If like me you do a lot of working on boats you will know just how much sanding there is. Everything from rubbing down painted surfaces ready for the next coat, smoothing out new woodwork for the interior to sanding a whole hull and everything in between. Sanding can be mind numbing to say the least and anyway that it can be sped up and made more pleasant then so much the better. Dust is another factor too, we don't want to breath the dust nor do we want it floating around the shop, airborne waiting to land on a freshly varnished piece of wood. I have just finished testing the Mirka Ceros Compact Electronic Random Orbit sander and I am very impressed. In fact I would go one step farther and say that this is the best RA sander that I have ever used. At first glance it looks just like an air powered sander but it is fact electric, the motor is a DC unit which runs from a fairly large transformer that comes with the unit. The transformer sits on the bench or whatever and a long lead then connects this to the sander itself. Like an air powered sander there is a paddle on top of the unit which as you grasp the sander turns on the power and starts the motor. Because the unit is so light and compact I was able to use it all day without fatigue. It is also much quieter than either an air sander or a more traditional electric unit and I was easily able to
use it without wearing ear defenders. When connected to a suitable vacuum unit there is almost no dust; although you can use standard hook and loop sanding sheets it works best with Mirka's Abranet sheets which are a mesh style and allow the dust to flow easily through the abrasive and up the dust pipe.
OK so what's the down side. On word; price. I tested the 5 inch version (it's also available as a 6 inch) but it costs almost $500 dollars without the extractor. For this reason alone I don't think they are going to sell many to hobby boat builders and at the other end of the scale the professional boat shop is unlikely to buy these tools either as they normally have a large compressor and can use air sanders costing $50 which have fewer moving parts. So I am not sure who exactly is going to buy this tool, I for one would love to own it as it makes sanding almost a pleasure, fast, quiet and virtually dust free. If money is no object then buy one you'll love it just as much as I do.
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