Mirka/Festool over other RO sanders?

[Vinny]

Does the price difference for Mirka or Festool RO sander offer more over the Bosch, 3M, or AirVantage ones I see at half the cost? I'm all for "buy once, cry once," but not for paying prestige that doesn't amount to anything.

 

[engineer2]

Are you looking at corded or battery? Have you considered other brands? I have a plug-in Bosch quarter sheet sander and it need repairs annually. No idea about other brands except my old air sanders are very reliable.

 

[Vinny]

Corded. For use in production woodshop (just me), and also for working on car projects.
I'm open to other brands, if they're comparable Don't want to go cheap on this.

 

[Ton ton]

Stupid question, what does RO stand for?

 

[lardy1]

Random Orbit.

 

[Ton ton]

Random Orbit.

Thank you!

 

[cgrutt]

I never used Mirka sanders but have heard very good things about them. I do use Mirka sandpaper which was recommended by a friend who does ultra high end custom cabinetry. I'm not sure which sanders he is using.

I owned four Festool sanders and they were very good. Unfortunately sold them for financial reasons but would buy again. Where they really shined above anything else I've used was dust collection when used with Festool sandpaper (has many more holes than normal sandpaper, including Mirka) and the Festool HEPA vac. I still own the vac and Festool paper hopefully will buy a few more sanders in the future. I currently use Bosch and Porter-cable sanders. They work fine but I do prefer the Festool if given a choice and primarily because dust collection is much better.

 

[neophyte]

Does the price difference for Mirka or Festool RO sander offer more over the Bosch, 3M, or AirVantage ones I see at half the cost? I'm all for "buy once, cry once," but not for paying prestige that doesn't amount to anything.

Festool makes good tools,
But bosch tools from the Bosch line actuslly made for professional tool users are usually just as well made and engineered, at least from my past experience.
Sometimes there are snall details that might make the Festool tools better for certain jobs, or things like the systainer cases, which nay save money if you use and are already invested in the system.
If you just want to save some money, you”ll likely be gine with one of the other choices.

 

[jdm5]

Have both Festool and Mirka for my woodshop. Both have excellent dust collection. I actually prefer the Mikra ergonomics; the 125mm and 150mm I have have a paddle on/off (vs switch on Festool) - some like that, some don't. But the Mirka's have a lower center of gravity, I find it easier to guide on the material.

If you haven't would suggest handling them both if you're leaning towards one or the other to make sure you'll be happy.

Obviously my opinion only.

 

[dnschmidt]

AirVantage without a doubt. It's what I use and for many years AirVantage made both air and electric sanders for Mirka and 3M. AirVantage sells a Multi-Hole pad that has just as good of dust extraction as the Festool if you use either the Festool hole pattern punched paper (available from many sources including Festool, abrasiveresource.com and Klingspor. The new mesh papers (everybody now has a version of Mirka Abranet) work almost dust free.

AirVantage makes two versions of their electric sanders. One is an all in one and the second has the power supply separate from the sander. I much prefer the separate power supply as it makes the electric sander almost identical in handling characteristics to an air sander with respect to balance, weight and size.

 

[BombShelter]

Years ago I bought a made in Germany Rigid at Home Depot supposedly sourced from Metabo. That thing is a workhorse but I don't see it for sale now, maybe it's this newer one? (and still made in Germany).

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and it makes Fine Homebuilder's List. For me I'd be all about the dust collection

6-in. Random-Orbit Sanders - Fine Homebuilding

The top tools are comfortable, stop quickly, and stay flat to the surface. Find out what the best random-orbit sanders are on the market.

www.finehomebuilding.com

 

[cvairwerks]

You need to try before you buy and see which has the combination of the best feel and the lowest felt vibration. The better the design, the lower the felt vibration and with that, less fatigue and discomfort using it. Makes a heck of a difference if you are using it for several hours a day.

 

[Trapps]

I landed on the Bosch GET-75N largely because of this video:

I love Festool, they make an excellent product. For me though, brand F is not 1.5, 2 or 3 times as good as the options. YMMV.

 

[dnschmidt]

I use the dual mode Bosch. But I don't use it for sanding. I use it for car polishing in the forced rotation mode. Cleans up the swirl marks left by a rotary buffer very quickly when use with an orange foam pad and Menzerna 3500 polish.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

A small time woodworker YouTuber in England bought in on the Mirka system . They didn't last for him, These were major investments for him. He was disabled and it was kinda sad.

Second tier tool makers like Bosch, Makita, or Dewalt have more of a challenge in engineering then those with price no object. Sometimes they do hit home runs, though.

 

[Stelzer]

We have about 30 sanders ranging from Porter Cable, Ridgid, Bosch, Dewalt, Makita and a host of others found at big box stores. I'd trade them all for the 4 Festool sanders that I own. Box store sanders will burn out within a week of heavy use, (8hrs/day), whereas 2 of my Festools were purchased about 5 years ago and have stripped thousands of lineal feet of paint.

We do buy the Bosch (non)-anti-static vac hoses when we don't need the anti-static function, since a 13' Bosch hose typically costs 25% of what Festool charges and their connectors are 100% interchangeable. For a professional, I know that Festool is a better value, for me at least. A diy'er or even just an enthusiast, I'd say probably not though.

 

[tarbellb]

Festool if trying to impress others and shoot Tiktok vids

Bosch dual mode or Airvantage if doing real work

Don't even consider anything but mesh type abrasives (Mirka and 3M)