Customer Reviews

Magna MT800 Sand & Kleen Hand Sander System

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

After going thru the above reviews, it's obvious way too many guys are not reading the directions! there is a valve to reduce suction so that the sander head isn't stuck to the wall and solutions for other problems, too. is it the world's greatest heavy duty drywall sander for production use? no. but is it almost perfect for the homeowner or tradesman who only has to hang and finish drywall once in a while and often needs to keep the mess to a minimum in the process? YES. yeah, it whistles- big deal, get some earplugs. my shopvac is so loud i'm usually wearing them anyway. probably the best part is that it allows you go more than five minutes without the vac filter clogging AND you're dumping thin sludge instead of a huge cloud of dust at cleanup time.

I bought this for a small remodel in my house. I wanted to avoid always putting up plastic walls. This unit is pretty good at picking up 95% of the dust from sanding the sheetrock joints and it keeps the dust from clogging the filters in my shop vac. Now the negatives: The small diameter corrugated tube creates a high pitch squeal--you definately need to wear hearing protection when using this. Also, the sanding block "sticks" to the sheet rock because of the vacuum created by the holes on the flat surface--making sanding more labor intensive (I solved this by buying a sanding block (at my local hardware store) that could also be attached to a vacuum hose that had grooves running to the edge. I would recommend this for small remodel jobs only. I would not use it for a job involving more than 10 sheets of rock--too time consuming.

I just spent half a day sanding drywall with this thing, and I have to say, it delivered as promised. I understand what others are saying, it doesn't look like you're getting much for your half a C-note, but what are the alternatives? The hose looks cheap, but it is very flexible and sprung back when I invariably stepped on it. It's kind of noisy, but I'd rather wear ear muffs than get covered in dust all day. And I'm sure it must be better for your shop vac than sucking dust directly all day.

If I were a professional mudder, I'm sure I would go for the three- or four hundred dollar set up, but for the once-in a whiler, this is about right. The bottom line is I got more done in less time (spent less time choking on dust) and clean up was about 10 percent of what it is when the dust is allowed to run free. You still have to supply the muscle, but at least you're less disgusted when your done (though still tired).

I'm a DIYer for over 30 years. I've used several different methods for removing joint imperfections--the sanding block on a pole, the wet sponge or rag. My orbital palm sander worked well until the plaster gummed up its insides, the best alternative was a Fiba Tape sander hooked up to a shop vac. But that was still dusty.

Not long ago, a fellow DIY friend was DIY-ing his basement. I noticed he was using a Magna MT800 Sand & Kleen Hand Sander System. I was curious how improved it would be over the Fiba Tape system, so I borrowed it after he was done. It worked even better! LESS DUST, and no shop vac cleanup afterward.

Some of the critics here say it has a few problems. I have some advice for the new people reading this:

1. Rent this product or borrow it from a friend before you spend $$$ on the expensive one, especially you DIYers.
2. CHECK THE PARTS LIST for all the parts. If you don't have all of them, return it to the store or call the seller to get part you need. Get a tracking number from them.
3. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS If the unit suctions itself to the wall, ADJUST the pressure valve. If it whistles, tighten the hose and sander seals.
4. WEAR HEARING PROTECTION when using loud power tools such as shop vacs. Then the whistling won't bother you.
5. Hose clogged? CLEAN IT OUT!

This really is a great product. It eliminates the dust clean up and the arm-ache associated with traditional methods. You cannot beat it for the price. All it takes is some common sense to use it properly.

..which is not to be confused with a GREAT product.If money is no object, I'm sure the Porter Cable sander is superior. However, since buying our first house 3 months ago, money most certainly IS an object-one I see precious little of and seem to be endlessly stuffing in envelopes and mailing off to various banks, contractors and utility companies.
With that said, the S&K is a fairly effective product. Their claim that it 'eliminates 95%' of the dust is probably pretty accurate and, while it's somewhat clumsy at first, soon you'll be humming along. In fact, it's been suggested to me that perhaps I'M the clumsy element in the equation.The whistling sound that others mentioned in their reviews was so easy to remedy it hardly warrants mention. For fifty clams you won't do better.

I purchased my MT800 basically to reduce the dust problem associated with sanding drywall compound. Yes it does at times produce a "whistling" noise and if not properly adjusted it does have enough suction to hold the sanding head to the wall making it very difficult to use. But I must say that it does reduce airborne dust. It comes with two vac adapters and the 20ft. hose allows decent mobility even on 9ft. ceilings. I use mine with hearing protection (since shop vacs are not very quiet) and tinker with the suction adjustment until I can sand without too much effort. I am by no means an expert at drywall but I've learned that with practice in applying drywall compound, the right drywall knives, and learning how to use the MT800 (as well as understanding the tool's limitations), it is a useful tool giving most DIY'ers decent results.

The Sand & Kleen system worked quite well for me. So far, I have put up about 50 sheets of drywall in my shop half of which were sanded with a "plain" sanding block, and the other half sanded with Sand & Kleen. There is no comparison. Very minimal dust left on the floor (and me) using S&K. For the homeowner who likes to do his/her own work, it is money well spent.
(Be sure to change the water as recommended - it helps!)

I recently put a new ceiling in my cabin. When it came time to sand I was ready to pull everything out. Some people told me my carpet would be trashed as well due to the dust.
I found this item and thought I would give it a try. To my surprise it did everything they said it would, Sure you have to play around a bit to get the nack of it but it does work.If you don't have a shop vac you can use an old canister vac just remove the bag. Works fine either way.
I bought mine from Amazon. The price here was the lowest. When you add in shipping it was less for a new one than a used on the auctions.
So, if you intend to drywall get this thing. It is worth every dollar.

The concept is good. i am a pro painter that does alot of repair work in occupied homes. Dust control is very important. This works, but main complaint is with the hand sander itself. It is not comfortable to use for a length of time and its hard edges cause the screen to rip fast. I converted it for the fibretape sander/pole and it is very good. Do wear earplugs! She's a howler!

I'm remodeling my living room which opens into the kitchen & dining rooms, as well as stairs to 2nd floor. I had used old bedsheets to close off all openings before sanding. I started sanding the room without the MT800 and after a short time dust was all over the house. I ordered the MT800 and received it the next day. I sanded the room twice more and had alomost no dust. This product was excellent. Recommend for any DIY'r.