My next tool purchase is going to be this sander for my finish sanding work .  Which would you all recommend between the two ?

Thanks
Jerry

I think this would depend upon what others sanders you have.  I have the RO150 and the ETS 150/3.  I don't feel the need for the 150/5 as the RO150 covers this.  If I didn't have, or plan to have the RO150, then I would probably purchase the ETS 150/5.

You can achieve fine sanding with the ROTEX - it's just bigger and more awkward.

When you look at the festool sanders, you also need to think in conjunction with their abrasives and sanding classifications. All sanders mentioned thus far in this thread can achieve "fine" sanding. There's a Festool document that explains the classifications by sander (I'm not talking about the sage decision tree) ... If I can locate it I'll post back.

FT Sales/Marketing literature aside, ROTEX is not for 'fine' sanding... full stop.

    The only difference in these two sanders is the speed in which they can get the work done and the vibration they transmit to your hand.  The sandpaper is what leaves the surface on your material and the sander just moves the paper.  The 150/3 will not leave a better surface than the 150/5 and I know a lot of folks use the 150/5 (again for the speed at which they can get the sanding done) however, I have used both long term and my very favorite sander is the 150/3.  It's just noticeably smoother in use, and does a great job sanding anything I've tried to sand with it.

Chris...

As stated previously, the /5 will get you a nice surface, but not a fine finish.  The 5mm pattern is too large.... Full stop.

The /3 will get you far closer in the 180/220 range, but RoS taps-out around there -- it's not a FT thing, but just the nature of the technology.  At some level, you can't get a really fine surface with RoS at all, but that is another post...  

As an experiment, take a /5 and /3 to a lacquer table top with 320 and look at the scratch pattern...  Now go over the surface with an R2E or 400 -- see the difference?  Now rub-out by hand with #0000 -- see the difference?  If you work with fine finishes, these differences are very noticeable to the customer...  Things change when you move from wood to production/automotive/solid surface/etc  - this is the realm of the DO, but that's a different animal...

==> what stroke do you use when hand sanding? 

There is a good book put out by Taunton on sanding....  Your questions are all answered there...  More time learning, less time typing...

Jerry,

Take what you will, from the advice in this thread.  150/3 is the sander you need for a fine finish. Its that simple. It is a very well balance machine that will serve you well. You will be able to sand any materials from woods (finished / unfinished) to resins and plastics and get flawless swirl free results.

I think certain individuals should review there advice.

Festool make the 5 for general sanding and the 3 for fine sanding.

If you dont believe me take both sanders with the same grit paper(high grit count) and sand any solid surface product . You will imediatley see the difference the 5 will leave a smoth surface with a swirl pattern and the 3 will leave a smoth surface with no noticale swirl ( unless you get the microscope out) This is why you will find the 3 in body shops.

If you are still undecided make use of the 30day return policey

John

My two cents on sanders in general maybe you can extrapolate something that helps you

RO 150 FEQ-->Large surface workhorse
This has been my goto workhorse (use it for 80% of my job due to time savings) for large surface projects that don't require an absolutely exquisite finish.  If I follow my grits from a stronger grit all the way down to the finer grits and follow with the sheepskin grit, I can make a piece of wood SHINE without even applying a finish with this sander.  So no scratch patterns if you can go fine enough in grit (but sometimes you can't go that fine in grit because you can't apply finishes as effectively if you go down to fine on your grits---i.e. the need for a finer finish sander that can get less scratch pattern at a higher grit).

Gets most of your sanding done on large pieces FAST (which is why it is my goto workhorse).  

RS 2 E-->Large FLAT surface fine sander
Does better on large flat surfaces (I think this is due to the circular edges of sanders with a circular pad digging in ever so slightly into the worksurface...RS 2 E won't do that.).  It also has very fine sanding stroke so will not leave any scratch patterns---not as fast even with higher grit, but it is a finisher for sure.

RO 90 DX-->Smaller surface workhorse
For surfaces that don't have a wide surface, this sander is easier to hold and still gets the job done FAST like the RO150---can also get into corners, angle it around things, with a little creativity and soft pads and applicators, you can even do some profiles.

ETS 150/3
Great finisihing sander, use this where RO leaves off for those exquisite finish requirement projects.  Easier to control for fine finish (RO150 is not as easy to keep from "getting itself into the work surface" as it is shaped/balanced more for removal efforts in my opinion as opposed to fine finish---it can be done, but its easier to mess up with the RO150.)

Hand scrapers shouldn't be overlooked:
Good Hand Scrapers
Good Gooseneck Hand Scrapers

Saves on paper.  It also has the ability to save you time as you don't have to cycle through the grits---it does take some practice and it does take some elbow grease...some would argue, you get a better surface with scrapers too.

For fine sanding, some people don't use machines at all O_o.  Yep good old hand sanding is what I use on my 'last pass' sometimes (and only outside upwind weather permitting).

Other sanders have benefits too, these are just the ones I think you might be looking at right now...and you always have that 30 days to test em' (careful you will probably keep everything you 'test' as you will see how each product will help you! )

And by the way, if anyone perceives the RO sanders as being defined by their brutish material removal tendencies, you really need to see one polish out to about 10k grit. Its a mind F.

Depends on your definition of "fine". When you're talking Festool it makes sense to talk about it in the same relative terms as ther literature and also in conjunction with the use of their abrasives.

I say it can "achieve" fine sanding - you say not.

We disagree.

I would only agree that is is not the ideal sander for the purpose.

If you carefully read the Festool documentation, you will understand the ROTEX range of applicability. You will also see their ratings from coarse, rough, fine and extra-fine.

Further, I believe Festools technical manuals are quite poor, but the sales and product material - particularly the latest 2012/2013 are excellent.

==> Depends on your definition of "fine". When you're talking Festool it makes sense to talk about it in the same relative terms as ther literature and also in conjunction with the use of their abrasives.

I say it can "achieve" fine sanding - you say not.

We disagree.

-----------

It's not 'me' saying... it's every modern text on finishing... Seriously, take a RO150 to a lacquer finish and see what happens... not pretty...no matter what abrasive (or FT document) you use... A 5mm RoS pattern is not 'fine'... ever.  Not slagging FT, it's just the nature of the pattern.  Just take a deep breath and spend a few minutes trying it for yourself....  There is a reason that FT makes 5mm, 3mm and 2.5mm pattern sanders...  it's not like the engineers wake up one day and go, "Hay, we need one more sander...  to go with the 15 we already have"...  Every sander has it's place in the workflow.  I've got every sander they make (3 of some and 2 of many)... The RO is not in the 'finish' part of the workflow...

Again I'll point out that Festool differentiate "fine" and "extra-fine". It's all relative, but when I'm working in the Festool system with Festool machines and consumables, I'm going to use their terms of reference.

"Every modern text ..." - LoL ... Relax - nobody is going to get chained to a finishing station with a ROTEX over this.

The 150/3 simply gives a better finish.

I find the RO150 with the 150/3 is a great combination. If I did not have an R0150 I probably would get the 150/5 as an all around sander.

But if you are out strictly for the best finish get the 150/3.

I must say unlike Seth I found that I could get my R0150 to give me an imperceptible difference between it and the 150/5, the reason I sold it and got an 150/3. There is a very noticeable difference between the 150/3 and the R0150, not so much between the Rotex 150 and the 150/5. At least for me, not enough difference to warrant having a 150/5 and R0150.

I felt the RO 150 was just too powerful for everyday sander need, the ETS 150/3 was sweet but a tad too slow while the ETS 150/5 seemed to cut just right for me. I added a RO 90 DX to bring something different to the workbench. Having these two options have proven their versatility. One day might I pick up a RS 2 E, but I'm in no hurry.