Exterior Paint Job..Which Festool tool should I buy?

[gmuller]

Quick response on  the silent paint remover:  It works great in outdoor applications, especially for many layers of oil-based lead paint on flat surfaces:  Heat it up, scrape it off.  The downside is that removal of many paint layers requires enough heat to generate some smoke, and it can leave burn marks when the SPR re-heats adjacent bare wood that has already been stripped.  For this reason I only use the SPR when working outside in well-ventilated areas and on materials that will be re-painted. 

I've experiemented with the RAS115 but was not able to remove paint as quickly as with the SPR.  However I am still new to the RAS and was not using the right paper type (I used Rubin).

For interior paint stripping I use good old-fashioned methyl chloride stripper (ventilate and/or work in large rooms) to remove the bulk of the paint, followed by steelwool with some of the orange stripper mixed in (forget the brand name) to remove the paint in crevices, and final surface treatment with my RTS400 prior to refinishing.

 

[Scott B.]

My paint company did a rather comprehensive log cabin strip this season. The RO125 was more popular on our crew than the 150, mostly because of its size, and the fact that all of the work was vertical and a fair amount overhead. A little easier to navigate. The DX93 Sander also saved countless hours on the detail work. The midi is a good size for exterior maneuverability, lifting up onto staging, etc.

 

[SteveC]

Firstly, I tend to stay away from RRP jobs.
The money you save today not following RRP procedure will be a drop in the bucket compared to cleanup costs, when you are going to sell and an informed buyer gets the soil tested.
JMHO

 

[Scott B.]

I agree. We don't do RRP. We got the cert, but all set with the risk.

 

[Tinker]

First, welcome to the FOG. [thumbs up]

Same welcome from Tinker

"Now the big one, ladders/scaffolding.  If you aren't familiar with setting up and working from ladders then I'd strongly recommend you rent scaffold and go with a company that will set it up for you.  Otherwise you'll be buying or borrowing ladders if you don't have your own collection of ladders.  Don't underestimate the importance of a good, safe setup.  You'll get the job done much fast and easier with the right setup."

I have not had chance to read this entire series of posts, so if i am going over a repeat warning, I apollogise. i have just been witness to all too many instances concerning ladders. If you are not used to working on ladders, be sure to have somebody working with you.  I have been a mason contractor and landscaper for many moons and have had, upon too many occasions, to finish jobs where a homeowner has fallen off of ladders and even from a scaffolding.  I have always considered ladders and chainsaws to be the most dangerous tools that the inexperienced can rent from tool rental places.   There is always the temptation to reach just a little bit further, especially towards the end of the day.  DO NOT DO THAT.  
I had a yard i was taking care of.  The gutters, when cleaning was necessary, required a 40 foot extension ladder.  i hired another contractor to do the job with my ladder.  As he would climb up the ladder, I would hold at the bottom, even tho we had anchored the latter with ropes to prevent moving.  That may sound like over kill, but when you consider that we were both very experienced with ladder work, maybe we were stupid >>> we did not think so.  After we did this job for three or four years, the owner decided he could do the job himself.  His wife asked me what i thought about that.  she knew i had some definite opinions about her husband from other projects he had screwed up around the property.  I told her it was fine with me.  there was plenty of work for all of us.

"No, what do you really think?", she asked.

"Well, if you really want to know, I would suggest you take a ride down to your local library."  

"Why should i go there?"

"Well, you can do what you want.  I would suggest, tho, that you look for the shelf where you can find all the information you can find about how you can enjoy living as a widow."  The guy ended up not doing his gutters, but he did not call me back.  They sold the house instead.

Another client was painting his daughter's house.  The day was almost finished and he had two ladders set up.  he did not bother to waste time by climbing all the way to the ground to change ladders,  He simply transferred from ladder to ladder while stil 20 feet in the air.  Atleast thats how he started.  When he woke up, he was on his way to the hospital with several broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, broken arm and a serious concussion.  He was an engineer and should have known something about leverage, balance and gravity.  Instead, he took early retirement so he could have more time to heal.  I have other stories, but do not have time.  The sun has warmed up and i have work to do outside >>> some of it is using a ladder to trim some broken branches from some storm damaged trees.  BTW, I will use ropes to tie the ladder to the trees before i go up with my chainsaw.  I don't care much for broken bones mixed in with broken branches.  Don't worry about me ever using a ladder to paint my house. I hate painting and i know some really great painters.  Gutters?  I do not have any gutters on my house and I hire other contractors to do them on other properties.

Take care.  the one last warning:  If you are wondering what tools to get to do your painting, you probably are new to Festool.  you must realise, you have just stepped out onto a very dangerous and slippery slope.  [scared] Take a deep breath and have fun with it.   [cool]                          

Tinker

 

[sawdustagain]

Thanks everyone!  This thread is old, but it was very helpful prepping me to buy what was needed to sand my 80 year old cedar siding.  I ended up buying a CT-MINI, a Rotex 90 and a 150.  After the sticker shock wore off I was very happy with my purchase.  The RO-150 was great, but it's a bit on the heavy side.  The RO-125 would have been a bit easier to lug up and down the ladder.  Still, I'm glad I bought the RO-150 because it will be ideal for my basement floor sanding project.