Festool Sanders

[UltraFest]

Hello Festool Army!
It’s my first post here, been reading a bit for a while now..
I am looking at getting 2 sanders but can’t decide on what to get..
I believe I need one Rotex and one ETS ec.
Majority of the work in summer I do is outside, decks, porches and all kind of wood working like restoration of existing porches ( sending & painting)
Occasionally we build some shelves, tv units cabinets etc..
5 or 6? I need to be comfortable with working with sender as sometimes we will do it for hours, on the floor, over head and in all kinds of positions.. Maybe one Ro sender for rough sending and one for finishing but could also be used for some roug sending if needed..
Thanks for all feedback in advance. Am I too naive thinking that 2 senders would be enough and will end up buying 3-4 at the end?!
Iggy

 

[rst]

For the tasks you listed I would think the Ro 150 and as ETS EC 150 would be your best options and seriously consider the RO 90.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Getting into square corners will likely require a third, sorry.
Large surfaces = large sanders so I would go with the RO150. The ETS EC might be a different story.
It might be advantageous to go with the ETS EC 125. Since it will accommodate the pads for the 150 version, you could use either size paper, and gain the advantage of the smaller 3mm orbit.
The expensive way to sand in corners is the RO90, and if you do any significant amount of sanding on vertical surfaces, it might be the best choice.
There are other versions of delta sanders, but that's all they do.

 

[squall_line]

Am I too naive thinking that 2 senders would be enough and will end up buying 3-4 at the end?!
Iggy

Welcome to the FOG!  [welcome]

I think you're right that you might eventually end up with 3 or 4 sanders, but I certainly wouldn't START with 3 or 4.  Festool has a 30 day like-it-or-return-it guarantee if you buy it brand new, so that should give you enough time to make an informed decision on your first one or two sander choices.

Will you be using dust collection at all?  Don't underestimate the value in having airflow to keep the motor and the sanding discs cooled off and running reliably.

For the tasks you listed I would think the Ro 150 and as ETS EC 150 would be your best options and seriously consider the RO 90.

How much overlap is there between the eccentric mode of the RO 150 and the ETS EC 150?  I can't remember if the RO 150's eccentric mode is a 5mm or 3mm stroke...  An RO 150 and RO 90 would be a pretty good combination, especially the RO90 for rails and the Delta pad.  Once the "finish" work starts on furniture, an ETS or ETS EC might be warranted.

 

[ScotF]

If I were getting two, I would opt for the Rotex 150 and DTS400 for corners and finishing sander. This combination would get you a sander to handle most situations. I would add an ETS later and really like the 125 size for this. Grant paper is my favorite for all of these and of course one of the CT dust extractors too.

 

[Cheese]

The porch maintenance virtually demands that a Rotex is in your arsenal. I'm assuming however, that the rough/bad/trashed areas that you'd need a Rotex for are relatively small and not huge expanses of wood. If that's the case, then a Rotex 125 would be my choice. Couple this along with an ETS EC 125 that also accepts a 150 mm pad and you now have both 5" and 6" capabilities.

The other missing item is sanding in corners. I'd suggest a RTS or DTS sander because either one is $200 cheaper than a Rotex 90 and you'll probably want to add a dust collector. 

However, thinking about it a little bit more, if the rough/bad/trashed areas are really small, you may be able to get away with just a Rotex 90 and an ETS EC 125 or 150 sander. Rotex 90 for small trashed areas, the ETS EC for general sanding and then the Rotex 90 again for corner sanding with the delta pad.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Rotex 150 + DTS 400 if you want to start with 2 sanders. You can litterally do almost any job imaginable with these 2 sanders. Rotex for the rough work and DTS for all finer situations and of course the much needed corners.

Wouldn't hurt to add an ETS 125 (EC model, or not) later on for the fine finish.

But definitely get a dust extractor like a Mini or Midi with your sanders. It is a must.

 

[mrboult]

I’d start with the ETS EC 125 + extra 150mm pad.

- It’s likely a sander that fits well into any future lineup.
- It’s the only sander that takes 125&150mm pad sizes.
- It may do all the rough work you need it to with some 40/60 grit paper.
- it might help you decide if you’d prefer to add an RO125 or RO150
- it’s a delight to use.

I’d go for that first and then decide what you’re still missing most. Whether that be a delta sander for the corners or an RO sander for the heavy duty work.

 

[contendernut]

Don’t forget paper cost. I love the RO150 but didn’t care for the RO125.  Large rough surfaces means Ro150.

The ets ec 150/125 are 400-500 range. Instead of this get the brushed ets 125 for $200 and dts400 for $275. That’s three sanders and three different papers.

 

[afish]

If you want an RO sander I would get the 6" version in the Bosch "GET75-6n).  Its 95% of the Rotex for almost half the price. An ETS ec 125 (150 pad fits) and take the money you saved on getting the Bosch and get a third sander like the DTS or RTS for corners.

 

[Bertotti]

I have a RO90, my first, and the Ro150. I have yet to find a surface I can't make these work on. Maybe the ETS is easier to use in random orbit mode, I find the RO150 a handful in random orbit mode but I don't use it often it will become easier as I learn it. The RO 90 had the steepest learning curve of the two. It is ultra-sensitive to keeping the pads flat on the surface. The 150 of course also needs to be flat but I find the large size easiest to do that with. I would say the RO90 took me an entire day to start to really understand and several days to really become proficient enough that I can use it one-handed now. I do not regret buying either. I don't see the 5mm on the RO 150 as an issue and for really sensitive wood I generally do final hand sand with the finest grit I used, with the grain, old habits die hard. But I get there so much faster with the two Rotex. A friend has the Mirka and loves it as much as I like my Festool.

 

[UltraFest]

Thank you all for kind replies and for taking your precious time to educate me about senders..
I love power tools and at this stage of my life (almost 50) I tend not to care about the cost and want to be in position to enjoy what I am doing and enjoy the tools I work with. This is my priority.. Money is secondary.. After all I have read so far I am leaning toward getting RO 125 and ETS EC 125 since it will accept 6” pads ( I just learned this reading your comments) and then in future get RO90.. I do have CT26 and Fein cordless multimaster that I use with attachments for sending around corners etc..
So again thank you for your time

 

[Cheese]

Just to make sure...the ETS EC 125 accepts 150 pads, the RO 125 does not.

 

[AlexThePalex]

After all I have read so far I am leaning toward getting RO 125 and ETS EC 125 since it will accept 6” pads

Knowing both the RO125 and the RO150 intimately, I think it would be a mistake to get the 125 over the 150, the 150 is soooooo much more sander than the 125. The 150 is not only more stable and easier to handle, but also has a bigger surface and has much more power which will make you work much faster.

I only borrow my cousins' 125 when my 150 is too big for the task, and I hate every second of using it instead of my 150.

 

[mrboult]

I agree with Alex’s last post.

I own the RO125 and will keep it forever as the 125mm is my favourite and most used paper size. But it is a handful to use, takes some time to master.  While I’ve gotten used to it, I don’t love using it, other than enjoying the speed at which it sands.

The RO150 is faster at removal with its bigger pad and larger 5mm orbit, but it is also way way smoother and easier to use.

But you have the 30 day trial period in the USA so no harm in giving it a go if you feel the 125 size of more your taste.

 

[Thompmd]

I have the RO150 and while it does a great job especially in rougher applications I think it’s almost too much of a sander to finely finish. I also really like the convenience of having one size set of Granat paper that fits both models.

I don’t have direct experience w/125’s but would be concerned about power as well using a 6” pad doing initial rough surfaces on a large piece.

You touched on money being secondary at this point so I would suggest the ro150 & a 150 w a 3mm vs 5mm stroke.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I guess my experience of owning the RO90 first made a difference. The RO90 has arguably the steepest learning curve, making the RO125 seem tame in comparison. I got the RO125 specifically because I already had the ETS EC125, keeping with compatible abrasives.
One of the guys I work with has an RO150, so I have been able to test-drive one a few times, but I don't see an advantage worth keeping 150mm abrasives just for that.
When I need to do rough work on really large surfaces, I get out my IR 328b. It is an 8" pneumatic greared-orbital sander. Of course this is not practical outside of a shop environment, because it is a huge air hog.
That is why I recommended the RO150 to the original poster and the ETS EC 125. You could swap to the 150mm pad to stay with one paper size and 3mm orbit for finer work. Always having the ability to use 125mm paper if needed.

 

[UltraFest]

I agree with Alex’s last post.

I own the RO125 and will keep it forever as the 125mm is my favourite and most used paper size. But it is a handful to use, takes some time to master.  While I’ve gotten used to it, I don’t love using it, other than enjoying the speed at which it sands.

The RO150 is faster at removal with its bigger pad and larger 5mm orbit, but it is also way way smoother and easier to use.

But you have the 30 day trial period in the USA so no harm in giving it a go if you feel the 125 size of more your taste.

I love that RO 150 is easier to use then 125 but I guess that’s only for flat horizontal surfaces. My main concern about RO 150 is the weight if I have to send something vertical for 2-3 hours .. Would I be better of getting RTS EC 150 5mm instead of ETS EC 125 for some rough vertical sending?
The way I see this developing is I might end up with 4 senders in the near future.. You got a give the Festool marketing department a thumbs up for their work

 

[Cheese]

My main concern about RO 150 is the weight if I have to send something vertical for 2-3 hours .. Would I be better of getting RTS EC 150 5mm instead of ETS EC 125 for some rough vertical sending?

I don't think you'll be sanding vertically for 2-3 hours with either of the large Rotex sanders...they just weigh too much.  [smile]

That's really where the ETS EC sanders come in to play. The light weight and low center of gravity help immensely. Actually, for extended vertical work, I pick up the ETSC or DTSC sanders, light weight, no cord and no DC hose to be working against you. The only weight you're supporting is the weight of the sander.

 

[bertv]

I don't think you'll be sanding vertically for 2-3 hours with either of the large Rotex sanders...they just weigh too much.  [smile]

Yeah, after such a long period you'll probably have halved the thickness of the wood… That being said, the Rotex 150 may not be the best sander to use for a finished look, but just a minute of hand sanding will resolve that, is my experience, in case you wanna stain or oil. For paint (covering!) it doesn’t matter.

IMO the best set to start with is a RO 150 and a DTS 400. Add a ETC EC and you are all set. (I bought the EC 125 with two 150 pads b/c I don’t need the hassle of another size of sandpaper disks to stock up. Which makes sense, right?).