Random Orbital is dead...again.

Dave Diefenderfer

Dave Diefenderfer

Well-known member
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Guess I got my money's worth.... Bought this Ridgid 6" ROS from HomeDepot. Used all the 3 year warrentee... bought it in July of 09, and fried it again last evening.... now the closest repair center (20 miles and inside the Beltway) does not do the repairs anymore. May try to send it off for repair, or just toss it. I had it repaired 3x already under warrentee. Ironic that the 5" Bosch is still working just fine! Boought another sleeve of 5" discs for it last night. But would like to have the 6" larger, surface coverage and more power than the 2.3A Bosch. So looking for a sanity check.... go expensive, or go cheap more often? The Ridgid is $114, a better Bosch or Porter Cable is $230, and they don't have the dust pick-up which works pretty well on the Ridgid....

What else should I consider? Buddy at work says go air.. but then I need to buy a compressor too. And then I have 2 noise makers going!
 
Dave,
Have you looked it over to see why its dead? Lots of things on my dads (that I borrow every time I do a boat) can be repaired by just ordering parts. Maybe we can help you fix it. What kind of broken is it?
 
Pretty sure the bearings failed again. I will pursue the warrentee one more time if I can, then tear it apart myself if need to.
 
Air is the only way to go, in most cases easy to fix (if something goes wrong), no motors to go bad, just remember to lube regularly and wear some ear plugs or better yet if you are doing a lot of sanding a respirator mask with ear muffs.

Yes you need a compressor but you will find it to pay for itself in the long run. You can do some many more things with air usually for less money than you can ever do with power tools (after you get a compressor that is up to task)

Just my 2 cents, I brought a used compressor and a bunch of tools at an estate sale and have not looked back since.
 
I have a 4" and 5" porter cable, they are both over 8 years old and still working fine.

I have another flex orbital and that is a nice machine also
4 years and counting on that one.
 
Dave, how many more boats or projects do you truly see yourself starting/completing in the next 10-15 years? IF it is a bunch, the ease of using Air will be night and day, I find it quieter than electric (have compressor in another room that is insulated) then you find other needs for the compressor. Brad nailers, pin nailers etc. makes life way easier. That said, if you are winding down on bigger projects, and just want another 6" then look on line at the review they get in Fine Woodworking etc. Fein, Festool always get high marks, but damn the price is crazy. Bosch or Porter Cable are usually up near the top. Makita often wins. Ridgid is getting better, but still not there. Dewalt is STARTING to make a comeback in quality...I have Milwaukee drills/impact and other tools, never tried their sanders.

One last plug for air, less vibration for me, lighter, so less fatigue on the hands and if you have Carpel Tunnel less irritation to that...
 
OK, let's assume I can afford to go to air... I already have a pancake compressor I used with my nail guns, and filling tires and such. I also already have a couple other air tools that I picked up new in the box at a yard sale years ago (die grinder, drill, torque driver, and wrench I think).... What do I need to get for a compressor, and what for the DA? I am assuming a stand up unit mostly to save garage floor space, which already don't have room for.... how big do I need to run the DA for a couple hours, without having to wait for it too much?
 
If your going to go air which is the best way to go. Take a long look at Hutchins air tools. There American made and would last you the rest of your life. If you do have a problem they will rebuild any tool for $25 I bought my first Hutchins DA in 1971 I've had it rebuilt once. It is due again. The model I have is no longer made but is so good they have a waiting list of guys that want one. They have a replacement model but it is lighter and guys really like the additional weight. It cuts faster then any other DA i've used. I looked up on line and one of there sanders with vacume is $285.00 I got luckey last year and bought a Hutchins 5700 DA , Air board, and gitter bug at auction for $20 each. I couldn't believe my luck. As far as an air compressor goes. The spec's on the air tool will tell you the air requirements. Good luck.

Tom.
 
first link is to a whole list of air DA sanders, take your pick. the second one is for the Hutchin's mentioned, to me this is a personal choice, you make it. The third is to a random compressor I looked up. 80 gal, 4.5 HP has 14 cfm production, average sander is around 8-10 range. that compressor or one like it is more than fine. So....for 1K you have a new sander. Feins run 3-400 min....that said, look on craigs list, they often have large compressors for sale. believe it or not, my wife picked mine up from a garage sale for 20 bucks. (love that woman!!) brought it home in the van and said "gee honey, do you think you might be able to use this???"

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=n%3A552888%2Cp_n_power_source_browse-bin%3A2380554011&page=1

http://www.amazon.com/Hutchins-3570-Performance-Random-Sander/dp/B0014DGQKK/ref=sr_1_12?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1339001530&sr=1-12

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardware-Air-Compressors-Tools-Accessories-Stationary-Compressors/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbb2r/R-202657515/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

again, not saying that air is the only way to go, but just another option and a rather nice one. There is a reason most large shops all run them, efficiency.
 
Another good thing about air, is that if you do any sorta framing and or trim/finish work, air finish & framing guns are simply fantastic.
 
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