Let's talk tools!

[muddywater]

So far on the Seacraft project...

Skil angle grinder bit the dust, replaced with a Bosch Angle grinder (including optional vacuum shroud which works somewhat but gets in the way often)
Shop vac is trying to die from too much dust ingestion, but I'm not replacing it until it is really dead at which time it will either be a Fein or Festool vac.
Small Makita random orbital (Good sander but too small to be used for much in fiberglass work as it is really a finishing sander with a small orbit size)
6" Ridgid RO sander with speed control and two orbit size settings for finish work or faster removal. Worked great until the pad broke after a few years (have a new pad on order now)
Harbor Freight Chicago Polisher (so far only used it for polishing gel coat when I resprayed the gel coat on the console)
Dremel. Sounds like it is on it's last leg but keeps on going. I just use it for corners.
New toy: Metabo Die Grinder with big flap wheels (basically an industrial strength Dremel)
Longboard (just a cheap one from O'Reilly)

I am thinking that I am not using the most efficient method to grind down repairs and I just know there has to be a better way.

I have mostly been using using the angle grinder with Flap discs to knock down repairs before hitting it with the 6" Random Orbital using 60 grit Norton 3x discs. The annoyance to me is that it seems like no matter how good I get with the angle grinder using flap discs, I can't take it down quite as far as I would like to or will gouge some spots, and then the RO takes what seems like forever to knock down the repair from that point even on the course setting. Sure, if I change sanding discs every couple minutes, it will eat it off in no time flat, but the discs seem to load up quick and the Norton 3x are supposed to be the best there is (although some people seem to think Klingspor is).

So what are you guys using? Angle grinder with flat pads? One of those sander/polishers with flat pads and a soft backing? Anybody try out one of the absurdly expensive Festool sanders? What kind of sandpaper are you using on the Longboard? I don't seem to get anywhere fast with it.