Considering a Festool sander but don't know which one

[Hnnguyen85]

Hi guys and gals,
I'm considering buying my first Festool sander and I only intend to buy 1. My first thought was the RO150 since I read it can remove stock fast in the rotex mode but also read that the random orbit mode isn't that great for finish sanding.

I do a lot of panel glue up's and I do own a supermax 19-38 drum sander which I run all my panels through on 80 grit. The issue with my drum sander is it leaves a streak mark along the board which I assume is from the paper. I try to use my dewalt ROS with 80 grit to remove it with no luck. My Dewalt ROS would remove the marks off of soft wood but not so much when working with hardwoods. That's what lead me to look into the RO150, but again I read it's not so great at finish sanding. Now I don't ever sand down further then 220 grit so I'm not sure if that would be a factor.

My other option is the ETS150/3, which I read would do a decent job at removing stock and will shine at finish sanding. Concerning that I do have a drum sander, would I be better off with the ETS 150/3 and save myself a bit of money or would the RO150 be a better choice? Thanks in advance for any advise. 

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

I have the Supermax 22x44 and get the same streaks that your talking about.  I have a RO150 and it's an awesome sander.  I think for what your doing the ets150-3 will work best for your type of work.  The next sander that I will purchase will be a ets150-3.

 

[jmac80]

I have a ets ec 150 and it's a great sander, Still does move stock quite quick on high setting and a 80 grit granat but goes all the way to a super smooth glass finish.
Light and quiet with great dust control.

I don't have any rotex sanders but i'm considering a ro90dx for smaller stuff and awkward corners with the delta pad.. My only concern is it that a brushless version might come out a few months later after i spend my hard earned cash.

 

[mike_aa]

[member=58344]Hnnguyen85[/member]

A couple of thoughts:

You could always try out the ETS150/3 on Festool's 30 day trial period to see if it will do what you are expecting. 

Festool also makes 60 grit Granat if you find 80 is not aggressive enough for a first pass.

Good luck!  Let us know what you end up with.

Mike A.

 

[SS Teach]

I intended to buy only one Festool sander. How did that work out? I have 5, and each gets used. So good luck with that only one Festool sander thing.

 

[Kev]

The RO150 does a really good job as a finish sander .. the main issue is it's a lot heavier than your average finish sander. The RO150 is also an excellent polisher.

I too purchased just one Festool sander ... in the beginning.

 

[dltflt]

I agree with Kev the RO150 is a very good finish sander.  I have since bought the RTS400 and an ETS150/3 but have made several projects with only the RO150.

 

[greg mann]

RO150 was my 1st Festool sander cause it was an all-rounder. Got nine now. 'One Festool Sander' is an oxymoron. [embarassed]

The suggestion to use 60 grit Granat is a good one and might even work just fine with your present DeWalt. I think there is a general consensus the most slippery slope on the Festool mountain is the Sander Slope.

 

[Staniam]

I've never used the RO 150 but have held it and gauged it's mass a few times. The only Festool sander I own is the RO125 and it's been love at first use. It's done everything I've asked of it, from sanding pressure treated Lumber to finishing a wooden cupcake/sweets circle tiered display. The RO's are very good sanders so you won't be wrong going with it.

To answer your question, though, the ETS may be the best solution to your described tasks.

 

[nerfball]

I have the RO125 (5") and it's the only Festool sander I intend to buy. I can make it work for darn near everything, and it's not too big, or not too small. It's juuuuuuuust right.

 

[SoonerFan]

I have the RO125 (5") and it's the only Festool sander I intend to buy. I can make it work for darn near everything, and it's not too big, or not too small. It's juuuuuuuust right.

I felt the same way until I needed to get into corners.  Bought a DTS and it has been great as well.  Looking at a new brushless 125 since I have lots of abrasives in that size already. 

Three Festool sanders should be enough.......

 

[ear3]

If you're not going to do much sanding above 220, I think it makes more sense to go with the ETS EC 150/5 or the Rotex 150, which, BTW, still does a pretty good job as a finish sander.  Where the 150/3 makes most sense is if you are doing fine grit sanding above 400, or if you are working with veneer/veneered ply, as the aggressivity of the RO150 and the ETS EC 150/5 can quickly burn through thin layers if you're not careful.

Hi guys and gals,
I'm considering buying my first Festool sander and I only intend to buy 1. My first thought was the RO150 since I read it can remove stock fast in the rotex mode but also read that the random orbit mode isn't that great for finish sanding.

I do a lot of panel glue up's and I do own a supermax 19-38 drum sander which I run all my panels through on 80 grit. The issue with my drum sander is it leaves a streak mark along the board which I assume is from the paper. I try to use my dewalt ROS with 80 grit to remove it with no luck. My Dewalt ROS would remove the marks off of soft wood but not so much when working with hardwoods. That's what lead me to look into the RO150, but again I read it's not so great at finish sanding. Now I don't ever sand down further then 220 grit so I'm not sure if that would be a factor.

My other option is the ETS150/3, which I read would do a decent job at removing stock and will shine at finish sanding. Concerning that I do have a drum sander, would I be better off with the ETS 150/3 and save myself a bit of money or would the RO150 be a better choice? Thanks in advance for any advise.

 

[idratherplaytennis]

If you're not going to do much sanding above 220, I think it makes more sense to go with the ETS EC 150/5 or the Rotex 150, which, BTW, still does a pretty good job as a finish sander.  Where the 150/3 makes most sense is if you are doing fine grit sanding above 400, or if you are working with veneer/veneered ply, as the aggressivity of the RO150 and the ETS EC 150/5 can quickly burn through thin layers if you're not careful.

Hi guys and gals,
I'm considering buying my first Festool sander and I only intend to buy 1. My first thought was the RO150 since I read it can remove stock fast in the rotex mode but also read that the random orbit mode isn't that great for finish sanding.

I do a lot of panel glue up's and I do own a supermax 19-38 drum sander which I run all my panels through on 80 grit. The issue with my drum sander is it leaves a streak mark along the board which I assume is from the paper. I try to use my dewalt ROS with 80 grit to remove it with no luck. My Dewalt ROS would remove the marks off of soft wood but not so much when working with hardwoods. That's what lead me to look into the RO150, but again I read it's not so great at finish sanding. Now I don't ever sand down further then 220 grit so I'm not sure if that would be a factor.

My other option is the ETS150/3, which I read would do a decent job at removing stock and will shine at finish sanding. Concerning that I do have a drum sander, would I be better off with the ETS 150/3 and save myself a bit of money or would the RO150 be a better choice? Thanks in advance for any advise.

The ETS EC 150/3 can also do some decent burn through damage if not careful- if you're not used to a random orbit sander as I learned when I recently made the green kool-aid jump and got the ets ec 150/3 and the ro 90. The ETS EC 150/3 is soooooo nice though.

Also- I agree with others, just one sander is a bit of a myth. Although I made do for 15-20 years with a 1/2 sheet orbital finish sander... soooooo get the RS2. Hah...

 

[johninthecamper]

RO150 was my 1st Festool sander cause it was an all-rounder. Got nine now. 'One Festool Sander' is an oxymoron. [embarassed]

The suggestion to use 60 grit Granat is a good one and might even work just fine with your present DeWalt. I think there is a general consensus the most slippery slope on the Festool mountain is the Sander Slope.

slope would imply some sort of incline,its a cliff with piles of abrasives at the bottom