rjwz28
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Location: Big Island of Hawaii Member Since: Sep 2011
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« on: July 03, 2012, 08:10 PM » |
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If you could afford to buy only one 5" sander from Festool. which one would it be? I want something I can use all around from initial sanding with 80 or 100 grit to fine finishing maybe with 220. I see that some has 2 options with fast removal and another for finishing. I would want that feature. Please don't tell me about how good they all are and that I would need this one for this and that one for that. You only can choose one!
Thanks to all in advance.
Rob
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Zacharytanner
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Location: Upstate New York...Adirondack Mountains Member Since: Nov 2009
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« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2012, 08:22 PM » |
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ETS 125
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Festool Kapex KS 120EB w/ 4 Blades
Domino DF500 Set
Domino DS Systainer 4,5,6,8,10
TS55 w/ FS1400 and FS2700 Rails
MFT/3 with Accessories
CT33E
D36 Tradesman
Trion PS300 Jigsaw
RTS 400 EQ Orbital Sander
RO 125
125 Abrasive Systainer with , 60,80,100,120,220 Grit Festool paper
2 Systainer Carts
Festool T18+3 Kit
CXS Kit with Centrotec Wood Bits
ETS 150/3
150 Abrasive Systainer
Festool Toolie
RO 90
RO 90 Abrasive Systainer
OF 1010 Router
Frank
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Kevin Stricker
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Location: UNITED STATES (US) Member Since: Feb 2009
Posts: 437
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« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2012, 08:23 PM » |
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I would buy the Mirka Ceros. If you stick with Festool PM me and I can sell you either/both of my 5" sanders (ets125 and RO125) probably for what you could get a new Rotex for. Personally I think having only 1 of the 5" Festool sanders would be a bummer.
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Zacharytanner
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Location: Upstate New York...Adirondack Mountains Member Since: Nov 2009
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« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2012, 08:32 PM » |
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I agree with kevin about needing both to cover the whole range of most your sanding needs
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Festool Kapex KS 120EB w/ 4 Blades
Domino DF500 Set
Domino DS Systainer 4,5,6,8,10
TS55 w/ FS1400 and FS2700 Rails
MFT/3 with Accessories
CT33E
D36 Tradesman
Trion PS300 Jigsaw
RTS 400 EQ Orbital Sander
RO 125
125 Abrasive Systainer with , 60,80,100,120,220 Grit Festool paper
2 Systainer Carts
Festool T18+3 Kit
CXS Kit with Centrotec Wood Bits
ETS 150/3
150 Abrasive Systainer
Festool Toolie
RO 90
RO 90 Abrasive Systainer
OF 1010 Router
Frank
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ericbuggeln
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« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2012, 09:13 PM » |
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I played with the Mirka Ceros at ToolNut. It is wicked sick, but I already own the ETS 125 and love that. Probably my most used sander, Eric
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waho6o9
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Location: San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles California Member Since: Dec 2009
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« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2012, 09:16 PM » |
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Rotex, yeah buddy
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Alex
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Location: The Netherlands Member Since: Nov 2008
Posts: 2811
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« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2012, 09:26 PM » |
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If you could afford to buy only one 5" sander from Festool. which one would it be? I want something I can use all around from initial sanding with 80 or 100 grit to fine finishing maybe with 220. I see that some has 2 options with fast removal and another for finishing. I would want that feature. Please don't tell me about how good they all are and that I would need this one for this and that one for that. You only can choose one!
I don't get it, you seem to have your mind made up already, why ask us? Furthermore, the specific task you mention, sanding from 80 to 220 is very limited. In that specific area, both sanders will do just fine. 80 is not that rough and 220 is not that fine. The ETS 125 will do those grits just as good as the RO 125 and vice versa. The RO will be A LOT faster to work with in the low grits, while the ETS 125 will be just A TAD easier to work with in the higher grits. But both sanders can get the job done nicely in the 80 to 220 range. So take your pick, makes little difference. All in all, the RO 125 seems like the best all-round solution. Just as you more or less already suggested yourself. If I were you, I'd take Kevin up on his offer. Two for the price of one seems like a great deal to me. If he prefers the Mirka, that's his choice. I for one think both 125 mm Festools are great sanders. Used Festools are just as good as new Festools. |
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ericbuggeln
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« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2012, 09:33 PM » |
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The ETS 125 has by far the nicest one hand feel of any of the sanders, besides the Mirkos, Eric
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Kev
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Location: Australia Member Since: Nov 2011
Posts: 2456
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« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2012, 11:02 PM » |
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I've read feedback about the Mirkas ... in line with them being light and powerful, but prone to fatigue due to high vibration (balance issues???).
I don't personally know - but it's worth searching on ... flip side the ETS125 is certainly smooth.
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ScotF
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Location: Southern Orange County, CA, USA Member Since: Jul 2009
Posts: 1363
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« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2012, 11:28 PM » |
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They had a display of the Mirka at one of my suppliers and I played around with it. There has been a lot of great feedback, but I was not impressed at all -- the sander vibrated a lot and it reminded me of sanding with some of my older sanders before I found Festool. Maybe it was a bum unit but I will stick with my Festool collection.
Scot
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fshanno
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Location: Silsbee TX Member Since: Sep 2007
Posts: 583
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« Reply #10 on: July 04, 2012, 12:22 AM » |
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If I could buy only one 5" sander it would be the 6" ETS 150/3.
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The one thing we learn from history is that we never learn from history.
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Jesse Cloud
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Location: Placitas, NM Member Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 1451
Festooling at the end of a dirt road in New Mexico
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« Reply #11 on: July 04, 2012, 12:46 AM » |
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If I could buy only one 5" sander it would be the 6" ETS 150/3.
ditto... life is short, the 6" sander has almost fifty percent more sanding area and is almost fifty percent faster. yeah, I would rather spend more time sanding....  |
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ericbuggeln
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« Reply #12 on: July 04, 2012, 12:51 AM » |
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Fshano, are you saying that you never encounter a moment when you would rather have a five inch as opposed to a six inch? I find that hard to believe? Prime example, would you want to sand FFs with a six inch? Eric
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ericbuggeln
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« Reply #13 on: July 04, 2012, 12:54 AM » |
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I guess that question also applies to Jesse? I think you really need both. The combo i use is the ETS 125 and RO 150. Those have really been handling my sanding needs, Eric
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Vindingo
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Location: North Jersey Member Since: Jan 2009
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« Reply #14 on: July 04, 2012, 01:12 AM » |
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I guess that question also applies to Jesse? I think you really need both. The combo i use is the ETS 125 and RO 150. Those have really been handling my sanding needs, Eric
RO150 + RO90 is where it's at. 5" is still too big for FF, and 6" is better at flat. I would probably still like an ETS150 just for ease of use. |
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ericbuggeln
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« Reply #15 on: July 04, 2012, 01:23 AM » |
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Two words, ETS 90, Eric
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Timtool
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Location: Belgium Member Since: Mar 2011
Posts: 727
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« Reply #16 on: July 04, 2012, 01:58 AM » |
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I had the RO125 and have the ETS125 and i would want none as my only sanders, the king of festool sanders is the ETS150, all the rest is complementary!
ETS 125 is a pure finish sander, not really made for grits below 180, it does not have the guts to be really effective at material removal, just good for finishing after the ETS150 if you want a microscopic finish improvement.
RO125 is like a smaller, less powerful and harder to control RO150, RO sanders are not fun to use for general sanding. they are beasts that i use only when i have to because the scratches they make in RO mode require allot of careful re sanding to get them away
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TS55R, CT22E, CTLmini, Kapex KS120, ETS125, ETS150/5, RO150, RO90, CXS-set, T-15+3 set, DTS400, OF1010, OF2200 set, Carvex PS420 EBQ set, Centrotec installer set, LR32-sys, FS-800, FS-LR-1400x2, domino 500+domino sys, domino 700 XL, Surfix-sys, Sys-box 1, Syslite, LEV-350, Sys-box,MFTB/1-2-4... MFTC
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rjwz28
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Location: Big Island of Hawaii Member Since: Sep 2011
Posts: 138
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« Reply #17 on: July 04, 2012, 03:27 AM » |
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If you could afford to buy only one 5" sander from Festool. which one would it be? I want something I can use all around from initial sanding with 80 or 100 grit to fine finishing maybe with 220. I see that some has 2 options with fast removal and another for finishing. I would want that feature. Please don't tell me about how good they all are and that I would need this one for this and that one for that. You only can choose one!
I don't get it, you seem to have your mind made up already, why ask us? Furthermore, the specific task you mention, sanding from 80 to 220 is very limited. In that specific area, both sanders will do just fine. 80 is not that rough and 220 is not that fine. The ETS 125 will do those grits just as good as the RO 125 and vice versa. The RO will be A LOT faster to work with in the low grits, while the ETS 125 will be just A TAD easier to work with in the higher grits. But both sanders can get the job done nicely in the 80 to 220 range. So take your pick, makes little difference. All in all, the RO 125 seems like the best all-round solution. Just as you more or less already suggested yourself. If I were you, I'd take Kevin up on his offer. Two for the price of one seems like a great deal to me. If he prefers the Mirka, that's his choice. I for one think both 125 mm Festools are great sanders. Used Festools are just as good as new Festools. Alex, I don't know where you got the idea that I already made up my mind which one to get. I know nothing about the Festool sanders but heard they were all pretty good. I also just seen on Half inch shy Paul showing the feature that you can switch from reg to RO. I guess now seeing all the responses I probably want to be able to get quicker results with the lower grits than the rest if I had to choose one over the other. Thanks everyone for your responses. I will contact Kevin and see where it goes. Aloha, Rob |
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Kev
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Location: Australia Member Since: Nov 2011
Posts: 2456
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« Reply #18 on: July 04, 2012, 04:45 AM » |
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If you could afford to buy only one 5" sander from Festool. which one would it be? I want something I can use all around from initial sanding with 80 or 100 grit to fine finishing maybe with 220. I see that some has 2 options with fast removal and another for finishing. I would want that feature. Please don't tell me about how good they all are and that I would need this one for this and that one for that. You only can choose one!
I don't get it, you seem to have your mind made up already, why ask us? Furthermore, the specific task you mention, sanding from 80 to 220 is very limited. In that specific area, both sanders will do just fine. 80 is not that rough and 220 is not that fine. The ETS 125 will do those grits just as good as the RO 125 and vice versa. The RO will be A LOT faster to work with in the low grits, while the ETS 125 will be just A TAD easier to work with in the higher grits. But both sanders can get the job done nicely in the 80 to 220 range. So take your pick, makes little difference. All in all, the RO 125 seems like the best all-round solution. Just as you more or less already suggested yourself. If I were you, I'd take Kevin up on his offer. Two for the price of one seems like a great deal to me. If he prefers the Mirka, that's his choice. I for one think both 125 mm Festools are great sanders. Used Festools are just as good as new Festools. Alex, I don't know where you got the idea that I already made up my mind which one to get. I know nothing about the Festool sanders but heard they were all pretty good. I also just seen on Half inch shy Paul showing the feature that you can switch from reg to RO. I guess now seeing all the responses I probably want to be able to get quicker results with the lower grits than the rest if I had to choose one over the other. Thanks everyone for your responses. I will contact Kevin and see where it goes. Aloha, Rob Alex is saying that because choosing 125mm and dual mode cuts your choice to one - the RO125  |
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RonWen
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Location: One of the Thirteen Original Colonies of the United States of America. Member Since: Feb 2009
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« Reply #19 on: July 04, 2012, 09:01 AM » |
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I guess that question also applies to Jesse? I think you really need both. The combo i use is the ETS 125 and RO 150. Those have really been handling my sanding needs, Eric
RO150 + RO90 is where it's at.5" is still too big for FF, and 6" is better at flat. I would probably still like an ETS150 just for ease of use. My vote also for those two plus a 6" Mirka Ceros. I realize that breaks the original poster rules but I also think most woodworking projects are going to break those same rules. |
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Eco-Options
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Location: Ma Member Since: Sep 2010
Posts: 285
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« Reply #20 on: July 04, 2012, 09:43 AM » |
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For festool- rotex, hands down.Out of all companies, the CEROS owns them in every way! It is WICKED. Not to mention superior ergonomics.
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Www.ecooptionshardwood.com
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hhh
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Location: NJ, USA Member Since: Nov 2011
Posts: 133
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« Reply #21 on: July 04, 2012, 10:13 AM » |
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Mirka or ETS 125
I have every FT sander (several of some), several Mirka, 2 Makita and 3 PC sanders. I know folks love the rotex sanders for the 'I need just 1 sander' queries, but that will only get you so far... In fact, I really don't use rotex as much as the ETS, RS2, etc. I can't recomend the rotex beyond course sanding and some specialty applications. They are just too heavy and course action for finer sanding applications -- full stop... They are all great for stripping and construction sanding. The 90 is the most useful of the bunch.
In order, my workflow use: 150/5, 150/3, 400, 2E, 125, RO90. The makes-up over 70%. The remaining 30%: RO150, RO125, 93, RAS. This is my furniture / built-ins workflow... My stuff comes-off the planer very clean (shelix head) and ready for drum sanding. For those who need more construction sanding, I could see the RO150 moving-up much higher in the workflow... If you are doing a lot of stripping, then I could see the 90 and RAS moving much higher... The ROs are certainly the 'hot' product, but if you are going to spend a couple of hours working through the grits on a project, then the Mirka or ETS is a far more pleasant experience.
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« Last Edit: July 04, 2012, 04:04 PM by hhh »
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Festool: Everything available in USA except: Air Sanders, Planex, CMS, MTF and Planers. Lots of Porter Cable routers. Several Milwaukee, Hilti and Hitchi industrial drills, demo hammers, etc. Bosch drivers and drills. Mirka air sanders. Complete custom furniture shop with significant investment in Powermatic & Felder stationary tools...
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fshanno
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Location: Silsbee TX Member Since: Sep 2007
Posts: 583
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« Reply #22 on: July 04, 2012, 11:00 AM » |
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Fshano, are you saying that you never encounter a moment when you would rather have a five inch as opposed to a six inch? I find that hard to believe? Prime example, would you want to sand FFs with a six inch? Eric
There are moments. But if I could only have one it would have to be the 6". There are more moments when the extra surface area is better. Plus the stroke on the 125 is too small for my ROS needs. |
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The one thing we learn from history is that we never learn from history.
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Jesse Cloud
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Location: Placitas, NM Member Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 1451
Festooling at the end of a dirt road in New Mexico
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« Reply #23 on: July 04, 2012, 12:07 PM » |
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I guess that question also applies to Jesse? I think you really need both. The combo i use is the ETS 125 and RO 150. Those have really been handling my sanding needs, Eric
We all roll different ways... I sold my POS DeWalt and PC 5" sanders and never looked back, never felt the need. To step off my high horse for a minute, I have the RO150, the RO90, DTS400 (made redundant by the RO90 really), LS132, ETS 150/3, Performax 16/32, Rigid spindle sander, a Delta combo belt & disc, and a file cabinet full of hand sanding stuff. Pretty wide variety of sizes, but somehow the 5 inch format just doesn't tempt me. Like Vindingo, the ETS 150 and the RO90 are my go-to gear. |
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ScotF
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Location: Southern Orange County, CA, USA Member Since: Jul 2009
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« Reply #24 on: July 04, 2012, 12:30 PM » |
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Sanding is a lot about personal preference and finding a combination that works for you and your work -- there is no right or wrong answer here. Some folks swear by the ETS125 and the RO125 combination and others prefer the 150 series. I really like the RS2E and it sees the bulk of my sanding where others would traditionally use an ETS sander. There are a few on the forum that only own a Rotex and that serves all of their sanding needs. My preference is 150MM size pad as it is easier for me to keep things flat and I cover a wider area. The RO90 shines where I need to get into smaller areas. I still prefer the DTS400 delta pad to the RO90 delta pad and use that sander more for corners than I do the RO90.
I think that this is a case where the 30 day return policy really shines. If you are new to Festool sanders, then try one out and see how it does for your application. I would limit the paper you buy initially as it would not be covered in the 30 day return policy, but this gives you a risk free chance to put the tool through its paces and find out what works for you. If you made the wrong choice, then it is easy to swap it for a different tool.
Scot
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ericbuggeln
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« Reply #25 on: July 04, 2012, 12:48 PM » |
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I hear what the last three posters said. I think what happened to me was that my first sander ever was a Dewalt five inch and now I just "think" that all sanders should be one handed with nothing off the back, hence my need for a ETS 90 to do FFs or if I could ditch the remodeling and only do custom stuff, get a nice drum sander, Eric
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rjwz28
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Location: Big Island of Hawaii Member Since: Sep 2011
Posts: 138
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« Reply #26 on: July 04, 2012, 03:15 PM » |
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Should I also mention that I have very small hands? Will that make a difference as to Rotex sanders look a lot bigger?
Thanks,
Rob
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rjwz28
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Location: Big Island of Hawaii Member Since: Sep 2011
Posts: 138
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« Reply #27 on: July 05, 2012, 01:57 PM » |
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I just found out that there is a RO-90 from Paul Marcel that may be the right one for me. I know in my original post I said 5", but this size may suit me better. Anyone have this model and can let me know how you like it?
thanks,
Rob
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Brice Burrell
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Member Since: Mar 2007
Posts: 6212
Remodeling Contractor
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« Reply #28 on: July 05, 2012, 02:35 PM » |
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I just found out that there is a RO-90 from Paul Marcel that may be the right one for me. I know in my original post I said 5", but this size may suit me better. Anyone have this model and can let me know how you like it?
thanks,
Rob
I think you'll get a lot of good feed back about the RO90. I happen to really like mine. Do a search here and you'll get a lot of good info. Here's my review of the RO90 on my blog. |
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RonWen
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Location: One of the Thirteen Original Colonies of the United States of America. Member Since: Feb 2009
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« Reply #29 on: July 06, 2012, 10:27 AM » |
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I just found out that there is a RO-90 from Paul Marcel that may be the right one for me. I know in my original post I said 5", but this size may suit me better. Anyone have this model and can let me know how you like it?
thanks,
Rob
I think you'll get a lot of good feed back about the RO90. I happen to really like mine. Do a search here and you'll get a lot of good info. Here's my review of the RO90 on my blog. If I could only have one Festool sander it would be the RO90 coupled with the Mirka Ceros 6". |
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