DTS 400... Not Feeling the Love

[iamnothim]

My DTS 400 arrived last week.  I couldn't wait for it's delivery.  I affixed the P120 sheet that came with it, hooked up my Midi, turned the suction down, and grabbed the nearest piece of lumber.  1x4 poplar.

I was surprised at how I couldn't control it.  I turned the Midi all the way down and.... for me... it still bucked and vibrated far more than I expected for a 2mm stroke with P120 on relatively soft lumber.  I turned the speed up and it improved a bit.  I was expecting the fine glide that I get from my ETS 150/3.  The DTS 400 feels like manual steering vs the power steering of the ETS 150/3.  I don't care for the ergonomics either.  It's taller than I expected.

I know I'm the only guy on the forum that doesn't like this sander.  What am I missing?

 

[waho6o9]

When the brushes set it will run smoother.

[wink]

 

[neeleman]

Just tie the sander to a rope and let it run for a few hours in free air.
Probably that will set the brushes.
After that it will run as we say like a "sewing-machine".

 

[AlexThePalex]

Yep, this is really one of those sanders that needs the 8 hour break-in period. Fresh out of the box it has only half power and I know from experience that is disappointing. I also know from experience that it gets A LOT better with use. 

 

[duburban]

I wouldn't recommend having the sander run at less than full speed either.

 

[Dunn wood]

I just finished sanding cabinet doors and had been putting off this task for a while because I was not looking forward to sanding the inside corners on shaker style doors. Yesterday I was in at Lee Valley and I saw this little sander sitting there and thought, hmmm, I wonder if this could do it. I bought it, 2 10 packs of paper and fully expected it would not help a lot and it would be returned. Did I get a surprise. It made sanding these doors a breeze. Now i'm looking around the shop to see what other tasks this little beauty can do. Sorry your not "feeling the love" iamnothim, I guess it all came up to Canada. I would take the others advice and give it a little time. You can always return it. I found that with the CT36 set about half, all I had to do is guide the sander and let it do the work. I'll try and send some of the "feeling the love" back. Good Luck.

 

[Max Fracas]

I also find it difficult to control.  I've turned the CT suction all the way down and have tried various suction/sander speed settings, but still find the DTS400 hard to handle. I'm sure there is some combination of user technique, suction, and sander speed that will tame this little sander.  That, and getting some more hours on it to get through the break-in period. 

 

[Scott B.]

One important consideration, especially when sanding a piece that is the same size or smaller than the sander, is that any cup/twist or irregularity in the wood will be amplified. The orbitals don't have the nut to plow through irrregularity, and when not completely flush on a surface (ideally larger than the tool) there is some turbulence because some of the suction holes are engaged and some are in open air.

That said, I don't know for a fact about the break in period, but there is a synergy that happens after a few hours of use in different scenarios, where you get to know the sander and it settles in. It is a two way street.

I use the DTS for all kinds of things, including funky edge and crevice work.

Focus on keeping the thing moving, getting it to float. It isn't a powerful, aggressive sander. It requires a lot of fast passes.

Hope this helps, and that you get through the initial encounters.

 

[AlexThePalex]

You really have to get through the break in period. I don't know why Festool chose to deliver the sander like this, because fresh out of the box this thing just sucks. I noticed it myself and I can understand why people are a bit put off by this.

But when I bought my DTS new I already had a used DTS400 and a used DS400 also, so I knew exactly what to expect and how this sander behaves. That's why I was so surprised to see how badly the brand new 300 euro sander performed compared to my older sanders. If I dialed it down below speed setting 3 I could easily make it come to a full stop, with just a slight pressure. Because it had so little power it would also jump around erratically.

I didn't like it at all and was already thinking I got a dud and had to return it or have it repaired. But then I did some reading up on the matter here on the forum and found out about the break-in period, and decided to hold out a bit longer and see if it got better after a while. And it did. After 2 or 3 full days of working with it I noticed it finally started to behave like it should, like I was used to from my other two sanders. Happy ending. Once you get through the break in period this sander is smooth as silk. 

 

[rst]

I have the DTS and love it.  I use a FEin extractor run at full blast and have none of the problems others experience.  I am not a novice sander as I have been sanding and finishing since 1970.  It is either operator error or the machine is defective.  I also run every tool I have ever owned at full throttle for five minutes right out of the box to set the brushes.  To give some idea of how many tools that is ...I have 65 systainers and that doesn't include all the tools I have retired or sold.

 

[peter halle]

The DTS is the last Festool that I purchased and personally I love it.  Others have given great advice here.  I almost always use mine full speed (especially if using lower grits.)  I use it for all sorts of things whereas it is my only non-circular base Festool sander.

Try it some more in your workflow and if necessary utilize the Festool return period.

Peter

 

[Rob Z]

I bought the DTS to get in the areas where the Planex couldn't get, and it has been a great sander from the first day on the jobsite.

FWIW, we have bought 8 Festool sanders and we haven't done anything with break-in on any of them;  we have used them on the job right out of the box and and all have been good to go immediately.

 

[iamnothim]

The DTS is the last Festool that I purchased and personally I love it.  Others have given great advice here.  I almost always use mine full speed (especially if using lower grits.)  I use it for all sorts of things whereas it is my only non-circular base Festool sander.

Try it some more in your workflow and if necessary utilize the Festool return period.

Peter

Thanks to everyone for all the input.  It's got to be break-in and speed because nobody says it blows chunks.  I'm about to put raised panels on my daughter's bedroom walls so there will be plenty of work for it.

Peter,
Great to hear from you.  Thanks for the advice.

Luke

 

[Marc2010]

The DTS is my go to sander for some reason. I have a few sanders and thats the one I bring with me the most. It is easy for me to control the sander.
I can mud drywall pretty smooth but in some cases if needed i can bust out the DTS and my CT26 and quickly/lightly (also turning the vac down to 60%) skim over the area needed to be sanded and its done. "dust free".
If I'm looking for a NON rotational sander thats the one I get.
Happy Sanding
Marc