Ets 150/3 ?

[murphyt]

I have a rotex 150 and dts 400 as well as a bosch half sheet sander ( purchased before I learned about festool). At the moment I started manufacturing custom build  childrens furniture. Almost always painted by hand to match a spesific colour scheme. I try to use waterbased paints always.
After painting I use the rotex to smooth and then polish. Would the ets 150/3 cut down my sanding time as it has a smaller stroke. My understanding thereof is that I could get away with using less grits of paper. Is my logic correct here ? 

 

[Brice Burrell]

I have a rotex 150 and dts 400 as well as a bosch half sheet sander ( purchased before I learned about festool). At the moment I started manufacturing custom build  childrens furniture. Almost always painted by hand to match a spesific colour scheme. I try to use waterbased paints always.
After painting I use the rotex to smooth and then polish. Would the ets 150/3 cut down my sanding time as it has a smaller stroke. My understanding thereof is that I could get away with using less grits of paper. Is my logic correct here ? 

Murphyt, how about if you give us a little more information on how you are using finishing your projects. Are you somehow able to polish water based paint or is there some other finish over the top? What grits are you using now? I think this is a question for our good friend Rob McGilp, turn around 180 degrees and shout towards Australia, Rob's in Melbourne (or maybe you could send him a PM). He uses the ETS150/3 with very fine grits because he gets better results from the smaller orbit. I think he can offer some good insight on this subject.

 

[Jim Becker]

My 150/3 is my "go-to" sander the majority of the time--comfortable and reliable with nearly zero vibration. I love my Rotex, but it's too big and heavy (and more or less a two-hand tool) to use for general sanding. I can and do one-hand the 150/3, leaving my other hand free to control the workpiece. There is not a huge difference in performance between the 150/3 and the 150/5 or Rotex 150 in my experience when it comes to finish sanding but I guess there is some from the slightly reduced stroke.

 

[Steveo48]

I have an ets 125 and wish I had the ets 150.  I'm going to put my 125 on ebay in September.

Steve, getting a messaage in between hacks.

 

[ROb McGilp]

I have a rotex 150 and dts 400 as well as a bosch half sheet sander ( purchased before I learned about festool). At the moment I started manufacturing custom build  childrens furniture. Almost always painted by hand to match a spesific colour scheme. I try to use waterbased paints always.
After painting I use the rotex to smooth and then polish. Would the ets 150/3 cut down my sanding time as it has a smaller stroke. My understanding thereof is that I could get away with using less grits of paper. Is my logic correct here ? 

Hi Murphyt,

I think you will find a significant difference in the finish you achieve with the ETS sander when compared to the RO150. I would suggest the ETS150/3 if you want good coverage with excellent results.
Typically, I will sand with the Rotex up from 80g to 400g with 150,180 and 240 in between.
This would be the point at which you would paint. Using 800,1200 and 1500g will give an excellent result in fast time. I would humbly suggest you try the Platin 2 pads at 2000 and/or 4000g to really bring out the gloss.
If you want to lessen the number of grits try using 600 and 800g with a 1000g Platin 2 pad.
When you use the ETS150/3,  you really only need to go over the workpiece twice or three times fairly quickly. The sander does it's job very efficiently. Just be sure to cover the whole piece and you'll be finished in no time.
On some timbers, I have noticed that the RO150 will leave swirlies even at 240g. In these cases, I use the ETS exclusively through all sanding.

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Rob