ETS 150/3 Is it suppose to wobble?

[Brick]

I just purchased my first Festool ETS 150/3. I love the results I am getting but it seems to wobble on its vertical axis. Not much just enough to annoy. Called Festool support and they sent out a replacement pad but it didn’t fix the wobble. Is this something I should expect? Or should I send it back for replacement? Not having a lot of experience with the tool I wondered if it’s just me.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

You should be able to run the ETS 150 on your material without even holding on to it. It's that well balanced.

Of course, knowing more about your technique and application would be helpful. Generally, run the sander at full speed which is 6, especially with lower grits. If you're using dust extraction, try dialing back the suction some to see if that helps. Too much suction can actually pull the sander down into the material.

If you try that and are still having trouble, call us back for a replacement or send me a message and I'll help make arrangements for a replacement.

Welcome to the forum, sorry for the issues.

Shane Holland
Festool USA

 

[Holzhacker]

The bearings probably haven't set yet. Festool sanders have a break-in period to set bearings or something like that. A lot of guys just turn it on, hang it somewhere and let it run for a few hours. The wobble should disappear once broken in. All of mine ran like crap at first. Once broke in, very nice. I'm sure others will post with more elaborate explanations.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Markus, I think you may be thinking of the brushes having a break in period, no the bearings. But, it's a good point. When the sanders are new, the brushes do not make full contact with the armature, resulting in less power than when the sander has run for about 5-10 hours. At that point, the brushes become well seated and the sander is running at full power. Not sure that's the cause of the wobble, but I suppose it's plausible.

 

[Brick]

I do use it with CT36, on low and have no dust what so ever (still blows my mind). I have used it for about 3 or 4  hours of sanding since I got it. The wobble varies with grits (kinda) but is always there. Festool support is awesome and advised me to send it back if not happy.

 

[Brick]

I guess I should send it back to Hartville Tools (still within 30 days), also very high marks for customer service. I hate to give it up even for a week or so to be replaced. But want to get something I can keep using for many years to come without problems.
Thank all of you for your input, it is greatly appreciated.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Brick says he gets wobble on the vertical axis. Now call me crazy, but isn't that the whole point of an eccentric sander?

 

[fdengel]

Brick says he gets wobble on the vertical axis. Now call me crazy, but isn't that the whole point of an eccentric sander?

Depends on how you define vertical.  If he means as in "up away from the material and down toward it", then I can' think of any time my RO 150 in RO mode (or any other RO sander I've ever used) has done that.

Is the workpiece clamped down well (or extremely heavy)?

And yes, the dust extraction on these sanders can't be believed until you've used one.

It leaves one breathful.

 

[semenza]

Hi Brick,

Welcome to the FOG !  [smile]

First that ETS sander should be the smoothest running tool you have ever held. It could be something really wrong with it or something simple. In either case once it gets sorted out or replaced it will be your ultimate finish sander for many , many , years.

Something to check.  Make sure the pad is seated onto the flat sided spindle fully. It is possible to have it seem like it is on  when it is not quite lined up. The screw can still be put in , and all looks OK. But when it runs it wobbles. I have done this a couple times on mine.

Seth

 

[Kapitaldream]

This is my first post in several years! The wobble that you have in your sander is the same as in mine. Every so often I'll build and install solid surface counter tops and use this sander for the final sanding. I fine that it is a slight annoyance, but it does a good job of sanding. Shane should I send my sander in for repair?
Steve

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

This is my first post in several years! The wobble that you have in your sander is the same as in mine. Every so often I'll build and install solid surface counter tops and use this sander for the final sanding. I fine that it is a slight annoyance, but it does a good job of sanding. Shane should I send my sander in for repair?
Steve

Steve, I would recommend that anyone who believes their tool is operating at any level less than optimal should take advantage of the warranty. The guys in service turn tools around very quickly, 48 hours or less from the time we get it until it goes back out the door to you. During the first year, we pay shipping both ways.

Shane

 

[Ken Nagrod]

One other point I'll add to this thread is if the material you're sanding isn't close to flat or has a lot of surface variations, the sanding pad will transfer that and you'll get a vibration through the entire sander.  Once it starts leveling out the surface, that feeling greatly diminishes.

 

[AofD]

I'm resurrecting this post.

My ETS 150/3 also has a slight annoying wobble.  I don't think it's affecting the quality of sanding but it doesn't seem right.

Not complaining, just wondering if this is typical this sander.

I did go to my local Festool dealer to check out the ETS EC (brushless).  I noticed that it did not wobble, however the demo ETS/150 they had on hand did, leading me to believe this is normal for the ETS.

I'd like to know if others are experiencing wobble on their ETS/150?