Can some one give me the "low down" on the ras 115.04 e

[Chris Hughes]

I just got my ras!  I am very excited, I am tired of scribing in base outside and upstairs and my boss is killing me with the dust. 

A.) I don't like a dusty environment

B.) I hate the smell of walnut and hate even more to breath it.

What is the extra handle for ?  I went through the manual and did not see any thing about it.  Is there anything else I need to consider?

 

[dsweetser]

Chris,

The handle on the RAS turns to move the dust collection brush. The "other handle" screws into the head for added control. I use mine to cope crown. Works very well. Enjoy.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Congrats with the new machine. The extra handle is for when you use the RAS without the detachable head.

One thing you need to understand is that the RAS was originally envisioned by Festool as a multi-purpose tool and that's why the head comes off. There were several other heads you could attach to it like the BF-1 I discuss here or don't use any head at all and use it as a polisher (named as the Festo WS 115) or a grinder.

All other flavours the basic RAS came in have since been discontinued but I guess they still include the extra handle so you can use it as a grinder. In Europe you can still buy steel brushes for it.

 

[peter halle]

Chris,

As one of those who uses the RAS for what you intend, I offer:

1.  Play with it first away from work.  Learn how to set the brushes to funnel the dust into the vacuum stream away from the inside of a clients home.
2.  Get a hard pad.  I recently switched my normal pad to a hard pad and now get crisper corners.

Peter

 

[chrisrosenb]

I just got my ras!  I am very excited, I am tired of scribing in base outside and upstairs and my boss is killing me with the dust. 

A.) I don't like a dusty environment

B.) I hate the smell of walnut and hate even more to breath it.

What is the extra handle for ?  I went through the manual and did not see any thing about it.  Is there anything else I need to consider?

You will love it Chris.
I agree with Peter, get a hard pad.
I also recommend keeping a spare pad on hand. The velcro hooks seem to melt when scribing a lot of end grain & not keeping sharp sandpaper on the sander at all times. [embarassed]

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Alex is exactly right.  I spent a lot of time asking members on here including Peter and Shane, but they couldn't figure out why the extra handle.  I got my answer on Monday from Rick Bush.  Everything he said concurs with Alex.  Rick told me they'll probably be taking out the handle in the future as there really isn't a need for it anymore.