt Jakubek -- 3/27/2013, 6:44 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
JohnAbercrombie -- 3/28/2013, 12:46 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/28/2013, 1:50 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Bill Hamm -- 3/31/2013, 12:58 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Bill Hamm -- 3/31/2013, 12:57 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS? Air sanders
JohnAbercrombie -- 3/31/2013, 11:54 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS? Air sanders
Bill Hamm -- 4/1/2013, 12:13 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS? Air sanders
JohnAbercrombie -- 4/1/2013, 12:52 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS? Air sanders
Bill Hamm -- 4/2/2013, 12:21 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Mike Bielski -- 3/27/2013, 10:13 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Bill Hamm -- 3/28/2013, 1:06 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Mike Bielski -- 3/28/2013, 10:13 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/29/2013, 8:42 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Matt Jakubek -- 3/29/2013, 1:00 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
JohnAbercrombie -- 3/29/2013, 2:57 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Matt Jakubek -- 3/29/2013, 5:53 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Bill Hamm -- 3/31/2013, 1:21 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS? *PIC*
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 3/26/2013, 6:48 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Bill Hamm -- 3/27/2013, 12:51 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Kevin -- 3/27/2013, 9:26 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Matt Jakubek -- 3/27/2013, 9:41 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
ancient kayaker -- 3/28/2013, 11:15 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 3/27/2013, 10:50 am
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Malcolm Schweizer -- 3/28/2013, 3:08 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Robert N Pruden -- 3/29/2013, 1:25 pm
Re: Tools: Best ROS?
dave koslow -- 4/1/2013, 11:14 am