mirka sander with ct36

[treesner]

Hey guys was looking to get the its 150/3 but then saw the mirka which has the variable speed, seems great for the shaping work I do.
Was curious if the CT36 would work well with this mirka sander? I believe the hose should screw in but can you plug the big DC pack into the festool so the vac turns on when you turn the sander on? Maybe a little annoying not having the same chord as the rest of the festools but seems like a good tool.

 

[jonathan-m]

Hi treesner,

I use a Mirka Deros 650 in combination with a Festool vac all the time. Works flawless and why wouldn't it. The 27mm hose fits perfectly on the dust port without any issues or modifications.

Due to the design of the pad on the Deros, you can leave the vac on full power without the sander sticking to the surface.

I have the 5mm stroke version, in combination with the Abranet sandpaper it leaves just as good a finish than a regular 3mm stroke sander. You can safely go with the 5mm stroke and get faster material removal without any risk of swirl marks.

The Deros is the best ROS on the market, hands down! You can mount 125 & 150mm pads, it's extremely light and manouverable, gives excellent results without any swirl pattern due to the Abranet paper and the best dust collection I've ever seen on a sander. Mirka really hit it out of the park with this sander.

 

[Kev]

Isn't there a MOG somewhere ??

[member=14783]jonathan-m[/member] I'm curious how much side by side evaluation you've done of the Deros and the ETS150 EC's using identical abrasives?

I do like Abranet. Good product.

 

[jonathan-m]

I might be gushing a bit, but it really is a very cool machine.

 

[Simon (UK)]

I use a Deros with a midi vac. Works very well and hose fits perfectly.
I've started using the Abranet ace and it seems to last better.

S.

 

[junk731]

Isn't there a MOG somewhere ??

[member=14783]jonathan-m[/member] I'm curious how much side by side evaluation you've done of the Deros and the ETS150 EC's using identical abrasives?

I do like Abranet. Good product.

That's the problem Kev there are no other sites like the FOG for Festool or the FOG for Felder, so they all come to these sites to unload baggage, to praise or criticize. The Deros is suppose be a good sander but if you talk to those that sell them the service life is poor. I have a friend that sells both and told me outright if you want to use a Deros buy 2 so you can have one to use while the other getting repaired. Now this is in a pro setting to qualify.

Abranet is an OK paper but depending on what your sanding can be a PITA with its mesh design. Considering what it costs it should be a lot better.

John

 

[Holmz]

I use a Mirka 5650CVS ( the 230v version with both the 5" and 6" pads). CT 26 works with it fine.
For 230v you either need US220v and an EU outlet, a 220v dryier plug with an Eu end,  or the transformer like timberwolf sells to go from US to EU.
That assumes that you can use the 5"/6" or prefer to run it on higher voltage / less current.

It is pretty much what the ETS EC was based off of, which is one of Festool's best (IMO).

 

[Steve-Rice]

I would like to respectfully disagree with the statement that "The Deros is the best ROS on the market, hands down! ".  In addition to Mirka's notoriously bad reputation for service (or should I say, lack thereof), I don't like the paddle power switch as this limits the way I have to hold the sander. When sanding for extended periods of time, I like to change hands or the way I hold the sander frequently.  Sometimes I just like to hold the vac hose to extend my reach on large areas - you can't do that wth the Mirka Deros.  I have the ETS EC 150/3 and I personally think this sander kicks Deros' butt. I prefer to have a numbered dial for variable speed, so I can see at a glance what the speed setting is ( can't do that with Deros).  I love the anti- vibration electronics on the ETS EC, ( don't have that on Deros). I like having hard, soft and super soft sanding pads (don't have those for Deros). Throw in 30 days free trial period and Festool's reputation for quality service and there's really no comparison.

I  ALWAYS use my CT 26 on full suction and the ETS EC just glides over the work.

I will, however, say that I prefer Abranet abrasives. I took a Mirka pad protector and punched the Festool hole pattern into it and I use the Abranet abrasives on the ETS EC with the pad protector. It performs flawlessly!

In my humble opinion, Festool's ETS EC 150 sanders are king of the hill.

 

[Holmz]

[member=29138]Steve-Rice[/member] I see your points. The paddle is a preference. While I like it, I can see that some may not. The ETS EC is nice. Woodcraft has both so it is not hard to see what the fuss is about if there is a shop around. In 120v the ETS EC may also be a safer option, but I like the DEROS almost as much as a 1/2 sheet sander. It would be hard to go wrong other than feature preference.

However for shaping, there are smaller sanders. Mirka make a 90-mm and 75-mm DEROS (and a 43 or something small). I am not a general fan of the RO sanders, but as the gentleman from Santa Cruz mentioned shaping, the RO-90 seems like it could be worth looking at? Personally I would not want to use it for flat surfaces, and any /150 or 1/2-sheet sander makes more sense on the flats.

 

[ear3]

There was a thread in the past year doing a comparison of the mirka with the festool ECs.  I've searched but can't find it however.  Anyone remember or have the link?

 

[treesner]

[member=29138]Steve-Rice[/member] I see your points. The paddle is a preference. While I like it, I can see that some may not. The ETS EC is nice. Woodcraft has both so it is not hard to see what the fuss is about if there is a shop around. In 120v the ETS EC may also be a safer option, but I like the DEROS almost as much as a 1/2 sheet sander. It would be hard to go wrong other than feature preference.

However for shaping, there are smaller sanders. Mirka make a 90-mm and 75-mm DEROS (and a 43 or something small). I am not a general fan of the RO sanders, but as the gentleman from Santa Cruz mentioned shaping, the RO-90 seems like it could be worth looking at? Personally I would not want to use it for flat surfaces, and any /150 or 1/2-sheet sander makes more sense on the flats.

With the mirka doesn't it have a 220 conversion to 120 plug?
Curious if i'll be able to use the mirka with the extension chord power i use for my litle shed shop?

edit: this says on the deros they get rid of the power pack conversion and plugs right into a normal wall outlethttp://www.popularwoodworking.com/tools/tool-reviews/deros-random-orbit-sander

as for shaping
yeah in school after using a grinder i would move to a small disk on an air tool then move to a larger air sander much like the deros. However i'm in need of an all around sander right now for some cabinetry work. but perhaps a good solution (not cheap) would be a small mirka and then the 6" ets 130/3..

I wasnt able to find the small mirka on the sitehttp://mirka-online.com/mirka-tools-accessories-1/deros.html

 

[treesner]

Hi treesner,

I use a Mirka Deros 650 in combination with a Festool vac all the time. Works flawless and why wouldn't it. The 27mm hose fits perfectly on the dust port without any issues or modifications.

Due to the design of the pad on the Deros, you can leave the vac on full power without the sander sticking to the surface.

I have the 5mm stroke version, in combination with the Abranet sandpaper it leaves just as good a finish than a regular 3mm stroke sander. You can safely go with the 5mm stroke and get faster material removal without any risk of swirl marks.

The Deros is the best ROS on the market, hands down! You can mount 125 & 150mm pads, it's extremely light and manouverable, gives excellent results without any swirl pattern due to the Abranet paper and the best dust collection I've ever seen on a sander. Mirka really hit it out of the park with this sander.

thanks for the info, i was trying to decide between the 2.5 and the 5, was leaning toward the 2.5 but you're swaying me otherwise

 

[Jamestoolie]

Hi treesner,

I use a Mirka Deros 650 in combination with a Festool vac all the time. Works flawless and why wouldn't it. The 27mm hose fits perfectly on the dust port without any issues or modifications.

Due to the design of the pad on the Deros, you can leave the vac on full power without the sander sticking to the surface.

I have the 5mm stroke version, in combination with the Abranet sandpaper it leaves just as good a finish than a regular 3mm stroke sander. You can safely go with the 5mm stroke and get faster material removal without any risk of swirl marks.

The Deros is the best ROS on the market, hands down! You can mount 125 & 150mm pads, it's extremely light and manouverable, gives excellent results without any swirl pattern due to the Abranet paper and the best dust collection I've ever seen on a sander. Mirka really hit it out of the park with this sander.

thanks for the info, i was trying to decide between the 2.5 and the 5, was leaning toward the 2.5 but you're swaying me otherwise

I use the ras and RO 90 for shaping wood and fiberglass sculptures.  Not so practical for sanding large surfaces. 

 

[Holmz]

The 5650cvs /5 is a 5-mm stroke.
It is quicker 'n a beaver at going through wood.
As that is only 230v I got it shipped from Finland for 50Eu.
There are other 120v ones.

If you get a ETS EC I would say /5 as well.
The deros also comes in /8, and there is a Rupes pneumatic in /13.
The 1/2 sheets are usually 2 to 2-1/2 mm so a 2.5 Random orbital seems like it is pointless if one has a half sheet.

Do you have a compressor? Of so maybe just go pneumatic for the shaping?

The point is the DEROS and the uva115e both connect to the CT vacuums like they are part of the system.
I am sure a ETS would fit on a Bosch or Starmix vacuum too. They are all pretty much the same.

 

[treesner]

The 5650cvs /5 is a 5-mm stroke.
It is quicker 'n a beaver at going through wood.
As that is only 230v I got it shipped from Finland for 50Eu.
There are other 120v ones.

If you get a ETS EC I would say /5 as well.
The deros also comes in /8, and there is a Rupes pneumatic in /13.
The 1/2 sheets are usually 2 to 2-1/2 mm so a 2.5 Random orbital seems like it is pointless if one has a half sheet.

Do you have a compressor? Of so maybe just go pneumatic for the shaping?

The point is the DEROS and the uva115e both connect to the CT vacuums like they are part of the system.
I am sure a ETS would fit on a Bosch or Starmix vacuum too. They are all pretty much the same.

this would be my main sander for finish work, which is why i was thinking that the 5mm would be a little to aggressive, however that was when i was looking at the festool, i guess the deros/their abrasives are a little different so 5mm is fine?

I don't have a compressor but will probably get a really small one (space is super tight) because a simple brad nailer would be nice (dont hear anything good about the electric corded options). Do you think a small tank compressor will run the air sanders ok?

other than the additional 200 dollars my main reservations against the deros is that i hear alot of people saying they break down on them, seems like quality control is an issue at mirka? i'm not using in a professional setting so it won't be going through daily use like most so maybe i'll be alright

 

[Holmz]

It may be like the Kapex, where the 110v seem to be more problematic.
Which is 1/2 the reason I got the 5650 in 230v.

Even if you get an ETS EC, if you start using the Mirka screen you will be hooked .
As they fit on everything with hook-n-loop it is not like you need to be "in system" to use them. They work on ryobi , B&D, Bosch, FT,Hiachi, lucky starfish trading and Mirka sanders.

I am fully committed to 230/220v.
My 1/2 sheet is also 230v and for finish work on flats it is nice.
There is a transformer, or in a shop you get an outlet. The 230v tools from the EU are usually priced well too. And I am free from worry, about them lasting.

If you are 120v and do not like the warranty of Mirka get the ETS EC (in 5-mm).

My niece is a sea slug I think... They must have a wood craft somewhere around you?
I would fondle both and see which you prefer.

 

[SS Teach]

Has anyone thought of starting a Mirka Owners Group web site? I've read a lot about them on the FOG. Someone out there must have a teen or preteen in their family who could do this.

 

[treesner]

think i'm going to pull the (variable speed) trigger on the mirka deros 6" 5mm. I just liked using the variable speed paddle on air tools to much, works great for curves, don't think the variable speed will get much use on larger items but it looks like its easy to just set it on a certain speed so you can hold the paddle down and be like other sanders. I think it would be nice for this mode to have a paddle lock, like normal sanders have a trigger lock. maybe theres some kind of easy hack with velcro on the sides and a piece going over it to keep it closed?

 

[jonathan-m]

You can configure the Deors either way.
Either the speed is controlled by how far you press in the paddle switch or the speed is controlled by the speed setting buttons and the paddle is just the trigger, regardless of how much pressure you exert on it.

 

[treesner]

You can configure the Deors either way.
Either the speed is controlled by how far you press in the paddle switch or the speed is controlled by the speed setting buttons and the paddle is just the trigger, regardless of how much pressure you exert on it.

yeah i realize that i just mean it might be nice to lock the paddle down so you don't have to hold it in front the top when doing big jobs. tend to let it float for huge boards when the hands are tired