The video below is of professional decorator Jason testing the Mirka Dero Vs the Festool ETS EC150 side by side. Both these machines are top-of-the-range sanders, and both do the same job.
You might use them for sanding large flat areas like doors, walls, ceilings, and fascia boards. They both have an extractor that they plug into to make them ‘dust free’, but you don’t need to marry the sanders with the same brand of extractor. So, the Mirka Deros will work with the Festool Midi Extractor, and vice versa.
If you are going to buy either of these sanders, make sure you register it for the extra year’s warranty before you use it.
You’ll find the Mirka Deros slightly lighter than the Festool and perhaps easier to handle. Speed settings and control are roughly the same. The Festool stops spinning as soon as you turn it off which means it’s less likely to go bouncing off if you put it down too soon.
The Deros is the cheaper option and is a lot closer to being 100% dust free. You can’t tell from this video, but when you’re sanding filler on a wall with the Festool, you do notice dust falling, whereas you don’t with the Mirka Deros. Full review here.
The other thing of note is the build quality. Mirka have a reputation for breaking fairly often, particularly when your sander reaches a couple of years old. Festool seem to last a lot longer. Both come with breakdown cover as standard.
Both these sanders are market leaders when it comes to dust-free sanding, and either will act as a game-changer for any professional decorator. Everyone has a different view on the Mirka Vs Festool debate. At least this blog offers a bit of insight.
Click here to see online prices on the Mirka Deros.
Click here to see online prices on the Festool ETS.
FAQs
Which sander is better for professional decorators — Mirka DEROS or Festool ETS EC150?
You could ask 100 professional decorators and get a 50/50 split. The build quality of Festool is widely regarded as being better than Mirka. However, the Deros is probably the best sander that Mirka makes; it’s lighter and creates less dust.
How do the warranties compare between Mirka and Festool sanders?
They both come with a 2-year warranty, but you can register them to get an extra year. Mirka outsources their repairs, which can be a bit of a faff when you need to use them.
Which sander has better dust extraction performance?
The Deros I’d say, but it’s more to do with the sander than the extractor.
Which sander is more durable for long-term use?
I’ve owned the Mirka Deros and several Festool sanders. My Mirka started giving me problems after less than two years of use, and I got fed up of trying to get it sorted as part of the warranty.
None of my Festool sanders have broken, and I’ve had a couple of them more than a decade. I bought a new Festool extractor a few weeks ago having used the last one for more than 12 years, but the only damage was caused by my clumsiness (like kicking it down stairs or falls in the van). If I’d looked after it, it probably would have lasted another 12 years.
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