Random- Orbit - Porter

SHOP TESTED
(We considered an occasional tiny mark
acceptable.) Festool’s ETS125, Klingspor’s
KA1893DVS, and Porter-Cable’s 390K
turned out the best finishes of all. Two
others fared well in one species at 220
but needed 320 grit on the other. For a
complete look at how each sander performed, see the “Absence of scratches”
columns in the chart on the next page.
Aggressiveness. Like you, we want
to get the sanding done as soon as
possible. To evaluate aggressiveness, we
sanded oak plywood with new 120-grit
discs at top speed, applying only the
weight of our tester’s hand, and recorded
how long it took to sand through the
veneer, shown at right. Normally, it’s not
a good thing to sand through a plywood’s veneer, but because this is a test
of sanding speed, we looked for models
that removed the veneer quickest. As
the chart shows, the Milwaukee 602121, Makita BO5012K, and Porter-Cable
343VSK sanded quickest, nearly three
times as fast as the slowest model. The
Porter-Cable 390K and Ridgid R2600
finished right behind. And of those
five, only the Milwaukee and PorterCable 390K also produced consistent
scratch-free surfaces in the previously
mentioned test.
Dust collection. All 12 sanders
sport on-tool dust collection, but not
all performed equally. We checked each
unit’s effectiveness by sanding equal
amounts off oak and pine boards placed
on a black surface. After letting the dust
settle for 15 minutes, we observed the
amount of dust around the board’s
perimeter, shown bottom opposite page.
Eight sanders, when using their
attached collectors, left little evidence
2
RandomOrbit
Sanders
Most 5" models we tested deliver
a smooth wood surface in a jiffy,
but some leave you in a cloud of dust.
L
ike doing income taxes or having a
root canal, most of us don’t cherish the experience of sanding our
woodworking projects. That’s why we
love random-orbit sanders: They create
smooth, finished surfaces quicker than
any sander or method.
Here’s how they work: As the sanding
pad spins (from 7,000 to 12,000 rpm on
most variable-speed models), a cam adds
an eccentric orbiting motion (between
1⁄16" and 1⁄8" off-center) that effectively
blends the scratch marks of the abrasive
uniformly across your workpiece. Sand
with two or three progressively finer-grit
discs, and you’ve got a project ready for
finishing. Some models get the job done
fast, while others take their time. And
only a few combine a superb finish with
speed, comfort, and ease of use. Here’s
what we found in testing palm-style
random-orbit sanders.
To test the 12 models, we divided red
oak and pine boards into three equal
sections. We drew pencil marks on all
three sections, and sanded with a new
80-grit Mirka Gold disc until the marks
disappeared. (Mirka custom-made ninehole discs for the Festool ETS125, and
sent us solid discs so we could cut out
exact matches for the Craftsman 25927,
shown on next page. We also used each
machine’s proprietary discs and found
no significant performance upgrade.)
Next, we marked only two sections, and
sanded those with 150 grit. Then, we
marked the last section only, and used
220 grit. Finally, we stained each board,
and evaluated the quality of the finish.
After 150 grit, all of the sanded boards
showed scratches that collected pigment
from the dark-walnut stain. With seven
models those scratches virtually disappeared after 220 grit in both species.
Sanded through
veneer to substrate
Look for four essential
qualities in a sander
1
Smooth, scratch-free finish. If
your random-orbit sander doesn’t
produce a smooth, level surface without
scratch marks, it’s hardly worth owning.
56
be aggressive when needed
Aggressive sanders get the job done more
quickly, but you’ll need to be cognizant of
that speed to avoid sanding through veneer.
Would you breathe this?
While sanding pencil lines from red-oak,
the Klingspor gathered little of the dust it
created, sending much of it into the shop air.
WOOD magazine
October 2008
3
AGGRESSIVENESS MEANS LESS TIME SPENT SANDING
Minutes: Seconds
3:22
Bosch ROS20VK
2:17
Craftsman 27673
Craftsman 25927 4:41
2:51
DeWalt D26453
3:07
Festool ETS125
2:39
Hitachi SV13YA
Klingspor KA1893DVS
3:34
Makita BO5012K
1:40
Milwaukee 6021-21
1:38
Porter-Cable 343VSK
1:45
1:59
Porter-Cable 390K
2:02
Ridgid R2600
Results show an average of three timed tests of sanding through the
veneer of red-oak plywood using 120-grit sanding discs.
on the table. (To find out which units
fared best, see the “Dust collection”
columns in the chart on the next page.)
Most also gobbled up all the dust when
attached to a shop vacuum. However,
the Klingspor model performed poorly
in both tests, allowing excessive dust to
permeate the air. The Hitachi SV13YA
fared better with its collection bag than
with a vacuum because we could not
get an airtight seal around its wide,
paper-clip-shaped port.
4
Vibration, control, comfort. A
jittery sander leaves you with tingling hands and gives you one more
reason to dread using it. And some sanders want to “run” out of control at the
slightest shift of your hand. Fortunately,
the Craftsman 25927, Festool, and Ridgid
earned high marks in all three areas of
user comfort. Conversely, the Craftsman
27673, Hitachi, and Porter-Cable 343VSK
exhibited excessive vibration and control issues that turned us off.
The Lowdown on 5" Random-Orbit Sanders
Bosch ROS20VK
$80
877-267-2499
boschtools.com
Craftsman 25927
$100
800-383-4814
craftsman.com
Although not particularly aggressive,
this model produced a top-notch finish
in oak and pine. With a slim design and
rubber molded grip, it proved the most
comfortable to hold. But, at its maximum speed, the ROS20VK exhibited
more vibration and rocking than we’d
like. When using the dust canister,
enough dust escaped into the air to warrant wearing a respirator or mask.
The only fixed-speed model in the test,
the uniquely designed Vibra-Free 25927
sports two concentric sanding pads,
shown at right: a center disc with no dust
holes, and an outer ring, which means
you’ll have to buy the proprietary sanding discs from Sears. The 25927 fared
well in every primary category except
aggressiveness, and it sometimes left a
pinch of dust in the center of the pad.
woodmagazine.com
design creates Less vibration
The outer ring on Craftsman’s 25927 spins
the opposite direction of the inner disc,
effectively reducing vibration.
57
Craftsman 27673
$70
800-383-4814
craftsman.com
DeWalt D26453
$90
800-433-9258
dewalt.com
Festool ETS125
$165
888-337-8600
festoolusa.com
Hitachi SV13YA
$80
800-829-4752
hitachipowertools.com
Klingspor
KA1893DVS, $70
800-228-0000
woodworkingshop.com
Makita BO5012K
$85
800-462-5482
makitatools.com
This sander performed below average in
most of the important criteria. Although
it collected dust well with its easy-todump plastic canister, the 27673 vibrated
significantly, and wanted to jump
around rather than sand smoothly. It
also left scratch marks after sanding to
220 grit on oak and pine that needed
320 grit to tame.
A middle-of-the-pack performer overall,
the D26453 marries good finished surfaces with effective dust control and a
comfortable grip. But it vibrated slightly,
and wanted to pull away from our tester’s
control, keeping it from being one of the
top sanders. It showed the smoothest
startup when beginning with the sander
resting on the workpiece surface.
The smoothest-running and quietest
sander in the test, the ETS125 delivered
immaculate surfaces when sanded to
220 grit, but it took longer than most
others. Its nine-hole sanding pad requires
special discs, but also sucks up dust better than most others. We consider the
paper-bag collector flimsy; you’ll need
replacement bags rather than emptying
it. We also found the sander harder to
control when hooked to a shop vacuum.
When its best feature is an easy-opening
zippered dust bag, you know a sander
has issues. Unfortunately, the SV13YA
leaves scratches that need 320-grit discs
to remove. It vibrated more than any
other sander, and rocked and veered
unless we gripped it tightly. Its thin, narrow dust-collection port collected less
dust with a vacuum than with the bag,
and its recessed on/off switch and speed
control proved difficult to operate.
Although this sander produced smooth,
scratch-free surfaces in oak and pine and
proved easy to control, it blew so much
dust into the air and onto the workpiece—regardless of whether we used the
canister or a vacuum—that you’ll need
to wear a respirator or mask. And, despite
having the smallest orbital stroke, it
vibrated more than most models.
It sounds rattly, but this model performed
smoothly and with little vibration. It was
also one of the most aggressive. It left a
scratch-free surface in oak quicker than it
did in pine, and gathered dust well in its
cloth bag. The BO5012K’s dust port measured the smallest diameter in the test,
and was difficult to hook up to vacuums.
Its on/off switch works easily, but we had
to remove six screws and the sanding pad
to get to the motor brushes.
Milwaukee 6021-21
$70
800-729-3878
milwaukeetool.com
Porter-Cable 343VSK
$80
888-848-5175
deltaportercable.com
Essentially the secondbest sander in the test,
this model did everything
well except for leaving a few
barely noticeable swirls with 220-grit
sanding discs. It was the most aggressive
model in the test. Its power switch and
speed control were not as easy to operate
as those on some models. The 6021-21
comes with hook-and-loop as well as
pressure-sensitive-adhesive (PSA) pads.
This style has been Porter-Cable’s mainstay for years, with a tall neck that provides multiple gripping points. Although
aggressive, the 343VSK vibrated and
rocked more than we’d like, and you’ll
have to sand to 320 grit before it removes
all scratch marks. Still, its on/off switch
and speed control proved the easiest in
the test to use.
Porter-Cable 390K
$130
888-848-5175
deltaportercable.com
Ridgid R2600
$70
866-539-1710
ridgid.com
With its low-profile body
and brushless motor, the
390K excelled in every
test we threw at it. It’s aggressive without
being difficult to control, and produced
a flawless, finished worksurface with
220-grit abrasives. One minor quibble:
Its large grip could be tough for small
hands, particularly because there’s no
neck for side-gripping.
Reasonably aggressive, yet smoothrunning and easy to control, the R2600
delivered good performance despite
being the lowest-priced sander in the test.
It left fewer scratches on pine than on
oak, but was on the cusp of being among
the leaders. It did, however, leave more
dust on the workpiece and in the air than
we’d like. The R2600 also has Ridgid’s
signature long power cord with a lighted
plug and a hook-and-loop wrap.
HERE’S WHAT'S SHAKIN' WITH 5" RANDOM-ORBIT SANDERS
PERFORMANCE RATINGS (4)
1.(2D)
2. (B)
(C)
(CF)
(P)
3. (S)
(R)
58
Two concentric discs with 1⁄4" gap between them
Cloth bag
Canister without filter inside
Canister with paper filter inside
Paper bag
Slide
Rocker
3⁄32
3⁄32
BCB+
B
BB
BA
A
A
AA-
BAAA
B
AD
A
AA
A
B
A
A
A
AA
C
CAAB
A
B
B
A
C+
B
A
C
BAA
C+
A
A
B
A
C
B
A
B
A
AA
CA
A
A
A
BAAB
B
B
BAB
A-
4. A Excellent
B Good
C Fair
D Poor
NA Not Applicable
5. Evaluated after sanding to 220 grit
6. * Porter-Cable 390K has brushless motor.
b
a
aa
b
aa
ab
aab
7.
b
a
a
a
b
cc+
c
a
a
a*
a
(B)
(C)
(D)
(P)
(S)
(V)
(W)
b
b
aa
a
ab
aa
a
a
a
OPTIONAL
C,D,V
C,D,V
D,V
C
C,D
C,D
D
C,D
C,D,P, V
C,V
C,V
C,D,W
D,P
D
B,D,S
V
D
D
D
Buffing disc
Storage case
Sanding disc sample
Pressure-sensitive adhesive pad
Polishing sponge
Vacuum-hose adapter
Cord wrap
8.* Lifetime service agreement if registered
within 90 days of purchase.
WOOD magazine
October 2008
SELLING PRICE (10)
3⁄32
b c
b- NA
b- c+
b a
a a
c- d
a- a
a b
b+ b
a a
a a
a a
AABAA
B
A
B
AB+
A
A-
COUNTRY OF ASSEMBLY (9)
1⁄8
1⁄16
A
AB+
A
A
B
A
AABA
B+
WARRANTY, YEARS (8)
1⁄16
R
R
R
R
R
S
R
R
R
R
R
S
WEIGHT, LBS
1⁄8
CF
C
C
B
P
B
CF
B
B
C
C
B
CORD LENGTH, FEET
5⁄64
8
2D
8
8
9
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
NOISE LEVEL, DECIBELS
1⁄16
3⁄32
EASE OF OPERATING POWER SWITCH
EASE OF OPERATING SPEED CONTROL
EASE OF REPLACING SANDING PAD
EASE OF ACCESS TO MOTOR & BRUSHES (6)
PAD-BRAKE RESPONSIVENESS
1⁄16
ABSENCE OF SCRATCHES, RED OAK (5)
ABSENCE OF SCRATCHES, PINE (5)
AGGRESSIVENESS
DUST COLLECTION W/ATTACHMENT
DUST COLLECTION W/SHOP VACUUM
ABSENCE OF VIBRATION
EASE OF CONTROL
HANDLE COMFORT
3⁄32
TYPE OF SWITCH ( 3)
OSCILLATING STROKE DIAMETER, INCHES
ORBITING SPEED, RPM x 1,000
7.5–12
12
5–12
7–12
6–14
7–12
7–12
4–12
7–12
7–12
7–12
7–12
ONBOARD DUST COLLECTOR (2)
ROS20VK
25927
CRAFTSMAN
27673
DEWALT
D26453
FESTOOL
ETS125
HITACHI
SV13YA
KLINGSPOR
KA1893DVS
MAKITA
BO5012K
MILWAUKEE
6021-21
343VSK
PORTER-CABLE
390K
RIDGID
R2600
SECONDARY
HOLE PATTERN (1)
BOSCH
MODEL
BRAND
PRIMARY
ACCESSORIES (7)
STANDARD
SANDING PAD
79
79
81
78
73
80
84
80
81
83
83
80
9.0
10.0
10.0
8.0
13.5
8.0
8.0
7.0
12.0
8.0
8.0
12.0
2.9
4.3
3.7
3.7
2.8
3.2
3.4
2.9
3.4
3.0
3.4
3.3
1
1
1
3
3
5
1
1
5
3
3
3*
M
C
C
X
G
C
X
U
C
X
X
C
$80
$100
$70
$90
$165
$80
$70
$85
$70
$80
$130
$70
9.
(C)
(G)
(M)
(U)
(X)
China
Germany
Malaysia
United States
Mexico
10.Prices current
at time of article production and do
not include shipping, whereapplicable.
woodmagazine.com
Invest your tool dollars in a smooth operator
Although it costs about twice as much as the least-expensive models in the test, the
Porter-Cable 390K outdistanced the other sanders in a clean sweep to win Top Tool
honors. The 390K produces near-perfect surfaces after sanding with only three
progressive grits, proves free of vibration and control problems, captures nearly all
the dust it creates, and features an easy-to-operate on/off switch and speed dial.
If the 390’s price proves too much for your wallet, then opt for the $70 Milwaukee
6021-21, our Top Value. It proved nearly as effective as the Porter-Cable in all areas
and comes with a five-year warranty. ¿
Written by Bob Hunter with Bob Baker
Illustration: Tim Cahill
59