Front Handle for Rotex RO150

[semenza]

Been wanting to try out the Auxiliary Front Handle for the Rotex RO150 for a couple years. # 495188 Intended for polishing work but I tried it for sanding.

[attachimg=#]    [attachimg=#]

The handle snaps on in place of  / the same way as the edge protector. I found that it offers some additional hand positions when sanding and found it useful.  First thing I wanted to check was the attachment. I was surprised to find that it doesn't even hint at coming loose  in the aggressive mode even  for heavy sanding.

It works  well for aggressive sanding adding a few more hand holds for  varying control options. Helps control front / rear / side to side pressure for "shaping" rough uneven surfaces.

In random orbit mode it gives a nice balanced float with one hand out front and one supporting the rear of the sander.

 

[attachimg=#]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Makes a nice hand rest  even  when actually gripping the head of the sander.

[attachimg=#]    [attachimg=#]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In random orbit mode it even allows for well controlled, flat sanding with one hand from the front.

[attachimg=#]

Seth

 

[Michael Kellough]

Something like that for the RO90 might help some folks who aren't used to balancing the little beast.

 

[ART at WORK]

Something like that for the RO90 might help some folks who aren't used to balancing the little beast.

I agree with you on that, could also be good when working for a long time

 

[Miss Mary]

SRSemenza,
Thank you for sending this link on my post about sanders and smaller hands..
Looking at this I like it.If I had to modify it a bit for my grip do you think the material it is composed of could handle a bit of shaping( possible finger grips) with out compromising the way it fits snugly on the tool?
This is a much better option for me then the standard off the side handles that cause more fatigue in the hands and wrist areas..
Thanks,
Mary

 

[semenza]

As best I can tell ....  the handle is hollow. So I don't think you would be able to cut into it for reshaping. But maybe an add on over mold material?

Seth

 

[Miss Mary]

Thanks Seth,
  Sometimes I have found I can dremel a bit of shaping into the hollow plastics, if it fit well enough in my hands I could do an epoxy over lay and carve my finger grips down to the handle as well..Hmmm Think I am going to have to make a drive and see if they will let me handle everything before I bring it home and modify..
Thanks
Mary

 

[tazprime38]

I bought the festo rotex old style back in 1999. I contacted tts back then suggesting that a front handle like the ones on biscuit joiners have was needed as I was doing a lot of overhead sanding and it was strenuous and awkward using it with the side handle. I always wanted to get hold of a spare handle from some biscuit joiner to try and see if would work with the rotex but never got round to it.

I still have the old rotex and it vibrates like mad now. I think I may try this now. It always bugged me why thus type of front handle was never made for the rotex for all the reasons Seth has explained. Festool make good tools but for some reason they tend to miss these sort of obvious enhancements.

 

[Tinker]

I bought the festo rotex old style back in 1999. I contacted tts back then suggesting that a front handle like the ones on biscuit joiners have was needed as I was doing a lot of overhead sanding and it was strenuous and awkward using it with the side handle. I always wanted to get hold of a spare handle from some biscuit joiner to try and see if would work with the rotex but never got round to it.

I still have the old rotex and it vibrates like mad now. I think I may try this now. It always bugged me why thus type of front handle was never made for the rotex for all the reasons Seth has explained. Festool make good tools but for some reason they tend to miss these sort of obvious enhancements.

I don't think it is missing the enhancements.  I think we all can think of needed changes to almost any tool >>> after using on job.  I think the changes show that Festoy is listening.  The changes Seth has shown us indicates how well they do the listening.  Maybe sometime in future, they will even do something like Mary has suggested. 
Tinker

 

[peter halle]

Mary,

A product that might be useful for a custom grip overlay is Instamorph.  It is a plastic that melts at relatively low temperatures and while still soft you could mold it to your grip.

Peter

 

[Tinker]

Wouldn't Instamorph add to the size of the handle?  I don't think Mary is as concerned about the shape of the handle as she is about the size.  Size meaning voluum that she will need to wrap her hand around.  I have small hands and have a hard time reaching some tool switches, not so much because of shape, but circumference as well as being left handed.  I sometimes have to shift grip to reach a switch with thumb or forefinger, which ever the design. being lefty, i long ago learned to compensate.  Size of handgrips is sometimes more of a problem that is more difficult to compensate for.

Tinker

 

[semenza]

I bought the festo rotex old style back in 1999. I contacted tts back then suggesting that a front handle like the ones on biscuit joiners have was needed as I was doing a lot of overhead sanding and it was strenuous and awkward using it with the side handle. I always wanted to get hold of a spare handle from some biscuit joiner to try and see if would work with the rotex but never got round to it.

I still have the old rotex and it vibrates like mad now. I think I may try this now. It always bugged me why thus type of front handle was never made for the rotex for all the reasons Seth has explained. Festool make good tools but for some reason they tend to miss these sort of obvious enhancements.

Pretty sure the front handle won't fit the old style Rotex.

Seth

 

[semenza]

Thanks Seth,
  Sometimes I have found I can dremel a bit of shaping into the hollow plastics, if it fit well enough in my hands I could do an epoxy over lay and carve my finger grips down to the handle as well..Hmmm Think I am going to have to make a drive and see if they will let me handle everything before I bring it home and modify..
Thanks
Mary

    You should probably call ahead to find out which sanders are in stock. If they have a demo area try them for real. Take some wood with you.  Also I think it might be real iffy on whether or not a dealer will have the front handle in stock.

    Just some thoughts.

Seth

 

[nickao]

That front handle is a must for me. Mine broke and I hated the sander for the 2 days I had to wait for a replacement.

I think it should be included with the the RO's new. The few people that return these sanders claiming they  are difficult  to control might not return them if the front handle came with the unit. For me its a different, much better, sander when the front handle is attached.

The RO 150 is about the only sander I use anymore. Even my very heavy duty Makita 1250 DEVS  that truly is more powerful than the RO 150 has been sold as its just to squirly compared to the Festool with the front handle.

The front handle allows me to control the sander with a light touch or in a very aggressive manner much easier than using the the side handle. Plus, the side handle always killed  my wrists , something the front handle totally eliminated for me.

 

[w802h]

I have small hands and usually use the side handle and the plug-it cord to grip my RO150.  I'm interested in the front handle too though.  After several hours of sanding - and I usually use Rotex mode - I'm looking for multiple ways to change my grip and get some relief.

 

[sae]

I could never get the sander to cooperate using the side handle. Using it seems to always add an uneven force on the pad, causing the jumps/skips. I either palm the top of the sander and guide the tail around w/ my other hand, or use the front handle + grab the back, putting a little more force on the front (since it has decreased leverage compared to the back), and it seems to keep everything happy.

Evenly distributed force is the key IME.

 

[Tinker]

I have never tried the side handle.  I am interested in the front handle tho. As a mason, i ran concrete trowel machines for years.  The RO 150 operates on the same principles so i have had no problem operating.
Tinker

 

[ear3]

Thanks Seth.  I only used the front handle when polishing, but I just tested it out on a normal sanding operation, and it does improve control, particularly when going off the edge.  Think I will use it on a regular basis now.

 

[nickao]

I agree with all these posts, the front handle really allows control, It helps to eliminate the skipping that can happen with this type of sander, especially when doing an edge. I think if users give the front handle a chance for regular sanding they may find they love it as much as I do.

I believe Festool has it backward. The front handle should be included and leave the side handle to be purchased as the option.
.
I am needing a second 150 soon simply because I have more work. My RO150 has to be at least 7 years old and still going strong. The only issue it ever had was recently the adapter that holds on the dust collection hose cracked, ordered a new one and all is well. Changing to the new multistream pad when they came out(I only use the extra hard pads) made a huge difference, almost like a new sander.