Fein MSF636-1 3.7 Amp 6-Inch Random Orbit Sander with Vacuum Adaptor

I refinish commercial fishing vessels, and yachts. I BRIEFLY switched to another German brand sander, due to quick availiability, but switched right back as soon as I possibly could. FEIN tools are hands-down, the best-performing, most durable products I have EVER used. CANNOT RECOMMEND ENOUGH!!!!!

I purchased the 8" model to speed up the sanding process on large timber beams. I was very disappointed. When I started using the sander I found it very difficult to control as it vibrated a lot. I decided to call customer service to see if there was something wrong with this unit or not, but they never called me back after I left a message with an actual person. In the mean time I kept using the sander until the pad tore loose from the motor. This macine felt very cheaply constructed for its price. It was about the same quality as I expect from Harbor Freight tools. Also the on/off switch is in a terrible location. Thanks to Amazon and its great customer service for allowing me to retun it for a full refund as it was clearly defective.

If you have been using cheap orbital sanders, the Fein will be a big improvement. For about four years, I have been using the Festool 6" Rotex 150 but it goes through motor brushes about every year. So, I thought a change was in order. I bought the Fein sander hoping not only to solve the motor brush problem but maybe improve over the Festool. There is absolutely no comparison. The Festool is a far better sander.Controling the Fein is difficult at best. When sanding narrow pieces like a cabinet face frame, the Fein jumps around. When sanding larger areas, the Fein sucks down onto the work piece making it more difficult to move. Long periods of sanding with the Fein are a struggle. The Fein is aggresive but, when you want less agressive sanding, you don't have a choice since it is only one speed not variable. I am especially disappointed in the amount of vibration the Fein has. The worse thing of all is the poor quality when sanding with high grit paper for the final pass. One other downer is the high cost and lack of availability of sand paper for the Fein. And if all that isn't enough, I emailed Fein regarding problems trying to register my sander online for the extra 2 year warranty. I never heard from them. By the way, I spoke with a Fein representative prior to buying the sander and told him I already have a Festool. He said Fein is the best. So much for honest salesmanship.If you don't want the above problems, go with Festool. The motor brush problem is the only down side and that might just be a problem with the one I have. Other people have told me they have never changed motor brushes in their Festool sander. The price is about the same on both sanders.

I just got this sander, and have been able to use it on some red oak. By far this is the best ROS I have ever used - and I have many hours logged with ROS. This sander can be very aggressive, but it is very easy to control, and gives very precise action. I put most of my 220 lbs. on it and it didn't chock for a second. There was almost no vibration, and my hands did not tingle after a few hours of use. Also, I have never seen better dust extraction. PERIOD!Now to why it did not get 5 stars from me.1) No case. At this price you think you would get a case.2) Poor doccumentation. Mine came with two manuals. Both were safety oriented, and not use or operation oriented.3) The dust collection outlet is propietary. It is an odd shaped rectange, forcing you to use a hard to find Fein adapter, or make one yourself.4) Cost.However, because of the preformance of this unit, I mostly have been able to overlook these problems. I am thinking of buying their 8" model next.

I have used this sander and its 8" version for many years and it performs extremely well. The 6" sander now needs a new pad--the sanding discs will no longer stick to the original (I think someone used it w/o any sanding disc on it). I have purchased the pad and have spent the last 45 minutes trying to figure out how to unscrew the existing one. Usually, such machines have a rod or button that stops the housing from spinning. I cannot find one. I have spent a long time on the internet trying to download a manual with no luck. So, great sander, currently useless for lack of information on a basic operation. I thought Amazon might offer a manual among its many other offerings on this product but no such luck. The Fein internet site is essentially unnavigable in its complexity--and a search under the name of this sander produces "no match."

Very fast cut, almost no dust from even with 400 paper. Love the tool. The boatyard where I store in the winter uses these as well, and they get rental abuse but seem to last very long.

Hate this machine, sands good but the pad brakes to often and it cost almost $100 to replace, bad deal I already spend $300 on replacement pads, never again my other sander goes a very long time and the replacement is only $25

I was sanding the gel coat non-skid off the deck of a sailboat with my old porter cable orbital sander, I was in the seventh circle off hell with all the dust. I made the investment in this tool. Sanding with it connected to my Fein shop vac was like a tropical vacation compared to the dust storm created by the my old sander.