Hi.
I am a newcomer to random orbital sanders.
Are random orbital sanders supposed to wobble a little bit when placed on the work to sand?
I just bought one (Porter Cable). There is a slight wobble when operating. It kind of rolls up and down a little bit, like it is a buoy bobbing at sea. I’d like to know if that is normal or if I have a defective unit.
There doesn’t appear to be any wobble in the pad when I remove it from the work and look at it, but you can see it and feel it when placed on the work.
Granted, the sander is not top of the line, but it is not the low end of the line either. Is this wobble normal? Do high end sanders wobble too?
Your advice is welcome.
Replies
Sounds like you dropped it and bent the pad to me.
it may be the bearing...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
im with IMERC. i've had two if those things (pc RO's) that have come with bad bearings when new. i'd return it or if that isnt an option. take it apart pull the little sealed cartidge bearing (i think the number is Z608) its a common bearing and easily replacable
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--> measure once / scribble several lines / spend some time figuring out wich scribble / cut the wrong line / get mad
The wobble is normal on PC ROS's with bad bearings. I had one that froze up and melted the platen in the first hour as a new tool. I threw the mess out. This 10 years ago. My Bosch and 2 Dewalts don't wobble after 100's of hours' use.
Bill
Well, that would explain my problem with my PC. I have always used Dewalt and never had a problem but went out and bought a new PC, it too wobbled and it now still sits on shelf. I wish I had known it may have been a defect and not a normal characteristic of the sander.
Semper Fi
MAke sure the metal collor housing just above the sanding pad is secured TIGHT to the sander/ If not the sander will wobble.
This happened to my PC just recently, but I can't figure out how to tighten it back up. No matter....I had the sucker for about a dozen years already.
If Blodgett says, Tipi tipi tipi it must be so!
TipiFest 06~~> Send me your email addy for a Paypal invoice to the greatest show on earth~~>[email protected]
frpm inside the motor housing...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
what'r u doin' here? Get back to fishing other wise yer fired!If Blodgett says, Tipi tipi tipi it must be so!
TipiFest 06~~> Send me your email addy for a Paypal invoice to the greatest show on earth~~>[email protected]
waiting fer a new modual for the truck....
where is that UPS outfit when ya need them...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
where is that UPS outfit when ya need them...>>>Personally I think a UPS outfit on you would look kinda weird but to each their own...If Blodgett says, Tipi tipi tipi it must be so!
TipiFest 06~~> Send me your email addy for a Paypal invoice to the greatest show on earth~~>[email protected]
you never met the UPS outfit then...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I'll get thewre before ya ask...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
some how I saw that comin'...so to speak : !~
Lucky its the weekend...
OK...bets on again...
I say its removed Monday before 5PMIf Blodgett says, Tipi tipi tipi it must be so!
TipiFest 06~~> Send me your email addy for a Paypal invoice to the greatest show on earth~~>[email protected]
21:00 MST Sunday.....Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
still thereLife is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
she probably smells fishy to themIf Blodgett says, Tipi tipi tipi it must be so!
TipiFest 06~~> Send me your email addy for a Paypal invoice to the greatest show on earth~~>[email protected]
I agree with the previous posters--it sounds like the sander was dropped. The only sander which I have ever used which has "normal" bearing wobble is the Milwaukee 5" ROS. When I got this sander, I took it to a Milwaukee service center and had it checked out. They said that there was nothing wrong with the sander. I have read a number of reviews which said the same thing.
That said, my PC 333 has no wobble whatsoever. It is one of the older ones--I got it in 1993 or 1994 when they first came out.
Elliott
That's one UPS delivery person who really delivers the goods.
Hey Marty...lemmie get this straight..if the metal collar just above the sanding pad spins freely (which it shouldn't be doing)...that's the f'd up bearings? cause thats what mines been doing for a while now. I thought something just needed tioghtening but couldn't figure out how to do that...does this mean I get to buy a new tool...does it does it...I know I know, Bosch.If Blodgett says, Tipi tipi tipi it must be so!
TipiFest 06~~> Send me your email addy for a Paypal invoice to the greatest show on earth~~>[email protected]
yup... off to the tool store ya go...
the Bosch is okay...
I'd stay away from the PC and DW....
new models of both leave a lot to be desired...
can I go back to fishing???? when it cools down some...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I'd recommend the Rigid ROS, we've had one in the shop for the last year or so and it's held up well, the balance is nice and it's comfortable to use.
Thanks Neil..Its now under advisement. Thing too is...the PC I had actually has lasted me better'n a half dozen years+ with no problem till just recently and I did drop it a cpl a times at least. I use that thing alot so I best be happy with my next purchase...cept I ain't spending $200+ for one......unless I go into the cab business.
Thanks again and have a great summer.
Wish you could make TipiFest but we understand...
Be well
andy...If Blodgett says, Tipi tipi tipi it must be so!
TipiFest 06~~> Send me your email addy for a Paypal invoice to the greatest show on earth~~>[email protected]
IMERC doesn't have to go to the fish-
They come to him.
Seen it.
"Citius, Altius, Fortius"
trying to get rid of an 'unread' message
"Citius, Altius, Fortius"
why....Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
With any of these disk type sanders/grinders/etc, it is rather easy to bend the shaft by dropping it. Don't ask me how I know.. :-) Had one DA sander I had to pitch and I have others with a slight prob. BTW - a DA (dual action) is the air version of what you have, normally used for body work etc.
I get replacement sealed bearings at my local Motion Industries supplier
Kinda' funny size; but they can order it - I got three last time- can sell you one for $15!
Forrest
HOLY CRAP!
I just sanded some bookcases a couple of weekends ago and noticed the same thing with my brand spankin new Porter cable orbital sander. I too am new to the scene and was gonna ask here but diddn't want to look foolish (thought maybe it was normal). Hmm...
It's not a big wobble but it definetly wobbles a little.
I have never dropped it ever, in fact, it was the first time it had ever been used.
I'm going to look into it now.
Edited 6/23/2006 1:01 pm ET by xosder11
Ya know, I got to thinking about this thread, and I wonder if we are philosophically missing something. I mean, who are we to say that a "wobble" is any less "random" than the "normal" "random"?
Are we saying that adding "random" motion to another "random" motion makes a "less than random" motion?
Or is a "wobble" not "random"
Hmmmmm.
Forrest - just sitting here eating and reading tables of random numbers
Probably because the wobble is rythmic and the orbit is random. They could call it a Rythmic Wooblical sander but then guys would complain about all the random orbitness.
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. -Albert Einstein
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