First with Festool

[electricald]

Hello everyone,
I just registered and brand new here and want to purchase my first festool. So I need help from you all. I am just brand new to woodworking. In the process of collecting tools along the way. I am looking to purchase the Festool RO 90 DX 3 1/2” disc sander. Because of its size I am looking at some thing a little bigger to go with it. And I was thinking of the ETS 125 EQ random orbit sander with a 5” sanding pad diameter. My plan is to purchase RO 90 DX. Is the 5” ETS unit good enough or should I go with a 6”. My plan is to start small jobs and I hope to build my own furniture. Will the 5” augment the 3 1/2 or do any of you guys who own the RO 90 can recommend another Festool unit. I am thinking I should have two. Your thoughts Ladies and Gentlemen.
Dan

 

[builderbob]

Welcome to the FOG Dan!

I wish you well into your Festool journey!

The sander question you have posed will come with many answers!  I do have the 90, 125 & 150. If I had to choose just two, it would be the ro 90 & ets 150. The ets 150 is a slammin sander. Even though the pad is large, I find myself going to it first. The balance is great and the control is smooth. I use it for large and small work. Like I said, others will chime in with their opinions as well, and in the end it will become a matter of what works and fits best for you!

Enjoy!

Bob

 

[Kev]

[welcome]

EST150/3 all the way - don't think on it any more ... just do it!  [wink]

 

[flair woodworks]

Welcome, Dan!  Are you on the West Coast like me?

To compliment the RO90, I'd go for a sander with a 6" pad.

 

[andvari]

6" is almost 50% more pad area than 5". Get the ETS 150/3, it is a great sander.

 

[electricald]

Hi Chris,
East Coast in NL. It's a balmy 5 deg C here today LOL. I spoke to Lee Valley sales rep today and I am ordering the CT26E, RO 90 DX and the ETS 150/3. It's my first time with Festool so I hope it lives up to its reputation as everyone has extolled the Festool line to the clouds.
Thanks for replying, you and the others helped me make my decision. I am ordering it now. This is where the internet shines.

Regards,
Dan P.

Welcome, Dan!  Are you on the West Coast like me?

To compliment the RO90, I'd go for a sander with a 6" pad.

 

[davee]

Great choice!  You should love this combination for sanding. 

 

[MrToolJunkie]

Agree with what others have said -- get something with a 6 inch pad -- either an ETS or the Rotex 150 would be great. 

Scot

 

[mouppe]

Get one sander and a dust extractor. You can add a second sander later if needs be, but the dust extractor is central to the whole Festool system.

Good luck.

 

[electricald]

Hello again Guys,
Ordered today: CT26 E Dust collector, RO 90 DX & ETS150/3 sanders. I liked the RO 90 unit as it is small and comes with a delta pad. Even though I am new to this craft I figured that I should have a bigger sander to go with it. I also received last month the CV1800 and the mini CV06 cyclones from Clearvue. I figured the mini along with the CT 26E unit will be a great combination.
Regards,
Dan P.

 

[semenza]

Hi Dan,

Welcome to the FOG!  [smile]

You have made a great sanding selection to start your Festool set up.

Seth

 

[JimB1]

Hi Dan,
Welcome to the slippery slope  ;D

The ETS125 is nice and actually surprised me after reading a lot of comments saying it was underpowered, it's actually pretty powerful but just not that aggressive because of the small 2mm stroke. However IMHO even though the 150/3 is larger and a little heavier it is much easier to control and is very smooth. The ability to use one or two hands for control and the large pad size make it really stable, even on thinner edges, and it just floats over large areas with no effort at all.

My 150/3 is my favorite sander of all time and is my go to sander for most things.

Good luck with the search, I'm deciding on my third Festool sander now, these things are like Pringles, you can't have just one (or two  [tongue])
-Jim

 

[ceddy]

I have the 125 and went for the 150/5 since I find they complement each other very well. I rarely use the 125. Start saving the $$

 

[Wooden Skye]

Welcome!  I asked a similar question recently and on the advice of others, made the following choice of the ETS 150 and RO 90.  In fact, I just bought the ETS150/3 and CT 26 today and the RO 90 from a fellow FOG Member.  I would add a dust extractor if you don't have already.  I liked the way the ETS 150 felt in my hand versus the ETS 125.

 

[jacko9]

Dan,

I posted the a similar question several months back.  I purchased the ETS 125 (I also own a 5" Bosch sander) used it for a few weeks and then went back and purchased the RO90 and exchanged the ETS 125 for the ETS 150/3 and after building several pieces of furniture, I couldn't be happier.

Jack