Just recently bought the RTS 400 for my cabinet making , I have found it to be fantastic to use on Face Frames on the cabinets and Rails and Stiles on the doors.
Although I have used the RO 90 in the past for this work I have found the RTS 400 with Granat to work really well.
Probably my now go to sander for this kind of sanding
Sal
I have the RTS (and Rotex 125) sander. The controllability of the RTS is very nice. I am not interested in a detail sander, and cannot comment about the DTS. One of the Rotex sanders should also be on your wish list too.
I am still shocked at how long sand paper lasts with appropriate dust collection and the RTS. With my old DeWalt palm sander, I would get a few panels per sheet, but with the Festool sander, I am often able to complete an entire project with that same sheet.
If you have a Festool sander then you will also want a Festool vac if you don't already have one. Be careful buying Festool. It is a slippery slope. Before you know it, you will be selling most of your non-Festool tools and replacing them with Festool. The sad thing is a used DeWalt sander sells for very, very little on Ebay. You might get enough money to buy a box of Festool sandpaper if you are lucky.
I have the DTS, I think it's more versatile than the RTS. If you can have just one the DTS will cover what the RTS can not.
I don't use the DTS as much as the other sanders, but when I need it I'm really happy I bought it.
The other sanders I use are the ets 125, ro 125, and the rs 2.
The DTS400 is a great form factor and a very clean sander. I have (only because I haven't sold I yet) a RUPES delta that is rubbish compared to my DTS400 ... and there was a time when I though the little RUPES was good !
Unlike the smaller triangular sanders, you can cover a surprising amount of surface area with the DTS400 - you tend to pick it up to address the nooks and crannies initially and find that you've completed your sanding and it's still in your hand
I have the DTS and the RTS, and the DTS is by far my favourite of the two. I do a lot of paint work and the DTS is the go-to sander of all my 6 sanders. The RTS comes in usefull sometimes, but I use it only when the DTS doesn't fit. The DTS' bigger pad makes it much more comfortable to work with, it has better stability, and the tip also makes it a lot more versatile.
Dust collection with these sanders is excellent, even if you don't use a vac, because they sort have their own vac built in. The suction it delivers is very effective.
If you decide to get a Festool sander, you'll find them very different from what you're used to with that DeWalt of yours. There's no comparison. Of course you can expect that with a sander that's 5 or 6 times as expensive. The DeWalt feels to me like hollow plastic with the motor of a cheap RC racer while the DTS/RTS is a solid piece of steel with the motor of a very expensive record player. You can hear the difference by the sound, which the video by andvari nicely demonstrates. The Festools also handle a lot better and have less noise and less vibrations, which your fingers will appreciate after prolonged use.
Hi
I can't speak for the RTS, but I have the DTS and use it on nearly everything I do around DIY stuff at home and friends places. It's light, and a very good light finisher for corners and window sills etc. I thought I'd only use it on drawers and such but find it seems more than capable of sanding flat and awkward areas. I got it over the RTS as I thought it gives an extra option of tight corners.
Here is a less than 2 minute glimpse at the RTS and DTS working on the same project, which is a rather large scale paint grade built in cabinet system in which primer and paint is applied on raw materials which include poplar, maple, mdf and cabinet grade birch sheet goods. All primer and paint materials are waterborne and applied by brush on this project. Footage shows in between coat finish sanding in progress to prepare the piece for final paint.
RTS400 and DTS400 Comparative Project FootageI have the DTS 400...I like it a lot for getting into corners and detail sanding! I also have the ETS 125, 150 & RO 90...I'm very happy with my sander lineup!
Bob
Ps, you'll find that the suction will need to be turned down quite a bit to allow optimal sander operation!
I currently own a Dewalt D26441K. I've been thinking about selling it, and buying a RTS 400 or DTS 400? Just curious to hear what others have to say about the RTS v the DTS. I have an RO 150 and love it... but I want something for smaller jobs. I like the dewalt I have now for the fact that it has 4 corners to work with... but I'd like something for better dust collection. Please let me know your thoughts when you get a chance.
Thank you.
Patrick
Thank you all for the help. I ended up going with a DTS 400. Haven't used it yet, but plan to this weekend. I was also able to get $30.00 out of my Dewalt at a friends garage sale. Cort... you're absolutely right, I discovered Festool last November (I know I'm pretty behind the times). And in a matter of 6 months, half of my tools have been replaced. The other half will probably wait until Christmas and Birthday the next couple of years. The tools are just incredible!
