Anyone know the reason for this? Rotex 150 spinning fast.

WarnerConstCo.

WarnerConstCo.

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I am not quite sure what he is talking about but, I want to get an answer for him.  I have been helping along the way with his first couple Festool Purchases.

Thanks

Sander Super Spin
What makes a ROS spin like it's a grinder when you first start it up? My new Festool sander is doing this. I took the pad off and blew out all the dust in there, grabbed some penetrating lubricant...nothing. I know my old palm sander did this all the time. I'd rather not have my $500 sander do this. I must have something stuck somewhere.

link:    http://www.contractortalk.com/f13/sander-super-spin-94505/#post1148294
 
This has happened to me with other sanders.  I believe it happens when the "offset" of the axis on the pad syncs up with the rotation of the spindle.  Sometimes the two will coincide long enough that they just stay "locked" in that position in relation to one another as the rpms go up.  At that point everything is spinning too fast to have any chance of returning to random orbit motion.  There's a better way to explain using center of gravity and moments of inertia, but I don't feel like going that route  :-\
 
I just went and checked mine out. Honestly, I sand with it rather than watch the pad spin around.  [blink]

It does spin up with no friction or resistance. As soon as I put my hand across it, you could see the holes slow to a more modest speed spin. When I shut it off, the pad brake bring it to a quick stop. Of course, don't try that at home with 24 grit paper.  [eek] I had some Brilliant 220 on there. If it just bother him, have him turn the speed down.  [wink]

Is he getting bad results, or this is just an observation? That's the true test of performance in my opinion.

Off to take my boys and a friend out to grab a quick bite to eat. Be back in a bit. Feel free to discuss without me. [big grin]
 
Darcy posted this for me. I'm the n00b watching the sandpaper spin.

Seriously though, when I first bought it, it did not do this. I just bought it the other night, less than a week ago.

The problem with this high speed action (thus the reason I'm asking), is that I've got better things to do than worry about something spinning at a grinders speed across my woodwork when I first touch the surface. Kind of has a tendency to leaves gouges. And it kind of defeats the purpose of purchasing the Cadillac of sanders. I can get gouges with my $50 DeWalt.

This thing spins so much that you cannot put the palm of your hand on it to slow it down, lest ye feel like having no skin for a few days.

I took the pad off, everything looks clean. I sprayed some lubricant on the off axis thing, don't know the exact term.

And no, I don't have it in Rotex mode. Actually, the Rotex mode does not spin out of control like the random orbit mode, oddly enough.

 
Kent Whitten said:
Darcy posted this for me. I'm the n00b watching the sandpaper spin.

Seriously though, when I first bought it, it did not do this. I just bought it the other night, less than a week ago.

The problem with this high speed action (thus the reason I'm asking), is that I've got better things to do than worry about something spinning at a grinders speed across my woodwork when I first touch the surface. Kind of has a tendency to leaves gouges. And it kind of defeats the purpose of purchasing the Cadillac of sanders. I can get gouges with my $50 DeWalt.

This thing spins so much that you cannot put the palm of your hand on it to slow it down, lest ye feel like having no skin for a few days.

I took the pad off, everything looks clean. I sprayed some lubricant on the off axis thing, don't know the exact term.

And no, I don't have it in Rotex mode. Actually, the Rotex mode does not spin out of control like the random orbit mode, oddly enough.
Click to expand...

Here are the 2 things I would do.

1) call Festool on monday and talk to them.

2) go back to rockler and exchange it for another one.

I am not sure how far rockler is from you.

Kent, I am not trying to be a oaf but, are you sure the mode switch is to the left for RO mode?

what you describe sounds like it is in Rotex mode.

I only say this because I was guilty of not knowing or paying attention to it the first few days.

 
Kent, welcome to the forum. Hopefully you didn't take my comments the wrong way. They were said in jest since I know Darcy personally and I think he knows my personality. I joke around quite a bit.

Our sanders have a pad brake, the black rubber-like material above the pad. I guess it's possible that something might be wrong with the pad brake. Like Darcy said, we have a great service department that can help you out if you can wait until Monday. Also, we have a 30-day money back guarantee, if it's convenient, take it back and exchange it. Have them pull the new one out of the box and plug it in before you swap them to make sure yours is working to your satisfaction.

A video would be helpful to see if it's normal or not if you have the ability to post a video for us to see.

If there's anything at all that I can do to help you out, definitely feel free to contact me directly at sho@festoolusa.com. If time permits, I'll shoot a quick video and post it showing how my Rotex 150 behaves so you can compare it. May be tomorrow before I can do that.
 
Naw, I didn't take anything the wrong way Shane. I kind of got a chuckle out of it since it did sound like I was off in space watching a sanding pad spin around.

Yeah, I'm sure Darcy. Left, fine sanding. Right, Rotex. My problem lies with the switch to the left.

I am absolutely certain that it was not like this when I first bought it. I just figured it was a generic problem with all ROS's since my cheap DeWalt did this for years. Now on the finer cabinetmaking I am doing, I just didn't want to deal with it all the time. I have to hit my work table first to stop the spinning, then hit the work surface. Just doesn't seem like it should be this way.
 
Just a quick follow up to show you how we roll at Festool... I've already sent an email to our Regional Sales Manager in Maine, his name is Gil. I got your phone number from your business website and asked him to call you to help you out. If that's not a good number, let me know. I'm confident Gil will be in touch soon and do his best to help you get this resolved quickly and to your satisfaction. He only lives about 30 minutes from your location and may even be about to come out to take a look at it if necessary.

Sorry for the negative experience, especially being a new customer.

Shane
 
Kent Whitten said:
Naw, I didn't take anything the wrong way Shane. I kind of got a chuckle out of it since it did sound like I was off in space watching a sanding pad spin around.

Yeah, I'm sure Darcy. Left, fine sanding. Right, Rotex. My problem lies with the switch to the left.

I am absolutely certain that it was not like this when I first bought it. I just figured it was a generic problem with all ROS's since my cheap DeWalt did this for years. Now on the finer cabinetmaking I am doing, I just didn't want to deal with it all the time. I have to hit my work table first to stop the spinning, then hit the work surface. Just doesn't seem like it should be this way.
Click to expand...

sounds like the mode switch is stuck or something.  Did you flip it back and forth a few times?

No worry's Kent, whatever it is, you will be back in business with that sander in no time flat.

Hey-  Why don't you post the video of the cut table you made for the TS-55?  
 
Hi,

This started happening with my RO150 that I have had in use for  a year or so.  At first I thought it was just me noticing something that I had missed before, but I decided that was not the case.  It was sent in to Festool. It was back in exactly one week. with 2 -3 travel days each way!

They replaced a few thingamajigs in it. As soon as a started it up I knew the problem was gone.  [smile]

Seth
 
To update, I checked it out again this morning to make sure I was not crazy. And still...I am positive I do not have it in the wrong mode  [smile] Still spinning like a grinder on startup.

I did take the pad off once again and really cleaned the brake ring thing under the pad. Made sure there was no grease or oil or anything on it. Put the pad back on, flipped the switch over...still same thing.

I am going to give Rockler a call and see if I can exchange it out.

 
Just to be sure, you... ah... haven't seen this guy lurking around your shop, have you?

MORE POWER!!!!
[attachimg=#]
 
When I started using RO sanders I was told to set the sander on the work piece before turning it on & turn it off & wait for it to stop before it lifting off the work piece. I'll have to check my RO 150 it never occurred to me to start it before placing it on the workpiece. This is my first Festool sander all my other RO sanders will spin like crazy if not restrained.

FWIW
Gerry
 
It was the sander. I took it back and the new one works just like it's supposed to.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Now I guess Darcy wants me to show off my cutting table for my TS-55
 
Kent, very sorry that you had to go through the trouble of swapping it out but I'm glad to hear you got the problem resolved. I had never heard of that problem before so I'll want to talk with the service guys on Monday and get their thoughts on it.

Hope you decide to hang around here on the FOG and share in the conversations.

Shane
 
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