Larry, I have a hose with an integral air line for my dynabrades and 3M sanders. Probably not as light as the Festool hose but the sanders are so light it doesn't matter. Dave
Larry, I have a hose with an integral air line for my dynabrades and 3M sanders. Probably not as light as the Festool hose but the sanders are so light it doesn't matter. Dave
Nope that is not correct. Check out this thread: LINK It will explain why.
If at first you don't succeed, redefine success!
Had to chime in when I read this. I use a Mirka Ceros, and it was $550, and worth every single cent. On the topic of "expensive" tools, I'd like to offer a fresh perspective. A perspective I got from Sawmill Creek, but I can't remember the name of the wise person whom said it best. You know, we live in a Ryobi tool world these days. A throw away economy. If you look in Home Depot at sanders, you'll be hard pressed to find one over $150. That's by design, and it's because they know that most people figure a sander - sands wood. So, why buy a $500 sander when you can get one for $50? I can tell you why. Because as modern Americans, as Walmart shoppers, we've become accustomed to "cheap" prices. Problem is, in that transition, we've forgotten what "quality" really means, because there's basically no quality options available to us any more, and that's because of our purchasing decisions. In a way, we've taught the market how to treat us. The reason there aren't $500 sanders in Home Depot, is the reason I mentioned earlier - because no one would buy them!
The fact is, we've become completely divorced from quality products, and by extension, what quality actually costs in dollars. The OP asked what a good RO was, and received an overwhelming response, almost all of which recommended an "expensive" tool. There's a reason for that, and it's the same reason I paid $500+ for my RO. That reason, is because that's what a quality tool actually costs, and I was crazy enough trust that, and I could never go back to a $100 sander now. As a wise man once told me, "the most expensive tool, is that which needs to be replaced at some point".
And by the way, for what it's worth - a 6" pad has 30% more surface area than a 5" pad. I suck at math, but math really comes through on things like this.
Last edited by Mike Dowell; 02-26-2017 at 7:42 PM. Reason: added math
--
Sometimes the best solution to morale problems is just to fire all of the unhappy people.
Originally Posted by Larry Edgerton
I find Rolex to be to heavy, but it does keep good time.
That is oddly analogous to this thread. Possibly my greatest hobby passion is mechanical watches and for the vast majority of people a Rolex is the pinnacle of watch making, which honestly is far from the truth. Rolex and Omega are mid-level watches and the majority of both lines are tool watches. Much like sanders (tools) there are usually many more options out there than most of us are familiar with. Lange, Patek, AP and Vacheron for example make watches MUCH more expensive and built much better than a Rolex. My point is something out there is usually better and usually comes with a price premium but we all live within some budget and just like a $30K or $100K watch at some point the price tag becomes unfathomable to all of us and it may be just the price tag vs our budget and it may be we simply aren't that devoted to the particular hobby. A $500 or $600 ROS may make a pro money and it may make the task of sanding a little more pleasurable for a hobbyist so for some it makes perfect sense and for others it seems insane but every hobby has this same issue.
BTW before someone chimes in I know mechnical watches are an anachronism and a $10 Walmart quartz watch keeps better time than even the finest mechanical movements.
Edit: before anyone thinks I am poo pooing Rolex and Omega I am not, I love both brands and together they make up roughly 40% of my collection.
Last edited by Van Huskey; 02-26-2017 at 9:18 PM.
Of all the laws Brandolini's may be the most universally true.
Deep thought for the day:
Your bandsaw weighs more when you leave the spring compressed instead of relieving the tension.
I have a Rolex that was my grandfather's. It looks pretty, but is the worst time-keeping watch I've ever owned, even after repeated (and expensive) cleanings/servicing by the factory service center. So it gathers dust...
That said, I still subscribe to and follow something I've said often..."The most expensive tools are the ones you have to replace early and often" and invest in quality. Much less expensive in the long run and better results.
--
The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
That is what my friend in Italy said, more or less, the best I could understand due to the language differences. He was commenting on the tools he has for his mobile carpentry/remodeling business while standing between two floor-to-ceiling racks full of systainers - "Festool, only Festool. Very good quality, economy!"
JKJ
I do not disagree with your philosphy per se. The minor caveat would be that it's a personal decision. There a top to every bell curve and a personal point of diminishing returns where the "high quality" tool becomes disproportionate to your needs. My solution is to splurge when I can on the higher dollar, higher quality tools for those tools that I use frequently. For the infrequent jobs, I tend to feel the pedestrian, Chevy quality tools fill the bill quite well. However if another guy chooses to splurge on the very best designer tool in every category, its a personal decision, not my place to judge. Also, the mere definition of quality is an elusive one, means different things to different people. I say buy whatever tools make you happy and have a good time using them. Using a poor or substandard tool can be a real frustration.
Some tools better quality tools hold their value so well that they can be looked at as essentially being free. I bought a Powermatic 54A long bed 6" jointer in maybe 2004 for $750 off Amazon.com, free shipping. Sold it last year for $750 off Craigslist. Ignoring an inflation argument, that tool basically cost me nothing, or at least very little and I enjoyed use of it for over a decade. Maybe it was a fluke. Really surprised me.