Microplane Sanding Discs with Festool?

[mntbighker]

I am likely to be acquiring a Festool sander and vacuum soon. I'm curious how many people have experimented with the Microplane  5" sanding discs? What sander did you try it with and in what "mode"? How was the dust extraction affected? I was already leaning towards the RO-125 and since the Microplane product comes in 5" only I might lean that way more? It seems like a pretty attractive and cost effective product if it works as advertised. The thing is they are not a particularly wood working oriented company. Also, I believe there have been other companies offering similar products but they are lost in the cobwebs?

--Mark

 

[woodshopdemos]

Mark,
  I have a box from Microplane with a sample of everything. I like their products but I did not make use of the 5" discs. I have the wonderful Festool Rotex 5" and it is my favorite finishing tool and I had thoughts of using the Microplane with it. Problem: the holes pattern doesnt come close. I saw no reason to even try it if the dust extractor was not going to be used.

 

[mntbighker]

Problem: the holes pattern doesnt come close. I saw no reason to even try it if the dust extractor was not going to be used.

EXACTLY the information I was interested in... thanks a million. I don't suppose you might have shot an email to them to see if they had any plans to remedy the situation by offering different configurations? They act like it's one of the best sanding products available. It's a waste not to marry it with the best sanders ;-)

--Mark

 

[Larry Mayfield]

Just last week I ordered some Abranet (it looks somewhat like the open pore construction of drywall sanding paper) for my sanding experiment, it is five or six inches circle and they have an adaptor that will prolong the life of your hook and loop pad on the Festool sander.  I was quite impressed with the combination.  I was using 400 and 600 grit with my sander on veneer and not going through the veneer.  Up to now I have just hand sanded veneer using the little Festool sanding blocks (which are very handy also).  Check out this link for more info -http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=5922.
Larry Mayfield 

 

[Fred West]

Hey Larry, please give us a shout back after you try out that Abranet setup. I am very curious about it. Thanks, Fred

 

[mntbighker]

Just last week I ordered some Abranet (it looks somewhat like the open pore construction of drywall sanding paper) for my sanding experiment, it is five or six inches circle and they have an adaptor that will prolong the life of your hook and loop pad on the Festool sander.

Too bad they only have a 6 inch Festool pad. In 5 inch I only see B&D and PC. They look interesting though.

 

[bruegf]

I tried an abranet 100 grit disk on a rotex sander at the Grand Rapids woodworking show and it appeared to me that the loop on the abranet disks did not grab well on the rotex pad.  The festool rep that was looking at it with me felt it would not work well.

It will be interesting to hear how it works out and if the abranet abrasives offer any advantage over the festool disks.

Fred

 

[mntbighker]

Bummer, I just went to check if the situation had changed or if other products had been added. It appears Microplane has dropped sanding pads completely  [sad] It's such a shame because it's a brilliant idea for various stages in the finishing process.

 

[Dan Clark]

I tried an abranet 100 grit disk on a rotex sander at the Grand Rapids woodworking show and it appeared to me that the loop on the abranet disks did not grab well on the rotex pad.   The festool rep that was looking at it with me felt it would not work well.

It will be interesting to hear how it works out and if the abranet abrasives offer any advantage over the festool disks.

Fred

Fred,

Did it have the Abranet adapter?  The adapter goes between the Rotex pad and the Abranet disk.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[GaryLaroff]

I have both the RO-125-EQ  and ES-125-EQ and the full complement of Abranet grits up to P-600.  The two sanders work very well with the Abranet "interface pad" and I think the Abranet works a bit faster and lasts longer than Brilliant in the same grits.  Dust collection with the CT-22 is equal to or better than with Brilliant and superior to Brilliant on narrow pieces.

The Abranet works so well that I cut an interface pad and abrasives to fit my DX-93.

Gary

 

[Dan Clark]

I have both the RO-125-EQ  and ES-125-EQ and the full complement of Abranet grits up to P-600.  The two sanders work very well with the Abranet "interface pad" and I think the Abranet works a bit faster and lasts longer than Brilliant in the same grits.  Dust collection with the CT-22 is equal to or better than with Brilliant and superior to Brilliant on narrow pieces.

The Abranet works so well that I cut an interface pad and abrasives to fit my DX-93.

Gary

I have their small hand sander and abrasives for that plus the interface pad and abrasives for my RO150.  I think the Festool abrasives are very good, but I like the Abranet abrasives equally well.

Dan.