ETS 125

[scoffelt]

So I got te 5" sander for xmas.  I have not used it much cause I just didn't think it worked well.  I have been building Birdseye Maple kitchen cabinets.  My process is to flatten on side on the jointer, then remove a little stock with the planer to bring into parallel.  I then do the majority of the thickness reduction via a slow process of the drum sander.  I find this best method for handling the B/E figure.  This leaves straight scratch marks in the wood surface.  Then it gets several more hours with the ETS 150/3.  So this weekend, I decided to put the 125 to use.  I found it work surprisingly well for removing the scratches left by the drum sander.  I sanded all day on Sunday with one piece of 80 grit 5" paper, it still looked new when I was done.

I wish I had a rotex, which I am sure would have sped up the process, but that will have to wait for awhile.  Anyways, the more I use the 125 the more I am getting used to it and like it.

 

[CharlesWilson]

Don't stop at 80. You'll love what the finer grits can do!

If you are using dust collection (I hope you are), remember to reduce the suction so that it doesn't introduce swirls.

 

[Neill]

So I got te 5" sander for xmas.  I have not used it much cause I just didn't think it worked well.  I have been building Birdseye Maple kitchen cabinets.  My process is to flatten on side on the jointer, then remove a little stock with the planer to bring into parallel.  I then do the majority of the thickness reduction via a slow process of the drum sander.  I find this best method for handling the B/E figure.  This leaves straight scratch marks in the wood surface.  Then it gets several more hours with the ETS 150/3.  So this weekend, I decided to put the 125 to use.  I found it work surprisingly well for removing the scratches left by the drum sander.  I sanded all day on Sunday with one piece of 80 grit 5" paper, it still looked new when I was done.

I wish I had a rotex, which I am sure would have sped up the process, but that will have to wait for awhile.  Anyways, the more I use the 125 the more I am getting used to it and like it.

As indicated by other posters to this forum, the more you use the 125 gets, the better it works.  I have found that to be true.  At first, I found that the slightest bit of downward pressure would bring the sander to a halt.  That doesn't seem to be happening any more.

I think it has been said that the sander needs about 6 hours of run time for the brushes to be fully broken in.  Some users have set it up and just let it run.

I think that its primary purpose is as a finish sander.  I am glad you are getting the results you want, but using 80 grit seems a bit aggressive to me.  I guess birds-eye maple is as hard as regular maple.  I personally like it for sanding between finish coats.

Neill

 

[Brice Burrell]

My ES and ETS125s are my most used sanders, that sort of surprised me. After I bought my ETS150 it worked so well I thought I'd never pick up my ES125 again. Turns out I've found most of my projects are better suited by the smaller 125 so much so I bought the newer ETS125 so I'd be able to use one since the guys on the crew were always using it. Both of my 125s run super smooth and I don't have any of the complaints that others have had. Get through the break in period then be sure to turn up the speed and the suction on the vac way down for the best results.

Working with the BE maple sounds tedious but I suppose it's rewarding.