Air Tools Anyone?

[Matthew Schenker]

Hello,
How many people own Festool air tools?  I've seen them at woodworking shows, but I've never used them.  There have been a couple of discussions about air tools here in the forum, but we don't hear much about them.  I'm wondering if there are other people who use them.  If you do, what do you think?
Just curious to see more about how the whole air setup works -- the specific air sanders, as well as the CT33 with air hookups, and Festool's special air/dust hoses.
Matthew

 

[The Dude]

Matt, several of the cabinet shops, and solid-surface shops that I sell to locally use the Festool air products.  The solid surface guys specifically will never go back to the dynabrade or the hutchins..to name a couple.  They are indeed a bit more dough, but worth every penny.

One thing that needs to be addressed with SS is the "shop vs. field" application.  If a person is going to sand in the shop with their LEX sanders, then they had better utilize the LEX in the field as well.  The throw patterns are different enough between the Rotex and the LEX that a person WILL see a difference in the finished product.  Long story short...If you don't have air in the field at the install, use the electric sanders in the shop.

I have one guy in town that just bought 3 packages from me.  Most are going with the 150/7 and the 150/3 kit with the Vac.  And I quote, "S$@# if I am going to spend that much, why not go all the way and do it right."  The single most important factors was the dust extraction.  SS is a messy thing.  When I demo the tools, THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY AMAZED WITH THE LACK OF DUST IN THE AIR.

Theses are the Guide Lines I use for Finishing SS with regards to Paper and sequence:

Matte finish:

Light colored product:

Titan II - 120, 150, 180, Vlies 280

For dark Colored product:

Titan II - 120, 150, 180, 220, Vlies 800

Satin Finish:

Light colored product:

Titan II-120, 150, 180,  220, 320, Vlies 800

Dark colored product:

Titan II- 120, 150, 180, 220, 320, 400, Platin 500

Semi-Gloss:

Light colored product:

Titan II 120, 150, 180, 220, 320, 400, Platin 500

Dark colored product:

Titan II 120, 150, 180, 220, 320, 400, Platin 500, 1000

Gloss:

Light and Dark colored product:

Titan II 120, 150, 180, 220, 320, 400, Platin 500. 1000. 2000. 4000

High Gloss:

Light and Dark colored product:

Same sequence as listed for gloss; but you are now going to throw down some compound and buff the sucker!

USE THE ROTEX:

Hard Felt - Marine grade Rubbing compound
Soft Felt - Finess it II (my preference)
Wool Pad - Liquid glass

When I'm polishing I use the same methods as with sanding.  You need to make sure that all the compounds are cleaned up before moving to the next.

 

[Dan Uhlir]

hello,

        I received the new catalog and was wondering the same thing about air sanders. i would really like to see a demo first for one thing, and the other thing is it seems as tho your limited as to what kind of sander you can use. I wonder if the air compressor would have any other value ? Maybe we could get some type demo thing, i'm sur that would generate interest hard to invest that kinda money, for something your not sure of. Ciao