ES 125 EQ?

[Dixon Peer]

I am actually least impressed with the ES-125 (I never tried the updated model) because it tends to bounce even if you adjust the suction.

I have the 125 and have never had a problem with it "bouncing" at all.  In fact, most of the time I run it with my CT33 at full suction setting, and it works like a charm, so I have to thing that the results quoted above are from some mechanical problem with that particular sander or operator issues.

I also have the 150, but use the 125 more.  Since hooking up with the Festool sanders some time ago (before they were in "bricks and mortar retail outlets) I have gotten rid of all my others, that's how good they are.

Please clarify.  You weren't impressed with the ES-125 but never had a problem with the 125 which is used more than the 150.  Which models are you referencing?  What "operator issues"?

The first sentence was lifted out of another, earlier post.  Sorry for the confusion.  I have never had any issue with Festool sanders "bouncing".  I leave my CT33 set at full vacuum power, and my sanders work beautifully.

 

[Don Bullock]

Wow, this thread really grew in the last coulpe of days. Thanks to all for your input. I'm still toarn between the ETS 125 and the ETS 150/3, but plan to order one of them this week. I'm definately sold on the Festool quality.

 

[Bob Marino]

Don,

Check your applications, but there is no question the ETS 150's are smoother sanders than the ETS 125.

Bob

 

[Don Bullock]

Bob, thanks again for your input.

 

[Dixon Peer]

Don,

Check your applications, but there is no question the ETS 150's are smoother sanders than the ETS 125.

Bob

Well, Bob, you're the dealer and I'm just a homebuilder/millworker with forty years experience, so what do I know.  But, to me, the 125 is plenty smooth operating, and I reach for it without reservation.  It does not jump and bounce.  It's perfect for sanding face frames.  Now when sanding large surfaces, the 150 is the one I go for.

 

[bill-e]

Dixon,

Did you look at my videohttp://nhwoodworker.com/temp/sandersuction.wmv ?

There's no question that the two ES-125's I tried bounce.

It might just be that you have an exceptionally smooth one but I've honestly not heard anyone until now say that the ES-125 was as smooth as the 150 or that it didn't bounce (or chatter might better describe it).

The new model is supposed to fix some of that but haven't tried it.

 

[eweber]

Dixon,

Did you look at my videohttp://nhwoodworker.com/temp/sandersuction.wmv ?

There's no question that the two ES-125's I tried bounce.

It might just be that you have an exceptionally smooth one but I've honestly not heard anyone until now say that the ES-125 was as smooth as the 150 or that it didn't bounce (or chatter might better describe it).

The new model is supposed to fix some of that but haven't tried it.

I have the new model and it starts bouncing if I bring the suction to more than a third on the CT. With the suction lower, it is very smooth and dust collection is still excellent.

Emmanuel

 

[Dixon Peer]

If you have a problem with "chatter" with the 125 sander, the answer certainly is to turn down the suction of the dust collector.  I can't explain the physics of the situation, but the 125 has 54 sq. centimeters less surface area than the 150 if my math is correct, so the vacuum is spread over that much larger area and I think that explains why the 150 can feel smoother at full vacuum than the 125.

In any event, I use the 125 mostly for sanding face frames of cabinets I build, so the sandpaper is rarely fully engaged with the surface.  That is probably why I don't experience the problem...some of the vacuum is "relieved" by the holes that are not over the solid surface.

 

[Michael Kellough]

...some of the vacuum is "relieved" by the holes that are not over the solid surface.

In that case you can turn the vac speed back up.

 

[Bob Marino]

Don,

Check your applications, but there is no question the ETS 150's are smoother sanders than the ETS 125.

Bob

Well, Bob, you're the dealer and I'm just a homebuilder/millworker with forty years experience, so what do I know.  But, to me, the 125 is plenty smooth operating, and I reach for it without reservation.  It does not jump and bounce.  It's perfect for  sanding face frames.  Now when sanding large surfaces, the 150 is the one I go for.

Dixon,

Not questioning what you know, or don't know, for that matter, but the 150 is a smoother sander, with less/no propensity for jumping as compared to the 125. I base that on my own experience, the feedback from many customers and conversations with Festool Service. The 125 is a very good sander, but I think the 150's are better.

Bob

 

[Dan Uhlir]

certainly you'll need both. dan

 

[Dixon Peer]

...some of the vacuum is "relieved" by the holes that are not over the solid surface.

In that case you can turn the vac speed back up.

No, no, no.  The conversation is not about turning the vacuum up to get more suction.  It's about the smaller sander giving people trouble with "jumping and bouncing", perhaps because there's too much vacuum.  Read the thread.

 

[Michael Kellough]

...some of the vacuum is "relieved" by the holes that are not over the solid surface.

In that case you can turn the vac speed back up.

No, no, no.  The conversation is not about turning the vacuum up to get more suction.  It's about the smaller sander giving people trouble with "jumping and bouncing", perhaps because there's too much vacuum.  Read the thread.

Keep your hair on Dixon  I was following the tangent you took. As you pointed out, when the sander's suction holes are off the work piece there isn't a problem with chattering or excessive friction because the suction is mechanically reduced at the sander. In that case you can get excessive free dust in the air, so, if you had turned the vac speed down to a level suitable for a large surface, it could be useful to turn it back up.

 

[Don Bullock]

I'd like to thank all for your input on this thread. Special thanks Bob Marino for all his help answering my numerous emails. All of you have been very helpful to me in making my chioce.  Since the Bosch CS people have promised to replace my "defective" ROS, I've decided to get the RO 125 for now. I need a sander that is more "agressive" than the Bosch for some projects I have planned. As soon as I can "afford" it I will be buying a ETC 150/3 and hopefully a dust extracter to go with both sanders and any future Festool machines. Although having the RO 125 and the ETC 150/3 will require two sets of sanding disks, that for me it is the "best" choice. I'm very excited to get started with Festool products. ;D

 

[Dixon Peer]

Well, I just used the 125 to sand the inside of some drawers before putting them together.  Some of the drawers are eight inches high by sixteen inches long, fully engaging the sander's surface.  I used the CT33 at full vacuum and experienced no "chatter" or bouncing as some call it.  Perhaps I just got a better sander than some of you...the luck of the draw so to speak.  Anyway, I find if I just let the sander do the work and don't put any pressure on it, it's quite smooth.

 

[Zaphod]

Update on ETS 125 experience:

From perusing the Festool website and talking to their tech support, I was told that after a break in period my sanders' performance would improve.  After a few hours of use, the chattering tendency subsided dramatically.  It seems the rubber boot (brake?) loosened up after some running time.  The sander functions like a charm now.  My initial comments were for a brand new sander.  Frankly, I'm surprised and pleased at the marked difference in performance of the sander after the break in period.

 

[Steveo48]

Don,
The ES 125 was the first Festool I bought mainly because is was the least expensive Festool and I wanted to see if Festool was worth the extra money.  I have been very happy with the sander and have since "retired" the DeWalt and PC sanders I was using.  I strongly recommend buying one the the vacuums with the sander.  The other sanders seemed to remove material a little faster than the Festool but the ES 125 is dustless with a vacuum.  I don't miss seeing a lot of fine dust in the air and covering my tools that I had with the DeWalt and PC sanders.  I don't think you will be disappointed (and they have a 30 day return policy if you are).
Tom

The ES 125 was also my first Festool purchase for the same reason ( I bet there's a lot of us out there).  The first projects I used it for were a dozen 18" x 12" end grain cutting boards, ash and walnut.  It worked super, outpacing the DeWalt and Hitachi ROS I had been using. It also runs much cleaner even without the vacuum than the other two sanders. I'll probably get a RO 125 for the aggressive sanding and keep using the ES for finish sanding the next time I do this project.

At home I put a drywall bag with a HEPA canister filter into my shop vac and had no problems there, although I'm sure a Festool vac would be a lot quieter.

Steve

 

[Ned]

Update on ETS 125 experience:

From perusing the Festool website and talking to their tech support, I was told that after a break in period my sanders' performance would improve.  After a few hours of use, the chattering tendency subsided dramatically.  It seems the rubber boot (brake?) loosened up after some running time.  The sander functions like a charm now.  My initial comments were for a brand new sander.  Frankly, I'm surprised and pleased at the marked difference in performance of the sander after the break in period.

I didn't think about break-in, but this isn't the first time we've been told (and shown) that Festools need to be run in before they achieve full performance.  "Like new" isn't Festool's best--"Like new plus 10 hours" is.

I don't think customers expect a break-in period any more.  Perhaps Festool should include a bright-colored card in the Systainer:  "You have a 30-day return period.  Operate this tool at least 10 hours before deciding."

Ned

 

[Brad Evans]

>>>  Perhaps Festool should include a bright-colored card in the Systainer:  "You have a 30-day return period.  Operate this tool at least 10 hours before deciding."

Or even better yet, engineer and design the tool so that's not required.

 

[Brice Burrell]

  Yeah, I've had no issues with my ES125 and ETS125, I did use my ES125 for 5 or 6 hours to first time I used it. Between the break-in and learning how to adjust the speed/suction at the end of it's first secion it was running like a dream. Same with my ETS125, I handed it to one of my guys and he ran it for all day on it's first use. Break-in isn't an issue for me, new tools generally see hours of use the first day on the job.