Dts 400 review

[Tim Brennan]

My first festool purchase was the dts 400 2 months ago. I bought it specifically for the repainting of the exterior window frames of my house.

Although it can sand off thick layers of paint, I wouldn't recommend it for that because it takes ages. Instead I use the dts 400 to take off what scrapers and a speedheater leave behind. I also use it to level filler. For these tasks it is ideal.

One of the best features of the dts 400 is that the centre of mass is over the pad when the work is horizontal. For vertical surfaces its light enough to use one handed.

I found that it makes the job 10 times easier if the work is horizontal and clamped at waist level. It's much easier on the back and shoulders. For my windows, i prefer to take them off their hinges rather than have to sand them when they are vertical. Best to have gravity on your side.

When removing paint it becomes obvious that the more you move the dts 400 the faster the material is removed. I put this down to that your assisting the removal of dust by doing so.

The dts 400 is great for getting into corners and when the sander is in a corner I have a tendency to want to push the tip down to speed it up. This worked for a while but now I have eroded the pad so probably best not to do that.

Its widely know that when sanding large flat areas, the ct needs to be dialed down to stop the dts 400 dancing. But for times when the pad is over hanging an edge, it is best to turn it all the way up to get the best dust extraction performance.

 

[ScotF]

Good review!  I love my DTS400 and think it is one of Festool's best sander offerings. 

Scot

 

[leakyroof]

I held off buying it for years, as it was one more tool and an abrasive size that didn't share with anything else in the Festool line-up . Finally tried one after hearing Alex praising it over and over again. It never goes back in its Systainer, I use it too much. [big grin]

 

[Walk On Wood]

Nice review, thanks. How is the dust collection when using the bag rather than a vac?

 

[Tim Brennan]

Nice review, thanks. How is the dust collection when using the bag rather than a vac?

I wasn't very impressed with the bag so I always use the vac

 

[Jmaichel]

Nice review, thanks. How is the dust collection when using the bag rather than a vac?

I actually think the bag works pretty well when compared to other sanders with bags. When your use to using a CT with the sander and then try it with just the bag, it becomes difficult to give an objective review.

 

[Michael Kellough]

The shape of the DTS allows it to be used in places where maneuvering is critical. Impossible sometimes with the hose attached. The dust bag catches most of the dust and allows fine positioning. Also, without the vac hose there is no chance of sticking or chatter from excessive suction.

 

[ScotF]

Good points on the bag, Michael.  I have never used it, but I can see where it would be handy in certain instances.  I am going to have to keep this in mind -- I forget that some of the sanders come with this accessory.

Scot

 

[Saskataper]

I love my dts, I've been using it everyday for the past few weeks on water damage ceiling and wall repairs in a large condo complex. Brilliant 40 to sand down painted texture then brilliant 80 to sand my ceiling patches and brilliant 220 for the wall patches. These units are all occupied and I take pride in that the only way you know I was there is the repairs are done and the dts lets me sand without having to bag off the area I'm working in which saves me a lot of time allowing me to get through more units in a day. Before the dts I had to hold up my vac hose next to a sanding sponge which kinda worked but didn't catch near as much of the dust that the dts does.

 

[Tim Brennan]

I just got some old bits of pine from the house across the road - they are changing their roof. The houses are about 90 years old and so the timber had plenty of mould on them. After they were dry, I used some Rubin 2 papers 40, 60, 100, 120 and they look so much better. It's just for my shed floor so I am not so worried about the mould. If the surface is already pretty flat, the DTS400 gets the job done fast. If the surface is pretty rough, then it takes quite a bit of time with the 40 to make it flat.

I did the same to some old water stained planks of oak that were being thrown out and the results were amazing.

Overall, a great tool to make seemingly rubbish timber look brand new in a few minutes.

 

[rljatl]

Does anyone have both the DTS400 and the RO90?  I would love to read some pros and cons of each.  Can the DTS400 do anything the RO90 can't?

 

[promark747]

Does anyone have both the DTS400 and the RO90?  I would love to read some pros and cons of each.  Can the DTS400 do anything the RO90 can't?

The DTS/RTS 400 have a smaller stroke (2mm) than the RO90 (3mm), so in theory the DTS400 would give a slightly finer finish than the RO90 in random orbit mode.  And the pads/paper are a bit bigger on the DTS/RTS, if that matters to you.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I have both. They are two very different machines. The RO90 is a lot more aggressive, so it's better for fast removal, but it also has a smaller pad, which makes the DTS400 more suited for levelling and finishing the workpiece.

The strokes don't bother me, that single millimeter is negligible. But the pad size makes a lot of difference to me. Because of the power and small pad of the RO90, it is easy to make dimples. So you got to keep the RO90 moving always. The bigger pad of the DTS400 makes this work a lot more relaxing. 

So the RO90 comes in first, doing the rough removal with grit 80, mostly with paint jobs. And then finish it off with the DTS400 with 120 grit paper.

 

[rljatl]

I have both. They are two very different machines. The RO90 is a lot more aggressive, so it's better for fast removal, but it also has a smaller pad, which makes the DTS400 more suited for levelling and finishing the workpiece.

The strokes don't bother me, that single millimeter is negligible. But the pad size makes a lot of difference to me. Because of the power and small pad of the RO90, it is easy to make dimples. So you got to keep the RO90 moving always. The bigger pad of the DTS400 makes this work a lot more relaxing. 

So the RO90 comes in first, doing the rough removal with grit 80, mostly with paint jobs. And then finish it off with the DTS400 with 120 grit paper.

Great info.  Thanks Alex.  So, it sounds like the DTS400 would be the way to go for face frames, inside corners, things like that?

 

[duburban]

Alex's post reminds me of how much I enjoy getting all my festool sanders out and using just the right one for the moment.

 

[AlexThePalex]

So, it sounds like that the DTS400 would be the way to go for face frames, inside corners, things like that?

Can't go wrong with that. But the RO90 could just as easily do it. Just use slightly different grit sizes and movement patterns. They are different machines, but there is quite a bit of overlap also. But I think the DTS is the more comfortable tool for the things you mention.