Adding ETS EC 150/5 to Rotex 150

[redcliff]

I am wondering if anyone notices a difference in sanding quality between the RO 150 in orbital mode vs the ETS EC 150/5. I have the RO 150 and the ETS EC 125/3 w/ 150 pad. When I need a 150/5 I use the RO 150 but it still feels like the fine quality sanding is not quite what it could be or what I am seeking. I love the RO 150 and the weight does not bother me and I have become accustom to balancing it well. However, I am considering adding the ETS EC 150/5 for a bit better sanding quality.

Do you notice a difference in the finish sanding quality between the RO 150/5 and the ETS EC 150/5?

I hope that makes sense. Thank you for any help. Grace and peace, Michael.

 

[rvieceli]

Michael - a couple of points, there are people that disagree with me but I have never viewed the Rotex series  by of sanders as a general purpose sander even though they have the orbital mode included.  I use mine to remove a lot of material quickly in geared mode. Then come in with the EtS EC to complete the sanding process.

I also don’t think you’ll see a noticeable difference between the ETS EC you have and a new ETS EC 150/5. Once again people will probably disagree but I have been more than pleased with my ETS EC 125/150 Frankenstein model. I do production sanding as well.

If you want to spend some cash  [wink] I’d suggest adding a RO 90 to you fleet. It’s a great little sander wonderful for defining and refining edges.

Ron

 

[smorgasbord]

Just curious, what grits are you using with the RO and ETS EC sanders?
Plywood or solid wood?

 

[redcliff]

Thank you for the questions. Grits depends on the need, condition of the piece and the goal/what is needed for the desired finish (60 to 1500). Working with hardwoods.

What I am seeking, why I will use the RO in orbital, is a more aggressive material removal (though not as aggressive as RO mode) with the 5mm stroke vs the 3mm stroke. That is why I will reach for the RO. So, just wondering if you notice a difference in the quality of sanding finish of the RO in orbital mode with its 5mm stroke vs the ETS with its 5mm stroke.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

The RO 150, IMHO, is harder to control than the 150/5 so even if the orbital characteristics were to be identical, the end result may not be the same. This is especially true for the "original" RO 150 that I own but I believe it to be true for the current version of the RO 150, too, even though the handle was made more hand-friendly. It's a heavier tool and with all that stuff beyond the abrasive, one has to do more to maintain a balanced position for the abrasive on the material. For years, I employed my 150/3 (original version) for the vast majority of my sanding but recently added the EC 150/5 with a lucky "barely used" buy. It's now my primary go-to. Comfortable and consistent.

 

[Hipplewm]

I have both and I have never put anything higher than 120 on my Rotex because once you get a EC150 - WHY?  swap Sanders get rid of the NVH and let the EC glide and do its thing. 

I am sure that with enough patience and time the RO 150 could be a great finish sander. I just never have used it in anything but Rotex mode and use the EC150 from there.

 

[mrboult]

I never found the Random Orbit mode of the Rotex to be great. Love them for aggressive removal in geared mode, but never found the RO mode to be very efficient or provide a quality finish.

I recently sold my old ETS EC 125/3 with the 150pad, to get the ETS EC 150/5.

I find the 5mm ETS EC  notably faster progress than the 3mm orbit version, and i haven’t noticed any finish issues. But im never a high polish finish type. I usually sand to about 180-240 grit and then oil.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I would strongly second the RO90 as well, it's the sander you didn't know you really need!

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I would strongly second the RO90 as well, it's the sander you didn't know you really need!

Sedge's Festool Live video yesterday about the RO-90 has frankly changed my mine 180º on the tool and it's now on my acquisition list. While it would still be a specialty tool for me, it would also be a problem solver for certain kinds of projects I like to do.

[quote author=mrB]I recently sold my old ETS EC 125/3 with the 150pad, to get the ETS EC 150/5.[/quote]

I thought about selling the older 150/3 when I scarfed the EC 150/5, but decided to keep it because there are "those times" when having a second sander may be convenient for me. It's more than paid for itself over a couple of decades so it's earned its place.

 

[rvieceli]

[member=66562]Jim_in_PA[/member] you will love the RO 90. You’ll find plenty of uses for it. I’d also suggest picking up a couple of the interface pads for it as well. The RO 90 is well suited for rounded profile work and it’s small enough to see what you are doing.
https://www.amazon.com/Festool-4974...p_s_a_1_1?crid=3KV562NMS4HH5&keywords=festool+interface+pad+ro90&qid=1706371242&sprefix=festool+ro90+interface+pad%2Caps%2C362&sr=8-1

I started out using Rubin 2 but as I run out I’m switching to Granat.

If you are patient they frequently come up on Facebook Marketplace.

If mine stopped working I’d grab another as soon as I could.

Ron

 

[Jim_in_PA]

Thanks, Ron. I certainly keep my eye open for Festool products available on the "pre-owned" (and no necessarily "used" as is sometimes the case LOL) market and have scored a few of them including the DF500 and the EC 150/5 that way. But I'm not adverse to buying new, either. I have no hurry here, so my fingers are crossed about scoring one from another person who didn't find value in the tool.

 

[smorgasbord]

Thank you for the questions. Grits depends on the need, condition of the piece and the goal/what is needed for the desired finish (60 to 1500). Working with hardwoods.

What I am seeking, why I will use the RO in orbital, is a more aggressive material removal (though not as aggressive as RO mode) with the 5mm stroke vs the 3mm stroke. That is why I will reach for the RO. So, just wondering if you notice a difference in the quality of sanding finish of the RO in orbital mode with its 5mm stroke vs the ETS with its 5mm stroke.

The reason I asked about grits is because with multiple sanders you'll likely find that you'd keep lower grits for the Rotex, and medium to fine for the ETS/EC, and wanted to see how fine you wanted to go. I haven't used all the Festool sanders so I can't give you a definitive answer. But, I do primarly hardwoods and go to very fine grits at times, so my use cases are probably very similar to yours.

My guess, FWIW, is that you won't notice anything but the slightest difference in the finish produced, and that slight difference wouldn't matter to me since for hardwoods I always do the final pass(es) as linear with the grain. For small projects that means a cork sanding block, for more sanding I use a Mirka vacuum sanding block, and if there are lots, I break out the LS130 with flat pad. All of those take 80mm wide sanding rolls (Cubitron II for me), that I cut to length, for grits up to 320. Anything beyond that is just the cork block.

I recently added the ETS/EC 150/5 to my sanding arsenal, which starts with a 25" wide dual drum sander (80 & 120 grits nominally, but sometimes 100 & 150) and a 3 decades old Bosch 1370DEVS 6" sander which is the Bosch equivalent of the Festool Rotex. The ETS/EC was a revelation compared to the Bosch in random orbit mode in every way - comfort, material removal (comparing random orbital modes), and quality of finish. I think some of the finish quality might be due to the better dust extraction holes on the Festool over the Bosch (I use a vacuum with both), but not sure.

What was really surprising is that I found the ETS/EC 150/5 to be both more aggressive and producing a better finish than the Bosch in random orbit mode. My plan was/is to keep the Bosch in geared mode (rotex equivalent) and limit the grits I use to about 120 max, then switch to the ETS/EC for the medium sanding, and then finally the linear finish sanding as described above.

What I've found so far is that if the Bosch died, I wouldn't replace it with anything. Then again, it's probably not going to die because I'm not reaching for it, ever. I suppose if I had something too big for a stationary disk sander but not suitable for the large dual drum sander I'd pull out the Bosch, but I'm thinking I should sell it to gain back some space on a shelf.

With the Festool 30 day return option, why don't you try the ETS/EC 150/5 and see how it works for you?

 

[grobkuschelig]

I don’t know if I can add much to the conversation, but I can mainly echo the sentiment, which I would find helpful reading such a thread.

I run the Rotex 150 for rough tasks, but the ETS EC 150/5. 90-95% of the time for almost everything.

I love the RO 90 as well. Can only strongly second the recommendation to get the interface pads!!!
If you run it on Rotex-Mode with an interface pad it is a hero for profiles etc. Also, it is a very powerful delta sander, because the motor really packs a punch and especially the „long delta“ foot lets you get into some corners where you can’t get with anything else.

Surely, I also run an ETSC 125, mainly for the edge-sanding attachment and an RTSC400 for profiles and will get a DTSC when I find one on sale. Plus a band sander, deltasander etc…

One can never have enough sanders. [emoji1787]
If I had to choose, I’d keep the ETS EC 150/5 and the RO 90.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[luvmytoolz]

After I bought the RO90 it just blew me away with what an amazing sander it was, so I immediately sold my 40+ year old Rotex and recently bought the new 150mm Rotex. What a machine! Incredible is all I can say!

@smorgasboard If you replaced the Bosch with the RO150, you would be giddy with joy I guarantee it!

[member=73452]Michael Paul[/member] I've just seen that Mirka sell 7mm interface pads for their own 81 x 133 sander, which would be perfect for stacking up to do simple profiles with the LS130! I'm going to get some to try out, it will save me making a multitude of bases for raised panel sanding.

 

[smorgasbord]

@smorgasboard If you replaced the Bosch with the RO150, you would be giddy with joy I guarantee it!

Well, like I said, between the dual drum sander and the ETS/EC 150/5, I don't really have a need for a big Rotex sander. But, the RO90 may get onto my list.

 

[leakyroof]

I own a Rotex 150, and the newer EC 150/5 and EC 125/3. I too have never looked at using the Rotex in its Orbital mode as a finer sander when I had other Festool Sanders on hand. If I only owned the Rotex, and not the other sanders, could be different, as you'd use what you have.... [embarassed]
I started with the 'OLD' ETS sanders, 150/5 and then got the 150/3. Had them for years before I bought the Rotex[ this confused and puzzled Sedge at Festool when I took some training courses there.... [big grin] [big grin] [big grin]]
Then I bought the new EC sanders. Sold my original ETS sanders. Almost never take the Rotex out its Systainer anymore.
With my 125/3, loaded with Granat , I have stripped the old varnish and stain finish off some of our doors like it was nothing. No harder to control Rotex mode needed with Granat and these sanders.
Spend some hours with an EC ETS sander and you'll probably fall in love with them as well. Lower in height than the old ETS sanders, so they sneak in places you just couldn't fit the old ETS sanders. Better ergonomics, at least for my hands.
Powerful. Definitely more sander power than my ETS sanders, esp armed with coarser grits of Granat.
I'm still eating my way through old stocks of Crystal, Brilliant 2, etc. So Granat is slowly replacing all those previous papers/abrasives. But the two together are game changers for me in terms of sanding, finish stripping, less time spent sanding.