Deeply in love: A review of the 11-inch Orbiter
PART 2: Orbiter Update - Practical Test and Outlook
The Orbiter arrived at our training workshop as a loaner and immediately impressed us. In practical testing, it demonstrated its capabilities and delivered excellent results. This robust device from the USA is a true workhorse aimed at professionals and experienced users, such as table manufacturers who want to achieve a perfect oil finish in a short time. Its substantial weight, due to its all-metal construction, is an advantage for achieving a perfect oil finish, as the machine's own weight works the oil deep into the wood.
Together with Bressel Home, we tested the Orbiter and applied our 2K Worktop-Oil to a large oak monolith slab. This linseed oil-tung oil blend protects the wood with just one coat and perfectly enhances the depth of color and texture. For the oil application, we used a beige 12-inch pad, which enables significantly faster and more efficient work compared with the usual 6-inch pads - a major advantage on large wooden surfaces. This makes oiling easy to do alone as well.
After a short absorption time, the fresh oil was polished with the white polishing pad - and that was it. Despite its substantial weight, the Orbiter is incredibly smooth to guide and offers a secure grip thanks to its two handles, even during more demanding tasks. Testing the oil was great fun - no wonder we then went on to oil all kinds of other things, from a European beech slab to an old whisky barrel lid from Slyrs.
The Orbiter from the USA is designed for the American market and can be customized with various options and packages. However, comprehensive modifications are required for Germany to meet safety regulations and obtain CE marking, which increases the cost of the device. We expect to provide more precise information soon about prices, technical details, and points of contact for service, repairs, and maintenance in Germany. So, stay tuned!
PART 1: The Orbiter: First Impressions
Wow, we’re completely smitten! We get to test the 11-inch, full-metal, two-handed orbital sander. The sturdy metal housing gives it substantial weight and ensures that the oil penetrates even deeper into the wood - perfect for a first-class finish. The plate accommodates 12-inch pads, enabling a highly efficient oil finish. The hands-on test follows this week. You’ll find out in the blog post about our first impressions and whether the Orbiter will become our new game changer in the training workshop.
“Man, polishing XXL tables with a 6-inch random orbital sander can be really sweaty,” thought André Bressel as he gave a huge monolithic table the perfect oil finish in the OLI training workshop. “You polish parquet floors with larger machines too!” A large orbital sander for hefty pads - just like in the USA - would be an absolute game changer right now. And that’s where the idea was born: We needed an XXL Orbiter Sanders & Polisher!
Today was finally the day: We’re holding the Orbiter Sanders & Polisher in our hands - more precisely, in both hands, because this device is a full-metal, two-handed orbital sander that we’ll be testing over the next few weeks. Even at first glance, it’s impressive - it somehow reminds us of our beloved Defender TD5. Why? Because both are purist, purpose-driven, and reduced to the essentials. But what really sets this device apart? In this blog post, we’re sharing our first impressions and look forward to reporting more about our hands-on experience soon.
Rugged and Purpose-Driven: First Impressions
The 11-inch Orbital Sanders & Polisher impresses with two handles for a secure grip and a sturdy metal housing that brings substantial weight - exactly what you expect from a random orbital sander for wood finishing with high-solids oils. The solid construction reminds us not only visually but also functionally of our trusty Defender TD5. There’s no unnecessary frills here, just pure, honest performance.
The ultimate solution for wood finishing
Our Orbiter Sanders & Polishers weighs in at a substantial 9 kg, delivering serious power to the wood. Its weight essentially presses the oil deep into the wood pores, while the powerful motor generates frictional heat, increasing penetration and producing an even, rich surface. This is an important point, because the deeper the oil penetrates the wood, the better it is protected.
The 11-inch hook-and-loop backing plate makes it very easy to attach the large 30.5 cm massage and polishing pads, which are otherwise intended for floor machines. This makes applying oil to large surfaces highly efficient and saves a great deal of time - something that has already convinced us in theory.
Application and target group
Originally developed for the automotive sector, the Orbiter Sanders & Polishers was specially adapted for demanding wood finishing. Its territory? Large surfaces such as XXL tabletops, monoliths, and wood-and-epoxy-resin tables - exactly what it’s made for. With smaller pieces of furniture or parts with complex geometries, its size naturally presents limitations. The Orbiter Sanders & Polisher is a machine for continuous professional use, aimed at specialists and knowledgeable users such as table manufacturers who want to achieve a perfect oil finish on wood in the shortest possible time.
Practical use on the monolith table
Now it’s getting exciting: the practical test! We can hardly wait to try out the Orbiter Sanders & Polishers with André Bressel this week. The combination of its minimalist design, powerful motor, and large pads makes us eager to see the machine in action. We’re excited to see how it performs and what results we can achieve in practice.
Conclusion: Stay tuned!
We’ll keep you updated and will soon share more about our experiences. One thing is already certain: This XXL all-metal two-handed Orbiter Sanders & Polishers is a real powerhouse and could soon become an indispensable tool in our OLI training workshop. So stay tuned and look forward to the detailed test report! 🔧✨