Festool ETS EC150 vs Mirka Deros - choose WISELY

[@TK-mj9rd]

It would be nice if you could go back and flash a disclaimer about the warranty in the video. I went over to Festool and came here to paste what they showed on the site about their 3 year warranty but only then saw you commented on it.

[@cyberreefguru]

Hi TK - yes, I wish I could as well. KZbin does not allow videos to be modified after uploading. It's super annoying. I will pin the comment though. Thanks for watching!

[@duaynenaugle561]

My problem with Festool is that they have a few central repair centres and I believe it is 1 in canada and just a few in the states. They pay for shipping there and back within that 3 year warranty. After that you are responsible for shipping and repairs both ways. Imagine what it would cost to ship a Kapex ,

[@kylercote1]

Sounds like the mirka and 3M xtract sander have similar issues. Mine recently died while just outside of warranty and repairs were over 50% of the new price. Cut my losses and moved on to a festool as well.

[@cyberreefguru]

Thanks Kyle - interesting; seems like a generational thing. Hopefully they fixed whatever the issue is -- they are being quite "mum" about the reliability issues IME. Thanks for watching!

[@nillez8197]

I have my Festool sander for 8 years and use it heavy duty. We use it for sanding walls ,plaster etc for painting. Sometimes it run days for sanding. The machine never have issues,only the cabel is replaced. The mirka sells a sander 175mm and Festool don’t sell that size. Maby is consider to buy a mirka and have the same quality as festool

[@cyberreefguru]

Yep - could be a fluke or a real problem. I don’t know. Though the repairs version is humming along so far. Thanks for watching!

[@JohnHarmon]

I have the Mirka sander (I wanted it because it was lighter and lower profile). I purchased a Festool dust extractor (Midi) though, because the Mirka came in just the one size--and was considerably more expensive. I snap my Mirka systainer on top of the Midi. Works well.

[@cyberreefguru]

Thanks John - that sounds like a great combination. My Mirka is my go-to still, but do you use the Festool in a pinch - as you noted, I like the lower profile much more than the Festool profile. Thanks for watching!

[@NWGR]

I went through the same choice last year and decided on the festool. I already had a festool tracksaw and dust extractor, and when researching came across multiple instances of users having the same failure as yours did. So I went with the festool (same one you got) and it hasn't let me down. It's an amazing sander. One small correction: the festool warranty is also 3 years; the 10 year guarantee is that there will be parts available for it for 10 years should you need them. Still, even shopping today, I'd pick the festool over the mirka because of the reliability issues. In regards to dust extraction, claimed and measured suction is often different. Fine woodworking did a test on various extractors and some claimed much higher cfm than festool but when measured, were often less. The mirka does seem like a nice extractor, but I'm spoiled by the nice hose, systainer storage, bluetooth activation and consistent performance of the festool. It will literally not lose suction until the bag is a brick of dust.

[@cyberreefguru]

Thanks for the great feedback and correction on the warranty - thanks for watching!

[@z802009]

That brick of dust remark is absolutely correct, it is astounding to me how well the Festool extractors work right until the bag is 100% full.

[@NWGR]

@@z802009 Yeah, they really nailed that aspect of dust extraction. I've been very happy with my midi and will be adding a CT26 to the workshop soon.

[@z802009]

@@NWGR I've been really happy with my ones, I have a 40+ year old SR5E I still use daily, and my 15 year old CT36 finally died after many, many thousands of hours hooked up to my CNC, but I'm fairly sure it might just be the brushes. If you don't have one already, I'd highly recommend using a Dust Deputy in front of your extractor, they are absolutely superb and save so much time. I've emptied my CT36 maybe 3 times over the last 15 years using a DD.

[@NWGR]

@@z802009 For my midi I don't use a dust deputy because it's my mobile/jobsite vac, but will for the ct 26 for sure. I use one with my dewalt workshop vac (this is the one I'll be replacing with the ct 26) as well as one with my fein turbo I I use at the CNC. Like you said, emptying the vac bag is literally years apart.

[@Fictitious_Character]

Pretty good video for the topic. February of 22 I wanted to replace an older Festool ETS 150/5 with an EC 150/5. Couldn't find any available in the states without a 3-6 months lead time. I had looked at the Deros a couple years prior and never pulled the trigger due to reliability concerns. So I was back to looking at the Deros once again. I did pull the trigger this time and I do really love that sander imo it is just a really comfortable sander. Because of the reliability concerns I did read the manual on it and registered it in the 2+1 period. In the manual it states if using a protection pad for net paper to keep the max RPM to under 8k. I have my max at 7800 according to the app. Not sure if that will truly add to the reliability, but it is always the speed control module that seems to go out, and I assume almost no one reads the manual and slaps a protection pad on it and runs her fast. A couple things I'd add in your video just for clarification is the 10yr warranty for Festool that you mentioned in the video. For the North American market the warranty goes like this. 30 day no questions asked returns on tools. If registered within 30 it is a 3 yr warranty. If not registered it is a 1 yr warranty. The 10 yr guarantee is that they will continue to make replacement parts and consumables for 10yrs after an item is manufactured. I'd also add that the Mirka 1230 extractor is manufactured by Nilfisk who manufactures extractors for many companies, and a systainer can sit on the 1230 but the attachment to do so is an additional cost. My opinion is both are great sanders. The Festool has proven reliability. Their extractors even abused units run well over 10 yrs. Their sanders I've never had one go out before the 3 yr warranty period, but I have had one go out just after the 3 yr mark.

[@cyberreefguru]

Agreed - both great sanders -- one could be better in a few areas :) Thanks for watching!

[@aaronoconnor606]

They festool extractor is great but the plastic in the old ones gets brittle over time hopefully the new ones are of better quality

[@cyberreefguru]

@@aaronoconnor606 Thanks Aaron -- I will keep an eye on that!

[@Fictitious_Character]

@@aaronoconnor606 are you referring to the hose garage top? If so I agree. I've replaced a couple hose garages on a couple extractors. I do think the newer vacs and the current replacement hose garages are of better quality plastics than 10 to 5 years ago. I've also replaced a few cord wraps over the years, but again the newer ones seem like better plastic. If you mean the tub or the motor section of the extractors I haven't had that issue. Just color fade/change on old units that deal with annual vehicle temperature changes. Another difference between new and older units is the thickness of the power cord. Seemed like a difference between a 12 gauge cord, and a 14 gauge cord. One made in 23 is noticeably thinner than ones made between 12-15. The ones manufactured between 20-23 seem the same. Maybe they made the housing a bit more flexible so the gorillas would stop breaking cord wraps lol.

[@daversj]

The Festool vac tubs are cheap ABS plastic, no FRP. I have had them break and the replacement came with already broken tabs in the box from poor packaging. Great tools but they use cheap materials in places.

[@TrapDoorWoodworks]

I would consider a "professional grade" sander to be a pneumatic sander like the Dynabrade. They last forever, run cool, are very light, have minimal vibration, and have way more power than electric sanders. I believe that's why Mirka put a paddle control on their sander - to make it more useable to people who have run pneumatics most of their life.

[@cyberreefguru]

I'm not sure -- I grew up with pneumatic sanders by Mirka and 3M since my Dad did auto body work. I don't know a lot of wood workers with the space for a 20 gallon air compressor - or a 100 gallon like he had in the shop. Electric sanders are more accessible now than ever. In any case, the electric Mirka feels like and operates like the pneumatic sander I used all those years ago - lower profile and lighter (though not as light as pneumatic). I still prefer the Mirka over the Festool 10x. Just saying ;). Thanks for watching!

[@TrapDoorWoodworks]

@@cyberreefguru That is my point exactly. Most smaller shops don't have the equipment to run pneumatic, but pretty much all larger shops - anything more than a couple of people - use pneumatic due to reduced costs and reliability. Having said that, electric sanders have come a long way lately. I would be very interested in comparing temperatures between the two. When I switched back and forth between electric and pneumatic, the electric sander always seemed way too hot. I'm sure they solved that problem with these premium sanders though 🤔

[@radod6147]

Most of my tools are Festool only sander is Mirka. I've been having mine over five years, went through one pad, abused it as much as I could and it hasn't missed the bit. I love Mirka for being smaller and lighter. Like with everything, something breaks sooner or later.

[@cyberreefguru]

Agreed and I'm still using my Mirka as my daily driver -- don't know that I will ever switch to the Festool full time; but it's a great backup. Thanks for watching!

[@francoisf195]

Thanks for the video and your feedback! I'm actually looking for one of those two sanders...

[@cyberreefguru]

No problem -- thank you for watching!

[@julesjay1634]

got the deros, the trottle broke down after 15 Minutes of use on drywall...lol sent it back and am waiting on the festool to arrive

[@cyberreefguru]

Interesting -- would not expect that. Good luck with the Festool (I still prefer my Mirka :))

[@duaynenaugle561]

I bought the Mirka Ceros in 2012 which had a Problem in 2015 , the repair was quite expensive but I am still using the sander to this day. During that time I bought a festool rotex and a ETS ec 150 3 I thought the ets was a useless sander and sold it in 2021.

[@cyberreefguru]

Interesting -- thanks for the feedback, and thanks for watching!

[@kevinwillis6707]

not the first time ive heard of mirka failing, makes my future decision easy, thanks.

[@cyberreefguru]

Thanks Kevin - one more data point :) Thanks for watching!

[@jodiebyrne6655]

I think merka should reduce the repair prices for there derous sanders as they have a problem with reliability but won't admit there's a problem

[@cyberreefguru]

Hi Jodie - I don't know what's involve with replacing a motherboard in the sander, but 50% of the original price a few years after purchase is a little insane. A bette warranty or a more reliable device is certainly warranted IMHO. Thanks for watching!

[@ivyking4149]

I just don't understand why Mirka thinks it is necessary to give the cord a plug on the device side. a sander is a device with all kinds of vibrations there can be. My Mirka Deros keeps cutting out because the plug on the device side vibrates out of the holder. otherwise a very nice sander. but worthless if I have to keep pressing the plug.

[@cyberreefguru]

The plug clips in and has never come loose for me. In fact, it’s quite difficult to remove when necessary. Thanks for watching!

[@aaronoconnor606]

My dad has the 1st mirka sander still without issues he used it for year's i have used the new ones and I own a festool sander. And i would say the mirka is slightly smoother less vibration but they have had issues. I know people who have replaced then 2 or 3 times....

[@cyberreefguru]

Thanks Aaron - I've had a similar experience -- thanks for watching!

[@Steinstra-vj7wl]

It is almost unbelievable that Mirka still has the sudden death problem after so many years considering its purchase price .

[@cyberreefguru]

Well, yes! I hope mine is a one-off, but based on my research, it might now be. 🤷‍♂ Thanks for watching!

[@z802009]

What's the actual cause of death? I remember seeing lots of videos several years back about the switches, which really put me off the Mirka then.

[@fullcirclesound6498]

Thanks so much for the video I was in the fence about these sanders. I’ve had festool in the past and never a problem but was interested in the Mirka . After this information you’ve presented I will buy Festool Thanks again. Appreciated !!!

[@cyberreefguru]

Thanks -- after nearly a year, I still love my Mirka and it is my daily driver. Thanks for watching!

[@peterhuzinski2332]

Festool is the better choice!

[@cyberreefguru]

For some - for sure! :) Thanks for watching Peter!

[@Line-vw5io]

so mirka is bad because the mistakes you make? Festool, you have to register also before 30 days, and then you get 2 + 1 limit warranty, not 10y. They offer 10y original parts (that you have to pay after 3y) Try to register festool after 30 days + 1... Putting on sandpaper, just push the off button on the Mirka, not a big deal. It says more about how smart you ar to put the sander upside down on the bench and complain the sander starts rotating.

[@cyberreefguru]

Thanks for commenting on all the positive things I said about the Mirka. And thanks for watching.

[@andyharvey4263]

The Mirka is more expensive though

[@cyberreefguru]

Hi Andy - right now the Mirka is more expensive than the Festool, which is odd since they are not exactly known for cost-competitiveness. But for my little baby hands, the Mirka fits better and was less expensive when I purchased it. I have both now, and I still like the Mirka better. If I had to do it again, given the insane prices for Mirka, I would certainly second guess that choice. All that said, cost is not the only variable, but certainly is likely the driving variable for most people, which is unfortunate in this case. Both are great sanders and both get the job done -- choice is yours :). Thanks for watching!

[@chrishickmott7806]

Mirka is more reliable than festool in the sanders iv had

[@cyberreefguru]

Thanks Chris -- after another year, I still prefer my Mirka over the Festool. But I do love my recently acquired Domino! :)

[@paulhopkins1905]

I'll stick with 3M/Airvantage

[@cyberreefguru]

That's a great choice! Thanks for watching!