ETS150/5 Sander Dust Collection and Breakin

[grbmds]

The reconditioned ETS150/5 I got was in great shape and worked well in my short test. Two questions though . . .

1.  When sanding the sander kind of pulled a few times one way or the other.
          Is that symptomatic of too much suction? Or
          Is that likely something that will disappear after a "break-in" period (which I have read on FOG might be needed).

2.  How low can you turn the suction on the collector and still get all the dust? I have a CT48 but have a 36mm hose.

I was letting the sander "float" rather than putting pressure on the sander when sanding. I did have the collector turned down below half way already.

Would the pulling disappear if I used it with a 27 mm hose?

 

[tiralie]

1.  When sanding the sander kind of pulled a few times one way or the other.
          Is that symptomatic of too much suction?

Probably, or the sander tilted a bit and "ran" because the hose caught etc.

          Is that likely something that will disappear after a "break-in" period (which I have read on FOG might be needed).

I can not comment on the "break-in" period. All my sanders worked flawlessly out of the box, I on the other hand have not.

2.  How low can you turn the suction on the collector and still get all the dust?

All the way.

I was letting the sander "float" rather than putting pressure on the sander when sanding. I did have the collector turned down below half way already.

turn it down more...

Would the pulling disappear if I used it with a 27 mm hose?

Yes, I believe (but someone will correct me if I am wrong) the sanders are designed to work with the 27mm hose.
Tim

 

[grbmds]

Thanks for the answers. I will test it turned down all the way first as that is the easiest. I don't think it caught on anything and I was sanding something easy,  birch ply, for my test, so there weren't a log of imperfections in the surface.

 

[Walk On Wood]

I agree with Tim.. Turn it all the way down.  Also, the 27mm hose is more manageable.  Enjoy your 150/5, its one of my favorites.

 

[grbmds]

All good suggestions. In using the ETS150/5 does it make sense to use at lower grits like 80, 100, 120, and maybe 150, then switch to the ETS125 (which I also own) for the final sanding at 180 or above for a better final finish? I know the ETS125 has a smaller orbit and would assume that this would give at least a slightly better final surface to finish than the ETS150/5.

 

[dpetrzelka]

I've found with the ETS150/3 that light pressure, if only to engage the muscles in you hand/arm, help to control the sander. It would seem the same holds true for the /5.

There is sometimes the misconception that it should be allowed to float too lightly, especially as people warn not to put too much pressure. With a 150mm disk you can get some pull as the disk engages with the wood more on one edge than another. Very light pressure helps engage muscles in stabilizing the sander. A very subtle difference, but with practice you can readily sand one-handed with and ETS150.

 

[semenza]

All good suggestions. In using the ETS150/5 does it make sense to use at lower grits like 80, 100, 120, and maybe 150, then switch to the ETS125 (which I also own) for the final sanding at 180 or above for a better final finish? I know the ETS125 has a smaller orbit and would assume that this would give at least a slightly better final surface to finish than the ETS150/5.

Yup, makes sense to me. Smaller swirls. I switch from 5mm to 3mm for final sanding and between coats of finish. Though the ETS150/5 does a remarkable job for finish sanding.

Seth

 

[grbmds]

All good suggestions. In using the ETS150/5 does it make sense to use at lower grits like 80, 100, 120, and maybe 150, then switch to the ETS125 (which I also own) for the final sanding at 180 or above for a better final finish? I know the ETS125 has a smaller orbit and would assume that this would give at least a slightly better final surface to finish than the ETS150/5.

Yup, makes sense to me. Smaller swirls. I switch from 5mm to 3mm for final sanding and between coats of finish. Though the ETS150/5 does a remarkable job for finish sanding.

Seth

I got 'em both now. I might as well use them both. They both seem to be much better than anything I have owned before so I'm trying to sell my other DeWalt RO sanders.

EDIT> moved reply out of quote box