6" ETS sander

[Timtool]

[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.

well certainly the rotex can do pretty much any sanding task as advertised, but is it as good as the task specific sanders?
in all the applications i tried it for, it could not beat the sanders that were designed only for that task.
some here said their RO 125 replaced their belt sander, so i tried leveling out a beech tabletop with it.
with my Bosch belt sander i usually need 5 minutes, after 5 minutes with the RO125 i had done one corner and the pad was completely worn out and gooed up.
i tried it against my Bosch GEX 125 excentric sander for finish sanding a pine leg assembly, the Bosch needed 36 seconds per assembly, the RO 59 seconds.
so i saw no reason to keep the Rotex, there was just no task for it in my shop where it made me win time, comfort or money.
i only build new furniture, mostly with solid wood. if i had to do renovations or other work of the kind, then the rotex could maybe save me time and money.
so all of the above is only valid for my specific case.

just trying to give my opinion as a user, and not as a person who has a personal benefit in promoting the brand...

 

[kdzito]

My top 3 are:

1. ETS 150/3
2. RS 2E
3. RO 90 DX

 

[kdzito]

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.

My opinion is for the 3mm

 

[Jesse Cloud]

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

You nailed it Peter!  But, I'm glad I can have more than one sander. [big grin]

 

[kdzito]

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

Hopefully I'll be in the market for a Rotex 150.  Just got the RO 90 and knowing what it does I also need the larger one.

Kurt

You nailed it Peter!  But, I'm glad I can have more than one sander. [big grin]

 

[ccarrolladams]

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.

The only Festool electric sander I do not own is the ETS 150/5. In late January 2006 I already owned PC 3" and 4" belt sanders bought new in the 1960s and a new PC 5" Quick Sand. Having then just recently purchased a CT22, TS55 and OF1010, I liked the performance of the RO 150.

My thinking then was that the PC Quick Sand would take care of my 5" finish sanding needs. To evaluate 6" finish sanders I took large scraps of walnut and cherry with me to Eagle Tools of Los Angeles. There I tried ETS 150/5 and ETS 150/3 in comparison with my own RO 150. Personally I could not see any advantage to the ETS 150/5 over the RO 150. However I did see the advantage of the shorter stroke of the ETS 150/3.

From then on I have tried the ETS 150/5 several times, usually when considering purchase of another Festool sander. So far I have still not seen a reason for me to buy an ETS 150/5.

The cabinet maker working for me who is our face frame and door specialist also owns a bunch of Festools, including an RO 150. He seldom needs an aggressive sander, so he actually prefers the ETS 150/5. His results speak for themselves.

Each of us needs to find the tools which enable us to do our best work in the ways natural to us. Please do not feel that because I cannot see the need for an ETS 150/5 that will not work as well for you as it does for many other woodworkers.