ETS EC 125 Sanding Issues

[guddeco]

I am having issues with my ETS EC 125/3. I purchased the new brushless 125 late last year as a replacement for my older ETS 125.  I use this sander almost daily, so I'm certain I've surpassed the break-in period. I've owned it for several months. I am having a strange issue with the EC that I never saw with my older 125. I'm getting surface scratches that are clearly visible.  Now, I understand that's what an orbital sander does, but my scratches never go away no matter what I've tried. I don't know if it's user error, or if my sander has a problem.  I ran my older ETS 125 on the lowest suction setting and just floated it on the surface for really great results.  This one didn't perform well on the lowest suction setting so I've tried multiple solutions with no real good solution.  I have it hooked up to my CT36 and have tried more suction all the way up to 3/4, and all the way down to the lowest. I get better results at 0-1/4 suction, but I still see the scratches.  I've tried more pressure, less pressure, floating the sander while holding the vac hose on the back so my hand isn't adding any pressure to the top., no pressure but my hand guiding the top, to really no great solution that I can repeat.  The only way I can get them to go finer and finer is with brand new sandpaper each grit.  I never had to do that with my ETS, which leads me to believe I may have a faulty EC 125.  I'm including pictures of my scratches in hopes to find a solution, or to have it recommended for Festool to look at it. The abrasive progression for these photos were, 100, 150, 220, 320 with the photo being taken after the 320. I'm just quite frustrated that I am left wanting my old ETS 125 back.  Please help!

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

Have you tried taking off the pad and trying a different one?  I wonder if your pad is bad or not seated correctly.

 

[flair woodworks]

Very strange.  Are you cleaning the wood (with vacuum or brush, etc) between grits to ensure that a coarser grit isn't getting picked up by the finer paper?  Perhaps one such grit is getting caught in the open pores?

 

[guddeco]

Have you tried taking off the pad and trying a different one?  I wonder if your pad is bad or not seated correctly.

I took the pad off yesterday and cleaned out any of the fine dust from under it and reseated. Will check that today. I don't really want to have to buy a new pad when my sander is less than 3 months old though. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[guddeco]

Very strange.  Are you cleaning the wood (with vacuum or brush, etc) between grits to ensure that a coarser grit isn't getting picked up by the finer paper?  Perhaps one such grit is getting caught in the open pores?

I do clean between grits. I wipe with a  lint free cloth, then run my hands over it to catch anything left over. Same results. 

 

[chrisrosenb]

What wood is that?

I have not had that problem with my ETS EC. In fact, what impressed me before buying the ETS EC was that it did not leave any visible scratches.  That looks more like results from  Rotex sander in rotex mode.

 

[guddeco]

What wood is that?

I have not had that problem with my ETS EC. In fact, what impressed me before buying the ETS EC was that it did not leave any visible scratches.  That looks more like results from  Rotex sander in rotex mode.

Exactly. Those scratches are from my ETS EC. I didn't use my Rotex at all on these pieces. It's walnut. So maybe I have a faulty one.

 

[rvieceli]

[member=36425]guddeco[/member]

I work with walnut a lot and sometimes I'll get a piece that seems to get "swirlies" if you just look at it the wrong way.  [scared]

Having said that, it appears that you're picking up some lower (bigger) grit and contaminating you higher grit sheets. Since you say you can get a good result by using new paper at each grit level then it probably isn't your technique or the machine. IF you are convinced that you are getting rid of the debris from the piece between grades, then you should probably look at what you're doing with sheets as you remove and store them for later use. You may also want to take a look at cleaning the work area after each grit using the vac or a blow gun in your compressor. If you tend to take used but still good paper and stack it in the progression, you may want to keep the different grits stored apart. If you are setting them on a work surface, they may be picking up grit there.

You might also want to try a strong side light on the piece as you sand. It tends to help point out the swirlies as you go. If you spot them then drop back a grit until they go away.

Perhaps you just got one of those pieces of walnut that wants everything absolutely perfect before it will cooperate.

Ron

 

[chrisrosenb]

This is a picture of a piece of Black Walnut the I just sanded with the ETS EC 125. I used the same grits you used. I not sure you said what kind of paper you used. I used 100,150 granat, 220 & 320 brilliant.  I did not spend a lot of time doing this. I could only see light scratches after the 100 grit only if I held it at the right direction pointing it at a light.

Why are you starting with 100 grit? I very seldom start sanding below 150 grit.

[attachimg=1]

 

[grbmds]

Have you contacted Festool Service? They might suggest that you send it in. Doesn't sound like you're doing anything that would cause the problem. Did it leave the scratch pattern right from the start when new or did it just start. Does it do that on other pieces of wood also or just this wood? Are you using the same paper you used on your original ETS125? I'm assuming you are using Festool paper, but you did not say what brand or type of paper you were using. I have the best luck with either Granat or Rubin on surface prep of bare wood.

 

[guddeco]

Have you contacted Festool Service? They might suggest that you send it in. Doesn't sound like you're doing anything that would cause the problem. Did it leave the scratch pattern right from the start when new or did it just start. Does it do that on other pieces of wood also or just this wood? Are you using the same paper you used on your original ETS125? I'm assuming you are using Festool paper, but you did not say what brand or type of paper you were using. I have the best luck with either Granat or Rubin on surface prep of bare wood.

I have contacted Service. And I think I'll be sending it in. I am using the exact same paper, festool rubin 2 and granat that I used with my other 125.

Thanks!

 

[guddeco]

This is a picture of a piece of Black Walnut the I just sanded with the ETS EC 125. I used the same grits you used. I not sure you said what kind of paper you used. I used 100,150 granat, 220 & 320 brilliant.  I did not spend a lot of time doing this. I could only see light scratches after the 100 grit only if I held it at the right direction pointing it at a light.

Why are you starting with 100 grit? I very seldom start sanding below 150 grit.

[attachimg=1]

Thanks for that photo! HUGE difference in what I get. I am using Rubin 2 and Granat.  I start with 100 because I sometimes get planer and jointer marks due to my helical head cutter and the 100 takes them out easily.  Plus, it's the exact starting grits I used with my other 125 with no issue.

Thanks for that, I think I'm sending mine in. Festool service recommended I clean the stickfix pad with my vac and see if that makes a difference. So far, it doesn't. 

 

[rvieceli]

If as you stated in your original post, you get good results by using a brand new sheet of each grit of sandpaper, then it can't be the machine or your technique.

I'm still of the opinion that the abrasive sheets are picking up some grit somewhere.

 

[grbmds]

Have you contacted Festool Service? They might suggest that you send it in. Doesn't sound like you're doing anything that would cause the problem. Did it leave the scratch pattern right from the start when new or did it just start. Does it do that on other pieces of wood also or just this wood? Are you using the same paper you used on your original ETS125? I'm assuming you are using Festool paper, but you did not say what brand or type of paper you were using. I have the best luck with either Granat or Rubin on surface prep of bare wood.

I have contacted Service. And I think I'll be sending it in. I am using the exact same paper, festool rubin 2 and granat that I used with my other 125.

Thanks!

Given your response, it's hard to believe that it is something you are doing. if the sander worked well when you got it or even if you didn't use it right away and it never worked better than this, I'd send it to Service. That way you will know for sure whether it's the sander. If it isn't, maybe they can tell you what else it could be.

 

[guddeco]

If as you stated in your original post, you get good results by using a brand new sheet of each grit of sandpaper, then it can't be the machine or your technique.

I'm still of the opinion that the abrasive sheets are picking up some grit somewhere.

I would agree with you if it cleared it right up without a lot of time, however, the new sheet gets rid of them if I spend tons of time on making them disappear. Then, after the time it just seems to come back.

 

[guddeco]

If as you stated in your original post, you get good results by using a brand new sheet of each grit of sandpaper, then it can't be the machine or your technique.

I'm still of the opinion that the abrasive sheets are picking up some grit somewhere.

I would agree with you if it cleared it right up without a lot of time, however, the new sheet gets rid of them if I spend tons of time on making them disappear. Then, after the time it just seems to come back.

Thank you for the help friend! I'll post updates as they happen!