Another how to sand question

[JamesB]

I am relatively new to Festool and recently bought the RO 125 and ETS 125. I am on a bookcase project currently; maple veneered 3/4" ply and maple facia.  I have been using the Rotex for about a week now- I'm very pleased and feel I have it at its "sweet spot" re speed and suction setting with my CT 36. I used the ETS yesterday for the first time as a test. With P320 paper and the CT 36 at the lowest setting I am still getting enough suction that the sander has to be pulled off the work and its speed is being pulled down by the suction. When I get one corner of the sander off the work it speeds up and "floats". I feel I have too much suction?? Is there any way to reduce below the minimum setting?  I could always drill a small hole in the adapter between the 27 and 36 mm hose to bleed off some suction when I use the ETS. Any help/ advice will be appreciated, regards, Jim Baker

 

[AlexThePalex]

Jim, your ETS 125 needs a break-in period of at least 8 hours before it reaches it's full capacity. Especially in the beginning the brushes aren't seated yet on the armature and that can reduce the ETS' power by half. Just make sure you break it in for 8 hours before making any judgements about the sander. To speed up break-in time you can hang it on a rope and just run it in mid air for 8 hours. 

 

[JamesB]

Alex, great insight, thanks.

 

[Kevin Stricker]

I would take the 36mm hose out of the system and just run it with the 27mm hose and see if that makes a difference.