Mirka Ceros Owners - Part Number Alert

[Dan Clark]

Hi.  I just picked up a Mirka Ceros this morning at Woodcraft.  It looks to be just the ticket for a big sanding job.    What was very nice is that the sanding pad on the sander fits Festool 6" sandpaper.  That's the good news...

The bad news is that the Mirka sanding pads that Woodcraft sells as "Replacement Pads" are NOT the same as the original pad.  The woman at Seattle Woodcraft (I didn't catch here name) and I hassled with this issue for about 20 minutes.  Drove both of us nuts.

And the really bad news is that Festool 6" sandpaper can NOT be used with the the replacement pads.  Wrong hole pattern.  No center hole.  Do NOT buy them unless you want to use Abranet only!!!

After talking to Mike (nice guy) at Mirka, the correct Mirka Ceros original pad part number is "916GV15".  Its' not marked on the pad, but that's the one you want. 

I found them at Lee Patterson Industrial Equipment: http://www.leepatterson.com/hand-tools/miscellaneous-hand-tools/sanders-accessories/mir-915gv15-mirka-abranet-backing-pad-6-150mm-soft-5-16-52-holes.html .  Very good price too.  I just ordered three.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Julian Tracy]

By very good price, do you mean not a rip-you-off price of $38 a pop like some other pads by a well-known manufacturer?

I think "Fast Fix" must translate to "Doesn't last as long"...

I've never had velcro pads die on sanders before Festool sanders.

Julian

 

[Dan Clark]

Julian,

I got three Mirka pads for $22 each.  Since these are OEM pads, it seems decent to me.  Of course, shipping was $16.    But them's the breaks.  At least I got them.

I'm sure that there are other pads that will fit, but I don't know of any that have an air hole pattern that fits Festool paper.  (I have lots of Festool paper, so that's a biggie for me.)  You know of any after market pads that fit a Mirka Ceros and with a Festool hole pattern?

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Kevin Stricker]

Curious why you are buying replacement pads?  I've got about fifty hours on my original pad and it is still going strong.  Works like a charm with Festool paper.

 

[Dan Clark]

Curious why you are buying replacement pads?  I've got about fifty hours on my original pad and it is still going strong.  Works like a charm with Festool paper.

Kevin,

I'm sanding 1500 sq feet of deck this weekend.  I'm sure I'll be hitting things I shouldn't and will ding it up.  Given that the pads are hard to find, I want insurance. 

Regards,

Dan.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Curious why you are buying replacement pads?  I've got about fifty hours on my original pad and it is still going strong.  Works like a charm with Festool paper.

Kevin,

I'm sanding 1500 sq feet of deck this weekend.   I'm sure I'll be hitting things I shouldn't and will ding it up.   Given that the pads are hard to find, I want insurance.   

Regards,

Dan.

With a 6" sander? [eek]

 

[Dan Clark]

Curious why you are buying replacement pads?  I've got about fifty hours on my original pad and it is still going strong.  Works like a charm with Festool paper.

Kevin,

I'm sanding 1500 sq feet of deck this weekend.   I'm sure I'll be hitting things I shouldn't and will ding it up.   Given that the pads are hard to find, I want insurance.   

Regards,

Dan.

With a 6" sander? [eek]

What?  Are you one of those wimpy guys who use a big pad sander?!?  [smile]

Actually, there is a fair amount of flat area, but also a lot of it is walls, planters, benches, stairs and odd spots where a big pad pad sander won't fit.  And there is the spot sanding of stains and bad spots.    Vlies A100 works very well for stains on the deck boards - it gets into the grain and cleans the stain without destroying the look of the cedar decking boards.

My  RO150 worked pretty well when I tried it.  But is heavy and bulky.  I tried out my new Ceros this evening.  I love the control it gives you.  And the variable speed paddle worked incredible well.  I hit the flat tops of the planters at high speed and feathered some rough edges at much lower speed.  It only took a couple of minutes to get used to it. 

I like my RO150, but I'm amazed at the Mirka Ceros!

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Kevin Stricker]

I agree with Darcy, you will save at least a day of sanding with the pad sander.  I rent by the half day for $35 if memory serves, and 15-20 for the paper and backing pads.

Sure beats 8 hours on your knees.  Last time I sanded a deck that big with a handheld my hands were numb for over a week.

Also Dan, for a big job like that I would buy some Norton pads and paper.  No need for Festool or Mirka abrasives for decking.  One nice thing about the Ceros is the ability to use just about any standard pad.

Oh yea, you might find out that the hand position that Mirka recommends will cause some numbing if used for long periods.  I use a few fingers on the top holding the paddle down most of the time, you can easily control it with a single finger but 2-3 will put more pressure on the pad and when fingers get tired switch to thumb on top and index wrapped around the front and pinkey under the dust port.

 

[Dan Clark]

OK, OK, OK!  While there is still an enormous amount of detail work that needs to be done with a smaller sander, after having carefully reviewed your feedback... I may, possibly, potentially, somewhat consider going to my local R&R rental at 8:15 tomorrow morning and rent a pad sander.  Remember that there is just an infintessimally small, exceedingly REMOTE possibility of renting a pad sander.  And I'll post a pic of the sander on the deck.  If, of course, I rent one.    [cool]

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[jakiiski]

The original Mirka pad 6" is this:

8295692111 150 mm • 5/16” • Medium 1 kpl 1 kpl 6416868938661 39,50
Sisältää suojalaipan

That includes the protector.

However, have you considered using the Mirka interface pads/pad savers? Those usually make the pad last a much longer time and they are relatively cheap. Well, with the 10 pack Abranet you got one included for the same price.

8295611111 150 mm • 57 reikää 5 kpl 1 pakk 6416868926507 20,00
8295610111 150 mm • 67 reikää 5 kpl 1 pakk 6416868941234 20,00

5 for 20 euros, plus I bet they are (again) cheaper in US that in Europe... Although those are made here in Finland.  [tongue]

 

[Dan Clark]

The original Mirka pad 6" is this:

8295692111 150 mm • 5/16” • Medium 1 kpl 1 kpl 6416868938661 39,50
Sisältää suojalaipan

That includes the protector.

However, have you considered using the Mirka interface pads/pad savers? Those usually make the pad last a much longer time and they are relatively cheap. Well, with the 10 pack Abranet you got one included for the same price.

8295611111 150 mm • 57 reikää 5 kpl 1 pakk 6416868926507 20,00
8295610111 150 mm • 67 reikää 5 kpl 1 pakk 6416868941234 20,00

5 for 20 euros, plus I bet they are (again) cheaper in US that in Europe... Although those are made here in Finland.  [tongue]

J,

Hi. I always use a Mirka interface pad on my Ceros.  (I have a five pack.)  Since I'm using it outside next to concrete retaining walls and house walls, the edges (not the pad bottom) gets damaged even when I'm very careful.  That's where the need for extra pads comes from.

Thanks,

Dan.

P.s. The links above don't seem to work.

 

[Dan Clark]

Curious why you are buying replacement pads?  I've got about fifty hours on my original pad and it is still going strong.  Works like a charm with Festool paper.

Kevin,

I'm sanding 1500 sq feet of deck this weekend.   I'm sure I'll be hitting things I shouldn't and will ding it up.   Given that the pads are hard to find, I want insurance.   

Regards,

Dan.

With a 6" sander? [eek]

Darcy, Kevin,

After careful consideration (and a boot in the posterior from you fellows), I rented a pad sander. At $188, including 5 pads and 13 sheets of 36 and 60 grit of sandpaper, it was worth every penny. Except for edges and corners, all of the flat deck area are smooth and clean.

I wanted to post a pic of the pad sander on the deck, but we finally located one about 2:30 and were scrambling the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Thanks,

Dan.

P.s. I've become one of those wimpy guys who use a pad sander.  [eek]

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Your back and knees will be thanking you for the next couple weeks.

 

[Dan Clark]

Your back and knees will be thanking you for the next couple weeks.

Oh yeah! [thumbs up]

 

[Michael Kellough]

A Google search on "pad sander" is un-productive. Is this a Canadian/UK term?
It's not like you to be so vague Dan. Wish you had taken a picture.

 

[Dan Clark]

Michael,

This is what they are referred to here in Washington State.  Here's  a pic from the place where I rented it: http://rr-rentals.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=32&id=407

Regards,

Dan.

 

[jakiiski]

Hi. I always use a Mirka interface pad on my Ceros.  (I have a five pack.)   Since I'm using it outside next to concrete retaining walls and house walls, the edges (not the pad bottom) gets damaged even when I'm very careful.  That's where the need for extra pads comes from.

Do you use the edge protector then, would that help save your pad?

 

[Dan Clark]

Hi. I always use a Mirka interface pad on my Ceros.  (I have a five pack.)   Since I'm using it outside next to concrete retaining walls and house walls, the edges (not the pad bottom) gets damaged even when I'm very careful.  That's where the need for extra pads comes from.

Do you use the edge protector then, would that help save your pad?

J,

As far as I know, the Ceros does not have an edge protector like the Festool sanders. At least on the side of the pond.

Regards,

Dan.