First Festool sander: RO90!

[Joberwocky]

Just got back home with my latest fes purchase in tow: a RO90.  I'm extremely excited to get to using it this weekend since just recently I've acquired a CT26 and haven't been able to utilize it.  Have some projects in mind for the weekend and it's time to bust out the technically new dust extractor and new sander.  I also have a OF1400 that until now I haven't had the luxury of using with an extractor.  I've been using a no thrills dewalt RO 5" sander for about 6-7 years (got it while I was in college as a sophomore learning furniture making) and I'd say it's held up/done the deed long enough; it was time for an upgrade, not to mention the "dust bag" on the back of the sander has always been something of a joke.  Unfortunately at work where I've taken to using the old dewalt more often my employer insists on buying the holeless adhesive backed sanding discs.  Using any sander in our shop is a dust mask/clad affair.
Right out of the boxim impressed/happy with the build of the sander and the assortment of included test papers.  I had to refrain from buying a bunch of sandpaper until I've gotten a feel for what grits/type I'll be using the most often.  I went ahead and got the hard pad at the time of purchase.  I feel next I'll get the ETS 125 or 150 just to have a sander patterned after what I'm more familiar with, but who owns: maybe using the RO90 will push me towards one of its larger brothers in the future.

 

[Nick C]

I hope you enjoy your new sander. It can be a bit difficult to keep the pad flat on the workpiece, especially horizontal ones, so be careful at the edges with that hard pad. The finishers are very different animals. I have the 150, and moving through the grits on flat panels is quick and easy.

 

[Kev]

Among several Festool sanders, I have an ETS150/5. I like it so much I'm intending to get an ETS150/3 too ... trouble is, every time I go into the shop I come out with something else  [eek]

The balance of the ETS150's on flat surfaces is awesome and you can use them for hours without your hand feeling like it's being vibrated to death. (The entire weight, stroke, balance, counterbalance thing is just incredibly well refined).

The RO 90 is brilliant, but the pad size will drive you to something like an ETS ... fairly soon.

Kev.

 

[RC]

Among several Festool sanders, I have an ETS150/5. I like it so much I'm intending to get an ETS150/3 too ... trouble is, every time I go into the shop I come out with something else  [eek]

Lol - that happened to me too yesterday - again...  [embarassed]

Went to get a good deal on a syslite and came out with a Carvex and the sliding table attachment for my CMS + a load of systainers - uups!  [big grin]

 

[Kev]

Among several Festool sanders, I have an ETS150/5. I like it so much I'm intending to get an ETS150/3 too ... trouble is, every time I go into the shop I come out with something else  [eek]

Lol - that happened to me too yesterday - again...  [embarassed]

Went to get a good deal on a syslite and came out with a Carvex and the sliding table attachment for my CMS + a load of systainers - uups!  [big grin]

It's shocking isn't it - I fell for a mains Protool drill and an angle grinder, plus another three Protool tool boxes.

(I only really went in for a Tormek rotating base)

 

[Joberwocky]

I figured there'd be a little bit of a learning curve with the greater power/smaller pad size then from what I'm used to.  As someone who works nearly 100% in wood, what type of paper would you guys recommend? I have no real experience with the different grades of fes paper and usually I sand up to 400 grit only when looking for a really fantastic finish; typically 220 is as far as I get. 
I've really got my eye on one of the ETS 150/3's, have a birthday coming up early July.  Aside from the style of the sanders, is there any real difference between the ETS 150 and the RO 150 when using their random orbit mode?  If I'm comfortable with the handle style of the RO 150 would it be practical to forgo the ETS 150 altogether?

 

[live4ever]

I'd go with Granat - a really fantastic all-purpose paper.  Before Granat became available, a common recipe was to go Granat on lower grits and Brilliant 2 from 120+. 

The 150/3 and RO90 make an excellent pair.  As has been mentioned, the RO90's small pad can be a bit tough to keep level on large flat surfaces.  But it's a great all-purpose sander that comes in handy in all sorts of situations.  My RO90 tends to be used a lot for remodel/renovation type of work (low grits up to 120) as well as polishing and cleaning (Platin and Vlies).  It doesn't get used nearly as much as the 150/3 for woodworking fine sanding in the 120-400 range, but that may be because I'm doing a lot of cabinetry right now.

 

[AlexThePalex]

As someone who works nearly 100% in wood, what type of paper would you guys recommend?

Go with Rubin for the lower grits, up to 180, and not Granat as mentioned above. Rubin is the specialist for bare wood and gives the best results there. Rubin goes up to 180, so above that you can use either Brilliant or Granat.

 

[sheeschen]

I started with the RO150E years ago (before the plug-it cords), and it's a great sander, but I often felt it was fighting me.  Even after learning the tricks of turning the dust collection speed down and just letting the sander float over the surface, I still felt I had to spend a lot of focus keeping the sander on track, even in the fine mode.

After a lot of hemming and hawing, I took the plunge and bought the ETS150/3 a few months ago, and couldn't be happier.  That sander is so well-behaved.  I don't know if it's the differences in size, balance, power, or orbit size, but it's very smooth.  I feel I could leave the room with it turned on resting on a block of wood and come back to find a nice bowl.  An exaggeration, I'm sure, but it feels that smooth.  In a similar situation, the RO150 would be all over the room.  I'm keeping my RO150 (even upgraded to a used 150FEQ), and it's extremely versatile, they're just different beasts.

As for paper, I've got some boxes of Rubin and Brilliant around, but once I tried the Granat that was in the sampler pack included with my RO90, I've simplified on that.  It impressed me as I was doing my door and window trim.  The other papers clogged quickly with the filler putty, while it had no effect on the Granat.  Even on raw wood, the Granat seems to last longer and give a good finish.  Maybe as I transition from doing the trim in my house to building finer stuff, like furniture, I'll start noticing more subtle differences.  For now, though, Granat is my go-to.  I max out around 220 or 240, sometimes 320.

I noticed Alex replied while I was typing this, recommending Rubin on the lower grits.  He could be right.  I don't have a ton of experience, and primarily settled on Granat to simplify things.  I know I sand above 180, so it was between Brilliant and Granat, and Granat worked well all-around for me.

    Scott

 

[Kev]

The new Rubin2 should be interesting - not certain when it'll be available in the various markets.

Regarding the RO 150, technically it should be able to do what an ETS150 does in terms of pad and sanding pattern - but in the real world the units are incredibly different. If you're not doing a lot of sanding in one session and you also need the RO 150's more aggressive attributes I'd certainly consider it.

Unfortunately there's a sweet spot for all of the various Festool sanders when you run into their argent application. Don't be surprised if you find yourself coveting half a dozen different Festool sanders.

 

[Joberwocky]

Thanks everyone for the useful info.  I'll probably stick to some combination of granat and rubin with the occasional brilliant.

Don't be surprised if you find yourself coveting half a dozen different Festool sanders.

Definitely already find this to be the case, gotta pace myself...

 

[MrToolJunkie]

I really like Granat and I am switching over to it for all my sanding when I run out of Rubin and Brilliant.  They all work well, but Rubin just does not last that long -- I think Brilliant or Granat is a better way to go for sanding bare wood and get more longevity. 

Congrats on your RO90...it is a great little sander.

Scot

 

[Scott B.]

Granat lasts forever on bare wood. Like all day. And is the best on painted surfaces.

 

[JimB1]

As someone who works nearly 100% in wood, what type of paper would you guys recommend?

Go with Rubin for the lower grits, up to 180, and not Granat as mentioned above. Rubin is the specialist for bare wood and gives the best results there. Rubin goes up to 180, so above that you can use either Brilliant or Granat.

+1 but I've found I like Rubin up to 150 and Brilliant2 above that. For some reason Rubin at 180 seems to break down fast for me. However my experience with Granat is still very limited (still pretty new to Festool stuff) so maybe the life makes it worth the extra expense up front. The guys here won't steer you wrong (though sometimes the conflicting opinions will make your head spin )

The ETS125 is nice but I felt the ETS150 was the more controllable and comfortable to use.

Good luck with the 90, it's a really nice sander.

 

[Joberwocky]

Thanks everyone for the info, I see a ETS 150/3 in my future...