6" ETS sander

[MTRANGER]

I am selling off my 5 inch sanders and upgrading to the 6 inch.  I am having some trouble deciding which ETS sander to get the 5mm or the 3 mm.

Which sander do you guys have, and why did you choose it over the other.

 

[Julian Tracy]

I'll be curious to see the feedback here as well.

As an added question - I have the ETS125 and the Rotex 150.  I recently picked up an ETS150/5 for a fair price used and am thinking it'd be a good companion to the Rotex.

Is it silly to have both?  I mean, aside from the weight, balance and noise issues of the rotex, in r.o. mode does it duplicate the sanding ability/fineness of the 150/5 ets?

JT

 

[Julian Tracy]

Well, I've probably only got $125-150 into this newer used 150/5, so I guess I'll keep it for a little while before I decide what to do.

Looks like my ETS125 has a 2.5mm stroke, so for finishing sanding, that'll be the ticket.  (stealth gloat - picked the 5" up for $60 with a load of paper)

JT

 

[jonny round boy]

I bought the ETS150/3 a few years ago. I chose the /3 over the /5 because the /5 duplicates a function of the RO150. Having said that, I still haven't bought a Rotex...

 

[MTRANGER]

I forgot about the Rotex being a 5mm,  looks like I will be going after the 3mm, or get the rotex and wait on the ets, or bite the bullet and get them both right away, or keep my 125's and get the 150's as well.......oh the choices

 

[Kevin Stricker]

I'm selling my ETS 150/3 to pick up a Mirka Ceros.  Let me know if you are interested in buying used and I will shoot a few pics.

 

[MTRANGER]

I'm selling my ETS 150/3 to pick up a Mirka Ceros.  Let me know if you are interested in buying used and I will shoot a few pics.

I just ordered one from Uncle Bob,  Thanks for the offer anyway

 

[Julian Tracy]

Hey Kevin,

I just shot you an email about the sander.

Julian

 

[Brice Burrell]

I know it's already a done deal but...from a woodworking standpoint I think you'd be much farther ahead to go for the 5mm stroke sander.  There is virtually no woodworking application were the 3mm stroke has an advantage over the 5mm.  The 5mm stroke will sand a little faster with no difference in the finish and that will make it the better tool for almost every user. 

 

[Dan Clark]

I know it's already a done deal but...from a woodworking standpoint I think you'd be much farther ahead to go for the 5mm stroke sander.  There is virtually no woodworking application were the 3mm stroke has an advantage over the 5mm.  The 5mm stroke will sand a little faster with no difference in the finish and that will make it the better tool for almost every user. 

Brice,

Just curious...  Would that be a recommendation for purchasing a single sander?  If you already have a Rotex 150, would it still be reasonable to get the ETS150/5 or would the ETS150/3 be the better option?

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[Alan m]

I know it's already a done deal but...from a woodworking standpoint I think you'd be much farther ahead to go for the 5mm stroke sander.  There is virtually no woodworking application were the 3mm stroke has an advantage over the 5mm.  The 5mm stroke will sand a little faster with no difference in the finish and that will make it the better tool for almost every user. 

Brice,

Just curious...  Would that be a recommendation for purchasing a single sander?  If you already have a Rotex 150, would it still be reasonable to get the ETS150/5 or would the ETS150/3 be the better option?

Thanks,

Dan.

i dont see any need for either of the ets sanders if you own a ro 150. i own a ro150 and dont see the need.
the finish diferensial i think would be so small that you wouldnt see it. if you wanted to you could go with 1 more grit higher ( or is that lower ???) and get a better finish.  i plan on getting a ro90  to compliment the ro 150.

 

[mouppe]

I know it's already a done deal but...from a woodworking standpoint I think you'd be much farther ahead to go for the 5mm stroke sander.  There is virtually no woodworking application were the 3mm stroke has an advantage over the 5mm.  The 5mm stroke will sand a little faster with no difference in the finish and that will make it the better tool for almost every user. 

Brice,

Just curious...  Would that be a recommendation for purchasing a single sander?  If you already have a Rotex 150, would it still be reasonable to get the ETS150/5 or would the ETS150/3 be the better option?

Thanks,

Dan.

i dont see any need for either of the ets sanders if you own a ro 150. i own a ro150 and dont see the need.
the finish diferensial i think would be so small that you wouldnt see it. if you wanted to you could go with 1 more grit higher ( or is that lower ???) and get a better finish.  i plan on getting a ro90  to compliment the ro 150.

I have the ETS 125 and its 3mm stroke comes in very handy for specific jobs where the Rotex is too aggressive. A delicate veneer for example.

So whilst there is a lot of overlap between the sanders, and the finish is virtually identical, the ETS 125 does have its advantages. Its also easy to use single-handedly, unlike a Rotex.

 

[peter halle]

I use my 150/3 more than I use my Rotex.  Both are great, but one handed the 150/3 wins hands down if I don't need the aggressiveness.  I would much rather have the finer orbit than a coarser obit.  I can always start with lower grit paper.

Peter

 

[Brice Burrell]

Brice,

Just curious...  Would that be a recommendation for purchasing a single sander?  If you already have a Rotex 150, would it still be reasonable to get the ETS150/5 or would the ETS150/3 be the better option?

Thanks,

Dan.

I have the ETS 125 and its 3mm stroke comes in very handy for specific jobs where the Rotex is too aggressive. A delicate veneer for example.

So whilst there is a lot of overlap between the sanders, and the finish is virtually identical, the ETS 125 does have its advantages. Its also easy to use single-handedly, unlike a Rotex.

Dan I can answer your question and comment on Richard's post with the same reply since I think they are related.  The Rotex sanders are nice but in my opinion they can't hold a candle to the ergonomics of the ETS 150 sanders.  I think people feel like the Rotex is too aggressive because it's not as good of a finish sander as the ETS models in regards to ergonomics and that gives the user better control.  More control generally means better results.  The ETS sanders are less fatiguing and easier to use.  Don't underestimate how big of a factor that can be in everyday use.  

To address Richard's comments specifically.  I won't argue the point of the 5 mm stroke sander being more aggressive than the 2.5mm sander.  However, I think your opinion of ETS 150/5 being too aggressive for delicate sanding might change if you had a chance to use one.  It's light and nimble and with the right abrasive and a careful touch it would work fine.  Where as with the bulk of the Rotex I wouldn't want to try it.

Dan, to answer your question, I would recommend the ETS150/5 for Rotex 150 owners.  There little or no appreciable value of the smaller stroke for almost all woodworking applications.

I use my 150/3 more than I use my Rotex.  Both are great, but one handed the 150/3 wins hands down if I don't need the aggressiveness.  I would much rather have the finer orbit than a coarser obit.  I can always start with lower grit paper.

Peter

Peter, I have the utmost confidence you'd feel the same way if you had the ETS150/5 instead of the /3.  It all comes down to ease of use, you'll get the same or better results with less effort with the ETS over the Rotex.               

 

[mouppe]

Brice, fair point about the ETS 150 as I have not used one. I was comparing my experience with the RO 125 and the ETS 125.

90% of the time I reach for the rotex, but sometimes the ETS is the perfect tool for the job.

 

[Timtool]

Brice, fair point about the ETS 150 as I have not used one. I was comparing my experience with the RO 125 and the ETS 125.

90% of the time I reach for the rotex, but sometimes the ETS is the perfect tool for the job.

thats the combination i started with, but i returned the RO125 for  an ETS 150/5. and could not be more happy!
for normal sanding jobs the ETS 150 simply goes faster than the RO and is more comfortable.
combining the RO 125 with the ETS 125 was a mistake for me, they are two extremes. one for agressive removal on rough wood, and the other for fine finishing surfaces. you are missing the tool that goes in between, THE sander for everyday work, the ETS 150!

i think the rotexes are somewhat wrongly advertised, it made me think it was the best allround sander for rough work to finish work. and maybe it is, but IMO it is trying to do too many things, and in the end it's not verry good at any.
the finish mode it so slow that you better do a first pass in rotex mode, and then finish mode. where the ETS 150/5 does it all in one pass and leaves a scratchless finish. where my rotex left quite a bit of swirls.

 

[kdzito]

I have both the ETS 125 and ETS 150/3 and hands down prefer the 150/3.  It has much more balance; however, I don't need to get in smaller spaces.

 

[mouppe]

Tim,

Of course the ETS 150 goes faster than the Rotex 125- the pad is much larger! You are not comparing like with like.

And to say that the rotex is only good for aggressive removal is to completely miss the point of its random orbit mode which leaves a very good and adequate finish most of the time.

 

[AlexThePalex]

i think the rotexes are somewhat wrongly advertised, it made me think it was the best allround sander for rough work to finish work. and maybe it is, but IMO it is trying to do too many things, and in the end it's not verry good at any.

[blink] [blink]

Alright, people are entitled to their own opinions, but before we start dissing a tool in such an extreme way as the Rotex being 'wrongly advertised', and being 'not verry good at any' I sincerly suggest you start to question your own skills as far as  sanding is concerned.

I can do whatever I want with my Rotex 150, from very fine finish to rough removal, standing on my head if the need arises.

Sorry to sound so bold Tim, but I found your comment rather insulting to such a good machine as the Rotex and the company that made it, Festool. I have never used a better sander in my life, and I have used quite a few under very different circumstances.

If the Rotex is not for you, fine, but there are many people who can do wonders with it, as advertised.

 

[peter halle]

If I could only have 1 sander it would be the Rotex 150
If I could only have 2 sanders they would be the Rotex 150 and an ETS 150/3
If I could only have 3 sanders they would be the Rotex 150 and an ETS 150/3 and an RO90

If I could have as many as I wanted - I would have them all!

Just my opinion.

Peter