3M Electric ROS?

[Michael Drew]

Has anyone here tried the new 3M electric sander? Last thing I need is another sander, but I'm thinking about getting one of the 6" models. I have a 5" Airvantage ROS, and like it, but sometimes wish I would have gotten the 6" model. Taylor toolworks has a few on sale.

https://taytools.com/collections/bra...dium=affiliate

[Robyn Horton]

It is supposed to be really good. There are 2 models .. 1 has a 5mm orbit and the 2nd has a 3mm orbit.

[Dave Sabo]

It’s not new.

The same sander has been available for years from Airvantage, Ekasand, and SurfPrep. They all come out of the same Tawainese factory with paint jobs to suit the marketer.

3m also tried to market this sander before with poor results. Nothing wrong with the sander - they just charged too much for it in the wrong setting.

[Ben Grefe]

https://www.airvantagetools.com/prod...entral-vacuum/

https://shop.sandpaper.com/ekasand-e...rbital-sanders

https://surfprepsanding.com/product/...c-ray-sanders/

I think with the 'introduction' deals, you can get the 3M sander a bit cheaper than the other three, but it's clearly *the exact same model*.

IMO, it looks like 3M is playing the grassroots YouTuber/Influencer PR firms hard this time around and trying to make it look like they came out with some revolutionary model. Problem is the dang thing is just some ODM product rebranded.

I bet somewhere on Alibaba there's a seller with this exact sander for $100 or $150, just without any of the labels.

[Warren Lake]

does he have 40 Thieves?

[Michael Drew]

Thanks for the input. The sander does appear to be the same as my Airvantage, but with a couple subtle differences. Figured it was worth checking.... I did order a hose adapter though. They claim it is for Festool quick lock hoses.

[Patrick Varley]

https://www.airvantagetools.com/prod...entral-vacuum/

https://shop.sandpaper.com/ekasand-e...rbital-sanders

https://surfprepsanding.com/product/...c-ray-sanders/

I think with the 'introduction' deals, you can get the 3M sander a bit cheaper than the other three, but it's clearly *the exact same model*.

IMO, it looks like 3M is playing the grassroots YouTuber/Influencer PR firms hard this time around and trying to make it look like they came out with some revolutionary model. Problem is the dang thing is just some ODM product rebranded.

I bet somewhere on Alibaba there's a seller with this exact sander for $100 or $150, just without any of the labels.

You would not be wrong:
https://m.aliexpress.com/item/325680...site4itemAdapt

I took a flier on this "Maxxt" sander off Amazon for $250. Crazy, I know. Looks awfully similar, though admittedly the internals may be different.

[Ben Grefe]

You would not be wrong:
https://m.aliexpress.com/item/325680...site4itemAdapt

I took a flier on this "Maxxt" sander off Amazon for $250. Crazy, I know. Looks awfully similar, though admittedly the internals may be different.

I work with Asian odms in my day job and I’m almost positive that the internals between all of these are identical and the shells are the only thing that changes. That’s just how those factories work.

I guess the real question is. How does it work? I might buy one too for $200 bucks.

[Patrick Varley]

I work with Asian odms in my day job and I’m almost positive that the internals between all of these are identical and the shells are the only thing that changes. That’s just how those factories work.

I guess the real question is. How does it work? I might buy one too for $200 bucks.

Had it for about 6 months, occasional use as a hobbyist. Honestly, it's been quite good. Vibration control and sanding speed/quality better than my old Bosch ROS. Dust collection is great with mesh discs and a Festool extractor.

Admittedly, this is my first "premium" sander, so I can't compare to Festool, Mirka or even Airvantage. However, I did base part of my decision on a Peter Millard video reviewing a similar clone suggesting it compared reasonably well. I do like it enough to say that if it blew up, I'm sold on the benefits and would look at one of those name brand models. And really that's my concern: durability. Doesn't seem that there is an easy way to get a replacement backer pad (even though the Amazon seller claims they're available), but I found some people using certain ones off AliExpress that can work.

So I guess the end verdict is that I'm happy with it for $250, but I also went in knowing the risks.

[Dave Sabo]

I bet somewhere on Alibaba there's a seller with this exact sander for $100 or $150, just without any of the labels.

I've yet to see that.

You would not be wrong:
https://m.aliexpress.com/item/325680...site4itemAdapt

well..........not exactly . The MaxXT is similar. But it IS NOT a clone coming out of the X'Pole factory in Taiwan that produces the SurfP, AVantage, Ekasand, and the previous 3M sander.

Upon looking again , more closely, I'm not positive that 3m is sourcing their new model from them again. I had just assumed they'd gone to the same well again.

old sander:
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_LB/p/d/v101281359/

I work with Asian odms in my day job and I’m almost positive that the internals between all of these are identical and the shells are the only thing that changes. That’s just how those factories work.

Yes , that's the general practice. In this instance , the MaxXT is not from the same factory.


I'm quite astonished that many of you guys really think (or just want to believe) that all of a sudden someone would be selling the same exact sander for 50-60% less than all the other competitors including the manuf. themselves.

Here's an even cheaper version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46Ws3Bgp_bA

and a Festool EC clone:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3256...d=qUReoh87yDFs

think it's got the same internals as Festool ?