Another sander topic

[CK3v1N]

Hi guys,

After buying a TS 55 saw, I've been bitten by the Festool virus. For the last couple of days I have been looking at Festool sanders. The more I read, the more confused I get.

I need a sander for:
1. Removing paint from an old stair and old door
2. Sanding the joints of a MDF ceiling. (Also sanding some MDF boards flush with each other)
3. I will be painting a new built in and bathroom cabinet and need to sand between coats.
4. Later, I will primarily be working with pallet wood, plywood and 2 by material for small projects.

Of course, I can only afford 1 sander at this time... Which one would you recommend?

My second question. I already own a shop vac, not Festool. Can I use this with my Festool products?

Oh and sorry for the bad English.

Thx,
Kevin

 

[ear3]

Rotex -- will function well for the stripping and finish work.

I say go with the 150, but someone might suggest the 125 for the overhead work you have planned.  As long as overhead is not your primary use, I would think building some muscle with the arms is a small sacrifice to gain the extra pad area.

The only place it might come up short is doing the cabinet, if you have to do narrow pieces.

EDIT: How powerful is the shopvac?  I never have to turn down the suction on my CT, but if it's a big 6.5HP shop vac you might have some issues.  You will need to figure out something on the hose, though.  I would say try to find a cheap equivalent to the 27mm hose, since you will automatically get a Festool anti-static hose when you decide to get a CT.

 

[CK3v1N]

I need to check the HP but I don't think  its that powerfull (I think between 1200 and 1400 W)

I've been looking at the RO150 but that one is too expensive for the moment.

 

[ear3]

What about the Rotex 125 then?

 

[CK3v1N]

Is that one easy to handle with 1 hand? I am doubting between the RO125 or the ETS150/5. I want the most "all round" sander to begin with.

 

[leakyroof]

Is that one easy to handle with 1 hand? I am doubting between the RO125 or the ETS150/5. I want the most "all round" sander to begin with.

Don't be afraid to buy used as well. While you could wait months to catch a Festool Reconditioned Tool Sale, people sell used, good quality Festool sanders here on FOG and other places.
For your first sander, I recommend ETS 150/5 as a great all-rounder. The current bonus for you with this tool is that owners are selling off their older models for the new EC versions, so there are tools to be sold more in numbers than usual.

 

[Holmz]

...
For your first sander, I recommend ETS 150/5 as a great all-rounder. The current bonus for you with this tool is that owners are selling off their older models for the new EC versions, so there are tools to be sold more in numbers than usual.qa

If I was selling an ETS I would agree, but the ETS EC is a much different machine.
The ETS EC 150/5 is a much better all around sander.

Secondly I cannot see spending a lot on a random orbital unless it is much better than a Bosch or Makita. I am not sure an ETS is demonstrably better.
There not as many brushless sander, like the ETS EC is.

 

[ear3]

Ets-EC 150/5 is the best all around sander in my opinion.  But for stripping applications, the Rotex sanders cant be beat.  Have never handled the RO125, but I've seen comments on the FOG that it is slightly less well balanced than the RO150.  The RO150 can be handled in one hand in RO mode, but in the gear-driven Rotex mode two hands are definitely called for.

Is that one easy to handle with 1 hand? I am doubting between the RO125 or the ETS150/5. I want the most "all round" sander to begin with.

 

[CK3v1N]

But can you strip wood with an ETS150/5 or ETS EC 150/5 as well?

 

[Kev]

The best Festool sander for stripping is the RAS115. But it's not a pretty sander for non aggressive tasks

Yes, the ETS150/5 (and EC versions) are the perfect all rounders, but if you ever end up with a RO150, you'd wish you had the ETS150/3 version.

Stripping effectively is significantly about the abrasive you're using and the effectiveness of the sander for keeping the abrasive clear of build up, while maintaining the right amount of surface contact - here you need to use the right formulation and grit abrasive in combination with the right level of vacuum. You'll be able to create the right level of bleed off from your shop vac with some holes and maybe a bit of electrical tape to block some if you go too crazy [wink] Just mortgage a piece of hose near the sander as your bleed piece.

The great thing about Festool is it's resale value. Don't be afraid to buy the tool that meets you needs today and maybe sell it when you want something different, you want lose the farm on the transaction.

 

[CK3v1N]

Good tip Kev. With that, I am also looking at the RO90 or the DTS400. This is the stair I want to strip and paint again. I think the Ro125 or Ro150 will have difficulties sanding in the corners?

 

[Holmz]

One could damn near most of it with a RS2E or other 1/2 sheet or 1/4 sheet sander.
That and a scraper should go pretty quick??

The sides are the only thing that looks problematic for a 1/2 sheet.

 

[ear3]

You'll need a corner sander whether you get the Rotex (outside of the 90) or the ETS-EC.

One advantage of the RO90 over the DTS is that the former, in addition to being a great corner sander (outside of the frequent wearing out of the replaceable delta pads), gives you a lot of power in a small package.  So those bull noses could be easily done using the RO90 and an interface pad that will conform to the shape of contoured surfaces.

You can do this with a 150mm sander as well, but the larger size of the pad means you will probably alter the shape of the bullnose slightly in a few places.  That's not a big deal, as you can sand down the line and remake the profile to suit, just be aware that the bigger sander sometimes stumble on certain projects.

The moulding righjt under the tread will be a bit more of a challenge.  The RO90 could get the flat part that's perpendicular to the tread, but that profile looks like it's a cove, and one too small for even the interface pad to get at.  Looks like you have some hand sanding/scraping in your future, short of purchasing an LS130.

 

[semenza]

But can you strip wood with an ETS150/5 or ETS EC 150/5 as well?

Hi,

  Welcome to the forum! [smile]

      Yes, the ETS150/5 can strip finish. Choosing the right abrasive makes a big difference. It won't be as fast as a Rotex but it won't be slow either.  It is really hard to do all the types of sanding on your list with just one sander. I put what I feel the strengths are in bold.

      General purpose and finish -----  ETS150/3

      General purpose, stripping, and finish --- ETS150/5

      Pallet wood , general purpose, stripping , finish ---- RO150 or RO125

      Corners, Small areas, General purpose  ----  RO90.

      Corners,  overhead , general purpose ----  DTS400, RTS400

  Generalizations and not all encompassing by any means. For the overhead work I think  the old style ETS would be easier to use than the newer EC or RO sanders. Due to the shape/ ergonomics of the sander.

Seth

 

[leakyroof]

But can you strip wood with an ETS150/5 or ETS EC 150/5 as well?

. You can strip wood with either ETS sander, they just aren't as fast as a Rotex for this task. I wouldn't reach for the ETS sanders to work with Pallet Wood though unless I had run the boards through a planer or jointer first.

 

[leakyroof]

Good tip Kev. With that, I am also looking at the RO90 or the DTS400. This is the stair I want to strip and paint again. I think the Ro125 or Ro150 will have difficulties sanding in the corners?

You will need something for the corners since a large round pad won't get in there.

 

[BigfootBuilder]

On a slightly different note, before I ordered a CT 26 a couple days ago I had ordered one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005ELWUWG/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've only gotten to use it a couple times but if you're not yet in the market to buy a $700 vacuum and have a job coming up, I HIGHLY suggest ordering one of these to have a tool actuated shop vac! Since having it I'm left wondering a little if the CT26 was really worth it, but I'm sure it will be once it arrives...

My second question. I already own a shop vac, not Festool. Can I use this with my Festool products?

 

[CK3v1N]

But can you strip wood with an ETS150/5 or ETS EC 150/5 as well?

Hi,

  Welcome to the forum! [smile]

      Yes, the ETS150/5 can strip finish. Choosing the right abrasivemakes a big difference. It won't be as fast as a Rotex but it won't be slow either.

I think I've made a decision. I'm going for the ETS150/5

What type of abrasive should I use to strip the wood, and what type between coats of paint? Do you guys use Festool abrasive or another brand?

Thx for the help!

 

[ear3]

Good choice.  You can't go wrong with Granat as an all around abrasive.  Depending on the finish, there might be some clogging of the paper, but you can partially remedy this by having a crepe stick and putty knife handy to clean off the paper.  If you find the finish is really stubborn and prone to clogging, you could get some coarse grit Saphir for the initial strip.

In case you didn't know about it, there's a handy abrasives selector maintained on the Festool website, and available from the Produce Websites drop down tab at the top of the FOG:http://www.festoolusa.com/abrasives

But can you strip wood with an ETS150/5 or ETS EC 150/5 as well?

Hi,

  Welcome to the forum! [smile]

      Yes, the ETS150/5 can strip finish. Choosing the right abrasivemakes a big difference. It won't be as fast as a Rotex but it won't be slow either.

I think I've made a decision. I'm going for the ETS150/5

What type of abrasive should I use to strip the wood, and what type between coats of paint? Do you guys use Festool abrasive or another brand?

Thx for the help!

 

[ear3]

In terms of vacs, you might also consider getting the CT-Sys, since this is reasonably priced compared to the larger vacs.  It doesn't have variable suction, but this won't be an issue with something like the ETS-EC 150/5