Orbital Sander Advice

[xstian]

Looking for recommendations on a sander for some motorcycle panels. I was looking at Milwaukee M12 tools. They do 150mm, 125mm and 75mm. I like the look of the 75mm because the panels are small and have lots of details to sand around. I assume the 150mm and 125 would be easier to get a flat finish and 80% of the panels are flat or large curves.

Also is 2.5mm or 5mm? Which would be better?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Kram]

I was also looking at these but more for car wing, and wheels. I've done bike stuff before and it was quick enough doing by hand, the delicate bits cant use power tools anyway. Recently bought a lot of M12 kit so that system would be ideal..

This video talks about the M12's

Theres no dust extraction fan, imperial thread, and the 5" has the dust outlet in the way.

Thats a bit disapointing for the price of them.
Theres a lot of 5" fakita's that might do as I have LXT batteries.


I'm a bit tempted by this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brushless-Cordless-Polisher-Accessories-Detailing/dp/B0FDK8LRF8

Edit - for paint you want 2.5mm orbit, wood work or metal prep 5mm may be faster.

 

[Craig-SM]

The 150mm M12 sanders are great but too big for small parts. As these are the only 2 available as 5 or 2,5mm orbits that decision becomes irrelevant. Had it been then 5 is more aggressive and 2.5 less so or if you’re putting it into grits then 5 up to 240G and 2.5 320G and above.

The FSDR75 75mm RO sander gets some really good reviews even amongst the Festool groups. It’s a 2.5mm orbital so gives a nice fine finish.

The FDSS sander is great too and I have one. It gets right into the awkward corners with a delta type pad that a round pad won’t get into but you’re currently limited to Milwaukee sanding mesh. It’s not an orbital sander either but a random oscillating one instead.

The FDSS uses soft intermediate sponge pads to contour to all angles without removing excess material on edges but I’d recommend using them on the 75mm RO too.

The 125mm sander is M18 and generally not well received. Expensive due to the Vaclink, vibrations and unbalanced.

 

[Craig-S]

I think to 2 bigguns are Festool and Mirka specifically for finish and dust collection...and if you have the sheckles, 5mm orbit for general sanding, and 2-5-3mm is considered a finishing sander. Saying that I wouldn't dream about letting my Festool sanders near metal, i'm far too delicate for that.

 

[richie00boy]

Whatever you get make sure you use a vacuum on it for dust extraction. This makes cordless sanders seem pointless to me. Also you want something light and controllable not weighed down with batteries.
I've got the older version of this

https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-ero400-125mm-electric-random-orbital-sander-220-240v/581fx

Which has done a massive amount of work in the house on the car and woodworking and I'm very happy with it apart from having to tape a hose onto the outlet as it's only really meant to fit a dust bag on. So dont be fooled into thinking you need to spend loads.
Also sanders like that Erbauer will stand up level on their own unlike those Milwaukee ones which you need to concentrate on keeping level, when you are sanding a ceiling it makes a big difference!

 

[xstian]

Thanks for the advice.

I mention the Milwaukee M12 because I already have batteries for them. Good point about the hose and pointlessness of cordless. I already have a dust extractor with a power take off so maybe a corded unit would be better. I’m leaning toward a 75mm unit.

 

[julianf]

I would be very cautious about a battery sander.

Its not a job where you need mobility. And burning though batteries just seems madness.

240v if youre not bothered about the bulk of the unit, or air if you want something lighter to handle.

Mine is mirka air. Its expensive to run, but nice to use.


edit - i have M18 tools. there is no chance id buy an m18 sander just because i had the batteries for it...

 

[qwakers]

My makita 125mm lasts hours on a 5ah battery. Loads of reasons to want battery, moving round a car wet sanding does not need or want extraction and portability is a nice luxury.

 

[Kram]

Not at all, cordless ones work very well with a dust bag and no vacuum hose, provided they have a proper fan which the M12 ones, do not.

I've got an old modified, brushed motor, greenworks 24v orbital, but it had some modifications to use lipo pack batteries, which are old and a pain to charge (mostly I dont have a suitable space to set up the charger -where as tool battery chargers can be balanced ontop of other stuff..)
I could modifify it again, to use Makita LXT, but I think a better brushless tool would be worth while, and nicer to use.

 

[Craig-SM]

Thanks for the advice.

I mention the Milwaukee M12 because I already have batteries for them. Good point about the hose and pointlessness of cordless. I already have a dust extractor with a power take off so maybe a corded unit would be better. I’m leaning toward a 75mm unit.

I would be very cautious about a battery sander.

Its not a job where you need mobility. And burning though batteries just seems madness.

240v if youre not bothered about the bulk of the unit, or air if you want something lighter to handle.

Mine is mirka air. Its expensive to run, but nice to use.


edit - i have M18 tools. there is no chance id buy an m18 sander just because i had the batteries for it...

I went from corded Dewalt to M18 cordless. With the M18 I invested in a Festool vac at a later date.
When I recently did the kitchen I filled and sanded all the walls down using the vac on both the Dewalt and M18. The M18 was far more effective and just rotating 2 5ah batteries was enough even though I had many more available. The hose doesn’t get in the way as much as the cord did especially as it was shorter.

For what the OP needs the sander for a 125 or 150 sander will be too big anyway so a moot point.

 

[Craig-SM]

Not at all, cordless ones work very well with a dust bag and no vacuum hose, provided they have a proper fan which the M12 ones, do not.

I’ve used them with the bag on little jobs and they still manage to pick up a lot of dust but using the vac is definitely better.

 

[Kram]

Sanders and grinders are tools that I only use outside ( I try not to do any decorating). Preparing automotive panels for paint certainly best done outside in my opinion.
While we have a workshop style vac, theres no way I would get it out do do this sort of stuff...

Another option is to use an air sander. Since he is doing bike panels he will have a compressor..
I did buy a 2-3" orbital, quite good for the 30 quid it cost, but does use a lot of air, the hose is a pain, but performs well.
For me, using air toolls is a massive pain and havent got the compressor out for years.