Does anyone find the RTS400 difficult to operate

[Len R]

Don, I have the same issue and have posted about this.  My new RTS400 is essentially uncontrollable, and thus unusable.  I have a lot of Festool machines, and this is the only one that plain won't work.  It doesn't matter what kind of wood, or if I turn the vac all the way down.  The thing is a bucking bronco.  I take no comfort from those who say it will be fine after an 8 hour break in period.  A tool should work well from day one.  I have an ETS 125 that is smooth as silk right out of the box.  I also have no problem with my 150/3.
I will contact Festool customer service and see what happens, but this tool, for me, is unusable.  On the bright side, I have a shop full of Festool items that I love working with and have changed my woodworking for the better, I would never go back.  Why this one is a dud is a mystery....

Len

 

[AlexThePalex]

I take no comfort from those who say it will be fine after an 8 hour break in period.  A tool should work well from day one.

I completely agree with you, I don't understand why Festool lets these sander get out of the factory like this. The number of posts about this matter on this forum is simply staggering and many people are annoyed by this. I bet a lot of people return this sander for this reason. 

I myself already had a DS400 and an RTS400 which I both bought used. And both worked as they should. I liked these sanders so much I decided to buy me a brand new DTS400 also. I was completely stunned about how badly this sander performed right out of the box. I knew how my other sanders were so I could see a huge difference with the new one, it was like the new one took a dose of valium, because it just would not get any power.

I researched the matter on the forum here and found how others had the same problem and a break in period was suggested by a Festool employee. I was thinking heavily about returning the sander but decided to go through the break in and found out after using it on and off over a week the problem disappeared and the sander got stronger and behaved better until it was like I was used to.

 
I have an ETS 125 that is smooth as silk right out of the box.  I also have no problem with my 150/3.

The pad of a random orbit sander works as a flywheel so the mechanics are different from the DTS/RTS sanders. Still there are many people who complain about the ETS125 also. The 150/3 however seems to please most people.

 

[Rob Z]

Regarding this thing about the eight-hour break in period....has that ever been published by Festool ?  I have bought a total of nine Festool sanders (all new), none have had any 'break-in', and all worked really well right from the start.

 

[dltflt]

Don, I have the same issue and have posted about this.  My new RTS400 is essentially uncontrollable, and thus unusable.  I have a lot of Festool machines, and this is the only one that plain won't work.  It doesn't matter what kind of wood, or if I turn the vac all the way down.  The thing is a bucking bronco.  I take no comfort from those who say it will be fine after an 8 hour break in period.  A tool should work well from day one.  I have an ETS 125 that is smooth as silk right out of the box.  I also have no problem with my 150/3.
I will contact Festool customer service and see what happens, but this tool, for me, is unusable.  On the bright side, I have a shop full of Festool items that I love working with and have changed my woodworking for the better, I would never go back.  Why this one is a dud is a mystery....

Len

#Len R Mine definitely works better since I connected to my "Y" and the blast gate.  I also believe that I was applying pressure instead of allowing the sander to do the work.

#Rob Z  I think I remember reading that the break in period was not something that Festool is recommending.  But I will not swear to that statement.

 

[sae]

Bosch solved this problem by putting a vent integral to the hose port, but shaped it so when you're using the canister instead of the hose (though surprisingly still is >85% extraction), the port is covered.

Clever.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Regarding this thing about the eight-hour break in period....has that ever been published by Festool ?  I have bought a total of nine Festool sanders (all new), none have had any 'break-in', and all worked really well right from the start.

In 2007 it was published on the Festool FAQ part of their website back then, and when the subject came up here the information was copied to the FOG. Later on Festool had their website design changed and the FAQ was no longer part of it.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/%27dst-400%27/msg15579/#msg15579

Only the DTS and RTS really need a break in period because they have such small and low powered motors.

Later on Festool changed their stance and said no sanders need a break in. Nevertheless, I have my own experience as described above where I saw a brand new DTS come to life over a week. If you keep an eye on this forum, you will see the subject of powerless and uncontrollable new DTS/RTS sanders come by VERY often.