Hand sander - great for drywall - discontinued?

[Kodi Crescent]

I found this awesome sander on the Tool-Home website.  I used it to sand a drywall patch to a nearly perfect finish.  It may have even been a Level 5 finish, or very close!  I don't think I've done that before.

http://www.tool-home.com/products/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/92_1217/products_id/25052?osCsid=8kfsj2shlso0bmj0gttrucuv92

I believe this was discontinued by Festool some time ago.  I've checked the Festool website, and the part number (496962) doesn't show up.  I've scoured the internet, and it looks like very few companies sell this.  They must have old stock that's been sitting around for some time.  I was lucky enough to find this, a supply of paper, and the associated hose when I did.

Why did Festool discontinue this and when?  Will the paper for this hand sander still be available for "at least 7 years" after the end date?  I do lots of drywall patching and sanding and I hope to have the supplies necessary for these results long into the future.

 

[K119Phil]

From my end I see that the part number 496962 is still good and available to order.  Not discontinued

One little piece of trivia -- the Festool print catalog?  FestoolUSA.com catalog?  both are not 100% of the master list.  That said, the master list is quite difficult to navigate, and really takes "knowing what you're staring at" to make any relative sense.  Just coincidental that I've seen this sanding block before

Another possibility is that Festool has moved this sanding block to their Automotive catalog (which as far as I know is not in print yet).

Let me know if you'd like to stock up though!

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Kodi,

It's not on our website because we consider it primarily for automotive applications and thus don't really market it. Of course, it can be used for other applications, like drywall.

It's not been discontinued.

It uses the same paper as the LS 130 and RTS 400, so paper will be around for a long, long time.

Shane

 

[Kodi Crescent]

Awesome!  I was very happy to find it! 

Did you know that Norton sells something that looks almost identical?  Surprisingly, it's even more expensive than the Festool version!

http://www.grainger.com/product/NORTON-MultiAir-Hand-Block-13Y962

 

[promark747]

Awesome!  I was very happy to find it! 

Did you know that Norton sells something that looks almost identical?  Surprisingly, it's even more expensive than the Festool version!

http://www.grainger.com/product/NORTON-MultiAir-Hand-Block-13Y962

That's interesting as I have an identical Mirka version...someone must manufacture for all three companies.

 

[tbellemare]

There are 4 Hand Sanding Blocks that include Dust Extraction ports available in North America from Festool.

The 4 sizes are:
    80mm X 130mm
    115mm X 226mm
    80mm X 400mm
    80mm X 200mm

The 80mm X 130mm uses the same abrasives as the RTS 400 or LS 130.

The 115mm X 226mm uses the same abrasives as the RS 2.

The 80mm X 400mm and the 80mm X 200mm use the same abrasives, which are specific to these hand sanders. These abrasives are sheets that are each 80mm X 400mm. Each sheet also has a perforation in the middle so that when torn, it becomes 80mm X 200mm. The hole pattern is specific to these two hand sanders, at least in North American Festool products.

Tom

 

[ryan_k]

Awesome, I want at least one of these.

Can anyone here ship these to Canada?

 

[tbellemare]

I almost forgot but if you use these hand sanding blocks, the recommended hose is a smaller, more flexible version that is non-antistatic and is 21.5mm diameter X 5m long.

Tom

 

[tiralie]

Awesome, I want at least one of these.
Can anyone here ship these to Canada?

Ryan:
I am sure any of the Canadian dealers will order these for you. Pricing differences between Canada and US have mostly evened out.
Tim

 

[junk731]

I almost forgot but if you use these hand sanding blocks, the recommended hose is a smaller, more flexible version that is non-antistatic and is 21.5mm diameter X 5m long.

Tom

Ryan

You could also check out the Mirka version from Jeff at Wood Essence. We've using for about 3 years for drywall and all types of sanding.

http://www.woodessence.com/Abranet-Hand-Sanding-Starter-Kit-P128C27.aspx

John

 

[neeleman]

They come from multiple manufacturers and nearly all look the same besides the colour and probably come from the same factory.
BUT the dimensions of hand sanding blocks do vary and also the hole pattern may differ.

As far as my knowledge goes ONLY Festool offers one for 80x130 mm abrasives which is also used for the RTS400/LS130 machines.

Mirka and Norton have 70x125 mm. While Hamach has 80x153 mm.

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

The Festool edge hand-sander looks great! But, for $135 plus $65 for the special hose, I just don't see it. ..when, for a few more dollars, I can buy a Bosch or Makita powered belt sander.  (I'm cured of my Festool bug, after having to buy a $12 Festool push-stick and wait two weeks for it! - after spending $1600+ for the CMS GE Set.)

 

[Kodi Crescent]

The Festool edge hand-sander looks great! But, for $135 plus $65 for the special hose, I just don't see it. ..when, for a few more dollars, I can buy a Bosch or Makita powered belt sander.  (I'm cured of my Festool bug, after having to buy a $12 Festool push-stick and wait two weeks for it! - after spending $1600+ for the CMS GE Set.)

I stand in awe of you, sir!  If you can do a Level 5 drywall job with a belt sander, you are truly a skilled craftsman!

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

No, Kodi, I don't and never will do anything with drywall.  I will sand the edge of 8/4 oak, though. And, please, I'm the last person to ever stand in awe of...even facetiously.

 

[Kodi Crescent]

No, Kodi, I don't and never will do anything with drywall.  I will sand the edge of 8/4 oak, though. And, please, I'm the last person to ever stand in awe of...even facetiously.

I wouldn't sand 8/4 oak with this thing, either.  Not the right tool for the job.

But, I do lots of drywall for various improvement and mishaps.  I was using a sponge which gave great results but lots of dust.  Someone would inevitably get a cold soon after a drywall repair due to our breathing passages being dried out due to the dust (in my unscientific, non-medical opinion).

Then I switched to the ETS 125.  It does a pretty good job, virtually dust free.  But somehow I wouldn't get the edges just right.  After I painted the wall I could see the transition between the repaired surface and the old surface.  Very minor, but I could see it.  It bugged me.

So in comes this.  Yes, it's expensive.  But I can blend the edges now.  Virtually dust free.  It's the right tool for this job for me, at least after the second and third skim coats.  I still use the ETS for the first, since I use a harder setting compound on the first coat.

I know lots of people avoid drywall for various reasons.  In my opinion its a "gateway" home improvement or remodeling skill, since you generally have to cut holes in wall for many improvements.  Nothing to avoid with the right tools.

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

Hear you, Kodi.  Actually, I think the the Festool edge hand sander ;
http://www.tool-home.com/products/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/25054?osCsid=nk199t0v9klqoupfv1po8t1tn4
would be perfect to use for my current job, but I'm going to use the Festool Pocker Stickfix - because that's what I have, right now.  I'll use the ETS 125 for the face.  FWIW, my whole business is basically making space-saving furniture and custom furniture.  ( The idea of picking up sheet rock - I' m going for an MRI tomorrow at 7:15am for a torn shoulder - doesn't sound good.)  Any jobs that are structural, such as using installing drywall, I defer to a friend.

 

[3PedalMINI]

Very Cool!

I purchased a ETS125 sander for primarily sanding drywall patches. In my field it often means we are cutting holes and need to patch the drywall. We offer this as a service and sets us appart from the other guys that force the the client to get a painter to fix the damage.

I bring in my ETS125 and of course my CT-Midi and achieve level 5 patches in a matter of a few minutes, best of NO DUST! Give the client a little sherwin Williams primer kit and were on our way (i cant paint worth a crap so i dont offer that )

 

[Kodi Crescent]

It's the edge of the patches that were getting me with the ETS 125.  As much as I'd try to get them all feathered correctly, I was doing something wrong (or maybe I'm too picky).  There was always some minimal transition that I could spot.  I don't that others could unless I pointed them out.  The hand stuff allows me to get that minimal edge.

 

[bkharman]

I bought this recently to sand down Sherwin Williams Wood & Wall primer and let me tell you, it Is the best thing I have bought for the money recently!!

My kitchen remodel is moving much smoother with this under $100.00 tool. I was dreading doing some hand sanding and this baby makes it so much better!!

 

[wow]

I use this for anything other than quick drywall jobs:

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Not as dust-free as the green brand, but at 1/10th the cost it was a steal from CL.

I suppose I could get a systainer to put my supplies in though?