Drywall sanding

[Sean.M]

I am thinking of trying festool for drywall sanding, I have a RO90 DX on the way but for this application I was thinking maybe the ETS125 along with the RTS400 Both recommended by Festool when I asked about this type of work.

Are any of you currently using either of these products for drywall work? Or what are you using if something different.

I thought I was sold on the CT-26 for this as well but am now wondering if the MIDI would work just as well.

Any insight to this sort of tool use for this type of work would be appreciated. 

 

[tjbnwi]

I use the ETS125 and the DTS400 when doing patch and repairs. I have the CT22 and it works. I use the Brilliant 2 paper I find this one to work better than the Rubin. I have no Granat to try so..............

It is nice not to have the dust allover. You will have to play with the van settings.

Tom

 

[Erik63]

Depending on how much sanding you are looking to do, a 150 would be better in my opinion. I have used my RO150, but I think the ETS 150/3 or150/5 would be best.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Get the DTS 400. My favourite sander for drywall. It is very controllable and it has excellent dust collection. It is also not too aggressive so you won't cut to deep to quickly. Drywall is a very soft material after all. The iron shape gives it a lot of stability and makes it float nicely over the wall without digging in.

I also have the RTS 400 and the ETS 125. I find the RTS a bit unstable sideways, you have to pay attention to not tipping it over. That's the main reason I'm not that fond of it. The ETS 125 is a very nice sander, but I don't use it for drywall. I've found that when I use an eccentric sander for drywall the dust collection is less effective as the spinning pad tends to spew the dust around.  

So I'd advice an orbital sander for drywall work, and one with a good stable pad. That's the DTS 400. If you want it bigger, and you're not in North America, get the RTS 300, and if you're in NA, get the RS 200.

Before anyone mentions that Festool's drywall/ plaster specialist the Planex has a round pad, remember that it has a specially designed head with brushes to contain the dust, which the other round sanders don't have.

[attachthumb=1]

 

[PeterK]

Just my opinion here--- Most any cheap sander works fine for drywall and can be disposable. I think drywall dust is really abrasive and as I use my Festool sanders for wood primarily, I just hate to abuse them with drywall dust. I use an old PorterCable PC333 6" sander that has dust collection. I hook it to my Midi vac and it works great for that. Now the issue really is just how much of this you are going to do and how big an area are you sanding? If this is a full time business, your needs are far different than someone remodeling or just patching. For full time professional use, I would think you need a sander with a large pad area to get smooth transitions and for speed. For me, primarily patching, sanding prior to painting, small remodeling in my own house, a $75 sander works great. I have used my RO150 for this but it was way too heavy. My 150/3 is my finish sander so I save it from this usage. So far, I have used that old PC333 for about 5 years for occasional drywall usage and my son used it for redoing half his house and it still runs great. The vacuum is the key of course to keep as much dust as possible out of the motor. I find a 6" sander to really be perfect sized to cover area and to keep transitions smooth.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I think drywall dust is really abrasive and as I use my Festool sanders for wood primarily, I just hate to abuse them with drywall dust.

Festools are the last tools you need to pamper. I've done quite a bit of drywall by now with my DTS 400 and in lesser extent the RO 150/RTS 400/ETS125 and they don't show the slightest sign of deterioration. Sure drywall dust is very abrasive, but what does it matter if the dust can't reach the places that abrade in the first place? That's how Festools are built. I understand they cost quite a bit so a responsible owner wants to take care of them, but in the end they belong in a tool chest, not a display case.  

 

[honeydoman]

i use the 125 all the time for patching etc and it works great and have been using it for several years with no problems the customers love it when you tell them you can patch and sand with a dustless sander it usually gets me the job.

especially ceiling repairs it does not fall in your face... i use the midi van the small middle one  and it works great no problems at all.

 

[Paint and Hammer]

Hey Sean....to be honest I too have been concerned about using a power sander for drywall. That dust is nasty! Just been using Mirka hand sander.

May try some of the suggestions here.

 

[fatroman]

Used the RO125 previously and it was ok for that task, but I went and got a Radius 360 pole sander. Which was nice but the dust goes everywhere.

Wound up getting the DTS400 for something else, but because of the posts here and some encouragement from another member, I gave it a whirl on an 800sf basement. Needed to repair it after some general rental abuse. Can't tell you how surprised at how well it worked. Very small amount of dust that escaped and hit the base/shoe/carpet, and it gave the best finish of anything I've used previously.

Using it now to rehab my bedroom. Lots of plaster repair, and this thing works so well I haven't bothered to move the furniture out of the room.

 

[tbellemare]

Both the DTS and RTS 400 are great little drywall sanders if you don't like the usual mess. The orbital action means they don't make the dust fly when used with proper dust extraction. They are also light enough that the sanders aren't causing a lot of fatigue just holding them up to the wall or ceiling.

For optimum performance, the new fleece bags are recommended for your CT.

Tom

 

[RONWEN]

For a drywall guy the NAINA Festool Planex has to be the ultimate.  [tongue]  FESTOOL PLANEX

 

[tbellemare]

Thanks, for the Fantasy Moment!

 

[EWTHeckman]

Nice tool! The video shows it off well, with no language issues. But that music needs to be sent back to the '80s.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

For smaller areas, patches and seams I prefer hand sanding with a block wider than both chamfers for the seams. For anything else a 150 is minimum and I would recommend as large as you have/can go.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

OPTIONS

Planex #1

DTS 400 #2

RTS 400 #3

hand sanding #4

get someone else to do it, sit back, have a drink and monitor their progress #5

Get the DTS 400. My favourite sander for drywall. It is very controllable and it has excellent dust collection. It is also not too aggressive so you won't cut to deep to quickly. Drywall is a very soft material after all. The iron shape gives it a lot of stability and makes it float nicely over the wall without digging in.

I also have the RTS 400 and the ETS 125. I find the RTS a bit unstable sideways, you have to pay attention to not tipping it over. That's the main reason I'm not that fond of it. The ETS 125 is a very nice sander, but I don't use it for drywall. I've found that when I use an eccentric sander for drywall the dust collection is less effective as the spinning pad tends to spew the dust around.  

So I'd advice an orbital sander for drywall work, and one with a good stable pad. That's the DTS 400. If you want it bigger, and you're not in North America, get the RTS 300, and if you're in NA, get the RS 200.

Before anyone mentions that Festool's drywall/ plaster specialist the Planex has a round pad, remember that it has a specially designed head with brushes to contain the dust, which the other round sanders don't have.

Alex,

We don't have the RS 200.

We do have the RS 2, but that seems a little too big for drywall use.

 

[oldie]

Like this thread - everything in one place.  Going to print it out  [smile]
Know it's been covered before, but could someone remind me of suggested grits - wasn't 120 Brilliant recommended?
Perhaps going to 180 if necessary?

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I've never needed to go above 150 grit.  Anymore than that and it's like polishing the compound, which might create a paint adhesion issue.  Might.  All you need is to remove visible sand scratches, not buff it to a shine.

 

[oldie]

Thanks for that Ken.
The heads up regarding paint adhesion useful – something that hadn't occurred to me.  (it should have of course lol.)  After all paint has a job to do as well!
Suppose similarish consideration re sealing, wall-paper paste etc.

Earlier this year put up some wall covering that had really shiny black background, with arty-crafty, spindly, silver trees on it.  Customer very happy, but every miniscule 'blip' was jumping out at me. 

Using Festool gear has really upped the ante when working now.  Even routine jobs have to be high quality – Festool is letting me do that, with less effort.
Everyone's happy.  [smile]

 

[venk67]

I had an number of festool options for my drywall repair (caused by my plumber)

Ended up using a moist grouting sponge, had no dust and a reasonable DIY finish

Finally pre-primer- photo taken while still a little moist:

For a more professional finish perhaps I should have used my festools?

 

[Sparktrician]

I've used my RO125/CT22 with great success, but think the RO90/CT22 might do as good a job with the delta head, especially in the corners.  I didn't have the RTS400 at the time I did my last drywall repair, but may give that a shot next time I need to do a repair.  Ken's point about grit not over 150 is spot on.  I generally use 120 Brilliant. 

[smile]