Tips for choosing sander, router, circular saw?

[VladTepes]

I would like guidance please as to what to look for when choosing specific tools.
Having decided on brand and price point, my problem is that I don't know which features are most essential, which are gimmicks and whether one of the following specific tools is a better option than another.
Your assistance in this regard would be most welcome.
SANDERS
Considering these:
https://sydneytools.com.au/product/hikoki-sv15ych1z-350w-150mm-6-random-orbital-sander-with-variable-speed (https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/go?https%3A%2F%2Fsydneytools.com.au%2Fproduct%2Fhi koki-sv15ych1z-350w-150mm-6-random-orbital-sander-with-variable-speed)
https://sydneytools.com.au/product/bosch-gex-40150-060137b240-400w-150mm-6-random-orbital-sander (https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/go?https%3A%2F%2Fsydneytools.com.au%2Fproduct%2Fbo sch-gex-40150-060137b240-400w-150mm-6-random-orbital-sander)
https://sydneytools.com.au/product/makita-bo6030j-310w-150mm-6-random-orbital-sander-with-makpac-case-type-3 (https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/go?https%3A%2F%2Fsydneytools.com.au%2Fproduct%2Fma kita-bo6030j-310w-150mm-6-random-orbital-sander-with-makpac-case-type-3)
https://www.totaltools.com.au/65352-metabo-350w-150mm-random-orbital-sander-sxe450turbo (https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/go?https%3A%2F%2Fwww.totaltools.com.au%2F65352-metabo-350w-150mm-random-orbital-sander-sxe450turbo)
Good dust extraction is something I am very keen on....
CIRCULAR SAWS
Considering these:
https://sydneytools.com.au/product/bosch-gks-190-0601623041-1400w-190mm-75-circular-saw (https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/go?https%3A%2F%2Fsydneytools.com.au%2Fproduct%2Fbo sch-gks-190-0601623041-1400w-190mm-75-circular-saw)"
https://sydneytools.com.au/product/hikoki-c7mfah6z-1010w-75-190mm-circular-saw (https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/go?https%3A%2F%2Fsydneytools.com.au%2Fproduct%2Fhi koki-c7mfah6z-1010w-75-190mm-circular-saw)
ROUTERS
I really don't know what to look for here, but Makita seems like the 'go to' brand for these. So many options. Guidance welcome.
If it's good enough at the $300 price point maybe https://sydneytools.com.au/product/makita-m3600b-1650w-127mm-12-mt-series-plunge-router (https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/go?https%3A%2F%2Fsydneytools.com.au%2Fproduct%2Fma kita-m3600b-1650w-127mm-12-mt-series-plunge-router)
Again guidance is welcome.
(I have decided to stick to brands makita, hikoki, de walt, metabo, bosch blue)
Thank you.

[Slunnie]

In our workshops we generally stick to Makita, and their products are pretty good across the range. Given that they are used and abused all day every day by students, I'm pretty happy with them.

There are a few exceptions - their 1/3 sheet orbital sanders, purely because they don't hold the abrasive well enough. That is the one item I don't recommend - we still use them and it does my head in, until I find a better unit.

For the sanders you're looking at, I also wouldn't recommend them. They have velcro backed abrasive which are expensive to replace and trickier to buy compared to 1/3 sheet sanders which just take standard sheet abrasive. If the velcro hooks get damaged on the machine (they will) or the hook layer lifts away from the machine (it will) then the operation becomes compromised as well.

No sander extracts dust well by itself, even if they have a bag on the back of them. I think the best you will do there is to connect an extraction unit (eg Vacuum - Just a moment... (https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/w885) ) to the outlet on it. We also run grossly overspec'd ambient air filtration units also - you might just do it outside.

[sharmy]

Both those saws are right handed, sometimes when on special, or in kits they get rid of the left hand ones which can be dangerous if you are right handed.

[rovers4]

A 185mm saw is a goodsize for doing a lot of hand-held cutting.
Most timbers come in under 45mm thick.

If mounting to a bench, then go for a 230mm. But it will be tiring holding it in the hand if doing many cuts.

I have a 185 Mak, plus two 230 Maks- one in a bench for ripping and one for crosscut.

Re orbitals : a firm grip on the paper is essential. Stay away from the thinner wire hoops. A metal flange held with a strong spring, or a stronger wire latch that gets caught is preferred. A good central bearing is needed. All brands have cheaper variants, especially in sanders. I have Maks.

As for routers, consider whether you want plunge or just adjustable, hand-held or fixed in a bench, just trimming and fine work or deeper work in hardwood.
Your needs will determine what bits you want, they will determine what collet size you need. That will shepherd you into machine size and then you look at who sells what. I have a mixture of three machines in two brands.

In all cases beware of the rubbish: plastic bush housings to get hot, weak switches and sloppy adjustments.

Then comes the question of corded, or battery? Are the batteries replaceable/interchangeable?
Are there storage cases, plus user manuals, service agents and spare parts for five years time?

Be prepared to spend weeks checking things out. Some outlets have supply deals that narrow down what they sell, but push what they have done a supply deal on.


Sometimes you might need to make use of the gear at the local Mens Shed.

[Fattima]

There are a few exceptions - their 1/3 sheet orbital sanders, purely because they don't hold the abrasive well enough. That is the one item I don't recommend - we still use them and it does my head in, until I find a better unit.


So it isn't only me! I've got one of their 1/3 sheet models and it drives me crazy. Currently sanding some window frames and getting very frustrated with the sander.

[Slunnie]

So it isn't only me! I've got one of their 1/3 sheet models and it drives me crazy. Currently sanding some window frames and getting very frustrated with the sander.

For a bodge fix, I counter twist the spring to give it more load - it loses this though as for a spring it's not very springy material. We also fold the ends of the sheet to increase its thickness and it seems to give it better bite - but its still a temporary bodge fix.

[RANDLOVER]

As only an occasional user, I like battery tools as if you don't get things exactly right they load up and trip out, whereas a corded one has the power to just keep going. I discovered this when I made a jig to rip down some fence pallings and the circular saw got stuck a few times.

[Slunnie]

The other brand maybe worth looking at is Ozito which you can buy from Bunnings.

Not saying they are what you want, but I've heard good things about them, and my limited experiences are really good also.

I bought a small Ozito mitre circ saw and cut my parents hardwood fence (posts, rails and palings) into 30cm bits for my fireplace and the saw is still 100% perfect. I genuinely thought I'd be throwing it in the bin afterwards.

They also have a 3yr replacement warranty, are cheap and they seem to work well.

[loanrangie]

The other brand maybe worth looking at is Ozito which you can buy from Bunnings.

Not saying they are what you want, but I've heard good things about them, and my limited experiences are really good also.

I bought a small Ozito mitre circ saw and cut my parents hardwood fence (posts, rails and palings) into 30cm bits for my fireplace and the saw is still 100% perfect. I genuinely thought I'd be throwing it in the bin afterwards.

They also have a 3yr replacement warranty, are cheap and they seem to work well.

I have a lot of ozito cordless tools and they do what i need, a few i got 2nd hand cheap off FB like the circular saw and 18V chainsaw. Chainsaw is surprisingly good and ideal for camping, i have a spare charger that stays in the caravan that i use with a 2000w inverter.

[ozscott]

I have had an extremely good run from Milwaukee M12 Fuel gear. The grunt of the Fuel range with their brushless set ups is outstanding. My m12 Fuel drill has more grunt than my older West German made 18 volt AEG (brushed, NICAD) and build quality is very solid. I also like the battery quality and rate of charge. I have invested in their M12 camping, work lights, vacuum and other tools. They all just work so well.

I have had a variety of other cordless and corded. Interestingly Milwaukee do not make a glue gun (they seem to cover the market aside from that) and value for money can't beat Ozito's glue gun. The Ozitto lithium hedge trimmer is not bad for light work and shares the same battery. I have a 240v electric hedge trimmer for the really heavy trimming but of i didnt i would spring for an EGO hedge trimmer - their most powerful blower is more grunty that 2 stroke ones i have owned previously. I had a great AEG 1/3rd sheet 240v sander, but now have a Makita version of the same unit and it is performing very well. I only like the sanders that grip though mechanical locking and not the velcro jobbies.

I have had an 25 plus year run from a Ryobi mitre saw and a Ryobi circular saw (240v) but if I needed to replace them i would probably go Hitachi or Makita (or possible Tradetools versions if they come out with them in due course - i have a number of Renegade tools from jack hammers to welders and stuff in between and they have always been great value for money). Cheers

[350RRC]

Saws;

Mak 185, gets used very often for hand held stuff, is light and Aldi sell suitable blades a couple of times a year.

Mak 230 mounted in a Triton work table on casters, 30 years old, gets used for ripping.

Mak 304 sliding compound mitre saw, 25 years old, gets mounted on a Dewalt folding stand (the best designed) and used for really accurate cuts either heavy or light timber.

German AEG jigsaw, 30 years old, gets used for jigsaw stuff on metal, timber and fibreglass.

AEG 18v recipro saw gets used all the time with various blades, old bi-metal blades can be used to cut tree roots in the ground without feeling guilty, can cut in really tight spots with practice.

Aldi handsaws, cost jack and are great for odd stuff.

Stihl 039 and a 017. These get used for big posts and beams. Not so much the 039 anymore now I have the 017. These are like the circular saws in that you'll use the smaller one way more than the big.

Sanders:

German AEG 9" WPZ 1000 sander polisher, now dead sadly and parts NA. Sanded and polished about 2000 surfboards / windsurfers. Switches could be rebuilt, plenty of grunt, would buy another tomorrow. Got used for sanding tables, etc, as well.

Ryobi cheap 9" sander polisher, replacement for the AEG. Gutless, but gets used sometimes for sanding curves and flats on timber.

Mak 1/3 sheet orbital doesn't get used much coz I can get a perfect finish with disc sanders, no issues with mine holding the sheets.

Mak 125 angle grinder, I love this thing for sanding timber now that velcro pads are readily available and cheap. Aldi sell packets of various grit discs sometimes. Not for the inexperienced, I use mine one handed and can get a perfect finish. Very fast material removal. Would have been great back in my surfboard era.

Ryobi belt sander.......... only gets used for sanding the edges of timber floors. Works ok and collects dust pretty well when hooked up to an Ozito vac (that has temp overload switch).

Drills:

Grandfather's Skil 240 2 speed drill.......... heaps of grunt, metal body, used sometimes.

Mak 240 hand held..... used sometimes, 30+ years old, first drill with variable speed, reverse and a keyless chuck.

Metabo 240v 2 speed long thing, used to get used for everything, 25 years old, has a clutch, plenty of grunt.

Various other 240's.

AEG brushless 18V drill and driver, AEG sub-compact drill and driver. All get a lot of use these days. No issues at all really.


The key to the longevity of all the 240v stuff is to inspect the brushes from time to time!

cheers, DL