Anyone have experience with Festool belt sanders?

[Sweet]

Hi,

We're currently in the market for a couple of belt sanders.

Anyone have any views on the Festool BS105 or its smaller brother, over say the normal offerings from Makita, Dewalt etc?

In the workshop we currently have Rotex's, ETS and a Mirka. But were due to start a large run of bespoke external shutters and doors and I'm thinking that a belt sander may speed up the inital sanding process?

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[ajones]

I have the 105, its a great sander, like any belt sander you need the frame.

 

[Kev]

Could it be time to consider something like and SCM Sandya ... ?

900mm wide would be your target if you want to sand doors.

Just a thought.

 

[CO_JCD]

I have the BS105 - monstrous beast it is too!  I mean this in a good way, I don't have any large fixed machines so the BS 105 is my go-to sander of choice for first pass sanding / flattening of large surfaces etc.  As stated above, you need to use the frame as this gives the whole arrangement the control that you need.  i still have an old 75mm Bosch belt sander without frame - this is useful more as 'grinder' with you providing all the control, still has its place, however the BS105 with frame is a much different proposition.

Using the BS105 followed by the Rotex / ETS 150/3 or RS200 works well.

Hope this helps.
John

 

[Holz-Her]

Companies who sell/sold the Festool (HolzHer) belt sander: Milwaukee, Metabo, Bosch, AEG, Atlas Copco
So i guess it´s pretty good 

 

[Sweet]

Thanks for input chaps.

Kev, a wide belt sander is next on our 'shopping list'. Unfortunately it's never that simple, dust extraction, waste generation electricity usage etc etc.

My local dealer did me a fantastic price on a Makita and gave me a good selection of belts to get us started. If the wide belt stays out of reach then I'm sure the BS105 will a good compromise.

 

[green fever]

I have the bs75 with the frame set it's the business. Makita also a good buy .

 

[sancho57]

I have the 105, its a great sander, like any belt sander you need the frame.

Have you used it in the CMS module?

just curious cuz its sort of being considered to make my list.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I have the 105, its a great sander, like any belt sander you need the frame.

Have you used it in the CMS module?

just curious cuz its sort of being considered to make my list.

There is no module for the BS 75 and BS 105 belt sanders in the CMS. There is a belt sander for the CMS, but it's a dedicated machine.

[attachimg=1]

 

[Holmz]

I have the 105, its a great sander, like any belt sander you need the frame.

I know this is an old thread...

[member=8167]Festoolfootstool[/member] does it go delicate on edges with the frame? Or does it chamfer or roll them over.
(I Need something to make a panel flat)
Anyone with a
Experience with these or some other sander with a frame?

 

[ajones]

Making use if the adjustable speed and the correct grade of belt,with the frame attached makes for quality Finish.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I have the 105, its a great sander, like any belt sander you need the frame.

I know this is an old thread...

[member=8167]Festoolfootstool[/member] does it go delicate on edges with the frame? Or does it chamfer or roll them over.
(I Need something to make a panel flat)
Anyone with a
Experience with these or some other sander with a frame?

The BS with frame is pretty much the only way to sand dead flat with a portable machine. It's as close to a wide belt sander that you can place on the work as is possible.

You do have to exercise care and common sense. When you drive the machine over the edge (cantilevered) beyond the balance point it will tip (unless you support the frame/sander) and if the stiff supporting brushes on bottom of the frame separate over the edge of the work and spread out they will allow the belt to get closer to the work and over sand the edge.

It's nearly foolproof. Only a fool would drive the machine over the edge and expect it to levitate.

It's easy to support the BS/frame when you go over the edge (and you do need to do that to adequately sand the perimeter of the panel). One hand adding weight to the inboard corner of the frame and the other hand providing a little lift to the outboard corner such that the frame remains level with the work surface. It's easy to do and there is plenty of frame so your fingers can be a safe distance from the abrasive.

 

[greg mann]

Good description of use, Michael, but Holmz is in Australia so he would be using it upside down.

 

[Holmz]

Thanks [member=297]Michael Kellough[/member] I am thinking it would be best for veneered panels.

[member=22]greg mann[/member] I can always put it on a stand upside to make it good.

The only problem is that it is a lot of coins.

 

[Holmz]

...
It's nearly foolproof. Only a fool would drive the machine over the edge and expect it to levitate.
...

I think I can resist being foolish to an extent.  [wink]

How dependable are these?
I am weighing up whether I should get it locally or go for saving $500.

And... If I was expecting it to break then I would probably avoid it all together.

 

[Michael Kellough]

...
It's nearly foolproof. Only a fool would drive the machine over the edge and expect it to levitate.
...

I think I can resist being foolish to an extent.  [wink]

How dependable are these?
I am weighing up whether I should get it locally or go for saving $500.

And... If I was expecting it to break then I would probably avoid it all together.

Very dependable. The current designs of the BS75 and BS105 are already 25 or 30 years old, they stem from a company called Holz-her which Festool bought a long time ago. Tried and true. Holz-her badged the sanders with the names of several other reputable power tool companies.

I have a couple of AEG sanders with 110v motors that AEG exported to the US in the around the mid '80s to early '90s. I have replaced brushes on one but nothing else. I have seen posts from people needing to replace the toothed drive belt but that should be a problem only where Festool does not distribute the sander.

 

[Holmz]

Thanks Michael.