Flex Giraffe GE 5R Drywall Sander Test And Review

[@rickfarber4243]

Thanks for a thorough and unbiased review. Your observations about the flat side vs round side are very helpful for anyone considering purchasing this unit.

[@enduringcharm]

Yeah, I would definitely get the standard head next time, which is the GE-5 model.

[@rickyperkins232]

​@@enduringcharmgood evening, now that you have had this sander for a while would you still recommend it? Any Pros and Cons?

[@enduringcharm]

As I said before, I would buy the model with the standard head now, but otherwise the tool has held up pretty well. It's not perfect as far as dust collection and there is a learning curve to best handle the tool, but it sure beats sanding by hand!

[@КристинаШамарина-ы1и]

😅​@@enduringcharm

[@SuperJoeyyyyyy]

Looking to do some walls and my ceiling. First timer, appreciate the thorough review .

[@itachi975x]

I do taping for a living after using a few sanders i invested in the new Festool drywall sander system and it’s man what a difference it’s expensive but well worth it

[@enduringcharm]

Maybe the reason these sanders are so expensive for what they are is that the manufacturers have learned how much we dislike sanding!

[@johnp1262]

The vacuum connections are very common in German made stuff like fein, Bosch, etc. You can get a fein or Bosch dust collector with a hepa filter from 400-600 dollars. The hose will plug right in. As a side note hepa filters are pricey so spring for bags to go in the dust collector.

[@enduringcharm]

You know, I've been using a cheap shop vac with a HEPA filter and a bag, and it's really working fine for what I do. I generally don't need to sand more than an hour or so at a time, since I do remodeling.

[@yoyoitsKerry]

I appreciate the details about the hose.. it's a pretty import part of the tool

[@enduringcharm]

Yeah, that actually caused the most hair-pulling when I made the purchase--making sure the hose would actually fit the tool.

[@greghight954]

I do like the flat edge but many competitors include a bright ring of LED LIGHTS which is crucial for drywall sanding.

[@enduringcharm]

Yeah, I have a different model by another manufacturer with the LED lights, which is a relatively new feature. I'm not in love with the LEDs. They do help light up darker corners or edges and that can be helpful. But, to really know if you are getting a flat surface you need a raking light across the whole wall, so I still set up a light (also LED) to shine from the side.

[@krn14242]

Nice honest review John, how much dust was in your shop vac?

[@enduringcharm]

The shop vac has a quite a large capacity, so a single bag easily held the dust from a single job. But, the dust collected will depend in large part on how well you do the spackling. If you can spackle cleanly with little excess applied, then there won't be much to sand off. If you are a messy spackler and apply each coat too thick, then you'll have a lot more to sand off. I'll be posting a review of that shop vac in the near future, by the way.

[@capttwitch]

Good video! In your opinion speed wize do you think it's worth getting? I do peice work and was thinking about it but I'm wondering if I can do the job faster with a pole sander then one of these lol

[@enduringcharm]

That is a tricky question. For MANY years, I sanded by hand precisely for the reasons you imply. I was doing remodeling in relatively small spaces, I was only sanding patches, I could work quickly by hand with minimal set-up, and I didn't want the cost or burden of carrying an electric sander. Of course, I would also end up doing larger jobs by hand because it was "only" one job, so I would just suck it up and get it done. That took a toll on my body over the years. My advice to you is this. If you intend on staying in the business for a long time, and if you do come across jobs in which you are sanding larger areas, then go ahead and get this sander or one like it. The payoff will be less pain when you are older and perhaps quicker work now.

[@capttwitch]

@@enduringcharm hmm. See I do atm on average 2 2bdrm apt units per week, sanding usually takes 1 day per. Unit ish,. But let's say if it's like 2/3hrs slower then not really worth it 🤔 especially if. I would have to. Come. In an extra day type. Thing. But I haaaate sanding 🤦😅 and detest block sanding even more 🤣 I've actually paid people to come sand for. Me lmao

[@enduringcharm]

You are definitely a candidate for a sander! I know exactly what you mean about hating to sand. Some jobs I just dread. For the price of this sander or one like it, it will improve your outlook on life and help you get through the work faster.

[@cynthiawilliams5131]

Is there an extension to it?

[@enduringcharm]

Yes, I think you can buy an extension for sanding 10-12" ceilings. The stock size is plenty for sanding 8 foot ceilings and I'm not sure I'd want to use an extension anyway. I'd probably just stand on something if I needed more height because the length of an extension would be awkward to use.

[@cynthiawilliams5131]

@@enduringcharm there’s an extension for the merka and it works pretty good. Plus it doesn’t spill dust when you put it down.

[@Toyotarunner13]

Just rented this from Home Depot and it sucks so bad brought it back 30 minutes after I rent for 4 hours

[@enduringcharm]

It takes some time to become competent at using this or any other drywall sander. It was probably on my third project that I really became comfortable and smooth with the sander. 30 minutes is not going to be enough time.

[@Toyotarunner13]

@@enduringcharm the guy at Home Depot said yep it’s broken. It wasn’t going in a circle it, tuned in to a OB sander and I had to redo the wall. He gave me a full refund. Said I’ll put it next to the other broken one.

[@enduringcharm]

Ha! Well, it is true that the Home Cheapo tool rental area is the island of misfit toys. Nothing there is well maintained and often the tools are abused.

[@oldschoolnaturalbodybuildi4301]

Festool is way better check it out