Glen-L.com

I have a very old - well I guess it is less than 30 probably - sander. It takes 1/3 of a sheet of sand-paper, or you can buy nifty pre-cut sheets. I normally get full sheets and cut them myself.

I am very close to retiring it because the pad pops out if I don't keep pressure on it. It still works, but I think I want a new one.

What do you like? I've seen an add for one that has holes in the paper and it runs air through them... supposedly keeping the paper from getting clogged and prolonging its useful life. That seems neat, but at what cost? I don't suppose I'll be making my own sheets if I have to cut them round and put a bunch of holes in them.

I have the Porter Cable 333 and cannot speak highly enough about it. It is a random orbit sander with 5" hook and loop paper. I buy it ub 100 sheet increments of random sizes with the holes already punched. My model was $60 at the local big box store. I love that thing. There is a variable speed model (333VS) I think, but I did not see the need to spend an extra $30 for that option. I was told to get this sander over on the WBF and I could not be happier. I have read the bearings will go out after a couple of hundred hours of use, but can be replaced for about $5. I also have a belt sander (Makita 3x18") and do not use it much for anything other than dressing down frames to the lines I drew to cut them out.

Good luck with your decision, but I would highly recommend the PC 333.

Robert

I have an excellent random orbit sander, a Metabo SXE450, 150mm disc, 400W variable speed and dual (3mm/6mm) orbits.
It has a dust extraction bag which is very efficient, with coarse paper and the 6mm orbit it tears through old paint, lumpy filler etc..., and with fine paper and the 3mm orbit it virtually polishes.
I've used it with a compounding head quite effectively too.

I wouldn't call it cheap exactly, but it's a great machine and does come with a full 3 year manufacturer's warranty.

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Graham in Shepperton, England

Good, Quick, Cheap, pick any two.

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Buy it or build it? I'd rather build it!

Metabo website HERE

They do list a US distributor and website, but the website link doesn't appear to work. There's a postal and email address though.

Metabo is a German company, I'd say their products are at least as good as anything made by DeWalt or Bosch.

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Graham in Shepperton, England

Good, Quick, Cheap, pick any two.

Thanks for the info Graham.

I went to the Metabo site, but, you're right, the link to the USA site is broken. I did, however, find a US distributor located in Seattle, WA who sells on the net -http://www.toughtool.com/.

It seems to be comprable to Porter Cable, Milwaukee, Bosch, Freud - the higher grade of professional tools anyway. Thanks for the info!

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Buy it or build it? I'd rather build it!

You said that there is only one sander that you use with any frequency. Which one is it? Why do you use it more often than the others?