ETS 150/3 (old) Replacement Pad - what works?

[hobkirk]

The pad on my ETS 150 random orbital sander died - after only about 20 years! Replacing it is not as easy as I expected.
[list type=decimal]
[*]I visited my regular store that carries Festool. Closed because of Covid-19.
[*]
I visited the Festool website - I cannot figure out how to find parts for my sander (maybe because I was using Firefox?).
[*]
I found another Festool store. Bought a pad, medium. Back panel top panel show Rotex RO 150 FEQ, next panel shows lists 3 sanders, including the ETS 150.
[*]
I then removed the old pad (the bolt was HARD-TO-TURN and I was hoping the guy at the store would know if it was a reverse thread). The pad mounting is very different.
[*]
At Amazon, I searched for "https://www.amazon.com/s?k=festool+ets+150+pad&i=tools&ref=nb_sb_noss_1" and saw 2 different mounting configurations - the first 2 look like my old one, the 7th and 10th look like what I bought.
[*]
I called Festool Parts line. At 5:15. Closed for day. ARGH!
[/list]

Am I right to think the ETS and Rotex use different mounting on their pads?

• The store had 3 of what I think are Rotex pads - Hard, Medium, Soft)? So I must wait for delivery. So maybe it will be faster from Amazon.

I am getting MEDIUM, because I have always been pleased with the sander. Any contrary advice?

PS - I have a large supply of sandpaper, but I assume that whatever new pad I get will be compatible. I tried one piece on the new pad (looks exactly like the 4th picture in the Amazon page), and it seemed to attach fine.

 

 

[AlexThePalex]

This one is the right one.
https://www.amazon.com/Festool-2024...73S9FRDF/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=festool+ets+150+pad&qid=1596175183&s=hi&sr=1-3

That's a medium pad. Lots of people, including me prefer the hard pad because it works quicker (less cushioning) and it prevents round-overs when you hit the side of the material. But it depends on what you sand most. I prefer to have both pads at hand.

Rotex and ETS have indeed different pads. ETS pad is bolted on, and the with Rotex pad you just twist and click.

BTW, it is no use to refer to the Amazon pics as 1, 2 or 7, that configuration changes constantly.

 

[aloysius]

The M8 mounting screw is a standard right-handed thread.  You undo it "widdershins", or counter-clockise.  It's stiff to undo due to the ingress of dust & resin from what you've been sanding.  All that microscopic resin buildup has formed a type of glue when heated by all those years of operation.

It's actually a common occurrence.  You're extremely lucky that after a double-decade it hadn't seized solid!  I've heard of owners twisting off the head of the grubscrew in frustration!

It's not a bad idea to clean the thread with a solvent soak (in petrol, metho, even CRC or Inox etc.) before reinstallation.  Occasional part-unscrewing & retightening with your onboard M8 Allen key will greatly reduce this tendency.  Some owners lightly oil the threads on reinstallation, but I wouldn't recommend this.  Just crack it undone a couple of turns & retighten every few months.

The pads you need are common to the ETS family & the RO 150 E Rotex sanders.  The later, bayonet-fit Rotex RO 150 FE & FEQ pads are wrong.  However, alternative pads from other manufacturers & aftermarket suppliers (Metabo, Bosch et. al) will fit, providing they have suitable hole patterns for your abrasive supplies.

 

[hobkirk]

Outstanding. Thank you. I ordered the pad as soon as I read your reply last night - it will arrive tomorrow.

And good point about the Amazon link (although I doubt my particular search results would change much in a short time frame). A picture of the screen would have been  better.

This one is the right one.
https://www.amazon.com/Festool-2024...73S9FRDF/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=festool+ets+150+pad&qid=1596175183&s=hi&sr=1-3

That's a medium pad. Lots of people, including me prefer the hard pad because it works quicker (less cushioning) and it prevents round-overs when you hit the side of the material. But it depends on what you sand most. I prefer to have both pads at hand.

Rotex and ETS have indeed different pads. ETS pad is bolted on, and the with Rotex pad you just twist and click.

BTW, it is no use to refer to the Amazon pics as 1, 2 or 7, that configuration changes constantly.

 

[hobkirk]

I decided it must be normal thread, so I had already cracked the bolt. That's why I knew the new pad was wrong.
And thanks for the advice on anti-seize .

The M8 mounting screw is a standard right-handed thread.  You undo it "widdershins", or counter-clockise.  It's stiff to undo due to the ingress of dust & resin from what you've been sanding.  All that microscopic resin buildup has formed a type of glue when heated by all those years of operation.

It's actually a common occurrence.  You're extremely lucky that after a double-decade it hadn't seized solid!  I've heard of owners twisting off the head of the grubscrew in frustration!

It's not a bad idea to clean the thread with a solvent soak (in petrol, metho, even CRC or Inox etc.) before reinstallation.  Occasional part-unscrewing & retightening with your onboard M8 Allen key will greatly reduce this tendency.  Some owners lightly oil the threads on reinstallation, but I wouldn't recommend this.  Just crack it undone a couple of turns & retighten every few months.

The pads you need are common to the ETS family & the RO 150 E Rotex sanders.  The later, bayonet-fit Rotex RO 150 FE & FEQ pads are wrong.  However, alternative pads from other manufacturers & aftermarket suppliers (Metabo, Bosch et. al) will fit, providing they have suitable hole patterns for your abrasive supplies.