ETS 150/5 vs ETS EC 150/5

[onocoffee]

My only practical experience with Festool sanders is with the ETS ES 150 series and RO150. My understanding is that the EC is the newer and brushless version of the ETS. I'm curious to know what practical differences there are in using the ETS over the EC (other than the larger physical size)? Is there more vibration, comparatively?

 

[woodferret]

ETS EC is more ergonomic for vertical surfaces, while the older ETS is better for horizontal flats as it's self supporting and stable.  Motor wise, you're not going to feel any difference. 

 

[mrboult]

Yeah. The difference is in weight, size and the subsequent handling. The older sanders are just as nice if not nicer in their action and performance.

 

[Cheese]

You know what I find so confusing, is that if this Festool owned forum was so interested in making sure that Festool owners are using their equipment for the proper application...corporate Festool would chime in with a permanent internet "Sedge", continually advising users on this forum as to what tool to use when, instead of allowing a bunch of internet hacks, myself included, guiding unwitting Festool owners. This has always been a lost opportunity for Festool...

It's rather like the message I saw recently on a trivet...
"Sometimes I wonder what happened to the people who asked me for directions."

 

[Cheese]

So, prefacing my next opinion with my last statement.

"Sometimes I wonder what happened to the people who asked me for directions."

The ETS EC is my preferred sander, it's smaller, lighter, has better balance and is an all-around improvement on the ETS series. It's also brushless so what's not to like?

The down side though is that it does not have an internal impeller to deposit the dust into a bag...it always needs to be used with a CT vac...but that's a minor consideration once you use it.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I've owned every 150mm sander Festool had/has on the market, and in my opinion the ETS EC's are the crowning achievement by far in the RO range. Absolutely superb sanders.

 

[mino]

I will digress here.

@OP
if you feel like it, do look for a used ETS 150/5. If you do a lot of flat horizontal surfaces on a workbench/etc. and have no RS2/RS200, you will love it. If not, you can pass it along.

---
Given the RS series are out of sales, the ETS 150 is the prime sander for flat horizontal surfaces from Festool.
It is the most ergonomic at that job from all their sanders. The ETS EC series can never match it at that - what they lack (weight, fan) is what makes them "EC" in the first place. Apples to oranges. Different tools.

Do not get me wrong, the ETS EC series are "the better general use sanders" - i.e. for anyone choosing a single/first/go-to sander. But that is mainly thanks to how universal they are, not thanks to being better at all tasks - specifically for flat horizontal sanding the ETS 150 bests them and that is why it is still on sale.

All said, owning the RS 200, I have no need for a "flat horizontal surfaces sander", so no ETS 150 for me.

...
The ETS EC is my preferred sander, it's smaller, lighter, has better balance and is an all-around improvement on the ETS series.
...

I am not sure where this came from, the ETS EC is very much "unbalanced" - when compared to the ETS 150. We have several threads of new EC series owners "caught" by this - the EC sanders are so light they require a permanent stabilising force applied by hand. Unlike the "old-style" 150 mm sanders from Festool/Bosch/etc. that pretty much "run themselves" and just need to be guided where to go.

Were you possibly comparing to the ETS 125?

 

[onocoffee]

This is great information. Thank you. I've been thinking about a 5mm sander to augment my EC150/3 maybe the ETS 150/5 will be a good option.

Luv did mention the pinnacle being the RO and I've been programmed to think of the Rotex as a rough removal tool (mainly due to a lack of knowledge and experience) rather than a finishing sander. But I'm guessing that it can be used to create nice finishes as well (even in Rotex mode)?

 

[Cheese]

I am not sure where this came from, the ETS EC is very much "unbalanced" - when compared to the ETS 150. We have several threads of new EC series owners "caught" by this - the EC sanders are so light they require a permanent stabilising force applied by hand. Unlike the "old-style" 150 mm sanders from Festool/Bosch/etc. that pretty much "run themselves" and just need to be guided where to go.

Were you possibly comparing to the ETS 125?

My ETS EC 125/150 runs itself without any hand holding while sanding teak. I just pick up the hose & cord so that the pad stays flat on the table and I can guide the sander across the entire table surface with the hose while never touching the body of the sander.

 

[onocoffee]

You know what I find so confusing, is that if this Festool owned forum was so interested in making sure that Festool owners are using their equipment for the proper application...corporate Festool would chime in with a permanent internet "Sedge", continually advising users on this forum as to what tool to use when, instead of allowing a bunch of internet hacks, myself included, guiding unwitting Festool owners. This has always been a lost opportunity for Festool...

It's rather like the message I saw recently on a trivet...
"Sometimes I wonder what happened to the people who asked me for directions."

I don't disagree with you, Cheese. However, I do like the plethora of experiences and opinions that people provide here. I think that an official emissary from Festool would be beholden to stay the company line. Would they be as free to say that the old RS200 would be "superior" to the current ETS 150/3 EQ-PLUS? Or would they be free to say that the Mafell P1CC is superior to the Carvex?

I'm glad we have people from Festool here, and certainly have gleaned a lot of insight from the videos featuring Sedge, Brent and Jason, but the insight from the other readers here is of incredible value - especially when they are in disagreement. Then you get to consider opposing viewpoints, maybe try them yourself and come to your own conclusions and build your own experience.

 

[mino]

My ETS EC 125/150 runs itself without any hand holding while sanding teak. I just pick up the hose & cord so that the pad stays flat on the table and I can guide the sander across the entire table surface with the hose while never touching the body of the sander.

Not disagreeing. Though hardwood with a 3 mm sander is the ideal scenario too, to be honest.  [smile]

The key phrase here is "when compared to".

The EC sanders are very well balanced - about as far as is possible for that type of a light sander design.

But the ETS 150 is even better - no eccentric weight from the EC "handle" - plus it is a lot heavier, making it appreciably more stable. The added weight and rotational mass of the impeller and the heavier motor do make a difference. No way around that. For one example, to guide it by the hose, one does not need to "lift" its back - it is heavy-enough to work with just the hose on the table, not to mention without the hose.

That same added mass makes the "classic" ETS 150 series sanders impractical for vertical and/or detail work. Those are task-specific tools, as they always were.

 

[luvmytoolz]

The comments for the ETS and ETS EC's are all valid and personal opinions will differ, but for me another aspect I love with the ETS EC's is that I can have far greater control and "finesse" due to the low weight and profile, making it a very agile sander for flat sections as well as smoothing curves on the one piece. Definitely more suited to organic and "light touch" sanding than my ETS 150.

I actually ended up giving my ETS 150 to my daughter as it didn't have any appeal over the ETS EC for me.

If I'm doing large flat sections, then the RS2E is the sander for me there, it absolutely rules for that!