Evenin' Colin, Yep, the Böhler stuff seems to be built like the proverbial 'brick s**t house' 😉
You shouldn't have any import tax / duty to pay as long as UK is still in the EU! Same goes for me ordering stuff the other way round, so I'm stocking up a bit (Component Shop, Deans etc) before Theresa and co screw everything up for us🤔 Cheers Doug 😎
Just a thought: if push comes to shove then for such small items I could order them here and send on by post! Hope it doesn't come to that but you never know with the current crop of politicians, both sides of the Channel! The mess the Germans have made over the last 5 months reminds me of italy, but then they change governments more often - but much much quicker. More practice I suppose 😉

Lucky I've still got my old Bohler, paid £19-99 for it in 1998. Used on many projects including 4 real boats that my dad renovated in the last few years of his life. So far it has had about 200 hours of use and never let me down. I have replaced the brushes once so far but have 2 more sets just in case. 2 years ago I bought 50 sets of discs from a model shop that was closing, the entire stock, but am down to last 2 sets. So hopefully a new supplier shortly if shipping costs and import taxes not too high. Cheers Colin.

Hi Colin,
Shucks!! Found two versions of the 3D sander, XL for €79, Multi-Motion for €129. But both Sold Out, RATS! 😡
https://www.kaleas.de//kaleas.cgi?action=show&sessionID=87470065151878304987470065&lang=en&page=shop-produktliste.html&cat=33&subcat=3330&catname=grinding&arcode=x


There is another version for € 84.30 but looks a bit boxy and not so ergonomic. 🤔
https://www.kaleas.de//kaleas.cgi?action=show&sessionID=87470065151878304987470065&lang=en&page=shop-produktliste.html&cat=32&subcat=3230&catname=grinding,%20planing&arcode=x

Ciao, Doug

Hi Ed, I may not have too much use to you back then!🤔
I arrived here 32 years ago so I've had 3 decades to get my German up to speed. it was very 'schoolboyish' when I arrived 😉 But you soon learn - 'Sink or swim'. Glad to hear you managed anyway 👍

Hi Doug!

When I purchased the then Robbe Neptune.
I sure could have used you.
Some 30-35 yrs ago!
to translate the instructions they came in German!
It took a bit of doing.
translating but, I built the model!

Glad to help Colin, hope you get what you want. As far as I can see the finest grade is 240. But when you get that far you can finish off with 400/600 by hand, and/or with a soft rubber sanding block.
I think the Mini-sander is meant more for shaping than final finish / polishing.
If I can help with correspondence (German-wise!) let me know, be glad to help. 'Icha sprecha da Lingo!' 😉😉 Cheers, Doug 😎

Thanks Doug, went on KALEAS site and am awaiting a reply about what grades are available, also available is a new version of the 3D sander for 29euros. I've asked if they are available in the united kingdom.
Cheers Colin.

Hi Colin, that's exactly what you will get from Kaleas. The new company took over the production facilities of the old Böhler company.
Happy 'schleifing', in German a sander is a 'Schleifgerät' 😉
You piqued my interest, will shortly be ordering the Mini-schleifgerät from Kaleas. They have a good range of other Minitools as well👍 thanks for the pointer! Cheers Doug 😎
PS in desperation have also sometimes tried cutting down 'standard' material to fit mini machines, with very mixed results 🤔 More trouble than it is often worth.

Here are the originals.

Thanks Dave and Doug. Will check them out. Have tried cutting down larger discs but don't last as getting them true is almost impossible as the material they are made of is too stiff and crumble. The proper ones are cloth
backed and very flexible.
Cheers Colin.

'lost interest' not quite right!
Seems Daniel Böhler merged his company into that of Thomas Vollrath to form Kaleas GmBH (German form of Ltd.) together.
Whatever, hope the 'sanding rings' do the job. € 5.20 for 9 pieces don't seem too steep 😉
Cheers Doug 😎

Hi Colin, seems Bohler lost interest in the Minitool range about 9 years ago and it was taken over by a company called Kaleas! I think you'll find what you need down near the bottom of this page -
https://www.kaleas.de//kaleas.cgi?action=show&sessionID=45094535151868298745094535&lang=en&page=shop-produktliste.html&cat=90#90&arcode=x&catname=ACCESSORIES

Cheers Doug 😎

Got mine from maxwell in North shields, plus from stalls in boat shows,as a stopgap buy the larger ones and cut them to size.