Almost two years ago, the small 3D sander from Böhler attracted a lot of attention. Now he has grown up. The new 3D-XL-Sander isn't just bigger, but with 500 Watt also more than seven times the engine power.
The grinding principle is ingenious. Instead of a large grinding plate or disc, three rotating grinding rings remove the material on the Böhler 3D XL Sander. Together with a circular movement by hand, you ensure an excellent grinding pattern with a very high removal rate at the same time. A better surface quality can be achieved with the 3D-XL-Sander than with an orbital sander, however, the removal is about as high as with an eccentric grinder.
Another benefit is, that the three sanding discs are suspended in a pendulum manner. This makes perfect sanding slightly curved outside- and inner curves possible. Therefore, this new device from Böhler is suitable for almost all grinding work. It sands furniture with flat or curved surfaces as well as the hood of a car or the fender of a motorcycle. The 3D-XL-Sander only has to fit in corners – due to the round slip rings.
Böhler largely adopted the shape of the machine’s housing from the small model. Their slightly curved surfaces and rounded edges are practically built into the hand, albeit in the presumably large hand of the designer. People with small hands have to spread their thumbs and forefingers wide, to be able to drive the machine. Here the smaller model is much more ergonomic.
The manufacturer deliberately did without a round housing cap, as with mitten sliders, because the machine requires guiding in the lower area. One tries, still hold the sander on the top of the case, he starts dancing very soon, and the grinding pattern deteriorates.
The built-in dust extraction is new to the 3D-XL-Sander. An attachable dust bag takes well at the highest speed 50 percent of the grinding dust produced, but unfortunately much less at lower speeds. In this case you should connect a workshop vacuum cleaner. is practical, that the holder of the dust bag can be used as an adapter for connecting a vacuum cleaner.
Something is unusual, that the machine does not use a seesaw- or pressure switch is activated, but with the electronic setting wheel. In addition, the setting wheel can be labeled from "Off" to level twelve (880 revolutions per minute) only read with a magnifying glass, and the zero position is not clearly locked. It can happen there, that the machine starts when the plug is inserted. The 3D sander has really grown up with the XL model. In terms of performance and quality, it is superior to many other grinding tools. Unfortunately, the ergonomics have suffered a little during this growth process.
The new 3D-XL-Sander will be available from December 2003 for 99 Euro. A nationwide introduction is from spring 2004 planned. The appropriate sanding sheets can also be ordered directly from Böhler on the website. They come in packs of each 24 piece for 7 Euro or as a bulk pack with 81 piece, Replacement pads and polishing discs for 19,90 Euro.