The new Mirka CEROS sander

Ok heres an update.
I had to sand a small kitchen today with alot of edger work. I Usually go around after I 80 with the edger and remove the swirl marks with my orbital.

So this thing had a killer workout today.

I have the 6" and it more then takes care of the swirls. Most ros's struggle but not this thing. It eats them up!
But I found myself struggling alittle to hold it one handed so I came up with a 2 handed grip. It is a tough learning curve as its so low and theres nothing to hold on to!
Good thing is the power is there. More so then in any other ROS IMO. But harnessing the power is going to take additional $$$.
The abranet is rediculously awesome but it kept flying off when the backing started to get warn out a little. I hope it didnt eat my pad already.
Im ordering the protectors and the soft pad.
I cant believe how powerful this thing is! Its like a mini edger! AWESOME!!!

I think getting it customized to ones task is very important. Its a good thing its so compatible.The stock pad is so flat that I have to lean it to get the lowspots of the flooring. Im in need of a softer pad or a 1/4" thick interface pad or something.
Also the vibration was pretty pronounced with the stiff pad. I actually had to slow it down one to stop the vibration.
 
nehardwoodfloors said:
...The abranet is rediculously awesome but it kept flying off when the backing started to get warn out a little. I hope it didnt eat my pad already.......

....The stock pad is so flat that I have to lean it to get the lowspots of the flooring. Im in need of a softer pad or a 1/4" thick interface pad or something.....
Click to expand...

Well, we know why you killed the pad so quickly. [blink]  I like Abranet but it has a downside, it will shorten the life of the sanding pad from all of the dust and heat.  The interface pads help. 

BTW, we're still waiting for the video and pictures you promised.
 
nehardwoodfloors said:
The whole     Pad getting eaten thing has put a hamper on the stain sample arrant review.  [embarassed]
Click to expand...

Yeah, I bet it has.  Next question, I know you're no stranger to sanding, so how would say you feel about the pad wearing out so quickly?  Do you think it wore out prematurely or did you really beat it up?  Also, this is a good test to see how easy it is to get replacements pads.  I think readily available consumables are an often overlooked aspect of the value Festool's sanders.
 
No doubt it is the abranet that killed it. After a couple 100g abranet disks flew of about 2 min. After putting them on, I switched to norton made festool holed 100g and had no problems.

The pad still works it just doesn't hold the abranets very well.
Kind of looks like the, for lack of a better word, hairs on the back of the abranet disk get pulled out a little causing the failure.

I already ordered a couple of backup pads and protectors..
 
I have a 6 inch Mirka CEROS.. The dust extraction is excellent.. The abranet disks I  have used do not clog up or over heat
The only issue I have had is the with auto start on the Festool vacuums  ...if you put the sander on the lowest speed and put very little load on the sander the vacuum shuts off. So if I am doing light sanding I put the vacuum in MAN mode and that solves the problem
 
I bought a couple of Mirka pad protectors to use autonet on my festools and bought a big box of Abranet HD 60 grit. That stuff is awesome. Hard pad and hard sanding discs should make flattening very easy. That and the rotex will be a pretty mean combo until I get the Ceros.

I dont think bearing down hard with auto/abranet is a good idea, it seems to take take off plenty of wood with only moderate pressure and it helps keep the pad hooks in better condition. The pad protectors are a very worthwhile addition for pad lifespan. Apparently not having a pad brake keeps sworls to a minimum from tests I've read. I'd remove the brakes from the Festool sanders except it would ruin the dust extraction.
 
Update!
This thing rocks. Hands down the best ROS sander ive used.

I had some RO stair tread to sand today. They were new but dirty from workers boots. I putty'd all the anil holes and started in with 1 peice of abranet 100. Wow made it all the way down to the 11th step before I had to change paper! I only changed it because we were under the gun.Paper , norton style would have eaten 5 or 6 disks!

Ive replaced the stock pad with a abranet uni-pad. I love this pad. I would compare it to the stock festool RO150 in density.

i am still learning how to hold it. I almost wish it had a larger body as I find myself wanting to grasp it like I do my RO150. When its on max speed and you have 13 plus steps to sand your hand gets tired holding it. I switch back and forth between hands to help with this.

All in all, great sander. Paired with the abranet it really is the best combo Ive come across. Absolutely awesome!

But not to fret I brought my Ro90 as well and it got a good working on some thresholds. Theres just those steps in your project where the Ro90 cannot be replaced. I love this sander as much as my Mirka!
 
Ok Brice here you go.
These are white oak select peices. Its tough to see but all these would be fine for a floor. They look pretty rough as far as the scratchs but once your a little further away from the wood it looks completely fine. Actually we usually water pop the floors prior to staining but I didnt do that for this as i wanted to see the scratch pattern. Stain is Jacobean or ebony minwax 450 voc I believe.
Lighting and angle played a big part as well. The grit face of paper is norton festool hole pattern 100G. The festool paper is (quite unfairly) 80Gcristal.
IMG_0016.jpg

IMG_0015.jpg

IMG_0014.jpg

IMG_0013.jpg

IMG_0012.jpg

IMG_0011.jpg

IMG_0010.jpg

IMG_0009-1.jpg

IMG_0008-1.jpg


 
thought id post my setup for the ceros. I cut a hole in the bottom of a sys 1 and ran the cables through it. I cant really have extra cables hanging around as ive already tripped over the plugged in tool 100's of times. Festool has replaced it for me twice and they just sent me 2 extras in advance of me breaking them in the future. Fes you guys are #1.

To be honest the converter is a little bit cumbersome. Is it worth it? Without a doubt!!!
Sorry for the mess. My 'shop" is my garage. and its small!

IMG_0129.jpg

IMG_0131.jpg

IMG_0126.jpg
 
allo all
this is my first post on this forum.
I am a bit new on Festool but I just love those tool.
Strangly for my first post, I will post about my new Mirka.
Theire ware a lot of dabate on other forum to know if Festool hose fit into a Mirka:
Here are my 2 videos:

RIP_Ray Mirka - Out of the boxRIP_Ray Mirka - Out of the box

RIP_Ray Mirka Hose testing review

Probably you will take the time to look at my other Festool videos?
I made some of them about my CAPEX, CT26 & TS55

Salutations
Ray

 
Now here's an irony ... I'm in Australia. I can't buy US 110v Festools at your 1/2 the price of the rest of the world (probably subsidised for for purpose of increasing national debt) prices.

Mirka Ceros doesn't have an issue with "full blooded" electricity.

These means I can buy a 150 and a 125 Mirka Ceros for the same price as a RO 150 (YES, two for the price of ONE) ... But here's the thing - a Mirka Ceros isn't a ROTEX. I don't understand why the majority of people that I hear talk about these things compare them to a Rotex when, to me, they're more comparable to an ETS.

Am I missing something here? ... I'm happy to be wrong.
 
Kev

I agree with that. I think there is some confusion on that one. My thought was the same, Ceros is comparable to an ets, not a rotex. And, I believe ets prices are a good bit lower than ro prices.

 
The Ceros is often compared to the RO because when needed it has a very aggressive nature. I tried a demo of the 5" for a week and did a few comparisons with my RO125 and ETS150. I was impressed that the Ceros could rapidly remove material when needed, yet do the fine sanding of the ETS, all in a light wait package. I wouldn't trade the ETS150 for the world but if the need arises for 5" sanding, the RO125 would be gone in a heartbeat.

John
 
By the way, here is a great chart for sander decisions.  The RO90 isn't on this version yet, but it has the same capabilities and functions as the other Rotex models but in smaller size.  Plus it has the delta pad configuration.  Here is the link:  how_to_pick_the_right_festool_sander

how_to_pick_the_right_festool_sander.pdf


Peter

 
Scott B. said:
Kev

I agree with that. I think there is some confusion on that one. My thought was the same, Ceros is comparable to an ets, not a rotex. And, I believe ets prices are a good bit lower than ro prices.
Click to expand...

Curious if you have demo'ed a Ceros Scott?  If you haven't you really should, I can almost guarantee it will become your go to sander.  It really is much more than a ETS. At top speed it spins at 10k rpm's, if you are unfortunate enough to touch skin to the edge of a disk you will not soon forget it.  I think the only reason that the Rotex is more aggressive is that it is heavier and easier to lean/leverage on.  It is harder to get weight onto the Ceros, although I will put one hand on top of the other at times.  The really amazing thing is the balance, you can sand the edge of 3/4" stock without rounding over the edge. Try doing that with a Rotex.  On surfaced boards(pine/poplar) you can turn it on full speed and remove milling marks with 180.  One step sanding. It has halved my sanding time on many projects I used to do with ETS sanders.  That time savings payed for the sander in the first 3 months.  Dedicate a hose to it and  it can live in your hose garage ready for action.
 
Ah, look what you have done, you guys.

I just offloaded my Rotex 150 and will pick up a Ceros next week, the 6".

 
Anyone know a place in the States you can pick up their 250 or 800 model?  All I can find is their middle of the road option...

One other thought; anyone give 'er a pigtail vac hose?  Sacrifice 1' of 27mm AS and add the piece on the end that could connect to your 36mm hose?  I just glossed over the thread, sorry if it's been done already.

Man I do wish they had something like a plug it cord; but that'd be just too darned convenient/Festoolian.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Fine sandpaper end-of-life
Replies
3
Views
1K
Crazyraceguy
Crazyraceguy
ART at WORK
Festool ETS2 150 Battery Sander 577726
Replies
3
Views
319
onocoffee
O
S
Last sanding pass: With the grain? By hand?
Replies
7
Views
463
squall_line
S
M
Sanding/finishing plywood
Replies
11
Views
577
Crazyraceguy
Crazyraceguy
C
Does the Mirka Interface Pad fit the DTS / DTSC 400?
Replies
8
Views
2K
six-point socket II
six-point socket II
Back
Top