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Hi to all!I have buit some instruments and I am looking for a sander to prepair them for the finishing process. I own this onehttp://www.bestprice.gr/item/2152518549/einhell-rt-os-13.html but I am not happy with it...it is a palm fast sander in reallity I think it is too fast..so which one would you recommend to me?

My favourite is the Mirka Ceros. http://www.mirka.com/en/TOOLS/Electric_Sanders/ Its weight, handling etc are similar to air sanders such as the Dynabrade, but instead of a compressor there is a transformer. The dust control, with the pad and abrasive mesh also works great. Expensive, but if you want the best, this is it.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Those look really nice Arnt!
Too old to change myself, so wet sand with pneumatic. Got dust control, but go through a lot of paper towels...

I don't know what sander would be best for you. I built my own drum sander and it is the tool that gets the most use of everything in the shop. I went to the flea market Saturday and picked up a craftsman random orbital sander for five bucks. I have two already. Now I have three. But don't have to change grits just sanders :0)


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I've been using a Festool 5" ROS for some years now and it works fantastic for me. The dust collection is the best that I have used regardless of if you hook it to a Festool vac or simply used the supplied on-board bag.

Most of all though the sanding patterns are truely randon and I have had no less than two professional guitar finishers take me aside to ask me how I final sand because they did not have to touch up my work which I was told is unusual...

So if an air driven system is not in the cards for you check out the Festool ROS sanders. Festool also makes some "beasts" of ROS with an elongated handle and two hand use. The 5" is NOT one of these and is very light weight and very controllable with one hand. Mine was about $175 when I bought it but I have not checked out prices for some years now because this thing works so very well there is no need.

Festool papers are also about the highest quality paper that I have used and reasonably priced too for the quality delivered.

Hesh, how fine a grit have you used on that sander? Have you gone up to 1500 or so?

That little Festool is about $200 now.

One thing about it is that it only has a 2 mm stroke or orbit which is great for fine sanding but won't be much fun for initial sanding or taking out drum sander scratches. I say that because I wish my 3mm Festool was more aggressive.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a 5mm for initial work, then a 2mm like Hesh has for final sanding.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Hi Glen: I've only used it with 120 and 220 with great results. Never tried it beyond that. Sorry.

I don't use a power sander, only hand sanding with a rubber block and only with the grain. Something about the tactile feel of touching my work that I like. I also prefer to use scrapers where ever I can. I am sure sanders do as good of a job as doing them by hand so I have nothing against them except they make a lot of dust.

I have heard that Festool is a great sanders but a bit costly. Never used one so maybe they are worth the money.

Bob

I love the Porter Cable Speed Bloc for finish sanding.
You can follow the contours of the heel and headstock shaft transition and get into the waist.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000222Y ... ot_redir=1

Pretty much Dynabrades for everything else including neck shaft rough shaping with 36 grit.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

+1. I have carpel tunnel so needed something a bit easier on the wrist. The Ceros fits the bill for that plus it is a superb sander. Unfortunately, it is also very expensive.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I own an air compresor 50 litre is therecab attachment maybe for it so as ro orbit sand?is thid cheaper or not?

Pikolo, a 50 litre tank won't get you there. I have a 60 gallon tank (227 litre), and the tank will JUST cope with a RO sander. It runs a lot when I wet sand.
For wood final sanding I use a couple of low profile Porter Cables. Work OK, and have a 3/32" orbit. Had them for years.

I dont have the budget for something very expensive...will this do the job for me http://www.morrisdiy.com/Makita-BO5031- ... 220V..html ?

That would seem to me to work just fine for dry sanding of finish. That's what most folks these days do anyway. Guess I'm sort of a thow back...

+1 on the PC 330. Try as hard as they can it still can't be beat. Try to get a used "made in America" type.

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"I've been had again"
Tim Benware
Creedmoor, NC

I wish someone made something like the Speed Block with a convex pad which would be better suited to waist areas on guitars. I suppose I could fab my own pad. I really like those Mirka sanders.

Glen, I have the ETS-125. I went to the website to see the names of the papers I've used.
- Rubin 120, 150, and 220
- Brilliant 400
- Platin 500, 1000

They've all been great. The Platins can leave little fish faces, but leveling with 600+ is pretty easy by hand.

You can actually use the cushioned areas at each end of the pad where the paper wraps around to do waists and more importantly heels and headstock/neck transitions.

That is one of the most important features of the sander in lutherie in my opinion.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

bosch variable speed orbital with dust collection. mirka paper. scraper for final.

220P is as far as i go -any finer imo the finish has nothing to hold on to.

-i miei due centesimi

so any affordable orbital sander to suggest?!(specific model)

this is what i use:

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-ROS20VSK-12 ... tal+sander

arie I sm between the one you mentioned and the makita ..makita is supposed to be better?

honestly, i really couldn't say... it's kinda like the ford vs chevy thing.

imo, makita is probably not in the same strata as festool, but certainly not black and decker.

i do know that in our machine shop i bought the guys a bosch cordless drill and driver set which has lasted 5 years now vs hitachi, millwaukee, makita, and b&d, -all of which have died sad and dishonorable deaths in a matter of months leaving behind a bunch of rechargeable batteries to dispose of.