Random Orbital Sander

[GrahamM376]

Interesting - Were they Ryobi branded or B&Q branded? I bought a Ryobi 18v one+ drill from B&Q some years ago and it's been superb - it was on special offer complete with 2 batteries and with my oap discount was good value. Since bought a second bare drill off ebay and that has been excellent. Used on an extension in 2012 and batteries have lasted, unlike the previous Bosch drill ...

My Ryobi one+ from B & Q is exactly the same model number as sold elsewhere. There are plenty of cheaper batteries on line if and when replacements needed.

 

[tillergirl]

Casually reading the Epifanes manual I see I was wrong; they do do a Matte Woodfinish as well as Gloss. Apols.

 

[Tim Good]

Back in this one again. 3 grades that Bosch do... all reasonably priced in fact.

https://www.bosch-do-it.com/gb/en/diy/tools/random-orbit-sanders-199908.jsp

Has anyone used either of them? The smallest is in B&Q and the latest online and classed as advanced or professional. For the sake of toes rails and and few other bits does anyone thing to small 220 is man enough or is it a case of the larger one will be significantly better in hardwood like Iroko?

 

[john_morris_uk]

I've just bought one (Makita) after 30 years of owning a Bosch rectangular jobbie. The difference is quite incredible. Hook and loop paper is the icing on the cake. No detectable vibration to my hands. Quiet. Catches most of the dust.

It seems that the rotation is not positively driven, in that it will spin like mad when unloaded, but slows down to almost nothing under load. But frankly, even if it's got elves and fairies inside it doesn't matter. I'll never use the Bosch one again, and can't stop kicking myself for not trying one sooner.

Edit. Mine's mains, but I'd go cordless if I could afford enough batteries.

Rechargable may be good for very small areas but if you are doing a deck you will need a mains unit. The money spent on a good quality one is worth it. I would also make sure you can attach a hoover for dust extraction. I have had great service from my 125mm Ryobi but was even more impressed by the 150mm sander owned by John Morris of this parish - with any luck he will be along soon to tell you the make. I suspect it may have been a Makita.

Yoda

I can confirm that the one I bought was a Makita. Money well spent IMHO.

 

[vyv_cox]

I have owned a Bosch orbital sander for many years but it has never been used for large jobs until very recently. Unfortunately it failed miserably. I now find that the single bolt fixing of the sander plate, which was the cause of my problem, has been superseded by a four bolt design on current models, which should overcome the problem. However, the models you have posted are expensive compared with the Energer ENB624SDR model listed by Screwfix at £25. It has good reviews from professional users so that's what I have bought. The only difference I have spotted so far is that the orbit is 2.0 mm compared with 2.5 mm for the Bosch, but as I don't anticipate severe use for it I suspect it will be good enough.

 

[Stemar]

Aldi and Lidl often have RO sanders. I've no experience of their sanders, but have a number of their other tools, bought on the basis that they were so cheap that, if they did the job I bought them for, I could throw them away afterwards. They did the job and most are still going fine, the only exception being an angle grinder that I lent to my builder son who probably gave it more hammer in a week that I had in 10 years. Obviously, they're DIY tools, so won't stand up to professional use for long.

Another possibility is Erbauer tools from Screwfix, which seem to be pretty reasonable.

 

[GrahamM376]

....... the models you have posted are expensive compared with the Energer ENB624SDR model listed by Screwfix at £25. It has good reviews from professional users so that's what I have bought. The only difference I have spotted so far is that the orbit is 2.0 mm compared with 2.5 mm for the Bosch, but as I don't anticipate severe use for it I suspect it will be good enough.

Having been bitten in the past by Screwfix not carrying spares and not being interested in customer service once 12 months warranty has run out, I won't buy any of their own brand tools. The two Bosch sanders I have in home workshop perform well and I just use cheap throwaway supermarket own brands on the boat. Advantage of Portugal is 2 years warranty on virtually everything so, burn it out then swap it.

 

[ghostlymoron]

One of my most useful tools is a little Macalister palm sander bought from Block and Quayle for a specific task several years ago. Unfortunately, B & Q no longer stock sanding pads to fit it but I've found that other pads do fit, sort of. It's important that the vent holes line up with machine otherwise the pad is blown off from the Velcro. If the holes don't line up, new ones can be stabbed with a screwdriver which makes them useable.
Obviously if money wasn't a factor, I'd get all Makita, but it is so I don't.