Ets ec150 or ro90 help

[Nippychippy]

Hi everyone I have a job on at the moment and its new fascia boards that sanded can I use ether sander with out dust extraction due to the fact I'll be up a ladder and the hose won't reach

Thanks for the help

 

[Locks14]

I'd go for the ETS EC 150 or even the 125. The RO90 is a problem solver ideal for little jobs, but for doing largeish surface areas like fascia boards up a ladder it's completely unbalanced and awkward to use.

 

[Nippychippy]

But is it ok to use with out a dust extractor

 

[Locks14]

But is it ok to use with out a dust extractor

No different to any sander. You'll go through consumables more quickly without extraction, but you can disable the extraction detection so you can still use it without a hose attached.

 

[Nippychippy]

Cheers I just didn't know if I would damage the new ets ec if not used with out it

 

[AlexThePalex]

Despite what Locks14 says, the RO90 is excellent on facia boards on a ladder. Put it in aggressive mode and the paint flies away. I then use the DTS400 to smooth it out.

Working with a 150mm sander is tough when you're up high on a ladder, though presumably the new ETS EC 150 is lighter and easier to control.

You can use the sanders without DC just fine.

 

[semenza]

I had a try out on the ETS EC sanders yesterday. They are indeed light weight.  ETS ECs are 2.6 pounds. RO90 is 3.3. ETS125 is 2.4.  I would not recommend the ETS125 for the job you will be doing. It is not going to be aggressive enough or powerful enough.

Seth

 

[semenza]

They should be fine without DC, but as Lock14 said, the abrasives will wear faster and then there is the mess.

Seth

 

[Steve-Rice]

In Peter Parfitt's ETS EC video, Peter mentions that the ETS EC does not have a fan and for that reason,  you cannot attach a bag to exhaust port of the sander and "you have to have an extractor".  This leaves me to wonder if you actually can use the ETS EC without a dust extractor.  Perhaps someone from Festool or Peter can weigh in here are answer this question definitively.

 

[AlexThePalex]

This leaves me to wonder if you actually can use the ETS EC without a dust extractor. 

Of course you can use it without an extractor. Only thing that happens is the dust won't be collected and just drops down on the spot. Only harm done is to your lungs if you get it inside. 

 

[jacko9]

The RO90 is going to take both hands to use on a ladder and I just used mine that way for a small job without the dust extractor.  Next time I'll use the dust extractor and if I had to do that kind of work a lot, I'd get the ETS ec150.  My ETS 150/3 is just too heavy to be using up on a ladder with hose attached.

 

[jcpsmallwoodworkershop]

so i have the new ets ec150, i love it by the way, alot better, by a mile than
the mirka deros (piece of crap) and i sand drywall with my ets ec 150 and
drywall is a very fine particle of dust.
so under the ets ec 150 pad is a rubber shroud and rotating balance
and this can cake up with drywall dust if one didnt use a dust collection
extraction system. and it gets all over the balance and into all the cracks
and under the rubber shroud, etc.
i assume you are sanding wood and the particles are larger and less
fine and it would not be as messy.

but with dust extraction, this ets ec 150 is a great machine, much better
than the old ets150

This leaves me to wonder if you actually can use the ETS EC without a dust extractor. 

Of course you can use it without an extractor. Only thing that happens is the dust won't be collected and just drops down on the spot. Only harm done is to your lungs if you get it inside.

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Robert

I am camping in the middle of a field near the south coast so I will do my best...

The ETS EC 150 does not have a fan driving the dust out of its rear end and so although it could be used it will need a thorough clean-up afterwards. I do not think that I would use mine like that.

The RO 90 will be better and should discharge some dust from the outlet and can be cleaned up reasonably easily.

Could you borrow a CTL SYS and take it up the ladder? Then you could use either sander.

Peter

 

[Locks14]

The RO90 is going to take both hands to use on a ladder and I just used mine that way for a small job without the dust extractor.  Next time I'll use the dust extractor and if I had to do that kind of work a lot, I'd get the ETS ec150.  My ETS 150/3 is just too heavy to be using up on a ladder with hose attached.
[/quote

Exactly. If up a ladder you'd fine having to keep both hands on the RO 90 and the small pad flat very tiring and frustrating.

 

[Nippychippy]

Hi Robert

I am camping in the middle of a field near the south coast so I will do my best...

The ETS EC 150 does not have a fan driving the dust out of its rear end and so although it could be used it will need a thorough clean-up afterwards. I do not think that I would use mine like that.

The RO 90 will be better and should discharge some dust from the outlet and can be cleaned up reasonably easily.

Could you borrow a CTL SYS and take it up the ladder? Then you could use either sander.

Peter

Thanks Peter that's a great idea to buy one with the strap it could be handy

The fascia board is bare wood I have come on to the job after the other has done a rough job so I needs  a good sand I'll see if my local dealer will do me a good deal on it.

I used the ets ec without extraction it's hell of a dust comes of it ha ha but seems to work ok a dust mask is a must. It is great to use on a ladder really glad I bought it

The ro 90 is a bit hard to hold on a ladder even in random orbital mode

 

[jacko9]

@ Peter, what is a "CTL SYS"

Jack

 

[semenza]

Personally, whether they would / could work without the vac, I would want to use the vac. It will improve the performance and keep all the dust off of and out of you. I think I would come up with an extension hose.

Seth

 

[Wuffles]

@ Peter, what is a "CTL SYS"

Jack

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=festool+ctl+sys

Adding this text to make it sound less flippant and adding a smiley  [smile]

 

[AlexThePalex]

The RO90 is going to take both hands to use on a ladder and I just used mine that way for a small job without the dust extractor.  Next time I'll use the dust extractor and if I had to do that kind of work a lot, I'd get the ETS ec150.  My ETS 150/3 is just too heavy to be using up on a ladder with hose attached.
[/quote

Exactly. If up a ladder you'd fine having to keep both hands on the RO 90 and the small pad flat very tiring and frustrating.

If you're up on a ladder you'll find using any sander is tiring.

But are we men or mice? Since when do you need to use the RO90 two-handed? It's a breeze one handed. I use my RO150 one handed with 7 meter hose attached up on a ladder. Is that easy? No. But if the job requires it I do it anyway.

You just have to prepare and equip yourself well. For heavy sanding on a ladder I wear a safety harness so I can chain myself securely to the ladder. This also gives me two free hands. I tape the hose to the side of the ladder so I don't have to support all the weight. I also tether my sander to the ladder with a thin safety line. This way I can do some serious work up on the ladder.

Really, the RO90 is a baby compared to the RO150. I find it very easy to handle one handed. 

 

[Scott B.]

The RO90 is going to take both hands to use on a ladder and I just used mine that way for a small job without the dust extractor.  Next time I'll use the dust extractor and if I had to do that kind of work a lot, I'd get the ETS ec150.  My ETS 150/3 is just too heavy to be using up on a ladder with hose attached.
[/quote

Exactly. If up a ladder you'd fine having to keep both hands on the RO 90 and the small pad flat very tiring and frustrating.

If you're up on a ladder you'll find using any sander is tiring.

But are we men or mice? Since when do you need to use the RO90 two-handed? It's a breeze one handed. I use my RO150 one handed with 7 meter hose attached up on a ladder. Is that easy? No. But if the job requires it I do it anyway.

You just have to prepare and equip yourself well. For heavy sanding on a ladder I wear a safety harness so I can chain myself securely to the ladder. This also gives me two free hands. I tape the hose to the side of the ladder so I don't have to support all the weight. I also tether my sander to the ladder with a thin safety line. This way I can do some serious work up on the ladder.

Really, the RO90 is a baby compared to the RO150. I find it very easy to handle one handed.

I'm gonna throw in a "whoa her down there cowboy" as a painter who sands off ladders for a living. An RO90 is a two handed tool for most people, especially those who haven't sanded a few thousand hours. I can say from personal experience that a 90 in Rotex at low grit reaching out one handed can draw your balance in a way you don't want it drawn at 20-30 feet up on a ladder.

A ladder is about the last thing I want to be chained to in any situation.

The moral of the story is to choose the right tool for the task. There are better options up the ladder. Working at heights is about practicality and safety first, not proving one's manhood.