Do it all sander and vac

[Cool_man]

Hello All.
I'm looking for a recommendation for a multipurpose sander and vac combo for a purely hobbyist,  that can do both finish sanding and rough sanding on glued 2x4s bench top. I'm also planning to purchase the TS 55 and jig saw at a later time, my small makeshift work area only has a normal 110v 15a outlet, will it be sufficient to run both the tool and vac at the same time?

 

[icecactus]

RO150 with your choice of CT26, CT36 or CT48.

 

[waho6o9]

Rotex 150 with the biggest vac you can afford

 

[Shane Holland]

First, yes, your outlets will handle the tool/vac combo just fine.

Next, the ideal option would be a Rotex 125 or 150 for both finish and coarse sanding. If that's out of the budget, consider and ETS 150/5 EC (the new model). If that's still out of the budget, go with the ETS 150/5 (non-EC).

I'm sure you'll get more great advice and feedback from other members, as well.

 

[DzordanoBruno]

Iam Hobbyist and I use RO150(for all tasks) and 26L vacuum.

 

[truck90278]

for both rough and finish the RO150 or 125 will do the job.  Also any of the dust extractors will work for you. I am also just a hobbyist. the only difference in the dust extractors is the volume of dust they will handle

 

[Kev]

A standard ETS150/5 is a very versatile sander and relatively good value for the money. I got along for quite a while with just an ETS150/5 and a CT mini.

 

[Coen]

Rotex 150 with the biggest vac you can afford

Depends on where you live. The cost difference between 26, 36 and 48 is totally out of whack in some countries to the point you need to fill something like 120 bags before it pays off. In the US, the price difference is a lot smaller.

[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] ; you changed hats?

 

[Holmz]

A standard ETS150/5 is a very versatile sander and relatively good value for the money. I got along for quite a while with just an ETS150/5 and a CT mini.

I have to agree with [member=13058]Kev[/member] , The RO are kind of brutes. Great if you are making slabs into bar counters, but a finish sander seems easier for some to manage.

The 26/36 etc are all the same except for bag size (suction strength).

There is some sense in a Midi. I have a 26 and it is about as large as is easy to move around. If I did it again I would consider the midi.
Even a regular shop vac would make sense in a shop and use a midi for sanding and portability, and a shop vac for track and jig sawing.

 

[Shane Holland]

[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] ; you changed hats?

Coen, I chose to leave Festool USA last March and return to working in ecommerce. I now work with Sean and the gang at The Tool Nut. Great group of guys and we're very dedicated to being the best Festool dealer in the U.S. Glad to still be working with the brand.

 

[SoonerFan]

I went with the RO125.  Size is better for me than the RO150 and as a hobbyist the extra time it takes to sand is no big deal

My first Festool DE was the CT36 which works great for me.

 

[jbasen]

I am also a hobbyist.  I build A&C style furniture.  As others have said the best all-around, do anything, sander that Festool makes are the Rotex sanders.  Personally, I would suggest getting the RO150 over the RO125.  The reason I say this is that while the RO150 is a great sander it has a 5mm orbit and if you are looking for a really fine finish a 5mm orbit tends to leave swirl marks.  The ETS 150/3 is a fine finish sander with a 3mm orbit that greatly complements the RO150 and shares the same size sandpaper.  As you will see in other posts, the ETS 150/3 Sander is thought to be a better feeling sander than the ETS 125.  Down the road you may find you want a fine finish sander to go along with your Rotex and having them share the same size sandpaper is a nice convenience.

Festool sanders are like Tribbles,  they tend to multiply in your shop when you aren't looking [wink]

 

[Urban Specialty Woods]

What are you building? The RO150 is a great sander and we have 2 in the shop, but if you are working on jewelry boxes it's the wrong tool. For an all round sander the RO150 or RO125 with the 26 vac is a great starting point.

If you are near Long Island stop in, We have All the Festool Tool that you can Demo. We also offer Festool Sand paper by the sheet and in multi grit sys packs ,in All Grits

 

[mrboult]

Rotex RO 125. It can do almost anything. Except get into corners of course.  Of my 3 sanders, it's the one I use most.

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

I am also a hobbyist.  I build A&C style furniture.  As others have said the best all-around, do anything, sander that Festool makes are the Rotex sanders.  Personally, I would suggest getting the RO150 over the RO125.  The reason I say this is that while the RO150 is a great sander it has a 5mm orbit and if you are looking for a really fine finish a 5mm orbit tends to leave swirl marks.  The ETS 150/3 is a fine finish sander with a 3mm orbit that greatly complements the RO150 and shares the same size sandpaper.  As you will see in other posts, the ETS 150/3 Sander is thought to be a better feeling sander than the ETS 125.  Down the road you may find you want a fine finish sander to go along with your Rotex and having them share the same size sandpaper is a nice convenience.

Festool sanders are like Tribbles,  they tend to multiply in your shop when you aren't looking [wink]

Festool came out with the ets ec 125 that will use the same paper as the ro125. 

 

[Cool_man]

Thank you all very much for the input, I'll have to stop by local WoodCraft to demo the sander, I'm just looking for an all purpose sander for counter top, table tops etc... my old one is a 10 years old black and decker palm sander, recently my wife asked me to refinish our large dinner table top so I'm just looking for a reason to purchase a new fancy tool, dust extractor is important since I have to do the work on the spot. I'm also planning to purchase the TS55 REQ at a later time for some other project.
I'd been drooling over the TS55 REQ with the CT Midi combo for a while, but my immediate need is the sander with dust extractor. I'm just a pure hobbyist and looking for any reason to upgrade/purchase better and safer tool .
next up on my list is the TS55 and jig saw and possibly MFT3.

 

[waho6o9]

"my wife asked me to refinish our large dinner table top so I'm just looking for a reason to purchase a new fancy tool"

Can't get more fancy than the  RS2 for a flat top. It's a one trick pony though:
View attachment 1

I don't use mine much, but it does a great job when needed.

 

[Holmz]

"my wife asked me to refinish our large dinner table top so I'm just looking for a reason to purchase a new fancy tool"

Can't get more fancy than the  RS2 for a flat top. It's a one trick pony though:
View attachment 1

I don't use mine much, but it does a great job when needed.

I agree with [member=7659]waho6o9[/member] .
I have a red version of the 1/2 sheet sander, and it is great for sanding things flat, so the FT version should do a good job.
Even better is that the sander takes the Mirka screens, but those also will fit onto any sander (I think).

Does your old sander have a vacuum port? If it does then and you do not have a vacuum, then maybe get a midi?

If the table is veneered, maybe get some hand scrapers or the RS2. The RO can remove stuff fast, but I am not sure about remaining flat as I only used for 20 minutes. So I would not even consider it on veneer.

 

[greg mann]

I do not necessarily agree the RS2 is a one trick pony. Slap a really coarse grit on it and you will be surprised how aggressive it can become, and it is better at corners than the Rotexes. The truth of the matter is that any of about 5 or 6 Festool sanders can do what you need but each will really excel at more specific tasks. For me, I usually start with an RO150. If the job requires improving flatness I will move to the RS2. If not, I will move to 150/3. Corners? Usually DTS, DX, or RO90 in DX. If there are contours or heavy sanding above my head it is the RO90, with an interface pad and without respectively. Light sanding overhead is the DTS or RTS. The only sanders I do not have are the 125s but someone else will say they have them and not the 150s and be perfectly happy as well.

Like many on this forum I am sander poor.  [embarassed]

 

[Holmz]

I pranced over to the local WoodCraft shop today for a Forstner bit.
I pawed the Mirka and the new FT equivalent for a few minutes.
The ergonomics of the Mirka were great.

The Mirka Vacuum seems to stay on a few seconds longer, which I like better than my CT26.

IMO (And since I do mostly flat stuff) the RS2 or any flat sheet sander makes a lot of sense for sanding things that are flat.
I have a used FT DX93 for corner work.

Speaking of one-trick-ponies, Personally I would be looking at the FT belt sander before the RO series for doing flat sanding. The Porter cable Belt-sanders are also rated highly, and I think that the Metabo or Bosch also has dust collection port.

What ever you do get a vacuum. Anyone will do: Bosch, Fein, Festool, Mirka.
If you prefer the FT then the Midi or CT26.
Personally I would go Midi (used). The plastic wand and floor attachment is a bot daggy. I have not used the steel stuff and it is a bit of $$. The floor attachment stuff is useful.

And make sure that any sander you get has a dust collection port.