ROS question...

[pslamp32]

What do you guys/ gals use for ROS. Any recommendations? Decent dust collection is of primary consideration. Thanks!

 

[DaveO]

I just bought the Klingspor 5" ROS and I am quite impressed with the dust control with the attached filter system. I had been using a PC ROS and it did great attached to a shop vac but I hated dealing with the hose dragging across the workpiece.
Festool is about the only manufacture that has a ROS with great dust control, but they ain't cheap.
Dave

 

[Sully]

I have the dewalt 5" EVS [edit] ROS. Hooked up to the shop vac the dust collection is pretty good.

Ditto what DaveO said: I too hate dragging the hose across the workpiece. However, I find that if I duct tape the power cord to the vac hose and suspend both of them above the workpiece it's completely out of the way (eliminates a trip hazard too ;-)).

J

Edit: Fixed VSR to read EVS. It would be nice to have a reversible sander though to put wood on instead of remove it

 

[pslamp32]

Sounds like a good idea thanks.

 

[Bas]

I have the Ridgid 5". It hooks up directly to my Ridgid shopvac without any special connectors, which is nice. Dust collection is pretty good, as is the soft start feature.
I've seen lots of debates on which one is better - Bosch, PC, Ridgid etc. They all seem to do a decent job.

Bas.

 

[DavidF]

I have the Rigid 5" as well and very happy with it.

 

[pslamp32]

I was leaning towards the Ridgid as well. Glad to hear the good reviews.

 

[LeftyTom]

I use a DeWalt ROS, with the plastic dust-bin thingy.

 

[Travis Porter]

I have a DeWalt 5", a PC 5", and a PC right angle 5". The right angle is agressive, but that is why I bought it. Both are ok IMO. I would say the PC in general sands more aggressively. Both have decent dust collection when hooked to a shop vac. The bags/containers for dust don't do a lot IMO.

 

[garymuto]

I have a P-C 5" model 333 that works well (at least for me) with it's own rigid small dust collection canister. I recently got a newer model 343 which sands and collects better. It has a bigger motor and 8 air holes in the pad.
Both can hook up to vacuum 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch I believe. I just use the canisters and empty them frequently.

 

[Ray Martin]

I have the DeWalt 5". It seems to do a good job of material removal. It does seem to load itself up with dust pretty quick... easily remedied with a shot from the compressor. A neighbor (another woodworker) has a Bosch and tells me I'm nutz to consider anything but. Tells me it leaves less scratches and swirlies than any other ROS.

Ray

 

[DaveO]

A neighbor (another woodworker) has a Bosch and tells me I'm nutz to consider anything but. Tells me it leaves less scratches and swirlies than any other ROS.

Ray

I believe the Klingspor ROS is a Bosch in Klingspor colors, at a little lower price, too :eusa_danc

Dave

 

[WoodWrangler]

I believe the Klingspor ROS is a Bosch in Klingspor colors, at a little lower price, too :eusa_danc

Dave

I believe they are exact same sander too. In a recent magazine review they gave the Klingspor one a higher review than the identical Bosch in fact.

As for me, I use the Ridgid 5". The Ridgid is a great little sander and as mentioned earlier the soft-start is a nice feature to keep from scratching your project.

I'd also think the Festool is awesome all around ... from power to dust collection.

 

[junquecol]

I believe they are exact same sander too. In a recent magazine review they gave the Klingspor one a higher review than the identical Bosch in fact.

Another magazine chose the Bosch over the Klingspor version, even though they are the same machine

 

[WoodWrangler]

I believe they are exact same sander too. In a recent magazine review they gave the Klingspor one a higher review than the identical Bosch in fact.

Another magazine chose the Bosch over the Klingspor version, even though they are the same machine

I'll have to find the article (it was last month I think), but I think they only choose the Klingspor because it was the Bosch at a lower price. Anyone who chooses a tool just because it's more expensive is a marketing fool :slap:-- so assuming all is the same, I'd have to pick the less expensive (marketing aside) :eusa_thin

Now with that said ... I don't own either. :BangHead:

 

[Alan in Little Washington]

I recently went in another direction. I have two PC ROS, a 6" 9336 and a the right angle version, but after recently visiting a REAL woodworker (as opposed to a hacker like myself), I tried and have switched to air powered ROS palm sanders. I picked up two new 6" Dynabrade air powered sanders on Ebay for a great price (at retail they are a bit pricey, almost as much as Festool). Pad speed is 12,000 rpm and much faster than my PC ROS. They can be configured for either self-generated dust collection (uses exhaust powered venturi) or central vac. They are quieter, smaller, and lighter than most (all?) electric ROS. There are other manufactures, but I've heard the Dynabrade is kind of an industry standard and used a lot in production, autobody, and boat shops. I have been using them a few weeks, but I like them allot.

 

[Makinsawdust]

To tell you the truth just about all of them are pretty good quality and will hold up to non-production work for years.
I have a ROS in my hand a mininium of 8 hrs a week so I have the Festool 150/5, 6" disc. It does have great dust collection and does a good job. The Fes stuff is expensive but I've been using this one exclusively for 1.5yr now and haven't needed to rebuild it yet. Before I got it I used two PC 333's. I had to replace the bearings every 9 months in them and I was switching back and forth between the two.
I agree with Alan. Dyabrade is the way to go but I don't have enough compressor to handle sanding at the moment. I'm going to have to upgrade compressors soon due to another machine so I probably will switch to pneumatic if the Fes dies.
Rob

 

[pslamp32]

What would be the minimum size compressor to handle all my sanding needs as well as most other shop type pneumatic needs (sprayer, etc.) ? I'm glad someone brought this up since I was thinking long term this might be the way to go as well as offer a good amount of versatility.

 

[Makinsawdust]

I'd have to look up the exact requirements for the Dynabrade sander to be sure. My best quess would be a 3-5hp, 60gal min. Of course more hp and a 80gal tank would be better.
Rob

 

[Alan in Little Washington]

I have a PC 7.5 hp (yeh, right :roll: ) w/8o gal. tank so don't have any problem, but would need to research what the Dynabrade requires, likely about the same as an HVLP sprayer. It is probably somewhere at the link in my earlier post. Oh, I forgot to mention Dynabrade now has a smaller hand version for the ladies and others with smaller hands and the vibration is minimal compared to my PC ROS. They are easy to rebuild also, but the air motors last since absolutely no dust goes through the motor (only compressed air and occasionally some pneumatic oil).

Dust collection is pretty good- as supplied it sucks through the holes in the pad like most ROS, but you can also get an accessory soft overskirt that makes it even better