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Hi All,

I’m looking to buy a random orbit sander and thought I’d seek the wisdom of the group first.   I’d like to get the cheapest one that will still do a good job. Any recommendations? Features that I need or should avoid?   Know of any good deals?

Thanks,
BruceH

Hi Bruce:
I am quite happy with my DeWalt 5" RO sander. I have a vacuum attachment for my shop vac that works really well. I have had this tool for many years and it has held up to severe abuse extremely well. I would buy another one if it failed tomorrow. Just my $.02

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

My Bosch 5" sander has an optional vac hose that plugs nicely into my shop vac. It's a variable speed sander. Very nice, although I wish it were a tad smaller.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

PC 333VS

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I'm another vote for Bosch (PEX 400AE), they are not as expensive as the high end sanders but are an excellent quality and should last you many years.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Porter Cable, same as Brock.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Thanks, guys. Do you find that you use the variable speed function much?

I use it enough to justify the few extra bucks I paid for it.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I've use my porter cable quite a bit in the 3 or 4 months that I've had it but lately I've noticed that is seems to bog down or slow down monetarily while sanding. I've cleaned it out and such but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Not sure what's up. I have had very good luck though with PC tools. I have several routers that have many miles on them without a hitch.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Oops, mine's not the VS version. I looked at both and decided I couldn't think of any good reasons for me to have variable speeds.

Works just fine with only the one speed for me.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

I use the PC as well, and slow it down for sanding spruce and cedar.

I bought the dewalt from Home Depot. I told the guy how much I was going to be using it and he said "hey no problem, it will hold up". I made him put it in writing so now if it ever craps out I can return it. This was almost 3 years ago and it's a work horse. I like the feel of it too. Fits in one hand. My old Bosch pretty much had to be held in two hands which was troublesome at times.

I have a Porter Cable without the VS function. It works really good. If you are looking for a low price and good quality check the Ryobi they have at home depot. I am sure that the Ryobi is just as good as a Porter Cable, because my Porter Cable has already been replaced one time. After a while they just start slowing down. Someone told me that the bearings where locking up and you could have it fixed but it could cost as much as a new sander.

Colby, sorry to disagree with you, but I wouldn't recommend the Ryobi tools for anything more than light hobby work. I do trust Makita, Porter Cable, Dewalt and a few others, but from what I've seen Ryobi just doesn't have much going for it.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Thanks again, guys. Sounds like there are several choices that will work. I'll make a trip to the big city this weekend and look'em over. I think that Ryobi used to make decent stuff. I had a 1/6 sheet sander that was really nice - until I dropped it on the concrete floor.....

Funny that you say that. This discussion had me thinking about a Milwaukee hammer drill that I dropped off of a 20' extension ladder one time, it landed on the sidewalk below and didn't so much as dent it. That thing was a real beast.

I suspect that it is hard to find tools like that from any manufacturer now.bpoling38408.3859606481

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I don’t really know if the Ryobi orbit sander is that good or not, I don’t have one, but I do know that in certain tools the Ryobi has the best value you can find. Just check out the Ryobi belt/disc sander, $79.00. It has solid steel housing all around, belt never comes of, runs smooth as silk, and it has plenty of power. I compared it too the other makes like Delta, Grizzly, Tradesman, GMC, Woodtec, and Craftsman. I never found anything that looked near as good.

Sorry Colby. After I thought about it I'm not sure where I came up with the info regarding whether Ryobi tools were a good value. Sometimes things just come out of my brain (or mouth) and I'm not sure where they come from.

I'll be more careful about second guessing folks from now on.

I do still recommend the tool manufacturers that I recommended in the previous post however.

Again, no offense intended Colby.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Mike Doolin recommended the 5" Dewalt to me 3 years ago. I bought it, use it weekly, and its never let me down. I have it on my tool list to get at least one more. Convenience more than anything. They are a bit pricy though, IIFC around 89.00?

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