I finally got to have a go with the new Mirka CEROS brushless DC sander today and I'm impressed.

Smooth, powerful and easy to control. The thing has a low center of gravity and is a very nice shape to hold which means that it goes exactly where you direct it and doesn't try to veer off course. If you want to add a little more pressure, using it sideways by cupping the body in one hand and gripping the cord/hose in the other gives a lot of control. The high amperage gives it huge torque and it was very difficult to slow the thing down with pressure. It showed absolutely no signs of bucking about or grabbing and the lack of pad damper allows it to sand optimally leaving little to no obvious swirling marks. The dust collection is first rate and the pad is nice and firm so it should be great for sanding at edges and flattening surfaces. It's also very quiet in use, unlike the Rotex which screams loudly at all times. Despite having a fairly big orbit there was minimal vibration transmitted which is doubly impressive given it's weight and speed.

Overall, the Mirka was a joy to use and I think I'd happily trade my Rotex for it. Sadly the one downside is price. At $500 It's a bit too much for me right now. I think there is a very good chance of me getting one at a later date as this is by far the best sander I've laid hands on. Sheer stock removal is probably somewhat lower than Rotex mode so I can't say it's a full replacement for the Rotex but with 30 grit I can see this thing doing some serious damage none the less. Another nice thing, the sanding pads for the 6" model are fully festool hole-compatible and the Abranet HD sanding sheets are seriously nice. They have a waffle-sheet like construction and stiff, again, helping with surface flattening. These come in coarse grits only and the range goes up to the very fine 4,000 grit foam back pads I believe. Anyway, very nice machine.

I foresee this sander being quite a hit.

the transformer is substantial but is normally tucked away, and the cable/hose doesn't feel overly bulky despite the size of the cable. It's fairly supple and hangs low so doesn't affect balance. The Yellow color is a bit loud but it should make the sander easier to find  It has to be close to Holy Grail with current technology. There are few working parts to wear, it's small and lightweight, well behaved and powerful beyond it's rating due to being brushless. I can't think of another electric sander that would compete for control and ease of use. If I had a spare $500 available, I'd snap one up.

As far as I could tell the sanders are the same except for the pad. The 5" does have a more Mirka specific hole pattern in the sanding sheets though, so I'm not sure if the festool 5" paper is an exact fit. Due to the high current delivery I think only one tool per transfo is allowed. I'm just about to head back to woodcraft so I'll double check all this.

Okay thanks Gary.  Do you know if you can buy the sander only if you wanted both 5" and 6" sanders?

I had a chance to play with one today at the woodworking show and I'm itching to get mine(UPS says Tuesday  ). The rep says you can use any 5/16 threaded pad with it. The counterbalance is an issue but the sales rep I talked to at Wood Werks when I ordered mine says he sells a lot of the smaller pads to customers who bought the 6" and nobody's reported anyproblems. But the counterweight and skirts are available so if you want a full conversion from one size to the other it's doable.

Gary, I didn't bother to check about the cords, I just assumed they were removable since they offer a 30' cord as an accessory. Not that I would have any use for a 30' cord, but is it a big deal to remove it? If so that'd be a major bummer since I usually sleeve the cord and vac hose together and don't see that combo fitting in the Systainer.... 

I was really impressed with the unit, it's easy to handle, REALLY lightweight and quiet to boot. I set the unit up to max RPM, started sanding and tried to apply pressure to slow it down: it finally did, but it took a lot more pressure than I'd ever actually use in a real-world application. DC works exceptionally well with the Abranet discs but that's to be expected, I've been very happy with DC on the same discs using them on my P-C RA sander. They had it hooked up to a Festool vac, BTW.

Brice, I dunno if the sander's available without the associated gizmos, your best bet would be to call either Wood Werks or Mirka USA and ask. The sales rep at Wood Werks said they were selling them as fast as they could get them, my guess is that it might be a long wait for a stripped-down version, but that's just a guess...

Gary, thanks for the info. I'll have mine next week and will post once I've had a chance to put it through its paces.

Best,
Bill

P.S. As far as the cost, being able to say "I could have saved some money and bought a Festool"? Priceless...

I bought the Ceros 650, 6" 5.0mm orbital and I love it!!  Still getting used to the paddle vs the festool triggers and switches.  So easy to control, low profile and smooth.  The abranet paper is also excellent.   I ended up selling the rotex, ets 125, and the 150mm.  I can get by with a RAS 115 and the mirka, hand planes for the rest. 

Too bad it came in a classic yellow systainer and not a T-loc.

That's the combination I'm leaning towards too, though likely the 5" Ceros.  I don't have any power sanders at the moment.

How about festool build the transformer into the systainer?? There would still be enough space then to store the sander with a few accessories inside..............Have a plug going from the systainer to the CT then an out for the sander on the systainer.........COPY RIGHT PLEASE!!

I'm pretty sure you're right, I looked at some pics and it looks pretty well made in there. And the 30' cord is called an "extension cord" and looks like it has a transformer connection on both ends.

I've just been spoiled with the Plug-It cords, I think all tools ought to have them.

Thanx,
Bill

I just saw the Mirka "extension" cord and they have a Male neutrik cable plug, haven't seen that before.  Must be another NAINA Neutrik product.

It makes it easier to make your own plug-it conversion.  Hmmm... I may have to order one just to try.

OK, UPS delivered and there was a big box sitting on the kitchen table when I got home. Grabbed it to head down to the basement and my first impression was that the thing was damned heavy for a tool that I was impressed with because of its weight...

WoodWerks shipped it in a box that very tightly fit the Mirka box which was sized to very  tightly fit the baby-puke-yellow Sys2. Took some prying to separate the layers of corrugated shiptainer but evidently they were enough to prevent UPS from doing their best: The Sys2 was unmarred. But still heavy...

My heart gladdened when I noticed that Mirka had carried on in the time-honored Festool tradition of the self-removing label, I felt right at home. Although they did screw up a little, as you face the Systainer the tool label is on the LEFT of the Sys. The label facing you simply says "Mirka", but it also met my expectations for adhesiveness(or lack thereof).

Opening up the Sys, the first thing I was confronted with was goodies, an Abranet sampler pack containing one of each grit and an additional sampler of the Abranet HD discs in 40/60/80 grits. Haven't found anywhere to buy the HD discs yet, but at least now I have three....

Below lay the sander, the cord(permanently attached), the transformer, some scratch paper otherwise known as a manual, a DVD in a clamshell case and a stamped-steel wrench. Picked up the sander and noticed it definitely wasn't the cause of the weighty box, about the same as I remembered from using it at the show. Picked up the zip-tied cord and found it weighed in at least half-again the sander weight. Next the transformer, it's heavier than the cord... They did add a carrying handle to the transformer, though: a piece of 18-AWG steel cable attached by two crimp-on ring terminals(all insulated). Cheesy...

I had 11 drawers to put together and mount tonight so I put it all back in the Sys and went to work. After I was done, I decided to modify one of them, attacked it with the tablesaw and jigsaw and figured I'd put the sander through its paces cleaning up. Transformer first, to set under the MFT 3. It comes with a power cord, standard PVC coated with all it's associated kinks, looked to be fairly long and I didn't need that so I subbed a short cord I had lying around. Hooked the vac hose up to the Fein, screwed forever to get it mated to the sander, plugged it into the transformer, plugged the sander cord into it, checked the Abranet on the sander(120 grit), flipped the switch on the XFMR and hit the paddle on the sander: Nothing! Panic! Then I figured out I had to turn the sander on.... Once that was done I sanded the cut ends and edges of the drawer with ease, this thing is an absolute joy to work with! Fits right in the palm of your hand, practically weightless compared with any sander I've used, cuts fast and practically no dust. No "stiction" with the Fein, no need to cut back on suction power.

Set it down, grabbed a 180 disc to finish up and discovered that you really, really need to get in the habit of turning the thing off when you change discs: there ain't much of a spring under that palm lever. Changing discs involves laying the sander down upside-down, pulling off the disc and pressing on the new disc. Having the tool spring into life at 10,000 RPM at the last stage of the process is a bit disconcerting  . A stiffer spring for the palm lever would be welcome, IMO.

After finishing up with the drawers I decided to give the HD discs a try. I have a chunk of 8/4 roughsawn walnut leaned up in the corner acclimating so I slapped on the 40-grit disc and went at it hard, full RPM. After a couple minutes the last foot or so of the board was cleaned up, the sander was getting warm, nowhere near uncomfortable to hold. I leaned on it as hard as I could and never slowed it down. I don't know what they've got in that transformer box or inside the sander but it's STOUT! Switched over to the 180 disc(something I'd never do after a 40-grit roughing), another couple minutes and the board's smooth as the proverbial babies butt. Absolutely a-freaking-mazing!

Haven't worked with it long but it looks like this might just be the sander I've always wanted but never believed could be made. Pro: great power, great dust extraction, unbelievably light weight and handling for an electric sander. Con: First and foremost, the price. Once you get over that, the wimpy spring in the actuation lever, the seemingly endless twisting required to attach the hose, the indicator light on the transformer being on the opposite end from the switch.

Keep in mind these are first impressions, but on a 10 scale I'd have to give this baby a solid 9.  First "9" sander I've seen in thirty years....

Best,
Bill

The Abranet HD discs they ship with the Ceros are insane.  I've never seen grit raised up with such as sharp edge.  Felt like I could scrape shavings off my fingernails.  I need to buy the "interface" pad for the Ceros, as I've heard that you can sand off the hooks on the sanding pad as use you higher Abranet grits.

Chris,

I've worked with a mishmash of sanders over the years, the old P-C jitterbugs, some assorted half-sheet orbitals, the P-C ROs in both standard and right-angle versions and various belt sanders. My first exposure to RO sanders was back in the '80s when the shop I worked at bought a couple of the Sioux  DA air sanders, we all thought we had died and gone to Heaven! I moved on and neglected to take the 7-hp shop compressor with me, so for the home shop I made do with the Makita 1/4 and 1/2-sheet orbitals. Worked with a couple of the P-C ROs in the 90's but never bought one. They were 'way beyond my Makitas in cutting power and finish but I couldn't afford to buy one, I was just a carpenter back then....

About ten years or so ago, I bought a black car and discovered the wonderful world of do-it-yourself detailing.   (I still have a bucket of pads to go with the P-C right-angle RO polisher I bought) It was a small step to realize it was also a sander and add the DC kit. I've briefly used(played with) a few others over the years, liked the Bosch 5" RO, a DeWalt or two and a couple of the P-C 5" small sanders, other than annoying Dan whenever he shows up at Highland I don't have any experience with the Festool sanders. Annoyed him some more last Saturday at the Woodworking Show, must have done a good job of it 'cause I left with a Kapex T-shirt   and got to futz around with the RO 90 to boot!

But the Ceros brings back fond memories of the old Sioux DA: cuts like the devil, leaves no marks and weighs next to nothing(I'm exaggerating, at a bit under a couple of pounds it has enough heft to it to make sure you know you're holding it but it's not so heavy you hesitate  to turn it 90 degrees and sand the end of the drawer). It settles right into the hand like it was made to fit, it's a completely natural grip and sanding with it is as close to hand-sanding as you could imagine, just with more power.

I was finishing the bit holders for a drawer on my router table tonight, just a couple of 18" rips riddled with pencil marks and drill fuzz. With my P-C, I would have started with a 120 disc and finished with the 180, the Ceros took it all in stride with the 180, it took more time to get it out and hooked up than it did to sand.

Other than the minor annoyances(did I mention that the "Power On" LED on the transformer is at the opposite end from the power switch?   ) it seems to be a great tool and I have no regrets about the price. Durability and service are unknowns right now and I hope they stay that way, but we'll see....

Shokunin, be careful what you ask for... The interface pad is a foam pad for sanding contours. I think what you want is the pad protector. And if your HD discs are anything like the ones I got I wouldn't get my fingernails or any other body part anywhere near them!

Best to all,
Bill

No video available(at least not until Nikon releases the replacement for the D700   ) but here are some pics:

First couple are side-by-side with the Makita 4510 and the P-C 6":

 

the pad with enough holes to suit just about anybody's disc



Everything(except the AC cord) packed into the Systainer:



Couple shots of the transformer, the first next to a box of 6" discs for a size reference, the second where it lives under the MFT:

 

Lay the sander upside down and it has no problem pressing it's own lever:



Last is a shot of the sander with a Norton 6-hole disc attached, I hope you can see that the holes in the pad are a good bit smaller than the disc. It scatters a little more dust than with the Abranet pad but the DC is very respectable with paper discs, a good bit better than the P-C could manage.




That's about all I could manage tonight but just for you, Brice, a little old-fashioned home-made hand-tool p0Rn:





Enjoy! There's more where that came from ... 

Best,
Bill

Interesting... found technical specs for each, and all look the same, other than color -- didn't check the list of available grits...

Grain: Aluminum oxide
Bonding: Resin over resin
Backing: Polyamide fabric
Coating: Closed

http://www.mirka-usa.com/abranet.html
http://www.mirka-usa.com/autonet.html



For a quick comparison,

Rubin:

Grit: Aluminum Oxide
Bonding: Synthetic Resin
Backing: Paper
Coating: Closed
Bonding Level: Closed


Brilliant 2:

Grit: Aluminum Oxide
Bonding: Synthetic Resin
Backing: Paper
Coating: Closed
Bonding Level: Open


http://www.festoolusa.com/media/pdf/abrasives_brochure.pdf



I suspect the differences in the Abranet / Autonet are probably in the things they aren't listing in their specs...