▼EXPAND FOR LINKS TO THE TOOLS▼ Festool Sander Review ► ua-cam.com/video/ifVesG68MWI/v-deo.html Tools In This Video: 3M 5-inch Sander - lddy.no/1cool 3M 6-inch Sander - lddy.no/1coom 3M Xtract Sandpaper - lddy.no/1cook (25% off through September 2022). Other Tools Seen in Video - Festool ETS125 Sander - amzn.to/3cHJJiB Festool Rotex Sander - amzn.to/3q8nx4e Festool Dust Extractor - amzn.to/3RyTj68 DeWALT Sander - amzn.to/3ROYQG7 More Awesome Tools Under $30 DFM Square: amzn.to/3Jfb5H2 Thin Rip Jig: amzn.to/3LKm2lB DFM Saw Height Gauge: amzn.to/3jidia1 Small F-Clamps: lddy.no/157u9 (If you use one of these Amazon and other affiliate links, we may receive a small commission) Some other useful links: -Daily Tool Deals on our website: www.731woodworks.com/tool-deals -Subscribe to our email Newsletter: mailchi.mp/7e44c16eefdc/731-woodworks-email-newsletter -Check out our easy-to-follow woodworking plans: www.731woodworks.com/store
not really new plenty other sanders just like this 3m i use the porter cable 6in da in have for like 2 decades now as a autobody sander n thats the thing thats new there marketying smooth da autobody type sanders to woodworkers i mean its a 3m the largest auto body supplier there is theres a the porter cable one is bout 150 n even harbor frieght has one for 50 to 70 not new just newly pushed to wood worker hell been using mine for woodworking for years as have sevral others
I purchased the 3M sander after watching reviews on youtube, yours included. It died a few months after light use. It also generated quite a bit of static electricity using it with both a festool and then a 3M extractor. Took a month to get a replacement, but it was done under warranty. I was told they “some problems” with the first generation, and the replacement would not have the same issues. Six months later, the replacement sander is dead. It works well when it works, but I would suggest avoiding it.
To me, as a hobbyist who's budget is smaller than all the Woodpecker tool users, that price is out of my range. I avoid so much sanding by using a card scraper and/or a smoothing plane. I avoid vibration issues by holding my DeWalt at the hose and a couple of fingertips on top of the sander. If you don't like that idea, get some anti-vibration gloves. I hook my sander up to my shop vac and that noise is much worse than my sander. On goes the hearing protection. My favorite way to do that is with noise cancelling headphones.
A more apt comparison on the Festool end would be the ETS 125 or 150 EC line, not the ETS 150. The EC models have a quieter, lower profile, and more powerful brushless motor just like the 3M and mirka, and you can choose between 3 and 5 mm orbits. Only main difference is the lack of a paddle switch. Would love to see a comparison with this model and the mirka for a true apples to apples.
I agree it is more apt. I only have around 100 hours on my 3M, but more than that on the ETS line. I personally give the edge to the 3M. I have cubital tunnel in both arms and I can go almost an hour longer on the 3M than the ETS before the pain is too much. Dust collection on the 3M is better as well. This is anecdotal I realize, but having used both for long enough to know, the 3M is about 11% better. :)
Please do a comparison video with just high end sanders > $300. Gotta do a side by side in action with Mirka and Festool at least. Maybe then do a budget sander review, Sanders < $150. Your tools keep upgrading to a range many viewers can't afford. It should be mentioned the 3M is a commercial/industrial tool, not a typical consumer item. Keep the faith, stay blessed.
Thanks for the review. I use a Dewalt and I agree the vibrations that sander puts off is so strong. I wear headphones while sanding because sometimes I need to dance a little, but anyways, it definitely makes my hand numb after prolonged use. I will start saving to get a 3M so that I can have less of a shell shocked hand after sanding. *For color, I spray paint my tools light pink haha.
If you are into Festool then you should compare this to the ETS-EC 150 / 5. It's every bit as good as the 3M and doesn't have the annoying paddle switch.
The 3M sander isn't just a lower volume, it's also a lower pitch. It's so nice that I can actually fire it up and still hear Matt's video without any issue. I haven't had a chance to use mine yet, but I may not actually hate (this part of) sanding for a change!
Sanding is not a chore, it is a privilege. It is an opportunity to go that extra mile to achieve some resemblance of perfection, which should be enjoyed by anyone who takes pride in their work.
I've been searching for a replacement for my Milwaukee cordless sander and came across this from one of my subscribed channels. Thank you. This looks like it might fit my needs.
I sand for a living. I refinish wood floors and say I have a lot of Sanders would be a understatement. The newest sander I'm highly impressed with is the Bosch gex 18 volt. It has the same low profile but it's cordless and the batteries last incredibly long time. It's only a 2.5 stroke but it seems to work well and most impressive is it's dust collection seems excellent at 120 bucks I think you'd be impressed
I bought one of these from Tay Tools. Words cannot begin to describe this sander. There is nothing to compare this too. It is uniquely amazing! Fast, smooth, no vibration, and ….. NO DUST ! This is actually fun to use and the end results are wonderful! Big game changer. Try one.
Throughout the years I’ve invested so much money on different sander, corded and cordless. I’ve tried Rigid, Makita, Bosch, Dewalt, Metabo and others I can’t even recall. My opinion is don’t waste your money. I do a lot of sanding and the 3M sander is effortless. It saves me so much time. It does what it claims to do. If you are a small woman like me, you need to get yourself a 3M sander. The 3M XTRACT sanding disc will also save you money.
3m also sells a soft sanding pad adapter for this orbital sander. Just bought this for my wife as she has been furniture flipping since last summer and I have been taking hints that she is seriously wanting to up her sanding game. We’ll see who uses the sander more 😊
You should be trying Rupes. Seriously good gear. I've been a heavy woodworking machinery repairman for years, and now and again I'd be handed a boxful of dead or dying power tools, they're not my specialty but for a good customer I'd do it. I factor in things like spares availability, ease of use, effectiveness, finish, durability, and standard of manufacture. I've even gone to the trouble of looking through the insides with a microscope to check out bearing journals and such. In my experience the best sanders by far, and I mean really far, are the Rupes sanders.
I jumped on the opportunity to get this sander (5mm 6 inch) and I really don’t think I will ever regret it. It’s amazing. I was considering the Mirka but couldn’t bring myself to spend the money yet. I’m glad I waited!
My 6" died in the middle of a project. I had been using it for 15 minutes (total time on the tool could not have exceeded 15 hours). It shut off and would not come back on. It's a known issue they've apparently fixed. To their credit, they offered to repair or refund me, but I'm hesitant to give 3M another try. (I ended up buying a Rotex to get my project done anyways). They should have issued a recall for early supporters of the lemon models vs waiting to have them fail mid-project and jump through hoops of customer support.
I just bought a new bosch 18v ros sander and while it’s probably not up to festool mirka or 3m, it’s by far my favorite big box sander I’ve tried. Ergos, (lack of) vibration and dust extraction are great. Paired with the 3m cubitron discs and it’s leaps and bounds better than anything else in that $ range
The Bosch ros sander with direct drive "turbo" option is a good sander. Comes in 5 or 6 inch. Idk which one you got. But it's Boschs take on the festool rotex but only 300$. It works great.
I got my 3M 5" sander and I was not impressed. I am amazed at how fast I was able to get the surface SMOOTH! I started with the 80 Grit, then 120, and even though the job did not need it I finished with 180. You let 3M know I purchased their 3M 5" orbital sander because of your evaluation! I agree it is an AMAZING sander! Oh, it's half the decibels as my cordless.
Rotex changed my life, my workflow, and my profitability. LISTEN TO THE POWER IN THAT ROTEX! Vroom. The other day i sanded about 1/16th off the bottom of a stair edge to flush up to a tile floor @ a slight angle. The rotex had it done in under 2 minutes with delicate precision. Took longer to setup... I can sand concrete patch if i want. Its faster than grabbing the grinder and the flap wheel if the sander is around. But then i can also use it to finish sand a hot wax repair on hardwood flooring to get the sheen the same with a white scotch brite @ 1500 grit. Truly amazing tool! I think makita might make something similar to the rotex. Would love to see a deep dive on that.
I would love something like this, especially with the joints in my hands already having issues, but my budget is about 10% of what these go for lol, I didn't even know hand held sanders could get that high.
Try the Bosch gex 18 volt it's the same style but cordless and I have to tell you it's a pleasure to use. The batteries last incredibly long time when I bought mine you got a free battery and charger for 120 bucks couldn't beat that deal
***Additional Comments*** Check out Bents Woodworking channel and look for, “Festool Sanding Comparison”. This guy is the true Festool aficionado! He owns and uses every sander. The Rotex was meant to be a compromise between a heavy duty sander to remove a LOT of material and a fine sander, but something had to give for one unit to do both so it’s priority is heavy sanding, which is why I bought the EQ 150/5. I have never handled a Mirca, but from what I gather, the Mirca and EQ 150/ 3 or 5 are on par with each other. It just depends on your ergonomics preference. I have heard that 3Ms is basically on pare with the other two and that there’s no reason to drive either one of those to get the 3M sander.
What 3M mainly did in order to prevent vibrations (not their speech, just exercising my mechanics’ eye) is that they displaced the motor compartment beside the rotary pad, effectively lowering the hight of the machine and, hence, its center of gravity. Therefore, they largely reduced the ultra rapid wobbling due to the drag of a heavy higher component. BUT how 3M reduced the sound to a soothing buzzing is mesmerizing. I wish I could open this sander!
Baffles. The baffles are also how they get the maximum dust extraction. I am going to go out on a limb here and say the Mirka patents have sunset. The insulation is more than likely graphene based which helps with the sound. Just call me “Cliff Klavan” from “Cheers” or “Tyrion Lannister” from “Game of Thrones” “That’s what I do……I drink and I know things”
@@MarineScoutSniper Hear, hear, Sir; we might have more than mechanics in common 🙌. I had to search for the word « baffles », since English is a second language to me. I’ll probably agree 100% with you with. Did you imply that the baffles in this case act like a car’s silencer? (That the sound waves neutralize themselves by rebound?) I’ve never seen this on a pro-grade tool, but since there’s an actual outlet on a sander, I’d say it is both exceptional and... a given! Thank you for your input.
That Dewalt is still a great sander and a great bargain. Its hard to justify $450+ for a sander. Lol I could get a bench planer or any number of other tools for around that price.
That’s what I was thinking. $450 is way over my budget for an orbital sander as a DIYer. I bought a Dewalt miter saw, a Dewalt finish router the orbital sander and $50 toward a Massca M2 pocket hole jig for about $450. (Matt loves him some pocket hole jigs)
I have a Dewalt sander like yours there. Outside of the noise, I have no issues with it. To help with the hand fatigue, btw, you can hold it backwards and it balances. I hold it with the cord and dust collection hose facing away from me. This means it balances with the weight of your hand/arm, with the hoses pulling to tilt away and your hand/arm countering that. Much easier on the wrist and palm.
Just received the 3m sander 6” bought as a kit with the 3m dust extractor. Was very disappointed to find the hose from the dust extractor doesn’t hook up to the sander it was sold as a kit. I’ve emailed Taylor tools to find out what adapter I need to connect the two. I’ve used it momentarily without the dust collector but it’s head and shoulders better than my wife’s Festool 150, quieter, smoother running and just feels so much better. The Festool sounds like it falling apart, the 3m butter smooth.
How have we made it this far as a society without some reasonable dust-collection standards? Why is melting PVC and duct tape always involved? It truly is a crazy situation, and sure shouldn't be!
Just came here from your latest short…I’ve honestly got to get myself one of these! I have pretty bad arthritis in my hands and wrists, and although I manage, this would be a wonderful change. 🙂
The 3m cubitron paper is a game changer for sure. It cuts faster, dust collection is far superior than anything on the market. I suggest that you buy a sample pack, you'll never go back. Great review Matt.
Matt, I’m shopping for a new sander and like most I research until my eyes start to bleed. I was about to pull the trigger on the 3M but I came across the MAXXT 6303. The reviews I have read have been really good. The MAXXT is about $200 less expensive. I would like your feedback if possible or maybe do a review? I really enjoy your channel, it has helped me tremendously. Thank you for time and keep up the great work. 💪🏼
I would be interested to know what the longterm support 3M guarantees would be. You could have a Festool RO150 from 15 years ago and the new version of the sanding pads still work on it. That is an often overlooked benefit of Festool, they keep support for their tools for years.
Not only support from an accessories perspective, but on service too. I've sent Festool service a few of my tools that were waaaay past warranty, and they've never charged me a dime to fix and send back via overnight express (even though I was prepared to be charged). Hard to beat that.
3M have been manufacturing professional finishing products for the automotive industry for decades. 3M have manufactured sandpaper since 1905, so they know a thing or two about sanding!
I've just started watching your videos in the last couple of weeks and am thoroughly enjoying them. You do beautiful work! I'm hoping to get into woodworking in the near future if a new treatment works for me, and find your videos extremely informative. Cheers from TO!
You should try the pneumatic version! We use the 3M pneumatic, which is exactly like yours only, air powered of course. The 3M is just an outstanding random orbit sander. I use one pretty much all day and it is incredibly comfortable. I work in a high end furniture shop making chairs, and this sander gets into small areas a big box sander would never fit. Not only can you adjust speed with the button, but the paddle trigger is like a gas peddle, controlling speed as well. I like mine at work so much I bought one for my home shop. He's not kidding, these 3M sanders are your dream sander. He needs to get the pneumatic version, however you need a big 80 gallon or more compressor to run the air versikn as it requires 17scfm at 90psi.
I second @Cole Langford - great comment. I now have another reason to get me one. 🙂 Edit: the part about the paddle trigger working similarly to a gas pedal, that is. Nice!
Can't wait till you do a review of the 3M dust extractor. Looks amazing and I would love to hear your thoughts and if you think it's as good as many seem to
I'll stick to my $19.99 Bauer. You better be making money with your dust and chios to spend that kind of cash. If your hand/arm are sore after 20 minutes of sanding, you may be putting too much pressure on your sander. I'd also recommend a little money on an adjustable height table. A comfortable and varying height can help a lot with fatigue.
Matt, Bought this sander due to your high praise shortly after after you posted this video last year. Sander was great for a few months. After that, it started glitching and overheating. Now I’m lucky if it will run for 30 minutes before it quits. I’m trying to finish a desk for my son and now need a replacement. I went on 3M’s website where it’s sitting at 1.7 stars due to the same issues. Reviews on Amazon also highlight the same issue with little to no response or support from 3M. This sander is junk and 3M needs to go back to the drawing board. I love your videos for your honesty and integrity. I would ask you to take a look and assess if you would still recommend this sander today and if this video should have a caveat highlighting the reliability of this tool. I wish I had bought the Festool and had the backing of the 3 year warranty. Lesson learned!
Thank you for giving me the feedback. Mine hasn't experienced any issues yet. I'm sorry you've had problems with yours. Did you try to get it fixed under warranty?
I grabbed the 6" from Tay Tools several months ago when Stumpy Nubs featured it on his channel. Best sander I have ever had in my hand. Everyone reading this should go buy one right now if you use an orbital sander.
Have you noticed that your 3m Xtract sander is getting warm after about 10 to 15 minutes of use? I bought a 6 inch and I had to exchange it for another because it was getting warm and then hot after 30 minutes of sanding (the sander was connected to a Festool dust extractor). The replacement that was sent also gets warm and then hot. Also both the original and replacement make a loud rattling sound when pulled off the workpiece.
I bought this sander when I first dropped on Taytools. It is amazing. I don't have a Festool or Mirka to compare, but it is superior in everyway to my DeWalt and Bosch ROS65VC-6. I used this sander paired with the 3M Cubitron paper on an endgrain cutting board and it is an absolute beast.
I get SOOOO unreasonably excited when I see a tool that comes with a decent carrying case! LOVE IT! Bonus points if it has a little spare space for extra accessories!
I like to move my hands around when I sand, and I think the paddle switch would end up being a detractor for me. I am going with the ETS EC125/3 EQ plus. It costs about the same as this, and I can get a six-inch disk too (the EC150 disk fits the EC125) and I will have two sanders. Woo hoo. Thanks for the great content.
Great tool, big price. Thanks doing the comparison that alot of us couldn't afford to do. I haven't seen 3M sanders at any of my local box stores, but I've been a fan for 30yrs. As for the sander, I'll likely be waiting for a project of sufficient size to hide the expense in.
Wow. I would love to have it but man is it priced at a premium level. I take belt sander to cut down on sanding the switch to orbital but it is a pain. Thank you for the great video 😊
I recently got mine and couldn’t agree more with you about how great it is. One important benefit for me is that my shop is in a basement only accessible from inside the house and my only dust extraction is a shop vac with dust deputy. So keeping dust to a minimum is critical and this sander just blows all the others out of the water for how little sawdust goes in the air instead of the vac. It may be premium but my lungs are worth it.
I must be in the minority, sanding to me is like the homestretch, where one can contemplate the finish and reflect on the work completed to this point. I find it relaxing.
You need to check out the Bosch ROS20VSC 5 in.. With the 3M 710w paper I can't imagine a better, smother, lower vibration sander. $60 on sale at Lowes. My wife has used it more than I have and has had no complaints, tingling or numbness. The attached dust collector works great.
Great video as always Matt and definitely looks like a drool worthy sander. Appreciate that you also touched on how fantastic the 3M sanding discs are. Haven’t tried the Xtract ones but absolutely love the Cubitron II’s as they are on a whole different level from the traditional aluminum oxide discs. They simply sand better and they stay cleaner because of the better airflow and any buildup comes off easily with a couple passes of an abrasive cleaning stick which helps extend their life even further. Those discs can’t address the vibration inherent in lower priced orbitals but they definitely improve the quality of sanding those models are capable of. :)
I'd love to see a test between the Mirka, Surfprep, Festool 125, 3M, and Uneeda. (Although it would probably cost a grand total of about $2500 for all those sanders!) I own the Uneeda and absolutely LOVE it. It's very comparable to that 3M. Even looks and sounds the same, except for the color
So are the Surfprep, Uneeda, and Indasa all the same sander, or are two of them are a complete ripoff of one of them? They all three use the same exact shell, paddle, and dust collection design. Same factory putting different design internals in the same shell? Now I want to see them side by side, and compared to the Mirka
I think this sander will be in my shop soon. I have a Bosch GET-65 that is an absolute beast and removes a load of material, but it's really a handfull
hi matt ive been whathing you for about 6 months know im not very good at the cumpor i just got it at the blind school inlongbeach caliifona at the vet center thats were i started wood working thank you for every thing you do
The 3M is a completely different product from both Festool sanders you compared it to. What you should compare it to is the Festool ETS EC 150/5 and the Mirka.
I do a lot of sanding but I just can’t justify that price and I also turn my sander upside down and use it like that sometimes that’s why I don’t like the paddle on the 3M. As soon as you turn it upside down it’s on .you don’t have control to turn it off unless you lift it
I'm not saying it isn't worth it, but it is FREAKIN EXPENSIVE!!! I guess I'm sticking with (stuck with) my old Porter Cable, about like the DeWalt. Oh well.
Plug its conversions sells a festool power connector cut the cord on the 3m and put the adapter on it this way you can use your festool vac hose and power cable
Looks like a lot of people will take their Festool out of the box... Not having Festool and disliking my DeWalt and Makita sanders (a JCB and ancient green Bosch are OK because price excuses performance) so I try to sand outside with dust extractor, I'll follow you and Stumpy Nubbs if I can get a big enough project going when daughter and son-in-law move into their next home
Awesome review Sir! I've been using my Dewalt 20v Orbital and just the switch from the Sandnets to 3M cubitron was night and day. IF I start putting out a high volume of projects I will definitely have to check this out!
Well I suffer from severe nerve damage and have had operations to relieve it that haven’t done much for it. You just put another tool on the wish list.
Same. Nice review but I don't think it's worth the money. I have an $80 Makita sander using those 3M Xtract Cubitron disc and attached to a Ridgid vac, works perfectly good. Definitely those disc are worthy, they sand far better than normal disc and there's way less dust around.
Matt, great points made with the 3M Xtract sander and in conjunction with the 3M Xtract Cubitron II Net Disc. This awesome sander combination can bring a novice woodworker to whole new level. Sanding like a PRO!!! Now, if I could figure a way to make a business card out of the Cubitron ll net disc?…. Great job!
▼EXPAND FOR LINKS TO THE TOOLS▼
Festool Sander Review ► ua-cam.com/video/ifVesG68MWI/v-deo.html
Tools In This Video:
3M 5-inch Sander - lddy.no/1cool
3M 6-inch Sander - lddy.no/1coom
3M Xtract Sandpaper - lddy.no/1cook (25% off through September 2022).
Other Tools Seen in Video -
Festool ETS125 Sander - amzn.to/3cHJJiB
Festool Rotex Sander - amzn.to/3q8nx4e
Festool Dust Extractor - amzn.to/3RyTj68
DeWALT Sander - amzn.to/3ROYQG7
More Awesome Tools Under $30
DFM Square: amzn.to/3Jfb5H2
Thin Rip Jig: amzn.to/3LKm2lB
DFM Saw Height Gauge: amzn.to/3jidia1
Small F-Clamps: lddy.no/157u9
(If you use one of these Amazon and other affiliate links, we may receive a small commission)
Some other useful links:
-Daily Tool Deals on our website: www.731woodworks.com/tool-deals
-Subscribe to our email Newsletter: mailchi.mp/7e44c16eefdc/731-woodworks-email-newsletter
-Check out our easy-to-follow woodworking plans: www.731woodworks.com/store
3m sander is coming from there auto body line. I have a 3m air sander and it's the best I've ever used
Don’t buy Mirka to make a video, that’s an unreasonable request. This video is just fine without one more sander
This exciting!! How does the Xtract sander and Xtract paper perform with wet sanding from what you’ve seen so far?
@@CraigularjJoeWoodworks agreed it’s unnecessary, keep your hard earned $600 and spend it on something else of more value to you
not really new plenty other sanders just like this 3m i use the porter cable 6in da in have for like 2 decades now as a autobody sander n thats the thing thats new there marketying smooth da autobody type sanders to woodworkers i mean its a 3m the largest auto body supplier there is theres a the porter cable one is bout 150 n even harbor frieght has one for 50 to 70 not new just newly pushed to wood worker hell been using mine for woodworking for years as have sevral others
I purchased the 3M sander after watching reviews on youtube, yours included. It died a few months after light use. It also generated quite a bit of static electricity using it with both a festool and then a 3M extractor. Took a month to get a replacement, but it was done under warranty. I was told they “some problems” with the first generation, and the replacement would not have the same issues. Six months later, the replacement sander is dead. It works well when it works, but I would suggest avoiding it.
To me, as a hobbyist who's budget is smaller than all the Woodpecker tool users, that price is out of my range.
I avoid so much sanding by using a card scraper and/or a smoothing plane.
I avoid vibration issues by holding my DeWalt at the hose and a couple of fingertips on top of the sander.
If you don't like that idea, get some anti-vibration gloves.
I hook my sander up to my shop vac and that noise is much worse than my sander. On goes the hearing protection. My favorite way to do that is with noise cancelling headphones.
A more apt comparison on the Festool end would be the ETS 125 or 150 EC line, not the ETS 150. The EC models have a quieter, lower profile, and more powerful brushless motor just like the 3M and mirka, and you can choose between 3 and 5 mm orbits. Only main difference is the lack of a paddle switch. Would love to see a comparison with this model and the mirka for a true apples to apples.
100% agree. It is the best Festool sander, hands down IMHO.
Great review! I bought the dewalt that you have and I love it. Thanks Mighty Matt.
Agreed. 100%. Throw in the SurfPrep while you’re at it…and really make it a party!!!
I agree it is more apt. I only have around 100 hours on my 3M, but more than that on the ETS line. I personally give the edge to the 3M. I have cubital tunnel in both arms and I can go almost an hour longer on the 3M than the ETS before the pain is too much. Dust collection on the 3M is better as well. This is anecdotal I realize, but having used both for long enough to know, the 3M is about 11% better. :)
He said that
Please do a comparison video with just high end sanders > $300. Gotta do a side by side in action with Mirka and Festool at least. Maybe then do a budget sander review, Sanders < $150. Your tools keep upgrading to a range many viewers can't afford. It should be mentioned the 3M is a commercial/industrial tool, not a typical consumer item. Keep the faith, stay blessed.
Best move I ever made was ditching that dewalt sander and upgrading to Festool. Life changing.
Thanks for the review. I use a Dewalt and I agree the vibrations that sander puts off is so strong. I wear headphones while sanding because sometimes I need to dance a little, but anyways, it definitely makes my hand numb after prolonged use. I will start saving to get a 3M so that I can have less of a shell shocked hand after sanding. *For color, I spray paint my tools light pink haha.
If you are into Festool then you should compare this to the ETS-EC 150 / 5. It's every bit as good as the 3M and doesn't have the annoying paddle switch.
came down here to say the same thing. plus you get to stay within the plug-it and clean-tec connectors
@@p1kto and it's cheaper lol
But that only has a 3mm sanding stroke.
@@marvinwilliams4223 Nope you can buy a 5mm or 3mm sanding stroke of the ETS EC 6" sanders.
@@marvinwilliams4223 available in 3 and 5
The 3M sander isn't just a lower volume, it's also a lower pitch. It's so nice that I can actually fire it up and still hear Matt's video without any issue. I haven't had a chance to use mine yet, but I may not actually hate (this part of) sanding for a change!
Does it still work? It has 1.7 starts on google because everyone says the engine blows after 3 months
Sanding is not a chore, it is a privilege. It is an opportunity to go that extra mile to achieve some resemblance of perfection, which should be enjoyed by anyone who takes pride in their work.
Had my Mirja set up for almost 10 years now hit it when it first came on the scene! Amazing and not missed a beat!
I've been searching for a replacement for my Milwaukee cordless sander and came across this from one of my subscribed channels. Thank you. This looks like it might fit my needs.
I sand for a living. I refinish wood floors and say I have a lot of Sanders would be a understatement. The newest sander I'm highly impressed with is the Bosch gex 18 volt. It has the same low profile but it's cordless and the batteries last incredibly long time. It's only a 2.5 stroke but it seems to work well and most impressive is it's dust collection seems excellent at 120 bucks I think you'd be impressed
Is there a corded version of this sander?
@@veritas2022 not by Bosch but there are corded Sanders of that design but they have to be hooked up to dust collection
I bought one of these from Tay Tools. Words cannot begin to describe this sander. There is nothing to compare this too. It is uniquely amazing! Fast, smooth, no vibration, and ….. NO DUST ! This is actually fun to use and the end results are wonderful! Big game changer. Try one.
Thanks for sharing
I'd compare it to the Mirka Deros as the 3m is a Deros lookalike.
I just ordered $25 worth of sandpaper! Never used it before but couldn't pass up the deal! Thanks Mr. Outlaw for the review.
Right on
Throughout the years I’ve invested so much money on different sander, corded and cordless. I’ve tried Rigid, Makita, Bosch, Dewalt, Metabo and others I can’t even recall. My opinion is don’t waste your money. I do a lot of sanding and the 3M sander is effortless. It saves me so much time. It does what it claims to do. If you are a small woman like me, you need to get yourself a 3M sander. The 3M XTRACT sanding disc will also save you money.
3m also sells a soft sanding pad adapter for this orbital sander. Just bought this for my wife as she has been furniture flipping since last summer and I have been taking hints that she is seriously wanting to up her sanding game. We’ll see who uses the sander more 😊
How’s her furniture flipping going?
@@Noadvantage246 really well! I tried that sander too…..WOW!
You should be trying Rupes. Seriously good gear. I've been a heavy woodworking machinery repairman for years, and now and again I'd be handed a boxful of dead or dying power tools, they're not my specialty but for a good customer I'd do it. I factor in things like spares availability, ease of use, effectiveness, finish, durability, and standard of manufacture.
I've even gone to the trouble of looking through the insides with a microscope to check out bearing journals and such. In my experience the best sanders by far, and I mean really far, are the Rupes sanders.
I jumped on the opportunity to get this sander (5mm 6 inch) and I really don’t think I will ever regret it. It’s amazing. I was considering the Mirka but couldn’t bring myself to spend the money yet. I’m glad I waited!
Does it still work? It has 1.7 starts on google because everyone says the engine blows after 3 months
My 6" died in the middle of a project. I had been using it for 15 minutes (total time on the tool could not have exceeded 15 hours). It shut off and would not come back on. It's a known issue they've apparently fixed. To their credit, they offered to repair or refund me, but I'm hesitant to give 3M another try. (I ended up buying a Rotex to get my project done anyways). They should have issued a recall for early supporters of the lemon models vs waiting to have them fail mid-project and jump through hoops of customer support.
I picked up a Mirka 6 inch in a pawn shop for 125.00 brand new could not pass it up no case or book but the mirka rep hooked me up
Im a festool guy. I build with dewalt and keep the green in my garage👍. For tough stuff I have the big boy bosch
I just bought a new bosch 18v ros sander and while it’s probably not up to festool mirka or 3m, it’s by far my favorite big box sander I’ve tried. Ergos, (lack of) vibration and dust extraction are great. Paired with the 3m cubitron discs and it’s leaps and bounds better than anything else in that $ range
The Bosch ros sander with direct drive "turbo" option is a good sander. Comes in 5 or 6 inch. Idk which one you got. But it's Boschs take on the festool rotex but only 300$. It works great.
I got my 3M 5" sander and I was not impressed. I am amazed at how fast I was able to get the surface SMOOTH! I started with the 80 Grit, then 120, and even though the job did not need it I finished with 180. You let 3M know I purchased their 3M 5" orbital sander because of your evaluation! I agree it is an AMAZING sander! Oh, it's half the decibels as my cordless.
Rotex changed my life, my workflow, and my profitability.
LISTEN TO THE POWER IN THAT ROTEX! Vroom.
The other day i sanded about 1/16th off the bottom of a stair edge to flush up to a tile floor @ a slight angle. The rotex had it done in under 2 minutes with delicate precision. Took longer to setup...
I can sand concrete patch if i want. Its faster than grabbing the grinder and the flap wheel if the sander is around.
But then i can also use it to finish sand a hot wax repair on hardwood flooring to get the sheen the same with a white scotch brite @ 1500 grit.
Truly amazing tool!
I think makita might make something similar to the rotex. Would love to see a deep dive on that.
I would love something like this, especially with the joints in my hands already having issues, but my budget is about 10% of what these go for lol, I didn't even know hand held sanders could get that high.
Try the Bosch gex 18 volt it's the same style but cordless and I have to tell you it's a pleasure to use. The batteries last incredibly long time when I bought mine you got a free battery and charger for 120 bucks couldn't beat that deal
Matt, I broke open the wallet and purchased some 3m sand paper from Taylor Toolworks, so I will let you know how it goes. Thanks
***Additional Comments***
Check out Bents Woodworking channel and look for, “Festool Sanding Comparison”. This guy is the true Festool aficionado! He owns and uses every sander. The Rotex was meant to be a compromise between a heavy duty sander to remove a LOT of material and a fine sander, but something had to give for one unit to do both so it’s priority is heavy sanding, which is why I bought the EQ 150/5. I have never handled a Mirca, but from what I gather, the Mirca and EQ 150/ 3 or 5 are on par with each other. It just depends on your ergonomics preference. I have heard that 3Ms is basically on pare with the other two and that there’s no reason to drive either one of those to get the 3M sander.
What 3M mainly did in order to prevent vibrations (not their speech, just exercising my mechanics’ eye) is that they displaced the motor compartment beside the rotary pad, effectively lowering the hight of the machine and, hence, its center of gravity. Therefore, they largely reduced the ultra rapid wobbling due to the drag of a heavy higher component.
BUT how 3M reduced the sound to a soothing buzzing is mesmerizing. I wish I could open this sander!
Baffles. The baffles are also how they get the maximum dust extraction. I am going to go out on a limb here and say the Mirka patents have sunset. The insulation is more than likely graphene based which helps with the sound.
Just call me “Cliff Klavan” from “Cheers” or “Tyrion Lannister” from “Game of Thrones”
“That’s what I do……I drink
and I know things”
@@MarineScoutSniper Hear, hear, Sir; we might have more than mechanics in common 🙌. I had to search for the word « baffles », since English is a second language to me. I’ll probably agree 100% with you with. Did you imply that the baffles in this case act like a car’s silencer? (That the sound waves neutralize themselves by rebound?) I’ve never seen this on a pro-grade tool, but since there’s an actual outlet on a sander, I’d say it is both exceptional and... a given! Thank you for your input.
@@Jeedehem yes that is spot on.
That Dewalt is still a great sander and a great bargain. Its hard to justify $450+ for a sander. Lol I could get a bench planer or any number of other tools for around that price.
That’s what I was thinking. $450 is way over my budget for an orbital sander as a DIYer. I bought a Dewalt miter saw, a Dewalt finish router the orbital sander and $50 toward a Massca M2 pocket hole jig for about $450. (Matt loves him some pocket hole jigs)
I have a Dewalt sander like yours there. Outside of the noise, I have no issues with it. To help with the hand fatigue, btw, you can hold it backwards and it balances. I hold it with the cord and dust collection hose facing away from me. This means it balances with the weight of your hand/arm, with the hoses pulling to tilt away and your hand/arm countering that. Much easier on the wrist and palm.
Excellent info Matt! Would have never guessed this from the 3M. Thank you for sharing.
Just received the 3m sander 6” bought as a kit with the 3m dust extractor. Was very disappointed to find the hose from the dust extractor doesn’t hook up to the sander it was sold as a kit. I’ve emailed Taylor tools to find out what adapter I need to connect the two. I’ve used it momentarily without the dust collector but it’s head and shoulders better than my wife’s Festool 150, quieter, smoother running and just feels so much better. The Festool sounds like it falling apart, the 3m butter smooth.
How have we made it this far as a society without some reasonable dust-collection standards? Why is melting PVC and duct tape always involved? It truly is a crazy situation, and sure shouldn't be!
Just came here from your latest short…I’ve honestly got to get myself one of these! I have pretty bad arthritis in my hands and wrists, and although I manage, this would be a wonderful change. 🙂
The 3m cubitron paper is a game changer for sure. It cuts faster, dust collection is far superior than anything on the market. I suggest that you buy a sample pack, you'll never go back.
Great review Matt.
Matt, I’m shopping for a new sander and like most I research until my eyes start to bleed. I was about to pull the trigger on the 3M but I came across the MAXXT 6303. The reviews I have read have been really good. The MAXXT is about $200 less expensive. I would like your feedback if possible or maybe do a review? I really enjoy your channel, it has helped me tremendously. Thank you for time and keep up the great work. 💪🏼
I've never heard of the Maxxt brand. I looked it up just now. Honestly if I'm spending $250 for a sander, I'd just get the Festool ETS125
I would be interested to know what the longterm support 3M guarantees would be. You could have a Festool RO150 from 15 years ago and the new version of the sanding pads still work on it. That is an often overlooked benefit of Festool, they keep support for their tools for years.
Not only support from an accessories perspective, but on service too. I've sent Festool service a few of my tools that were waaaay past warranty, and they've never charged me a dime to fix and send back via overnight express (even though I was prepared to be charged). Hard to beat that.
3M have been manufacturing professional finishing products for the automotive industry for decades. 3M have manufactured sandpaper since 1905, so they know a thing or two about sanding!
I've just started watching your videos in the last couple of weeks and am thoroughly enjoying them. You do beautiful work! I'm hoping to get into woodworking in the near future if a new treatment works for me, and find your videos extremely informative. Cheers from TO!
You should try the pneumatic version! We use the 3M pneumatic, which is exactly like yours only, air powered of course. The 3M is just an outstanding random orbit sander. I use one pretty much all day and it is incredibly comfortable. I work in a high end furniture shop making chairs, and this sander gets into small areas a big box sander would never fit. Not only can you adjust speed with the button, but the paddle trigger is like a gas peddle, controlling speed as well. I like mine at work so much I bought one for my home shop. He's not kidding, these 3M sanders are your dream sander. He needs to get the pneumatic version, however you need a big 80 gallon or more compressor to run the air versikn as it requires 17scfm at 90psi.
Thank you for this informative comment.
I second @Cole Langford - great comment. I now have another reason to get me one. 🙂
Edit: the part about the paddle trigger working similarly to a gas pedal, that is. Nice!
Can't wait till you do a review of the 3M dust extractor. Looks amazing and I would love to hear your thoughts and if you think it's as good as many seem to
This is the second positive review I’ve seen on the 3M sander. (Stumpy nubs was the first) great video! Thank you!
I'll stick to my $19.99 Bauer. You better be making money with your dust and chios to spend that kind of cash. If your hand/arm are sore after 20 minutes of sanding, you may be putting too much pressure on your sander. I'd also recommend a little money on an adjustable height table. A comfortable and varying height can help a lot with fatigue.
Matt,
Bought this sander due to your high praise shortly after after you posted this video last year. Sander was great for a few months. After that, it started glitching and overheating. Now I’m lucky if it will run for 30 minutes before it quits. I’m trying to finish a desk for my son and now need a replacement. I went on 3M’s website where it’s sitting at 1.7 stars due to the same issues. Reviews on Amazon also highlight the same issue with little to no response or support from 3M. This sander is junk and 3M needs to go back to the drawing board. I love your videos for your honesty and integrity. I would ask you to take a look and assess if you would still recommend this sander today and if this video should have a caveat highlighting the reliability of this tool. I wish I had bought the Festool and had the backing of the 3 year warranty. Lesson learned!
Thank you for giving me the feedback. Mine hasn't experienced any issues yet. I'm sorry you've had problems with yours. Did you try to get it fixed under warranty?
I have one 6". Awesome sander.
3M Cubitron and Xtract sandpaper is all I use now- last forever, doesn’t clump or clog and leaves very nice finish
I grabbed the 6" from Tay Tools several months ago when Stumpy Nubs featured it on his channel. Best sander I have ever had in my hand. Everyone reading this should go buy one right now if you use an orbital sander.
Have you noticed that your 3m Xtract sander is getting warm after about 10 to 15 minutes of use? I bought a 6 inch and I had to exchange it for another because it was getting warm and then hot after 30 minutes of sanding (the sander was connected to a Festool dust extractor). The replacement that was sent also gets warm and then hot. Also both the original and replacement make a loud rattling sound when pulled off the workpiece.
Airvantage sanders are pretty good. Its just as good as the 3M.
I bought this sander when I first dropped on Taytools. It is amazing. I don't have a Festool or Mirka to compare, but it is superior in everyway to my DeWalt and Bosch ROS65VC-6.
I used this sander paired with the 3M Cubitron paper on an endgrain cutting board and it is an absolute beast.
I get SOOOO unreasonably excited when I see a tool that comes with a decent carrying case! LOVE IT! Bonus points if it has a little spare space for extra accessories!
Totally agree!
Thanks for the review. I just picked up a 3M sander, great investment. Awesome sander for the money.
The dewalt works fine. I love advertising
I have been using the Air Vantage sanders with external power supply and they are just as good as the old Mirka Ceros. I use the 3/16'' stroke.
I like to move my hands around when I sand, and I think the paddle switch would end up being a detractor for me. I am going with the ETS EC125/3 EQ plus. It costs about the same as this, and I can get a six-inch disk too (the EC150 disk fits the EC125) and I will have two sanders. Woo hoo. Thanks for the great content.
Festool's durability, dust extraction and after sale care makes it number one 👍
Great tool, big price. Thanks doing the comparison that alot of us couldn't afford to do. I haven't seen 3M sanders at any of my local box stores, but I've been a fan for 30yrs. As for the sander, I'll likely be waiting for a project of sufficient size to hide the expense in.
Iron sharpens iron, baby! Love that shirt.
Wow. I would love to have it but man is it priced at a premium level. I take belt sander to cut down on sanding the switch to orbital but it is a pain. Thank you for the great video 😊
Really helpful in making a decision on which sander to invest in. many thanks
I think you should buy all the tools. All of them. Don't worry about shop space. It's all about having the most tools.
I'm working on it....Standby
Wow I wish I knew this before I bought my finish sander mirka.
I recently got mine and couldn’t agree more with you about how great it is. One important benefit for me is that my shop is in a basement only accessible from inside the house and my only dust extraction is a shop vac with dust deputy. So keeping dust to a minimum is critical and this sander just blows all the others out of the water for how little sawdust goes in the air instead of the vac. It may be premium but my lungs are worth it.
I just got this sander, and it is AWESOME!
Dont forget to get a backing pad saver when using them fancy sanding discs
I must be in the minority, sanding to me is like the homestretch, where one can contemplate the finish and reflect on the work completed to this point. I find it relaxing.
Has 28% one star reviews on Amazon!!
By now it has more than 50% negative reviews that's why I'll rather spend extra money and buy festool
Nope it’s rated ~4.5 in every category except value (~3.5). Definitely expensive … but runs great.
Looks nearly identical to the Mirka. I had to use my old ROS the other day and didn’t realize how nice my Mirka is - I totally recommend it.
You need to check out the Bosch ROS20VSC 5 in.. With the 3M 710w paper I can't imagine a better, smother, lower vibration sander. $60 on sale at Lowes. My wife has used it more than I have and has had no complaints, tingling or numbness. The attached dust collector works great.
Great video as always Matt and definitely looks like a drool worthy sander. Appreciate that you also touched on how fantastic the 3M sanding discs are. Haven’t tried the Xtract ones but absolutely love the Cubitron II’s as they are on a whole different level from the traditional aluminum oxide discs. They simply sand better and they stay cleaner because of the better airflow and any buildup comes off easily with a couple passes of an abrasive cleaning stick which helps extend their life even further. Those discs can’t address the vibration inherent in lower priced orbitals but they definitely improve the quality of sanding those models are capable of. :)
Yes, I’m sanding decades of trim paint on a house I just bought and the cubitrons blow the doors off everything else I’ve tried.
$450 for a random orbital sander? Sheesh! I'll stick with my little Bosch for less than $60
I have my sander hooked up to my shop vac and the vac exhaust to my main dust collection line...no dust.
I'd love to see a test between the Mirka, Surfprep, Festool 125, 3M, and Uneeda. (Although it would probably cost a grand total of about $2500 for all those sanders!) I own the Uneeda and absolutely LOVE it. It's very comparable to that 3M. Even looks and sounds the same, except for the color
So are the Surfprep, Uneeda, and Indasa all the same sander, or are two of them are a complete ripoff of one of them? They all three use the same exact shell, paddle, and dust collection design. Same factory putting different design internals in the same shell? Now I want to see them side by side, and compared to the Mirka
i fcking love the 3m sound when u stop it sounds like a brake or smt whatever it is its cool
I think this sander will be in my shop soon. I have a Bosch GET-65 that is an absolute beast and removes a load of material, but it's really a handfull
hi matt ive been whathing you for about 6 months know im not very good at the cumpor i just got it at the blind school inlongbeach caliifona at the vet center thats were i started wood working thank you for every thing you do
Thank you John!
The 3M is a completely different product from both Festool sanders you compared it to.
What you should compare it to is the Festool ETS EC 150/5 and the Mirka.
You had me at the sound test!
They added a counter weight to cancel out the vibration. It's a basic idea that other companies have cheaped out on
I do a lot of sanding but I just can’t justify that price and I also turn my sander upside down and use it like that sometimes that’s why I don’t like the paddle on the 3M. As soon as you turn it upside down it’s on .you don’t have control to turn it off unless you lift it
At that price point hand sanding and scraping is pretty quiet too
Appreciate the honesty in ur reviews- I can always tell ur genuine and not full of bs lol 👍🇺🇸
I appreciate that
This guy is doing HIS BEST too impress those 3M sponsors
not sponsored. You must not hear good.
@@731Woodworks his hearing is "saad"
3M has not sponsored my channel in this video or any previous video.
Love to see a Mirka comparison. But that’s easy to say when I’m not shelling out the money 😂😂
You could have used a glass of water to test vibrations. Either against the body of the sander or on the work piece.
I'm not saying it isn't worth it, but it is FREAKIN EXPENSIVE!!! I guess I'm sticking with (stuck with) my old Porter Cable, about like the DeWalt. Oh well.
Plug its conversions sells a festool power connector cut the cord on the 3m and put the adapter on it this way you can use your festool vac hose and power cable
Looks like a lot of people will take their Festool out of the box... Not having Festool and disliking my DeWalt and Makita sanders (a JCB and ancient green Bosch are OK because price excuses performance) so I try to sand outside with dust extractor, I'll follow you and Stumpy Nubbs if I can get a big enough project going when daughter and son-in-law move into their next home
Looks just like a Mirka
Tak!
Not sure how I missed this! Sorry for the delayed response but THANK YOU SO MUCH!
If your not comparing this to the Festool ETS EC 150 it’s not a good comparison.
Awesome review Sir! I've been using my Dewalt 20v Orbital and just the switch from the Sandnets to 3M cubitron was night and day. IF I start putting out a high volume of projects I will definitely have to check this out!
Really wish I’d seen this before I bought a new battery-electric pole sander last week. 731 always brings the good info. Thank you guys!
Let’s see the mirka!!!!
Well I suffer from severe nerve damage and have had operations to relieve it that haven’t done much for it. You just put another tool on the wish list.
Damn-it………now I need one!! Great video.
This was the video that made me pull the trigger on the 3M. Thanks for showing the comparison with the different levels of sander.
This won't change the way I sand, as I can't afford a $500+ sander. ....
Same here! 🤣 🤣
Same. Nice review but I don't think it's worth the money. I have an $80 Makita sander using those 3M Xtract Cubitron disc and attached to a Ridgid vac, works perfectly good. Definitely those disc are worthy, they sand far better than normal disc and there's way less dust around.
Matt, great points made with the 3M Xtract sander and in conjunction with the 3M Xtract Cubitron II Net Disc. This awesome sander combination can bring a novice woodworker to whole new level. Sanding like a PRO!!! Now, if I could figure a way to make a business card out of the Cubitron ll net disc?…. Great job!
Thank you Mark!
The sound difference between the DeWalt compared to the 3M. Is like the difference in sound between a vacuum, and a microwave! Lol
Question: What's the point of variable speed on a sander? I'm guessing at least for low grits, faster means more dust removal, but also heat.
I’ve had festool and big box sanders I’m thinking next I’ll go to merica