Dust collection with RO150 on narrow boards and 40 grit

[jc]

For the past week I've been doing a lot of sanding 5" wide reclaimed old growth wood boards with the RO150 using P40 granat.  I have a CT mini running at full suction.  But the dust generated is atrocious.  

I notice the dust is generated with I sand with the pad partially over the edge.  Perhaps due to the aggressiveness of the rotex, a lot of dust is generated that isn't collected because part of the pad is over the edge.  This leads to a buildup of dust along the periphery of my board.  BUT!  Here's the kicker:  my RO150 (not sure if it is defective or normal) on the left side, near the horizontal slits beside the white ROTEX letters, has one point where air shoots out!  Whenever this stream of air hits the accumulating wood dust along the board edge, it flies everywhere!  Very messy to say the least.  

I have the ETS150/3 and I do not notice excessive dust generated even when sanding over edges.  However, it is also much less aggressive so I don't know.

I suppose I meant to ask:
1.) Do you notice a lot of dust not being collected by the vac when you sand over the edges.
2.) Do you also have this stream of air shooting out of the RO150 (mine is on the left side of the tool).  I am not certain if the air is actually coming out from the horizontal slits on the machine itself or if it is coming out from between the pad and the RO150.  I have the latest version of the RO150 and the multi-jetstream hard pad.  

Thanks.  

EDIT:  I also notice more vibration in random orbital mode than in aggressive rotary mode.  Weird but does anyone feel the same way?  

 

[semenza]

For the past week I've been doing a lot of sanding 5" wide reclaimed old growth wood boards with the RO150 using P40 granat.  I have a CT mini running at full suction.  But the dust generated is atrocious.  

I notice the dust is generated with I sand with the pad partially over the edge.  Perhaps due to the aggressiveness of the rotex, a lot of dust is generated that isn't collected because part of the pad is over the edge.  This leads to a buildup of dust along the periphery of my board.  BUT!  Here's the kicker:  my RO150 (not sure if it is defective or normal) on the left side, near the horizontal slits beside the white ROTEX letters, has one point where air shoots out!  Whenever this stream of air hits the accumulating wood dust along the board edge, it flies everywhere!  Very messy to say the least.  

I have the ETS150/3 and I do not notice excessive dust generated even when sanding over edges.  However, it is also much less aggressive so I don't know.

I suppose I meant to ask:
1.) Do you notice a lot of dust not being collected by the vac when you sand over the edges.
2.) Do you also have this stream of air shooting out of the RO150 (mine is on the left side of the tool).  I am not certain if the air is actually coming out from the horizontal slits on the machine itself or if it is coming out from between the pad and the RO150.  I have the latest version of the RO150 and the multi-jetstream hard pad.  

Thanks.  

EDIT: I also notice more vibration in random orbital mode than in aggressive rotary mode.  Weird but does anyone feel the same way?  

OK, that seems wrong.

I get the  motor exhaust blowing dust problem too. The RO , especially in aggressive mode compared to the ETS just has a lot more throw so to speak , so the dust escapes more on narrow edges.

Seth

 

[Timtool]

The DC on the Festool sanders are optimised fo their intended use, which is sanding with the entire pad on the surface. I have never experienced the RO150 blowing dust away because it never crossed my mind to use it on narrow stock, way too aggressive and unstable. However i often use the ETS150/5 or DTS400 for such tasks and there is no visible dust escaping. All of the sanders blow air to keep cool, especially the gear driven RO who needs alot.

About the vibration, are you sure that you are using it on the maximum speed?

 

[jc]

Thanks to you both for responding. 

Seems like that exhaust air is normal.  The vibration is also puzzling to me.  I was using it at maximum speed. 

 

[woodwrights_corner]

Are you sanding these boards as they lie on a bench top?  If so, you might try putting a board of equal or slightly shallower thickness on each side while you sand.  Though if the boards are warped badly this may not work.

 

[JimB1]

I've been using my RO150 for a few months now and I definitely feel the vibration in random orbit mode has gotten less in the last few weeks. Maybe it's starting to break in a little. It's still higher vibration then my ETS 150 but it's not a paint mixer anymore. Gear driven mode is still pretty shaky compared to it though and it's still noisy in both modes.

Dust hasn't been all that bad, there is more on the table when I am sanding narrower parts but usually slowing the sander helps because the dust doesn't get thrown away from the sander as fast and the suction has more time to grab the dust. You have to remember that the pad with nothing under it is dropping dust at the same time as it is flinging it away from the pad, the faster it is spinning, the faster and further the dust is going to go in a second and the suction from the vac can only reach so far from the pad, maybe an inch or two, once the dust is further way or off to the side of the pad, it's time to get out the broom.

I'd try setting the speed lower and moving the pad on the surface slower so it doesn't fling the dust so far and it has a little more time to pick up dust in the area it just sanded before you move it to the next area.

Just an idea...
-Jim

 

[jc]

That does make sense.  I'll give it a try.  Thanks Jim.