First Sander Causing a Dilemma

S

Steve F

Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
89
Hi all,

After much sander deliberation, I recently decided that my first Festool sander would be the ETS 125, instead of the Rotex. I figured that since I already had a Bosch 3" belt sander, I could use that for heavy stock removal and got an adapter to hook up the Bosch to my CT-22.

The good news is that I love the ETS 125.  It's light, small, and the dust collection is amazing.  But it still leaves me needing to use the belt sander.

The bad news is that after using the ETS 125, I now hate the Bosch!  It's heavy, clunky, hard to control, and the dust collection is a joke (compared to the ETS 125).

So, I have decided that I should have gotten the Rotex instead.  Luckily I'm still within 30 days, but am concerned that I'll really miss not having a palm sander.  It would be great to have both, but cost is a factor.  I need a more aggressive sander, but don;t want to give up the finish I get from the palm sander.

So which of these three options make the most sense, assuming that most of my sanding is bare wood or sanding between varnish or paint coats.  Not a lot of renovation-style heavy paint removal:

1.  Rotex 125 only.
2.  ETS 125 & RAS 115
3.  ETS 125 & ETS 150/5

Thanks for your thoughts.

Steve 
 
I have the ETS150/3 and the Rotex 150. I wouldnt want to be without either. sorry but you "need" both. I use the ETS150 for finish sanding and the RO150 for heavy stock removal and wet sanding/polishing finishes. My Rotex never leaves the rotary mode. I can get a good finish with just the Rotex too. All in rotary mode going thru the grits to about 320. Its very fast and if you dont skip grits there will be no scratches. Definately a 2 hander but still very easy to control.

If you like the 125 you'll flip out over the 150/3. I also have the RTS400. If I had to do it over I would never have bought the 400. dont like it at all the pad isnt flat and it leaves a horrid swirly finish. Gonna have to get a dynabug for sanding edges.
 
Hey Steve,
Here's my .02.
RO 150, best all around sander...it just does everything and very well. ( you just can't really hold and maneuver it like a palm sander...close sometimes, but not exactly. )
150/5 or 3, awesome palm sanders. The 5 is just a tad more aggressive, but won't touch the RO150 when it's in rotary for quick material removal if that's ever a factor.
RA115 will replace your belt sander and by a factor of 10!  It's amazing at material removal( even more than the RO150 could ever do by a long shot! ) and manages to collect around 90% of it's dust I would guess.
The 125 is really a very delicate wood sander and, I have not tried this yet, but I've read others use it with great success for drywall work!
Take them in any order and as you can afford...or justify them [smile]. This is just order I would get them in...and all the same day ;D. Darn koolaid... Darn first festool I bought...  I miss my savings account :-\
Best of luck
 
My only Festool sander is the rotex 150.....but the oooooold model style before the ones they have now. It serves me very well for all my sanding needs at the moment. Its also important that you use the right abrasive right from the start. If your going to sand veneers dont start lower then 120.
 
Scribs said:
RO 150, best all around sander...it just does everything and very well.
Click to expand...

Steve
Here's another vote for the RO 150. It truly just does everything very well. I have a ETS 150/3 and it's great too, but if you need one machine the RO 150 is the bomb.
I have a "new" Bosch and the vacuum dust collection attachment is a joke. Festool Bosch hoses are interchangeable with Festool tools but the bosch vacuum conversion attachments really blow.
I'll have to take a look at the Dynabug. That machine looks so retro.
Thanks for the heads up Eiji.
Tim
 
Thanks for the feedback, but is the RO150 that much better than the RO125?  What do you do for sanding the inside and outside of arches - like rocker legs?  I thing the 5" would be much better - especially on the concave portion.  ????

Steve
 
Steve F said:
Thanks for the feedback, but is the RO150 that much better than the RO125?  What do you do for sanding the inside and outside of arches - like rocker legs?  I thing the 5" would be much better - especially on the concave portion.  ????

Steve
Click to expand...

The RO150 will cover a large area a lot quicker than the RO125. Or, it will cover a much larger area in the same time. Depends if you're a 'glass half full' type of guy, I suppose [huh].

If your main use is sanding concave curves such as you describe, then maybe the RO90 would be better.

Personally, I don't have any 125mm/5" sanders, and don't intend to either. I much prefer the 150s.
 
If your main use is sanding concave curves such as you describe, then maybe the RO90 would be better.
Click to expand...

Thanks, but as far as I can tell, we don't have that one on this side of the pond.

 
i had a problem with RO150 (aside from the fact it was a contributor to my own slippery slope). I had to sand a piece that had both soft wood and very hard woods.  As I went across the different densities, i realized I was scooping down into the softer woods. Made a nice little cup that took considerable work to get the hard woods down to the same level.  I asked here at the FOG, and somebody mentioned that I could be using the soft pad.  I checked, and sure enough, i found (working from memory here now) that there is a soft, a medium and a hard pad.  I went to my local toy store and found a hard pad and voila! it worked great.  The hard pad did the trick and i was out of the woods very quickly.  You might be surprised at how tight a curve you can sand with the RO150 and using the softer pad. 
Now, of course the ideal situation would be to have two RO 150's so you could do the inside arch with one and the outside arch with the other  ::) [tongue]
 
Just get the RO125.

I have these sanders: (bought in this order)

RO125
DX 93
RAS 115
ETS 125

I have been using the est a lot lately.  There are a few guys that don't like that sander but, I have been getting great results with it.

I really like my RO125, I use it vertically and over my head quite a bit.

I would like to have a RO 150 but, it just does not suit my needs.
 
I LOVE my RO125

There are some times when I would like the bigger pad, but not many.

It will make a beautiful finish in the RO mode, if you are doing a lot of sanding (I mean really a lot, and not the occasional project) I would keep the ETS, and add on the RO125, but if you are a hobbyist, and are just doing projects for yourself, the RO125 is all you need but a DTS for detailing would be a perfect add on.
 
Shane Holland said:
Yes, RO 90, early 2011.
Click to expand...

Do you have plans for Festool's belt sander(s)?  There is a good niche. I love and hate my Bosch 1276, and still waiting for Festool's belt sander.

Thanks,
VictorL
 
Steve F said:
Is the RO90 just a Rotex with 3-1/2" discs?  Is it less expensive than the 125?
Click to expand...

No, it's 100 Watts less powerfull, it's smaller, weighs less, etc.

The pad can very easily be changed to the 93V pad and thus both 90mm discs and the 93mm triangular papers like the Festool 93V. With the introduction of the Rotex 90 the 93V is now a lot less interesting.

Here it's as expensive as the Rotex 125
 
Thanks again.  I'm about ready to swap the ETS for a Rotex and the comments about the 125 are heartening.  The 6" would be nice, but I am not sure the extra coverage is enough to offset the added weight.

Maybe this is a stupid question, but assume I were to sand a board to 320 grit (or any grit) with the ETS 125, would the surface be noticeably different than if I sanded the exact same board to the exact same grit with any of the other random orbit sanders (ETS 150/3, ETS 150/5, Rotex 125, or Rotex 150)?  How much difference does the sander itself actually make?

My concern with the Rotex had been whether I'll still be able to get as good a finish as with the ETS.

Thanks all.

Steve

 
Rotex 125 would be my choice. I would automatically discount any of the 150 sized sanders as you would have to buy both sizes of paper. Same for the RO 90.
 
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