A lot of people do not consider the replacement cost over the lifespan of the tool. From experience, if you use your tools regularly, spending the extra money on a quality commercial-grade tool will more than pay for itself over the lifetime of the tool. Ask yourself this: Over ten years do you want to buy 3 sanders for $100 or one good one for $180 (for the Festool ETS 125 EQ or a Fein or Metabo)? In the years I've had my Festool sander I would have burned through three POS sanders. I used to swear by DeWalt. Then I realized how much the tools you buy at the big-box home improvement stores suck (in general). My last ROS died after only two years (three boats and cabinets for the new house).
For a casual homeowner or beginner woodworker, an over the counter sander from a box store is more than adequate. Beats sanding by hand!
BTW: At $455 the RO125 IS expensive for a 5" sander. Considering the two modes (orbital and random orbit) it's really two sanders in one. In a commercial shop, time IS money. My R0125 paid for itself in the time saved from sanding on one kayak as compared with using my old DeWalt. It was THAT different. I also hardly use my belt sander anymore for cabinet and furniture work. In orbital mode the RO125 is actually more aggressive. I personally prefer having the motor offset from the head. It's more comfortable over longer periods and you have more control.
The commercial sanders are also more expensive because they're not made in China like most (all?) of the big box store crap. Their made in the US and Europe. Where do you want to send your money?
Messages In This Thread
- Tools: Best ROS?
Dale Welch -- 3/26/2013, 5:14 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/26/2013, 5:18 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Daniel Thaler -- 3/26/2013, 5:39 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Brian Nystrom -- 3/27/2013, 6:55 am- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Jay Babina -- 3/27/2013, 9:02 am- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/27/2013, 9:43 am- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Jay Babina -- 3/27/2013, 2:06 pm
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
JohnAbercrombie -- 3/27/2013, 11:35 am- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/27/2013, 12:24 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Robert Horstmann -- 3/27/2013, 1:13 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/27/2013, 1:55 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 3/27/2013, 2:26 pm
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Robert Horstmann -- 3/27/2013, 7:25 pm - Re: Tools: Best ROS?
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Matt Jakubek -- 3/27/2013, 5:14 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/27/2013, 5:29 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/27/2013, 5:31 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Matt Jakubek -- 3/27/2013, 6:48 pm
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Matt Jakubek -- 3/27/2013, 6:44 pm - Re: Tools: Best ROS?
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
JohnAbercrombie -- 3/28/2013, 12:46 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/28/2013, 1:50 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Bill Hamm -- 3/31/2013, 12:58 am
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Bill Hamm -- 3/31/2013, 12:57 am- Re: Tools: Best ROS? Air sanders
JohnAbercrombie -- 3/31/2013, 11:54 am- Re: Tools: Best ROS? Air sanders
Bill Hamm -- 4/1/2013, 12:13 am- Re: Tools: Best ROS? Air sanders
JohnAbercrombie -- 4/1/2013, 12:52 am- Re: Tools: Best ROS? Air sanders
Bill Hamm -- 4/2/2013, 12:21 am
- Re: Tools: Best ROS? Air sanders
- Re: Tools: Best ROS? Air sanders
- Re: Tools: Best ROS? Air sanders
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
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- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Mike Bielski -- 3/27/2013, 10:13 am- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Bill Hamm -- 3/28/2013, 1:06 am- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Mike Bielski -- 3/28/2013, 10:13 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 3/29/2013, 8:42 am- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Matt Jakubek -- 3/29/2013, 1:00 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
JohnAbercrombie -- 3/29/2013, 2:57 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Matt Jakubek -- 3/29/2013, 5:53 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Bill Hamm -- 3/31/2013, 1:21 am
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
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- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
- Re: Tools: Best ROS? *PIC*
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 3/26/2013, 6:48 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Bill Hamm -- 3/27/2013, 12:51 am- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Kevin -- 3/27/2013, 9:26 am- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Matt Jakubek -- 3/27/2013, 9:41 am- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
ancient kayaker -- 3/28/2013, 11:15 am
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 3/27/2013, 10:50 am- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Malcolm Schweizer -- 3/28/2013, 3:08 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
Robert N Pruden -- 3/29/2013, 1:25 pm- Re: Tools: Best ROS?
dave koslow -- 4/1/2013, 11:14 am - Re: Tools: Best ROS?
- Re: Tools: Best ROS?