Mirka Deros VS Festool ETS EC | Which Sander Should You Buy?

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Have you missed any of our 11 part series of the Sideboard?! Check out the full playlist here: • Walnut & Copper Sidebo... -~-
Today I’m going to try to help you make a decision between the Festool ETS 150 and the Mirka Deros 650X CV. The Mirka costs over $125 more and the Festool is already a top of the line sander. So is the Mirka worth it? Let’s see if we can answer that question.
Disclaimer - I've been using a Festool sander for over 10 years now, which will result in some unavoidable bias. I did my best to remove that bias by using the Mirka exclusively for three months before doing this review. I also purchased both of these sanders with my own money and have no personal skin in the game. Finally, everything contained within this video is my opinion.
Given all of the shortages we're experiences thanks to COVID, both of these sanders might be difficult to find right now.
Mirka Deros 650X CV - www.mirka.com/Mirka-DEROS-650...
Festool ETS EC150 - www.festoolusa.com/products/s...
#Festool #Mirka
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Опубликовано:

25 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 1 тыс.

@woodwhisperer 3 года назад

For anyone that wants a giggle, check out the little promo video we made for this review: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RGuo6TwlzKs.html

@SydneyDrummer 3 года назад

Yes yes yes!!!

@FrankTheTank417 3 года назад

@The Wood Whisperer. Hey man, great video. I think you were informative and unbiased and mentioned a whole slew of things I as a woodworker wouldn’t have thought of or at least would have overlooked. Your execution and wordage was spot on and I am entirely impressed with how you put together this video. Keep up the great work!

@hansiejansevanrensburg291 3 года назад

I have seen it and loved it.

@jack5402 3 года назад

Little disappointed we can't enter the giveaway from Canada, eh 😁. I can't realistically afford either, would have appreciated the only chance I'd ever own one. Oh well, back out the workshop igloo.

@thewabisabicollective7170 3 года назад

@thewoodwhisperer Thanks for this vid! Tommorows my birthday and was planning on using my Bday cash plus what Ive been saving for the Mirka for long time now, but instead went to the pharmacy to find out my (very ill) wife lost her insurance and We had to use the cash for all her meds. Little sad, but the good news is, now YOU JUST SAVED ME $125!!!! I’LL definitely be saving for the Festool now instead as after watching this feel its a better fit for me. Ill be using it for making guitars/Ukes and other acoustic string instruments primarily. Ive getting by with my old Ryobi on a foot controller, but it has more faults than not and now it intermittently cuts power. Thanks again for your videos and Podcast. My wife and I love listening together and you’ve ( and Shannon n Matt) have even helped us through some rough times with your laughs and the fun y’all have. ~Beaty & Peace~ Kyle ( and Lucy too :) )

@howler5000 3 года назад

First comparison in history where Festool was the cheaper option lol. Im definitely a fan of the Festool sander, and all their products really.

@joshmcgowan4 3 года назад

I’m from Canada and the Mirka is cheaper here

@aapoapina7390 3 года назад

Everything from Mafell is more expensive than festool. And where I live the makita tracksaw is 10 dollars more expensive than festool one.

@exsmoker74 3 года назад

@@joshmcgowan4 new Zealand here mirka $1500

@jamkaramasu4167 2 года назад

Mirka is about 100 cheaper "real price" here in Germany..

@algirdaslt 2 года назад

Lithuanian mirka almos 200 e cheaper

@markkoons7488 3 года назад

That's impressive, actually knowing the tool before offering an opinion. Well done.

@westsidefire73 3 года назад

This is what I’ve been waiting for. Glad you took the time to really compare these two. I am now leaning festool as I already have a couple tools in my shop.

@punkrockdave1000 3 года назад

Since my bread and butter comes refinish work I went with the Mirka and you nailed it when you mentioned pneumatic sanders. I used them on a professional level for about 27 years. I love the paddle for start stop. The only reason I never bought one later in life is the fact that takes a giant compressor to operate it. So for years after leaving a shop I farted around using the cheaper ROS palm sanders like Dewalt, Makita etc. Those burn out so damn fast and the vibration factor you mentioned is spot on. They are murder on the hands, especially when you have arthritis. So when the Mirka sanders came out, my business partner and I each bought one. Now this dude HATES sanding and our first job was 114 doors to refinish in a nursing home, those sanders did really help, especially with the low profile design. That was about 3 years ago, I finally changed the original pad last year after numerous furniture and construction jobs. Now I am sure the Festool would be just as good but like you mentioned it is a preference and mine is with the ergonomics and the paddle. Now would I kick the Festool out of my (very tiny) shop? Most likely not.

@BlacktailStudio 2 года назад

Totally agree. I’ve used that Festool for years, but was given a couple re-badged Mirka sanders (don’t want to say the company) and I just couldn’t get past all the things you pointed out. Great video for anyone shopping around.

@W0pper1997 4 месяца назад

Metabo

@alwayson999 24 дня назад

@@W0pper1997 thanks, not sure what top secret info that dude was trying to keep safe by not telling us what clandestine, classified brand uses Merka parts.

@Wordsnwood 3 года назад

Very interesting perspective on that paddle, after seeing several other folks raving about the Mirka. Both are more than I want to spend, but still interesting to learn about. Thanks, Marc.

@darrellreed7044 3 года назад

I have been debating this with as many guy’s I could find that own both, but never got as concise and accurate info as you convey! Thanks for making my decision to get the Festool a much easier one! Great comparison!

@WoodcraftBySuman 3 года назад

So excited to see weekly videos from you, Marc!

@woodwhisperer 3 года назад

Yeah boyeee!

@terryduprie6313 3 года назад

Hi Marc - really appreciate the comparison and your experiences / impressions of both. The knot skipping is a big deal to me; therefore I'll hang on to the Festool sanders.

@kylekatarn6056 3 месяца назад

This is by far the best comparison video of these two tools! Thank you very much. I really appreciate the work that you put into the video because it’s very precise and gives good overview about the specs the mechanics the brakes.

@russellwilson9915 3 года назад

Great review, I love the approach you took here. There is one additional factor that I would consider. I have a bunch of Festool stuff, but I do personally prefer the Mirka when sanding curved objects due to the lower center of gravity and ease of "flicking it around". I do agree, I think the extra weight of the Festool helps on large flat workflows.

@joshgies1869 3 года назад

We got the Mirka 2 years ago for our custom shop and I love it. I actually like the paddle switch and use the variable speed quite often. I haven't used the Festool but would be interested to try it. I agree with the cons of it not slowing down fast enough and the paper being annoying to switch between. The light weight and low center of gravity definitely are nice when using it on a daily basis.

@louisjohnson8713 3 года назад

For me personally I prefer the Mirka. Primarily it's all about the lower center of gravity. However I'm also a cabinet finisher and use Mirka pneumatic sanders at work, so I'm used to that lower center of gravity that pneumatics have compared to most electric sanders. Electrics almost always feel top-heavy in my hands. Funnily enough when it comes to the actual paper, having tried maaaany different brands I don't like either festool's or mirka's offerings as much as 3M cubitron. It seems to cut faster, last longer, clog less and even seems to reduce what little vibration these premium sanders do have. Anyways, thanks for the comparison; it's always worthwhile to hear others viewpoints and experiences. Keep up the good work.

@Steinstra-vj7wl 2 года назад

That Festool has also a low center of gravity...

@daveh9817 5 месяцев назад

He's talking about an even "lower" center of gravity. Please keep up!....lol @@Steinstra-vj7wl

@richdoty839 3 года назад

Well done and thank you. Thank you for being able to post more on you tube as well. I am a partial guild member but I am impressed enough with your format that I will be joining soon

@G.I.JeffsWorkbench 10 месяцев назад

Thank you for this review / comparison of the exact 2 premium sanders that I’m considering upgrading to; particular thanks for your honest caveats! Your video has empowered me to know which sander is right for my needs (& desires); again due, in large part, to the caveats & closing comments you made. Grateful subscriber.

@felixart2411 3 года назад

I think Mirka is oriented more to the paint shop than to the average woodworker and comes from the world of pneumatic tools, hence the pedal. For the paint shop, it makes sense to have a wide range of different abrasives to deal with different metals, composites and paints. And where even the slightest bit of dust is your enemy, all those holes or even the further development, grids, can be a huge advantage.

@chrishogan4806 2 года назад

I have used Festool sanders for several years. We use the 5" at the shop where I work. We have recently purchased (6 months ago) 3 of the 5" Mirkas and all 3 have been sent off to be repaired. Still using the Festools that were purchased several years ago. The Mirka does seem to be more aggressive and cut the material down faster, but if it has to be sent off to be repaired, not really worth it. The other thing I have noticed is that the Mirka gets hot compared to the Festool. The Mirka rep has informed us that there is a power converter or some type of component inside that they will replace, so that the sander will not wear out as quickly. Reminds me of when DeWalt switched from one type of tool to residential and commercial, and you had to be careful to buy the right one.

@emilcioran8873 Год назад

Every single point mentioned in this video was exactly what I hoped he would mention. You made an excellent job on this one. Thumb up!

@jacobboone4281 3 года назад

I always appreciate your videos on topics like these! Honestly anything with woodworking you are the go to! Thanks for the video and the great advice.

@TimberBiscuitWoodworks 3 года назад

Thank you, Marc! This was such an informative overview of the two sanders. I do love my Festool, but next time I might have to try out the Mirka, my only hesitancy is holding down the switch. But now I'm not sure...Super excited about these weekly videos.

@aaronfransz1058 3 года назад

The grip on the mirka just slips into your hand and the paddle just nests naturally in your palm. Personally I find the mirka way more comfortable to use than the festool

@TimberBiscuitWoodworks 3 года назад

@@aaronfransz1058 I might have to give it a chance and spend some time with a Mirka. I mean all the positive things I have heard about can’t be wrong. Have you tried to hold down the paddle with a rubber band or anything? Might be a silly solution but just thinking out loud.

@aaronfransz1058 3 года назад

@@TimberBiscuitWoodworks it doesn't need much pressure at all to hold down just holding the sander in your palm with a natural hold is comfortable

@TimberBiscuitWoodworks 3 года назад

@@aaronfransz1058thanks for the info!

@danielwinsor6018 3 года назад

Your ability to contrast and compare is unparalleled in the RU-vid WW world. Thank you for this.

@woodwhisperer 3 года назад

Thanks Daniel!

@leonardmarchesano4280 3 года назад

I have a Handyman / Contractor business in Ontario Canada and I own both units. As you stated Mark the less weight of the Mirka unit makes it a good choice for overhead drywalling sanding. And the Festool sander is just another tool that I use with the Festool system....both do an excellent job.

@pops71 3 года назад

Great video, probably one of the best “vs” reviews I’ve seen. Thanks.

@makmoose7219 3 года назад

Honestly I don’t see myself ever buying either of these two but I absolutely loved this video and did watch it till the very end. Somehow made me appreciate my crappy Rigid 6” sander more but no idea why!

@jeffs1472 3 года назад

Probably because you don’t see the $400 extra value in either of these sanders. And that’s not a dig on you, it just means that you wouldn’t fully need the extra value possibly in the amount of time you use your sander or type of work you do. I actually agree at this point in my woodworking as well, I def don’t need a $525 sander let alone a $650 one.

@rustyr9693 3 года назад

I’ve been painting cars for 15 years. I have the electric and pneumatic Mirka. Never used the festool but these are a great upgrade from a typical DA sander. I do a lot of vertical and horizontal sanding obviously on vehicles everyday. I also use the net disc which I think are only slightly better than the holes I find they creep on the pad only using maybe half a hole. I actually prefer the variable paddle, I liken it to a chainsaw or sawzall, where you can cut quickly or delicately by the amount of push on the trigger. Sandpaper makes the difference, mirka is supreme to 3M and they specialize in that market, only making abrasives but that market consist of different industries from wood, Collision, jewelry work etc. there is more to a sander than just sanding also. Most will only use the orbit motion but it’s also a grinder, spinning the pad up to full speed to specific work I do this all the time because it cuts differently. Maybe this is why you experienced jumping, the mirka spins more than the festool? On horizontal sanding I use my whole hand on top, while horizontal sanding I usually use both hands, one of the rear or grasping the hose and placing my fingers inside the hole and using my thumb on the paddle for ultimate control.

@Steinstra-vj7wl Год назад

The Festool is a sander that doesn't jerk by switching on or off, and like this tes,t the Festool fibrates even less than the Mirka. For a guitar finisher that is gold, especially when wet sanding the last clear coats as i want the sander NOT to make scratches which a jerking sander will do. I sold the Mirka.

@rustyr9693 Год назад

@@Steinstra-vj7wl I agree the mirka does jump. I use a smaller orbit DA for finishing 3/32 and larger for prep work 3/16. I can see how you don’t like the jump action in your context when your striving for perfection most likely on a high value guitar. The jump is no problem for me and is not even noticed I’m simply looking for a factory car finish that will survive the UV’s from the sun and 80 mph down the highway. My finishing is only for dirt nibs and not glassing out like you are. I nib with 1500, 2000, 3000 then compound and polishing. I think it’s constructive to criticize a tool that cost so much, maybe 2.0 will be better. Cheers

@johnnycab8986 3 месяца назад

Will pneumatic sanders be superior in performance? Seems like buying a large compressor and pneumatic will be about the same price as these sanders, and then you have a big compressor for other tools...

@andrewbrown8148 3 года назад

Great comparison, Marc~! I've been using my Porter Cable 333 for years and have been thinking about going upscale in this department. I not had any interest in entering the realm of Festool ($$$), but after a very good demo at a Woodcraft store, my interest has really been piqued. I've asked questions to several RU-vidrs that use Mirkas, but have never gotten any responses nor do they have any videos discussing their experiences with them, so your video is much appreciated. I've been following you since the beginning and have come to greatly value your advice & opinions. Thanks so much~!

@JohnGenX69 3 года назад

Great info and so many things that needed to be said and I'm so glad someone finally had the "bells" to say what you said at 3:16 seriously. 👏👏👏

@GarageTakai 3 года назад

Interesting side by side, and thanks for the insight from the wood side of things. A couple of things you said stood out, predominantly about the pneumatic sanders. It strikes me that the Mirka is aimed at automotive refinishers rather than woodworkers. The slow stop and paddle are benefits when working with metal, as is the variable speed to ensure that you don’t burn paint or warp panels. So from my background (automotive) these are definitely positives over the Festool. (That said at times doing woodwork in a predominantly metal shop has significant disadvantages). The other thing is the pricing, not sure why it’s so disparate in the US, but in Europe and Australia they are both even pricing, or the Mirka is slightly cheaper. Festool seems to command a larger premium here in Australia too (domino prices are crazy). Thanks again for the insight though.

@Thelastmistake 2 года назад

I agree with your thoughts as I work in auto collision industry and mirka is a better product because of those things mentioned by you.While the pneumatic DA is still better and cheaper (if you already have a compressor)the mirka deros is a excellent tool if you have no air .I own one and hope it will give me many years of trouble free time.

@olaaunelefstad195 2 года назад

Yeah, I dont know whats up with Festool prices in Norway, but here its even worse. The Festool is 1100 dollars, but the Mirka is alot cheaper at 690 dollars. Festool you can only buy in shops that is aimed at professionals. So I gues the pros have a lot of discount. I realy like a lot of the Festool products, but with the Norwegian importers prices for «normal» people, its just crazy expencive.

@neilf4128 3 года назад

By the way. I just really want to say thank you for this review. I genuinely trust your opinion. I have been on the fence. I haven't found reliable reviews from creditable sources regarding Festool vs. Mirka, on RU-vid or in any of the wood working forums. So thank you again.

@kegboy12 3 года назад

Thanks for the comparison. I doubt I will ever own either one, but it's interesting to see how they compare. Good video.

@rfguy8499 3 года назад

Thanks Marc. Great video. Appreciate your honest feedback on these. Not a fan of the paddle switch myself, so I was surprised to see the Mirka migrate from auto work to the woodworking realm.

@georgemdooley 3 года назад

great professional review. I can't afford either one but still fun to watch.

@TristanJCumpole 3 года назад

Hi Marc - I came to much the same conclusions as yourself when I reviewed these exact same units a couple of years back. It's worth reading the manual of the Mirka DEROS as it would have clarified a number of points raised. Regarding stopping speed, the pad has a number of metal shims on the spindle that are removed as the replaceable rubber dust boot/pad bearing surface wears. These increase the friction between the two and controls stopping speed. Both the dust boot and pads are consumable items. The DEROS has a combination of button presses that change the function of the paddle from variable to on/off, the exact combination of which doesn't occur to me right now. The Festool I received had an incorrect counterbalance fitted; that for the 3,0mm orbit and not 5,0mm which increased vibration in use. The Mirka has optional weight nut/bolts on the counterweight for adding/subtracting weight when one uses an interface or change between the 125/150mm pads. I settled on the DEROS and various sizes of Mirka pneumatics since I use them virtually every day in my professional life (wood, Corian, paint) and also for my personal home project work. I chose the 2,5mm orbit variant, stick entirely to using the 125mm pad and generally use Mirka's Abranet mesh rather than "holes with sandpaper added to keep them together". I rarely use paper on machines these days. I disagree that the Festool integrates with the rest of their ecosystem/walled garden beyond the Festool-specific power cable and systainer. The brand loyalty has longer legs than that integration! Over time I found that the paddle of the DEROS lays under the palm joint of my index finger and is very controllable without excess grip or pressure. Cheers, hope you're safe and well!

@carloszarate2293 3 года назад

Great and honest review, thanks. Not that I could afford either of these right now, it definitely helps on which to get if I’m ever able to justify the cost.

@BobAmarant 3 года назад

Well done MARK! Great analysis and comparison. I always like watching your videos.

@antonyelliot8636 3 года назад

I have a lot of hours using both sanders. My thoughts 💭 1: I also prefer no paddle as sometimes I like to clamp the sander upside down for small parts, and like mark change my grip. 2: I like that you can buy a hard pad for the Festool. Helps keep corners crisp. 3: the mirka is cheaper in the 🇬🇧 you also can get sets with a range of mesh sanding discs included, extraction hose and a 125mm pad included, still cheaper than the Festool. 4: curveball - you can get a metabo version of the mirka that is identical but no Bluetooth gimmicks and cheaper, especially if you get the version that just comes in a cardboard box 📦 5: worth noting I got very noticeable swirl marks with the 5mm Festool. They seemed to think there was a fault with the machine to do that but I didn’t want to take the chance and swapped for the 3mm stroke that leaves a superb finish

@johndecker2799 3 года назад

Thank you Marc for finally doing this video.

@SpencleyDesignCo 3 года назад

Fantastic and thorough review, Marc! EXCELLENT content!

@ivanobar1 2 года назад

Both these sanders are out of my price range, but I appreciated the details coming from a exoerienced used. And it was presented in a easy but organized manner. Thanks, I’ll checkout your other vids.

@simoncapizzi9689 3 года назад

I have both. I thought I was gonna love the Mirka when I upgraded to it, but the paddle is kind of the deal breaker for me. I kept them both but reach for the Festool more because I don't like having to depress the paddle all the time. Spot on review Mark

@woodwhisperer 3 года назад

Thanks Sam. Like i mentioned in the review, if you're used to that paddle it might be something you like. But if you never used one before, I can't see why anyone would prefer it.

@duaynenaugle561 3 года назад

I have both but my Mirka is the original Ceros. The Mirka does have the option of variable speed or a fixed speed. , you just need to read the owners manual to find out how. I do not like the Festool , I almost never use it as it seems to rough to me. I also use a Rotex Which I like for some work.

@blbradford1957 3 года назад

@@duaynenaugle561 The new model also has the two control modes. So The comment of only having 1/4" or paddle movement to control the speed applies to that specific control mode. I have the Ceros (old model) too but considering the new model Deros, I have my Ceros programed for on-off and not variable speed- to adjust the speed, which I do often, I use the + & - buttons.

@okafka5446 2 года назад

@@woodwhisperer Thanks for this review. Couple of things, well three - this model Mirka also takes a 5" pad, no? Mirka also do a 8mm throw random orbit in Europe (maybe not available there?) . Lastly my experience of both sanders over a few years, is the Festool is the better engineered of the two, and the Mirka is the more ergonomic. For anyone out there deciding on the Mirka, it doesn't do well driving it at full speed for long periods of time, and even less so if leaning into the work (this will not do the duty of a Rotex like geared sander) - also the warranty (at least here in UK) does not cover the speed control or the power lead failing. All in all, if I had to choose between the two I'd second your conclusion. Saying that it's great to have the Mirka as well, particularly for overhead work.

@duaynenaugle4186 5 месяцев назад

@@blbradford1957 on the ceros. If you depress both buttons at the same time , you have full speed No matter how hard or soft you press.

@WillLeingang 3 года назад

Thank you for finally calling out the confusing sandpaper names. I thought I was the only one.

@chrisanthony579 3 года назад

A large shop I work with refuses to buy Festool paper. They use 3M Cubitron and converted me about a year ago. Best disks I've ever used

@Hvn1957 3 года назад

Great comparison. I used a paddle pneumatic sander for years, at work. I’m not sure the Mirka truly recreates the feel of a pneumatic sander. As for Festool, I like and respect their products, and only own a few. However, one of them is the little brother to yours. The req125. I think people tend to forget Festool sells this very affordable and nice little sander.

@williambrickey5797 2 года назад

Really appreciate the review. I was in market for a “luxury” sander and couldn’t decide which one. I am well down the road with the Festool line so Festool sander it is! Thanks Mark.

@adampayne2163 3 года назад

Honest video and insights as always. Keep up the great work and unbiased reviews

@woodwhisperer 3 года назад

I don't know about unbiased, but I can definitely claim honesty. :)

@KnottyBurlWoodworks 3 года назад

Thanks for you honest review, Marc. We went from Ridgid, to DeWalt, to Mirka. Brittany does 99% of the sanding, so her whole decision process was based on feel. She has small hands and the Mirka just fit her hand better. I’ve been looking forward to this since we never used the Festool.

@woodwhisperer 3 года назад

Yeah I can definitely see hand size playing a role in the buying decision.

@punkrockdave1000 3 года назад

She won't be disappointed with that purchase

@KnottyBurlWoodworks 3 года назад

@@punkrockdave1000 hasn’t been yet! 6 months in and she still loves it!

@Hatchmade 3 года назад

Thanks for the comparison. It validates my purchase of of the festool. All the things you said about the paddle seemed to be the obvious down sides but the time it took the mirka to spin down was the final nail in the coffin for me. I love how fast my festool stops and having to wait those extra few seconds would be frustrating.

@daveherrald1310 3 года назад

Thanks Marc. Great common sense review. So many outlets just proclaiming Mirka to be the best right now. Hard to know who to listen to and their motivations. This was just what I needed.

@myk5486 3 года назад

When I was looking for a sander that paddle turned me away also, glad to hear I was right on it being annoying/restrictive!

@marcchoronzey3923 3 года назад

When I was in cabinetmaking school, we used pneumatic palm sanders. I loved how light and powerful they are.

@karpenterken1 2 года назад

@@lilbeanie5078 Hutchins has had dust collection for decades and the best quality pneumatic sanders in the industry, in my opinion. If you want pneumatic, take a look at them.

@TrapDoorWoodworks 5 месяцев назад

I apprenticed in cabinetmaking long ago, and all I have ever used (until recently), were Dynabrade pneumatic sanders. You can actually play that paddle like a fiddle after using one for years. Electric sanders seem like sanding with a hot brick that takes forever to remove material. 🥴

@FullSailDale1 3 года назад

Thank you for this video! I've been having a LOT of carpal tunnel issues lately (to the point that I'm even considering buying a CNC, heaven help us), and these two sanders have been highly recommended as being easier on the hands and wrists. Buying up (and out of DeWalt) in the sander and CNC arenas will allow me to continue doing what I love. So yes, thank you... lots of great info there!

@jwar2163 3 года назад

Prefect timing on this video I am looking to replace my older sanders that are at least 20 years old and suck when it comes to dust collection.

@rowinguy 2 года назад

Something really important to note is that if you want your Mirka to last more than a couple years. Run it at 1 or 2 clicks down from max on the speed controler. I used to sell both of these and we had A LOT of mirka come through for repair with busted speed controllers.

@stuartpietzka9148 4 месяца назад

I've had mine 6 yesterday full speed and all been fine till a couple weeks ago when stopped working. Thankfully have now figured it's the sander cable that's the issue

@AdamCraigOutdoors 3 года назад

i think you do a great job of being honest when it comes to products. Whatever you say in the woodworking world, we can pretty much take to the bank. That is why your channel is one of the best and we love your video's. I own a ETSC 125 and Rotex 125 and love them both. And dang they are $$$.

@eriziasbasses 3 года назад

As a luthier and sometimes cabinet maker, I've been using both Mirka and Festool sanders for at least 10 years. I have 3 Ceros Mirka sander at the moment (got an insane deal so I grabbed them!) I absolutely love them for contours and complex sanding shapes but also flat surfaces. The lightweight and separate power supply work for me. The paddle on the Ceros model seem to be more responsive than the Deros according to the test you showed compared to what I see on mine. Not for everyone. The Festool sander excel on flat surfaces in my books so I tend to use it mostly for that. The weight does make it easier on all species of wood I think. Both are incredible tools and they should be considered as such: tools! Not miracle makers. ;)

@bobt2522 3 года назад

I appreciate your efforts to remove your bias from the comparison. It is difficult to remove your years-of-use preferences (just look at the Apple vs Android debates). You did a good job being fair in your comparison. I got on the Festool bandwagon years ago when they offered the only tracksaw I found. I have stuck with Festool because they were available at my local woodworking stores.

@logannewman1973 3 года назад

Good comparison - the 2 things that would get me are the free spinning when I’m done and the holding pattern. When sanding a table top I do the same and switch hand holds often. That paddle is a killer to me - plus I like the ETS125 for finish sanding

@joshmcgowan4 3 года назад

I beleive the Festool has a brake which is why it stops quick and doesn’t free spin

@swatts66 2 года назад

The deros comes to an instant stop whilst still on the material surface. It will only free spin when held in the air like this video.

@kaetwo 3 года назад

One thing that may not have been mentioned in the comments is that the 6” Mirka can be converted to a 5” sander with their weighted pad. Kind of a cool feature. I do like that you can use the Festool sander with oil finishes. Mirka told me that they didn’t recommend that with the Deros.

@sprieal364 6 месяцев назад

Hello! Do you know why they didn't recommend using the Deros with oil finishes? .

@kaetwo 6 месяцев назад

Im not 100% sure but it may be because the Mirka could have some suction when being used but I’m not totally sure.

@kerrydavies7536 3 года назад

Great sander evaluation. Honest and practical. Tired of selling or sponsored evaluations. Thanks

@PLaTerra 3 года назад

I appreciate your expertise and candor about the expense. I watched another vid by another RU-vid woodworker and I thought his responses to questions about his purchase of (or endorsement from his free Mirka) was a bit arrogant “you want good tools you just pay for them”. I think it was because of him I sprung for the Festool which I absolutely love. It is damn expensive given you have to buy the vac too but it was woodwork-life altering. Thanks …as always… for your perspective.

@andrhamm 3 года назад

Been waiting for this one!

@andrhamm 3 года назад

I have neither of these but hope to get one some day. The Mirka is so hyped up but this may have swayed me towards Festool. I don't own any Festool tools yet but the dust extractor and sander would be amazing. I also really wish my Makita track saw had the riving knife like the Festool so maybe an upgrade is in my (distant) future

@GetHandsDirty 3 года назад

Interesting to hear that and I can say that I prefer 10 times my Festool RTSC 400 over the Mirka DEOS. I bought the Mirka (€422) because I wanted an exceptional small sander and ended up hating it. It vibrates like anything else I've seen and stupidly forces the hand to jump all over the place, making it impossible to control. I contacted Mirka here in Europe several times and I can also say that their support is a joke and couldn't help me without me paying to ship the machine to their facilities and eventually pay for the fixing if there was any to do. That is all very sad and disappointing. Also the Abranet pads make the angry movements even worse, so it doesn't even work well with their own sandpaper... After some time I decided to purchase the RTSC 400 (€405 with 2 batteries and charger) and my sanding life is so much calmer and relaxed since... Such an expensive tool that seems very well built with high quality materials but the performance is worse than a €50 sander. Inexplicable. And so overrated...

@storjoel 3 года назад

Do you have the square model? I work with those at a factory and have to agree. You have to place the force at a specific place to keep it going a certain way.

@petrsidlo7614 3 года назад

@@storjoel the problem you describe with the mirka sander (the angry jumping across wood) happens to me with a cheap green bosch when i hook it to a shop vac, other than that it works perfectly fine and for the price (which 5 times less where I live) i could not be happier.

@GetHandsDirty 3 года назад

@@arminosaeure29 @Petr Šídlo @Zap Wood Yes, it's the rectangular model, in this case. I tried using it with two vacs (Bosch blue and Festool) at the lowest suction possible and still behaves that way. I understand what you mean about the suction but it doesn't solve the issue. It happens even without dust collection hooked and it is way more noticeable when using lower sandpaper grits. 60 or 80 makes you want to throw it in the trash can. :(

@NoDude 3 года назад

I have both the Mirka DEOS (3" x 5") and the DEROS (both 5" and 6" heads), and found both of them finnicky until you get used to them. The DEROS is extremely susceptible to imbalance, if you have the wrong weights in the head, if you're using a pad saver but set up the weights to NOT use a pad saver, or even if you have the abranet disk slightly off center. Once you fix those, and learn to pushy slightly more than resting hand pressure it works wonderfully. I found it stick with high vacuum pressure, but if it's balanced properly it never jumps. The DEOS on the other hand has a weird weight distribution, and as Zap Wood mentioned you have to hold it just right and make sure you're not pressing on one corner or another. Something that might help until you get the muscle memory down is get the thinnest foam pad for it (I'll look up the model number if you need it) and it'll make the sander a lot more forgiving. If your abranet sheet is slightly over or under sized, OR grossly misaligned it also jerks a bit, but it honestly sounds like your resting your hand and putting too much pressure on one end or even one corner. You're right an expensive sander like that shouldn't be that tricky to use right out the box, but I spent so much money on abranet when I bought the sanders I had to stick it out, and now I'm glad I did. For what it's worth the DEROS is a much better sander than the DEOS is, the DEOS isn't bad by any means but it's not mind blowing either.

@exsmoker74 3 года назад

Had both of these, mirka broke after two years in the electronic controls, festool still going strong after years of work

@tworiversworkshop6111 Год назад

Thank you for a good honest, down to earth comparison between these two premium sanders. I am in the market for a premium sander and having used other Festool tools, I lean towards that brand as here in the UK the service, warranty and spares availability is about the best there is. I thought I would give the flappy paddle sander a go, but like yourself and others, found that it caused my hand to cramp up and I was never really comfortable using this type of sander, horses for courses I guess!

@soaunknown 2 года назад

Subscribed! I love unbiased and professional reviews from someone who knows what they're talking about. I love the mirka, I've used it at my father's company and it's a great machine but this got me thinking to maybe go festool. Price difference is signincant wheras the difference aren't as much. I'm planning to get other tools from festool which mirka doesn't make so I think I got my answer.

@fcschoenthal 3 года назад

Actually been considering these two and weighing the options. As always, great video. Thanks a lot for helping. I hate to start drinking the green kool-aid, but now if only I could find one in stock someplace. - Chris

@williamsanders6092 3 года назад

Really more money than good sense?

@shaurus68 3 года назад

The Mirka is meant to be best used with Abranet sheets and that is why the machine has more holes than a normal pad and it makes a massive difference. The paddle design is traditional especially when most sanders used in industry and manufacturing and repairs are actually air driven machines and this is based on that.

@mattcable6379 Год назад

@@espressomatic ? The Mirkas been around since the ETS was waiting for a glint in muma festools eye..

@steppedon Год назад

The ETS 150 has the same number of holes as the Deros 650. They both work off of the same vacuum/dust principle. Same goes for the ETS 125 and the smaller 5" Deros.

@bestyoutubernonegraternumber1 Год назад

@@mattcable6379Festool has a very long history of innovating and outright inventing things we take for granted today, including the track saw.

@KlausPedersen_gaffa 2 года назад

Really fantastic review! So glad to hear a review from long time use.

@umakemesick2 3 года назад

I have seen the Mirka in other woodworking videos and I instantly thought “I bet that hand button wouldn’t be fun to lose your grip on.” Thanks for your insight as well!

@matthewventura8610 3 года назад

I prefer when Festool owners boast about Mirka and sell their used Festool haha. But legit, that’s how I got my CT 48, then a week later my Rotex 125 both used. Both previous owners needed the cash to buy a Mirka.

@nathanclose5558 3 года назад

Just a FYI. The small holes in the pads actually push air out. What this does is move the dust from the centre of the pad to the outside where the vacuum holes are making your dust extraction more efficient

@woodwhisperer 3 года назад

Yup, but that doesn't change the fact that it works just as well with a single hole at the center. I get it, it's technically better. But I see nearly 100% dust collection with a standard 8-hole pattern. The new hole patterns just seem like gilding the lily and it's pushing us further down the route of proprietary paper.

@LucScheffers Год назад

@@woodwhisperer That all might be fine for wood. But not for resin or composite based ((polyester/epoxy, and fillers with glass tot cotton, paint, primer etc) material where heat build up is fast, softens the material and ruins your work in a second second, etc. The many holes pushing and sucking air actually cools the surface and abrasive material. It also adds to less dust working vertical which in automotive, marine applications is 85% the case. Festool made a copy of the Mirka. And Mirka should copy the rotex machines:) As for buying into a system, with mirka you buy into an abbrasive tech system, which specializes in automotive, marine, aerospace applications with festool into a tool system with it roots in woodworking. For Price, Metabo licenced the Mirka Deros under its own name the SXE 150 for 100 euro's less. But for all sanders best quality abrasive is key, and in the end cost more than the machine, and 90% of the users use their abrasives way too long on their machines.

@alexs2794 3 года назад

You’re the best! I’ve been watching your videos and learning from you for years. I have the same festool sander - both 3 and 5mm and I love them. I was thinking about trying mirca a few months ago, but was thinking that this paddle switch will be a huge pita. I see you’re expanding your veritas tool collection. Please, make a video about this carving axe! I’m seriously considering it instead of my gb for the ease of sharpening.

@woodcraftbynieves 2 года назад

Great side by side comparison. I’m glad I came here first. Def leaning towards the festool after this video. Thanks!

@joshuayates7023 3 года назад

I think choosing to invest in a high end sander is a huge point of contention for many al-home/hobbyist woodworkers. There are a lot of pros to justify it, but then you look at the best sanders from Makita/Dewalt/Milwaukee and they don't even come close to the cost of these brands, and realistically they pretty much do the same thing (slightly poorer and slower). Its not like choosing to buy a specialty tool like a track saw or domino cutter where there are no cheep alternatives that perform comparably. I think this is one of those things I would only invest in if I find the right deal on craigslist/offer up. Thanks for the great insight!!!

@johannes.f.r. 3 года назад

As with all tools, upgrade the tool you use or impact the end result the most when on a budget. If you don't sand hours at a time a heavier, taller sander will do fine. Although it must be said, if you are a weekend warrior, you probably don't want to spend half the day sanding, so invest in a powerful one. But it doesn't have to be a flagship sander like this, I used the heavy Makita BO6030J for years and it is plenty powerful and comfortable to use for longer stretches. It is just heavy and tall, so you want to use it for horizontal surfaces as much as possible. But it is virtually indestructible and never breaks a sweat.

@JoeC92 3 года назад

My selling point was weight and dust extraction having used others before. Was my first festool product and I got it for overhead and wall use because the Sanders I had from Bosch were too heavy for extended use. And dust collection was lacking.

@stumptownwoodworks 3 года назад

It's amazing how some reviews will gush over the Mirka when they get em for free or half a dozen to fill out their shop or school. I don't have either yet, and was leaning festool, but was Mirka Curious. But the added cost, paddle, and jumping kills it for me. A sander has to be damn near perfect for me to drop $500+ on it. I went Bosch for now and they were half the cost...so far so good for now. Thanks for the review and giving it a proper amount of time first... probably the only one that did.

@davidpape9726 3 года назад

I went Bosch as well, just could not justify the the cost.

@waynerudiger1756 3 года назад

Agree. My Bosch may have a bit more vibration but works well and has excellent dust collection (with Fein vac - also cheaper than Festool) for a fraction of the cost. That said I love the Domino and the precision of the Kapex is unbeatable. I'm basically brand agnostic.

@user-do4ku4xg3z 4 месяца назад

@@waynerudiger1756 Чуть большую вибрацию)). Я чуть без руки не остался с этой вибрацией. Бере6ите руки и не пользуйтесь плохим инструментом. Про эффект белого пальца не слышали? От чрезмерной вибрации очень большой вред здоровью.

@jonathanfemenella8662 3 года назад

Great video and review. Buying one of these expensive sanders will be one of the hardest triggers to pull, but I have more insight now thank you

@kyek8246 3 года назад

I love how you recognize that you are not the typical hobbyist woodworker like most of your followers.

@wb_finewoodworking 3 года назад

This was very helpful. I’ve seen a lot of hype from others on RU-vid on how fantastic the Mika sanders are and I’ve wondered if they were worth the extra money. From what I gathered from your comparison is that I’m just fine sticking with Festool if I want to add another sander in the future. Thanks.

@woodwhisperer 3 года назад

Also keep in mind that some of those Mirka sanders were "free gifts." A great sander is even better when it's free. ;)

@JoeC92 3 года назад

Festool has better reliability from what I've seen online.

@wb_finewoodworking 3 года назад

@@woodwhisperer Very true. That’s the main reason I was curious in your thoughts. I know you’d be honest.

@wb_finewoodworking 3 года назад

@@JoeC92 while I agree but it’s difficult sometimes to cut through the influencers who have been influenced by gifts and/or money. That’s why hearing Marc’s thoughts on the subject is so helpful. BTW - Since I’ve had a Festool sander for close to 20 years I can vouch for how well they hold up. The only issue I’ve had with both of my sanders is that the foam pads degrade over time and must be replaced.

@JoeC92 3 года назад

@@wb_finewoodworking 100% agree. I've noticed it's hard to take a lot of reviews seriously when the people are sponsored by them

@MarcWaddell 3 года назад

This review was just in time. I already have a Festool RO 150, but was looking for a lighter sander. Since I'm already in Festool, I'll likely lean that way. Since the RO 150 already has a Random Orbital in 5mm, would it be wise to get the 3mm on the ETS EC 150 or just stick with the 5mm?

@foxwoodworking8759 2 года назад

I also have the Rotex 150 and I think for me the ETS EC150/3 makes sense. The Rotex already has the larger stroke and is for material removal. I consider the ETS EC150/3 only a finish sander and don't care about removal.

@libertylumberworks 2 года назад

Great breakdown. Been looking at making ‘the jump’ to a premium sander and this is helping to make up my mind. Really wanted to try the Mirka sander, but it seems that price difference isn’t worth it. So diving into the Festool brand I go!

@keithferrio7240 Год назад

Thanks for a very informative review. I've watched a few reviews of the Festool sanders and was also interested in the Mirka. I'm just an occasional user who appreciates quality tools and I found your commentary to be particulary helpful.

@shmiggz 3 года назад

I have the Mirka and have no regrets. Personally prefer the paddle style.

@chrisreese9133 3 года назад

How long have you had it? I hear bad reviews about the longevity

@shmiggz 3 года назад

@@chrisreese9133 I've had for about 6 months so far and have put it to good use. I've read and watched some reviews stating that about longevity and decided to gamble...so far I'm not disappointed. I have not used the festool so I don't know how it compares.

@fgamache1 3 года назад

@@chrisreese9133 I have one for 4 years, no problem at all. I just buy the delta model few months ago, such a great tools. What a like about mirka are they build sanders and nothing else.

@juliachild9377 Год назад

Based on my experience, the most recent mirka deros is significantly lighter, vibrates substantially less than festool's ets ec 125/3, and has improved their electric break system to be on par with festool. Mirka's sander can also reach much lower speeds than festool's, which is important when you're doing lots of finish sanding. Mirka's is also much quieter than festool's, which is important to me. I bought a festool really hoping that it would be just as good or better than mirka, but mirka just outperforms festool in too many important areas.

@johnhannon7318 Год назад

Thanks! I'm sold! I have a window and door restoration company, and I am going to finally buy a top grade sander. I will buy the Festol...hands down. Appreciate the video.

@WobblycogsUk 3 года назад

I own the Festool and I've tried the Mirka, this review is spot on. The Mirka is a great tool but the Festool is as well and it's cheaper. One thing only indirectly touched on in the video was the fact the Mirka has a different power connector. If you already have a Festool hose with integrated power having to use a different power connector for the Mirka would be a pain.

@DirkieB 3 года назад

8:02 it's a "hole" lot easier. Appreciate the pun :)

@EricGrayEricLeePhotos 3 года назад

Do not undersell the fact that the Festool stops almost immediately! That is a MASSIVE help! I turn it off and set it down. No waiting. I'll say it...game changer.

@kennethholmes9315 2 года назад

Picked up Festool sanders 125 Rotex RO & ETS EC 125/3 plus a CT 36 dust extractor after watching your video (Newer Shop). I'm not a Festool fan , but your video made a lot of sense. Also think that it is easier to find supplies, as they are everywhere ( Time is Money). And all priced the same as far as I can tell. I should point out that I've been in production wood working for 30 plus years. So have use quite a lot of different sanders. From Festool to Dynabrade.

@chrisbernichon 3 года назад

Always appreciate your honest opinions!

@fritzulrich68 3 года назад

Interesting review and comparisson. Guess the choice between Mirka and Festool is almost like a religious question. Using a Deros 5650 CV for a while and am super happy with it. When comparing prices in Germany the Mirka sold for approx 440€ whereas Festool is sold for approx 560€ and consequently more than 100€ more expensive. To me, the biggest difference occurs when using Abranet or Festool Granat net. For both the dust collection is amazing. It enables almost dust-free sanding. However, my impression is that Granat net tends to wear off a little better and that Abranet has a slightly better performance. Really curious to try Klingspor next and see how it compares.

@captmarvel9964 3 года назад

Damn it, I wish I had this review a year ago lol the paddle drives me nuts, but it really feels great in the hand lmao 🤣

@woodwhisperer 3 года назад

Lots of people love the Mirka. I bet you can sell it and recoup enough to afford the Festool. Well, if you can find one.

@captmarvel9964 3 года назад

That's a good idea 🤔

@shaynesabala 2 года назад

Great video. Thanks for being so objective in your review. I’m not going to spend that much on a sander but I’m building a my collection of wood working tools, as a novice and I’m one that doesn’t like to buy twice so I buy tools that I will be happy with and keep for a very long time. I’m not convinced that I need a sander that cost this much but maybe my opinion will change. Thanks again.

@justmeJason 3 месяца назад

Thank you for a great test, impartial as always and good information to consider when purchasing.

@hurcorh 3 года назад

Regarding sanding disks. The best i've used are the 3M blue hookit sanding disks. They last far longer than any of the festool branded stuff and are cheaper.

@vergil.penkov 3 года назад

There's actually a nice research on this which confirms what you're saying: cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0091/2169/3747/files/Sanding_Review_Complete_PDF.pdf?v=1590608214 That being said, I'm not familiar with the source (Taylor Toolworks) so you be the judge of its legitimacy.

@hurcorh 3 года назад

@@vergil.penkov Interesting test thanks for the link

@steffsergeant3561 3 года назад

Very interesting, in germany the price difference is the other way around: Mirka 380€ Festool 530€

@MrBen096 3 года назад

Same here in Belgium !

@williamperschau3090 3 года назад

Great review! Thanks Marc. I just bought the Mirka mainly because I cannot find anywhere that has the Festool in stock.

@BobStCyr 3 года назад

Less fatigue is certainly important if you sand often and for longer periods of time. I worked for years in shops where we had pneumatic sanders with the paddle switch and I think that's just something you get used to. Any of the less expensive alternates will do just a good a sanding job (several reviews bear this out). I'm on my 5th or 6th orbital sander (I"ve had Milwaukee, Makita, Black and Decker and Bosch). They all were fine, did the job but along the years were lost, stolen, dropped or moved on to my son. Sanding is my least favourite part of woodworking and I use hand planes, scrapers and my thickness sander whenever I can but using the Festool compared to the other orbitals is a nicer experience. If you only use an orbital occasionally or have a restricted budget any of the others sands just as well - a little louder and with more vibration but still does the job.

@OakandOtter 3 года назад

Props to Cremona for getting this Mirka in Marc’s shopping cart.

@RobertHorton1975 3 года назад

Angerboners. I learned a new word.

@woodwhisperer 3 года назад

One of my favorites.

@ask_jeebs 3 года назад

Came for the reviews stayed for the vocabulary lesson

@0000kris0000 3 года назад

Great video. I noticed as well that every clip of the sanders in use showed quite a lot of wobble through the hose on the Mirka but not on the festool.