ETS or RO?

[Mahomo59]

I do a lot of installs of handmade kitchens for a interior design company. Typically, Birchply carcasses, popular face frame, stiles and rails shaker style with 9mm Birchply again. All sprayed/hand painted with waterborne lacquer.
Now I have a larger workshop I'm taking on some of the builds as well as installs. Last week invested in Mft3 and LR32, mainly blame erock for this! Already own a great deal of Festools including the ets125 and ro90.
I'm getting the Birchply components (most of it) cut via Avonplywood. However I know I'll have to sand the Birchply before applying Morrells clear lacquer, one sealer and two top coats.
Question... Will the extra pad size of 150 speed things up a lot? If so should it be the ets or ro?
2 years into festool gear and loving it.

 

[Mahomo59]

I should add I'm looking into a panel sander

 

[AlexThePalex]

The 150 mm pad will speed up things for sure. Very important in a commercial setting.

Since you mostly work with new sheet material the ETS 150 would be my choice. The RO150 gives you some extra functionality like fast material removal, but you don't need it for what you're doing. And the Rotex comes at the cost of more complexity and a longer learning curve to get the same result an ETS150 gives you right away. 

 

[Mahomo59]

Cheers Alex. I'll order one Tuesday... Considering the centrotec system too. Oh and the T18.

 

[dpetrzelka]

The ETS150/3 should work perfectly for your application.

 

[Mahomo59]

Not the 150/5?

 

[JeromeM]

Not the 150/5?

The 150/3 in my opinion gives a better finish, and if you ever want an RO150 it has the 5mm orbit so they are complementary.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I agree about the 150/3, will give you a nice finish and all you need for new sheet material.

The 150/5 will do it also, though you might need to get into a bit higher grit to get the same finish as the 150/3.

 

[dpetrzelka]

Fully agree with this - the 150/3 for your finish sanding on ply will give you the best results. With the 1/8" (3 mm) sanding stroke, it just glides across the work, easy to control with no fatigue.

Later if you add the RO150, you'll have the more assertive 3/16" (5 mm) stroke.

ETS150/3 all the way.

Not the 150/5?

The 150/3 in my opinion gives a better finish, and if you ever want an RO150 it has the 5mm orbit so they are complementary.