Mirka Ceros

I'll see if I can get harder pad.
I checked both machines and they have about the same soft/hardness, I really think the RO series sanders have different mechanics, I have always compared them to beltsanders when in Rotex mode.

Mirko
 
I saw and held one at my loca dealer today and I am quite amazed how light and comfortable it felt.  Especially for non horizontal work it must be perfect.
 
I tried one at a trade show, and its got very nice torque. nice power. VERY VERY VERY smooth feel. I just love every brushless motor I used. like a turntable playing a record. I thought the festool was as good as it gets but was wrong.

However the power inverter crap is just a little too big to want to bring it along to jobs. hence, keep the 150ets.

Also I immediately noticed that the hose outlet is so low (whole thing is shorter than the ets150) that the hose gets caught up on the edge of anything you are sanding. the extra height on the festool is more mobile. I guess you might just get used to it and adjust.
 
I just bought one of Friday and just love it!  Light weight, quiet and very powerful.  I hooked it hook up to my CT22 and almost zero dust.  I was looking at an RO 125 and I have to say I'm so glad I pickup this.
 
I've got the 6" Ceros and have used it for a few hours so far.  In the past, I've rarely used sanders so perhaps my expectations are unrealistic, but I've been experiencing more vibration than I expected (using 100-180 grit).  How are the ETS sanders for vibration?  Are any random orbit sanders actually vibration free or close?
 
What speed setting are you using it at.  I find the top speed gives some vibration but the others are great.  Top speed has similar vibration to a Rotex but is much easier to handle.  The ETS 150/3 probably is a bit smoother, but at it's top speed it is only comparable to mid range on the Ceros as far as effectiveness.

While i have only been using mine for a week I believe that in mid grit ranges ( 80 - 220) it blows the Rotex out of the water.  It is much easier to handle so you can be very precise with stock removal and it glides over the surface in finish sanding.  I was balancing it on a 7/8" face frame and using it on vertical panels to remove stock, two things that would be very challenging to do with my RO125 without some dishing or edge rounding.  At the top two speed settings it really is similar to a rotary mode sander, when you turn it off you can see the pad spin for a long time.  While I have not done any polishing yet I am sure it is up to the task.

Dust extraction is comparable with a Rotex, you will get some spin off at top speeds.  It seemed my ETS150/3 had better extraction, but it was doing the same work in twice the time.  I sold it to buy the Ceros and am not disappointed in my decision.  Now I just have to test the Ceros at finish removal with lower grits, if it passes that test the RO125 is going up for sale as well.
 
Hi Kevin,

I have been using the Ceros at top speed.  I will try dialing it down.

One neat thing I learned by accident is that the sander can be used to create a faceted surface much like that left by a block plane when rounding over an edge.  Very cool!
 
Flair Woodworks said:
Hi Kevin,

I have been using the Ceros at top speed.  I will try dialing it down.

One neat thing I learned by accident is that the sander can be used to create a faceted surface much like that left by a block plane when rounding over an edge.  Very cool!
Click to expand...

I only rarely use top speed when I am trying to take down stock.  Dial it back 2 speeds and I am sure you will be pleased.
 
I have been looking for a light weight controlable 5" sander.  I have an ETS 125 but I've never been completely satisfied with it.  So when I saw the Mirka Ceros 550-CV I had to have one.  However, I did not like removing the end from one of my Festool 27mm vac hoses to thread it into the sander each time I use it.  So I decided to set it up as follows:

[attachimg=#]

I used a Systainer 4 instead of the systainer provided with the Ceros sander.

[attachimg=#]

The sander, transformer and vac hose fit nicely in the systainer 4.

[attachimg=#]

I even attached the lid display from the Mirka systainer in the systainer 4.

[attachimg=#]

I installed industrial strength velcro to the transformer and the systainer lid to mount it while using the sander.

[attachimg=#]

I now can get the sander and the hose out and attach them to the vac and the transformer.  Notice I used velcro tie wraps to attache the power cord to the hose.

[attachimg=#]

I converted the Mirka systainer that the sander came in to a sanding disc storage unit by ordering the 125mm insert trays from my Festool dealer, Dennis Kent with Woodcraft in Matthews, NC.  I used two inserts so I could double up on the grits.

[attachimg=#]

[attachimg=#]

So far I am completely satisfied with the Mirka Ceros sander and have found this setup works great for me.
 
Has anyone who has bought a CEROS had any problems? I had mine for about a month and got to use it for a grand total of six solid hours over that time. Last week I was finishing a job for a client when I began to feel a little more vibration than normal, I paused to have a look and the motor with the pad had dropped out of the housing 3/8's of an inch! [eek].

I was on a deadline and I resorted to my sad old Dewalt ROS, it got the job done but it was pathetic. The next day I did the call into Mirka and I was hooked up with the rep in my area who sent me back to the dealer, where the next day I made a swap for a brand new unit [big grin]! The whole service aspect was dealt with very well, everyone was super nice friendly and they made everything happen fast.

But I just wondering If I had a bum unit or if this is type has happened to anyone else?
 
Flair Woodworks said:
Dan,

Do you recall if the Mirka rep had the sander hooked up directly to the CT, or was an adapter needed?
Click to expand...

You have to thread on the Festool hose as the connector does not fit

Dan Clermont
 
Nice setup Jack and thanks for the idea.  I have a Systainer 4 that came with my cleaning set that I never use so will do the same as you did to store the sander, Festool hose, power cord, and transformer.  I was hoping to be able to re-use the yellow systainer, but I got the 6" model, so the abrasive discs don't fit so well in there.  I think I might purchase a Tanos Systainer 3 and just make my own custom insert.
 
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