Festool sander selection, help too many options!

[jacko9]

I have a question on what Festool Sander to purchase.  I build furniture and cabinets, while most of my work is solid hardwood, I sometimes use hardwood ply in kitchen cabinets.  My current sander of choice is a Bosch 3725 DVS attached to my Festool ct-22.  I joint and plane my lumber to finish size so the surface has my sometimes dull knife marks that need to be sanded smooth and I absolutely hate my hand block sander with all of that fine dust.  I need a sander for 2 - 3 inch rails and stiles and for preparing tops and sides of solid cabinet and table construction for the oil and wipe on poly finish.

I tried the RO 150 Rotex at Woodcraft and it seemed a bit heavy for my needs.  I was wondering if there is any substantial difference (except for the pad diameter of course) in the EST 150/3 and the EST 125 EQ?

I should add that the Bosch is a little unsteady on narrow rails and I wonder if i might encounter the same in a 6 inch sander?

Thanks for any insight.

 

[GreenGA]

When I was in the Festool cabinet class in Indiana, year before last, I tried sanding a stile flush to the rail on a cabinet door using the RO150 and I was never able to hold the 150 steady and flat to the surface of the stile.  Consequently, I rounded over the edges and ruined the stile.

Because of that experience, I picked up the RO90 and it works must better for the narrow stock, say of a rail or stile.  Wider stock may call for the 150/3, but for the narrow stuff...

Of course, YM,AS,MV...

 

[jacko9]

When I was in the Festool cabinet class in Indiana, year before last, I tried sanding a stile flush to the rail on a cabinet door using the RO150 and I was never able to hold the 150 steady and flat to the surface of the stile.  Consequently, I rounded over the edges and ruined the stile.

Because of that experience, I picked up the RO90 and it works must better for the narrow stock, say of a rail or stile.  Wider stock may call for the 150/3, but for the narrow stuff...

Of course, YM,AS,MV...

Thanks, I looked at the RO 90 but, was put off by the small diameter - Of course the answer might just be to buy the RO 90 and the 150/3~ ???

 

[ScotF]

For larger surfaces and rails and stiles I really like an orbital sander and I think that the RS2E is a real gem -- the large pad size ensures smooth, flat surfaces and it has become my go-to sander for this type of work.  I typically will use a Rotex for initial prep, leveling joints, etc... and then switch to the RS2E -- I often go all the way up through grits with just this sander, or sometimes I switch at 220 to an ETS -- depends on what it is that I am working on.  The RO90 is a good size for rails and stiles and gives you flexibility with the delta head, but I prefer larger sized pads for this work to prevent rounding and to cover more ground.  The ETS is very well balanced and a hard-pad will help you keep from rounding over the sides.  An ETS 150/5 will give you the same stroke as the Rotex too.  I would try the RS2E too if you can -- it takes a little getting used to it, but once you learn to drive it is a dream to use.  Just my .02.

Scot 

 

[barnowl]

I have a question on what Festool Sander to purchase.  I build furniture and cabinets, while most of my work is solid hardwood, I sometimes use hardwood ply ....

That's what I do..

I have 3 Festool sanders, and the one that I use most of the time is the ETS 125 EQ...

My lumber comes out of the planer/wide belt sander at 120 grit, and I use 120/150/180/220 in the Festool sander.

It's my go to sander.  [wink]

 

[dltflt]

I would buy the RO 90 is an impressive little sander.  I have the RO 150 and the ETS 150/3 and they are great for large surfaces but you can't beat the versatility of the RO 90 with the Delta pad.

 

[jacko9]

Thanks for the input guys, I should have added that I also use a Fien Multimaster  with a triangular pad but, I'm not very impressed with the control since the pad seems to "stick" to the work or it tends to jump around a bit.  has anyone compared the RO 90 with the Fien mulitmaster?

 

[barnowl]

The Fein sanding is a joke in comparison.

 

[Kev]

I have the Fein ... Compared to my RO 90, it's just not a sander ...

 

[EWTHeckman]

Thanks for the input guys, I should have added that I also use a Fien Multimaster  with a triangular pad but, I'm not very impressed with the control since the pad seems to "stick" to the work or it tends to jump around a bit.  has anyone compared the RO 90 with the Fien mulitmaster?

I did a head-to-head comparison of my Fein MM to an RO 125 as part of deciding whether to get a RO 90 for handling corners. (For the current project, the RO 125 will be handling the bulk of the work.) Long story short, my RO 90 order goes out tomorrow.

Here's where I posted my results:

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/getting-near-time-for-a-new-random-orbit-sander/msg190139/#msg190139

 

[GreenGA]

I have both, and the RO150 as well, so I have no more excuses for poor results.  [embarassed]

Thanks, I looked at the RO 90 but, was put off by the small diameter - Of course the answer might just be to buy the RO 90 and the 150/3~ ???

 

[zapdafish]

I love my rs 2e for sanding flat surfaces. My other sander is the rotex 150. I almost always reach for the rs 2e now. I have no experience with the ets sanders so can't really compare the two.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Jack, I refrained from answering even though you posted in the Ask Festool section because I was confident that you would get some good advice from the members of the forum. And, that has happened. If you still have questions, let me know.

Shane

 

[jacko9]

Thanks all and Shane I got the answer but, it is going to cost me a whole lot more money.  I decided that I'm going to sell my Fein Multimaster and buy the RO 90 and the ETS 125.  I think both of these tools will give me the performance I want in finish sanding.  Again, thanks all.

 

[mouppe]

Thanks all and Shane I got the answer but, it is going to cost me a whole lot more money.  I decided that I'm going to sell my Fein Multimaster and buy the RO 90 and the ETS 125.  I think both of these tools will give me the performance I want in finish sanding.  Again, thanks all.

Give serious thought (if you haven't already) to the RO125 and then you can use the same sandpaper on both machines. You would just be missing the delta pad.

 

[peter halle]

Thanks all and Shane I got the answer but, it is going to cost me a whole lot more money.  I decided that I'm going to sell my Fein Multimaster and buy the RO 90 and the ETS 125.  I think both of these tools will give me the performance I want in finish sanding.  Again, thanks all.

Don't sell your Multi-Master.  Keep it for all the other things that it can do.  Just stop using it as a sander.  If it cries and screams too much when you get the RO90, then just put it in the closet of other room with drop cloths or a blanket over it to drown out the sound.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Peter

 

[GPowers]

A great start point for Festool sanding is

RO 90
RO 150
ETS 150/3

ROP 90 for the small stuff and the delta pad, the RO 150 for the big stuff using the aggressive mode, the the RO 150 orbital mode (5mm) in prep for the fine sanding of the ETS 150/3. Plus you save on sanding disk because the RO 150 and the ETS 150/3 use the same sanding pads.

Oh! a do not forget the hard pads for all the sanders and the interface pads for round over corners.

Just my 0.02

 

[dltflt]

The Fein sanding is a joke in comparison.

There is no comparison.  Festool wins hands down

 

[jtwood]

I, too, build furniture, and I use the RO90 and RO125 (wish I had gotten the 150 for table tops and large surfaces) for surface prep.  DEFINITELY get the hard pads for them, especially when using them to sand narrow surfaces.

I use the ETS150 for fine finish on larger areas (another reason I wish I had gotten the RO150), again using the hard pad, and I use the RTS400 with the rectangular pad (orbital but not random orbit, for finishing smaller surfaces) -- great on stiles and rails and smaller surface areas.  I don't have a problem with sander marks with it when using it with the finer grits.

I also use the set of 3 hand-sanding blocks.  One uses the same paper as the RTS400, the other two use the 150 round papers.

 

[EWTHeckman]

Don't sell your Multi-Master.  Keep it for all the other things that it can do.  Just stop using it as a sander.  If it cries and screams too much when you get the RO90, then just put it in the closet of other room with drop cloths or a blanket over it to drown out the sound.

What Peter said. The MM is useful for more than just sanding.