5" random orbit sander recommendations

[jason mowery]

Hi all-

I just wanted to get your opinions on your favorite 5" random orbit sanders. My Milwaukee is getting ready to bite the dust, and has already been repaired once by an authorized Milwaukee repair shop. Stuff like Festool is out of the question, but I'm not expecting Black+Decker pricepoints either. I'm thinking along the lines of Bosch, Makita, Porter Cable...

Thanks in advance for you recommendations and any other insight you might have.

[Mike Henderson]

I've gone through several 5" ROS and have settled on the Porter Cable 390K (http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-390K-5-Inch-Profile-Collection/dp/B001B2EGLK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1248315151&sr=8-1). Best sander I've used so far.

I especially like the pad brake.

Mike

[Chuck Isaacson]

I have a Ridgid recon unit that I have had lot of success with. I really like it. I have a brand new Dewalt that I have never used because I am satisfied with this one. It isnt fancy like the Porter Cable, it doesnt have a Pad brake but if you ask me I really dont see the need for one. I mean are you really in that much of a hurry that you need the pad to stop a second ot two faster. I mean come on!! Anyway, I really like mine.

CHuck

[Kev Godwin]

I really like my Makita BO5021 sander. Been using it a lot the last 3 years. Has variable speed, but a feature I really like for my hand is the full length handle grip. I can grip directly above the disc or to the side to glide over larger pieces.

Doesn't leave your hand numb like several of the low cost models. Several other brands are good too, but I've had excellent results with this model.
Kev

[Mike Henderson]

I have a Ridgid recon unit that I have had lot of success with. I really like it. I have a brand new Dewalt that I have never used because I am satisfied with this one. It isnt fancy like the Porter Cable, it doesnt have a Pad brake but if you ask me I really dont see the need for one. I mean are you really in that much of a hurry that you need the pad to stop a second ot two faster. I mean come on!! Anyway, I really like mine.

CHuck
If you use a ROS with a pad brake, you'll never go back.

Mike

[Kev Godwin]

Mike H.,
I've never used a model with a brake before. My Makita stops in less than 3 seconds. What is the advantage or benefit of a brake? Thanks.
Kev

[Andy Sowers]

+1 on the Porter Cable 390K

[Mike Henderson]

Mike H.,
I've never used a model with a brake before. My Makita stops in less than 3 seconds. What is the advantage or benefit of a brake? Thanks.
Kev
All the 5" ROS that I've used didn't stop very quickly so when you went to set it down, it was still spinning. This caused it to jump around and it wore a spot where I would sit it down.

If yours stops quickly, you may not see the advantage of a pad brake, but for every sander I ever used - and that was a lot of different brands, including Makita - they did not stop quick enough.

The PC 390K has been a great sander for me. I just wish I had bought a second when they were on sale for $77.

Mike

[Kev Godwin]

Thanks for the comments Mike!

Perhaps I found a well mannered Makita. It is working very well for me. Stops spinning and doing the "hoola-hoop" in very little time. :)

(For the younger crowd, the Hoola-Hoop was an action that wild baby-boomers did to release energy before other other vises were available.:D)
Kev

[Mike Henderson]

In fact, Jason, if you don't want to go new, I have a Makita B5021, a Ridgid 5" ROS, a Ridgid 6" ROS and a Hitachi quarter sheet sander I'll sell cheap (plus shipping). Contact me via PM.

Mike

[Russ Boyd]

One huge thing to consider is the dust bag. My ridgid is screwed on vs. friction fit. The friction fit of the OLD porter cable was not fun when it came off during sanding. I think I'll check into the pc you guys are touting and see if the bag will stay on and add it to my collection.

[Brian Penning]

I had the PC and then bought a Ridgid. Ridgid is quieter, less vibration, better DC and smoother. The 10' cord is handy too.

[jason mowery]

Thanks for the thoughts fellas, I appreciate them. I'll do some more research on the Ridgid, Makita B05021, and the PC 390K and make a selection from those. Thanks again!

[Rob John]

The porter Cable 390K is the first 5" random orbit sander I have owned. I have to say it is a GREAT tool, however there were one or two things I did notice from the, for a lack a better term for myself, noob's perspective.

1) Get the hose for your dust, yes the attached canister works but the difference in air born particles vs. the hose is night an day. Also if you get the hose you will most likely need a Porter Cable hose adapter to fit it to your shop vac. Unless you have a 1 1/4", if I am remembering correctly, on your shop vac. If you own a Rigid shop vac the 3 piece various size reducers that are sold at home depot will let you attach to the 390K, however I find the smaller hose from Porter cable to so much easier to work with.

2) While running the 390K seems very well balanced in my hand. There is a bit of torque associated with its operations but it does not seem to be anything "overpowering".

3) The 390K has a long power cord, maybe it is my years in computers but any cord over 4' is long.

4) It comes with a very nice case, as trivial as this sounds I prefer to have cases for my power tools, however the case will not allow the Porter Cable hose to be stored with the sander, the down side to the case.

5) Price although the PC 390 is more expensive then some of the others the value in my opinion is worth it.

I know this is a bit focused on the PC 390K but it is the only unit I have owned, ok outside the $5 Harbor Freight 5" Square "orbit" sander, but I hope it helps.

Thanks
Rob

[Quinn McCarthy]

Dynabrade makes a great ROS. I have 2. They stop very quick and don't leave any marks.

Quinn

[Prashun Patel]

Another one to research: The Bosch ROS20VSK. I had the older model and recently got the newer one. I too like the Porter Cable, but it's about twice the price of this one.

Things I like about the Bosch:

Small and light --> no fatigue on large pieces, which I've had with other models.

Excellent dust containment. The cartridge filter is 'pretty good'. But if you hook it up to a shop vac, the dc is excellent. Unlike prev versions, the new model comes with an adapter to fit a standard vac hose.

Quiet. I can finally sand in my basement with the kids asleep upstairs...

(minor nice touch): The case has guideposts that you slide a sanding disc onto and then press the sander down onto to make the hole alignment perfect.

I got mine reconditioned from CPO Bosch. Good experience.

[glenn bradley]

Perhaps I found a well mannered Makita.

I love my Bosch sanders but they take probably 6 seconds or more to slow to the point where they could be set down. I know it doesn't sound like long but, like booting Windows, sometimes it seems like forever. I got a Sander Sitter for a gift and it solves that problem while cleaning the disc. I really thought the thing was a gimmick till I got one.

[Michael Poller]

I have the Ridgid (Orange model if there other colors out there) with adjustable speed. Have had it for 5+ years, and have sanded alot of wood plus one large deck (entire deck including rails and stiles) with it without issue.

Came in a nice case for storage, sits nice in my hand, has a light on the plug end to visually indicate the tool is powered up, and has a really nice velcro band attached to the cord for wrapping it up for storage. Also the speed control knob is in a great place for adjustment on the fly with a turn of the thumb.

Only downside I've ever come up with is the on/off switch location. Is somewhat easy when held certain ways to accidentally switch it off while sanding.

It takes a moment to spin down w/ no pad brake present, but it's less then 5 seconds or so, which for me is no biggie.

For the price it was tough to beat and has been a terrific performer.

[jason mowery]

I'm liking what I'm hearing about the Ridgid sander, I'm a fan of the Ridgid tools I have so far, including a TP1300 planer, 14.4V impact driver, and 14.4V drill. -Seems like their tools always win a "Best Value" or equivalent award in magazine tool shootouts. Thanks again for the insights from all!

[Adam Cavaliere]

I've gone through several 5" ROS and have settled on the Porter Cable 390K (http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-390K-5-Inch-Profile-Collection/dp/B001B2EGLK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1248315151&sr=8-1). Best sander I've used so far.

I especially like the pad brake.

Mike

I have to agree with Mike. The porter cable is very nice. The vibration isn't bad, the low height of where your hand rests also is nice too. The brake makes it great for setting down quickly when you need to swap out sand paper or just need to stop for some reason or another.