Best electric dust collection sanders-?

[tarbellb]

Im in the market for a quality dust collection orbital sander. Almost exclusively for wood work.

_ Electric

_ 5-6" diameter (125mm-150mm)

_ $600 +/- budget (sander only)

Ive worked with Festool before, I know its good. I also know they are not the best, but alway a good bet. Other brands I have done a little research on are Mirka (Ceros and Deros) and 3M.

Who else should I be looking at, what other features or pitfalls should I be concerned about?

Bonus- tell me where and what Abranet or similar sanding abrasives I should be buying?

 

[dnschmidt]

Mirka has this nailed and for a lower price than Festool. Abranet is the answer as well. The Europeans give a **** about their workers safety and place a far higher value on it than we Americans appear to. Here we ***** about OSHA and the EPA in Europe if a government inspector would visit an average American body shop they'd shut the place down forever. Difference in culture.

 

[tarbellb]

Thanks. It seems Mirka is a solid choice, but looking for some real world experiences. Read some reviews, looking for more.

Bump!

 

[FMC1959]

I don't have any experience with these to offer, but do some Google and YouTube searches comparing Festool with either Mirka or Mafell. Festool is the best known, but I have seen test and reviews that show Mirka and Mafell as being better in dust collection.