ES150 sander question

[Wood_Junkie]

Weird question... I purchased a used ES150/5, which is visually and physically in very good condition.  But, I can't tell if the variable speed dial is functioning or not.  Normally I would expect that the pitch and "hum" of the motor would adjust accordingly with the speed setting, a la variable speed router.  However, when I adjust it from 1-6 there is no noticeable change in function.  It just has the same 'hum' the whole time.

Now, I know most Festool items have control systems that keep the working speed at a setting, not the "idling" speed (e.g. the TS55 and it's growl..)  However, I also know that some routers operate at top speed when the speed control goes bad (My DW618 just had this happen).  So, is this thing working correctly or is the speed control possibly kaput?

 

[peter halle]

I think that you might have an issue.  I don't have your model of sander, but mine change noise level when I speed them up.

Pter

 

[Neill]

Weird question... I purchased a used ES150/5, which is visually and physically in very good condition.  But, I can't tell if the variable speed dial is functioning or not.  Normally I would expect that the pitch and "hum" of the motor would adjust accordingly with the speed setting, a la variable speed router.  However, when I adjust it from 1-6 there is no noticeable change in function.  It just has the same 'hum' the whole time.

Now, I know most Festool items have control systems that keep the working speed at a setting, not the "idling" speed (e.g. the TS55 and it's growl..)  However, I also know that some routers operate at top speed when the speed control goes bad (My DW618 just had this happen).  So, is this thing working correctly or is the speed control possibly kaput?

Wood_Junkie,

I don't have the 150/5 but I do have the 150/3 and three other variable speed Festool sanders as well as variable speed sanders from Bosch and Porter Cable.  They all have a noticeable change in pitch and some change in vibration.  Not so obvious when going from say 5 to 6 but definitely from say 3 or 4 to 6.

Neill

 

[festoolsnob]

Yes, your speed control is broken.

I have a RO150/5, apart from my CT44Le, the RO150 is by far the tool that has had the most hours logged on it, and my speed control is bad too. When you change the speed from 1-6 it changes pitch for sure. After years of noticing that the tool seems to change speed on its own, warying the speed the whole time a little bit, without me actually touching the control, it finally dawned on me, my controller must be dirty or worn out, hence not holding the setting.

I will order a new part for it some day soon, it is on probably the fifth set of bearings in the base/pad. After hundreds of hours use, that is all that has happened to it. Drywall plaster is one nasty substance for my sander, and the CT44 does not like sucking it either.

By the way, in case anybody is wondering.
My ES150/5 is about 10 years old, and the CT44, I bought about 9 years ago, as a demo model from Festool incredibly fantastic tools.

 

[festoolsnob]

Since my previous post I decided to open my sander up and see if the rheostat can be replaced or not, or see what is wrong. It is quite interesting, I was expecting to see a lot of dust and dirt inside, and to find the rheostat totally worn.

Well I found none of that, hardly any dust inside, rheostat still looks and feels great, tightened by about quarter turn the 4 screws that hold the wires on the trigger mechanism. Put it back together and tested it.

Wow, runs like a brand new tool, no drift in the speed setting, perfect.

 

[AlexThePalex]

If you use the speed dial, with all electric tools you will experience a clear difference in sound and speed. This is why you should always check tools personally when you buy them used. This clearly sounds like the electronics board is broken, and unfortunately that part is the 2nd most expensive part aboard a tool, besides the anchor of the motor. If you have to replace the electronics module all your savings for buying the tool used are gone.