ETS 150/3 for car polishing

[Dan Clermont]

I am trying to understand the difference between the RO-150 and for ETS 150/3.

I tend to work with handplanes and don't really sand much anyhow, if anything I'd probably benefit from a detail sander so I can remove glue residue from tight spots.

Anyhow, I use a Porter Cable 7424 to detail the paint on my car. Can't sand with this thing cause it has no dust collection and it creates quite a mess. I'd actually like to replace it with an RO-150 but can't justify the price difference for the twice a year car detailing.

I could however justify an ETS 150/3 for car polishing and whatever sanding may be needed in my future. The million dollar question is why doesn't Festool recommend it for car detailing? Is it the limited 3mm Random orbit?

Cheers
Dan Celrmont

[Dan Clark]

Dan,

The RO150 FEQ is the tool of choice for car Detailing.  I have a PC too and it's OK.  One of the reasons that I bought the RO150 FEQ was to detail my car.   With winter and a bathroom model, I haven't had a chance to use it.   But...

There are two reasons that I bought the RO:

1) It has the Rotex mode (in addition to the RO mode) and a more powerful motor which means that you can get some serious action on tougher blemishes that an RO buffer (any RO buffer) won't handle. 

2) I believe the 5mm stroke will be much better for paint buffing than the 3mm ETS stroke.

There are several pro detailers (US and Australia) that use the RO150.  I don't know of any that use the ETS.

I hope this helps,

Dan.

[Allen Akin]

I've used both a PC and an ETS 150/3 for car polishing.  Haven't tried my RO 150-FEQ yet because the ETS 150 does a great job, so I haven't felt the need.

I agree with Dan Clark that the Rotex mode on the RO 150 would be preferable if you had heavy-duty work to do (removing the clear coat or oxidized paint, for example).

I'm far from an expert, so take this with an appropriate grain of salt, but for general-purpose polishing I'd be surprised if there's any noticeable difference between the ETS 150 and the RO 150 in random-orbit mode.  I'd expect technique and the choice of abrasive to be much more important.

Allen

[Dan Clark]

Allen,

I think you're probably right except that that raises the question of why get the ETS150 then?  Dan already has a PC, which is a pretty good RO paint buffer.   IMO, using the ETS150 won't buy him much over the PC.   

Regards,

Dan.

[Allen Akin]

I think it depends on what kind of sanding he wants to do in addition to his polishing.  It's my understanding that the ETS 150/3 does a better job of finish sanding than the RO 150; that's why it exists in Festool's product line.  So if he needs a detail & finish sander, he'd go with the ETS.  If he also needs to hog off lots of material or do traditional rotary buffing, he'd go with the RO.  For normal-duty auto polishing, either should work.

Allen

[Dan Clermont]

HI Guys

How about this! At this time I don't own any sander except for a cheap Black and Decker which vibrates the heck out of my wrist. I do complete woodworking projects and do so using hand planes and then followed up with a light touch of 220 or 320 paper if I need to.

I have owned the PC 7424 for a year and for polishing the car it works great however it sucks when it comes to taking the paint off my front door or what have you. It has no DC at all and I can't control it no matter what. So, I'd like to toss it and get an RO or ETS which could do both sanding and polishing.

I can't handplane plywood and do have a fireplace surround to build. I think the ETS would be better suited for that although the new RO-150 has a bumper guard which might allow me to work into corners.

Regarding car polishing. I ain't a fanatic but rather a lazy Backpacker who likes to drive as far into the bush as possible before walking and that scatches the heck out of my truck so once or twice a year I like to do some scratch removal.

Cheers
Dan C