Help me spend some money

[NERemodeling]

Hey All

its only been about 1.5 months since my first official Festool purchase  (HL850)  in that short time i have blown through almost 3k  [eek]    i didn't think it could happen that quick... I've added a signature to help with this post.  there is still so much i would like to get but only have about another $500 to spend and once that's gone it will be a while  :'(

I'm having trouble deciding what to buy last  my top choices are as follows (make any combination that comes close to 500)

3000mm rail

CT26 (would like to buy it with another tool though to get the discount so this may be out unless there is a unanimous vote and i will save up a bit more/make it happen, probably pair with ets125) if going for the vac and you could only have one hose for a while would you chose the 27mm or 36mm?

RO90

RO150 (wouldn't be able to get much of an assortment of sandpaper)

ETS125

A bunch of various T-locs and Kaizen foam to organize, small tools/parts, clamps, router bits and other brand tools (could easily spend all 500 here)

Panther blade

another option would be to build the Paulk Ultimate work bench (version 2 most likely)

thanks 

John

 

[ridgenj]

My choice would be RO 90 and Panther blade. I was in a similar situation.
Cheers
Luis

 

[GarryMartin]

Dust control is the one thing that really makes all the systems buzz. My vote would be for the extractor. Planers obviously fill bags quickly, so maybe the 26 with long life bag? The midi would suffice and is a little cheaper, but no long life bags and smaller capacity so you'd be emptying it more frequently.

Given you have a 1900 and 1400 rail (with connectors) and only $500 left, I'd personally say the 3000 is a luxury.

 

[cliffp]

I would definitely get an extractor next.

 

[mike68au]

I'll have to throw a vote for the CT26 since you don't seem to have a vac as such yet.  Personally i bought the Vac first and and the tools second.  Well i did have other brand tools but no VAC.

I now blame the vac for this green disease i have contracted.

 

[ScotF]

I would say an extractor would be the next purchase -- it really is one of many things that sets Festools a part from anything else out there IMHO.

Scot

 

[ridgenj]

Agree, I have two, one MIDI mobile and a CT 36 with a boom arm.
Extractor is a must.

Cheers
Luis

 

[erock]

I think I would save up for a RO90/CT26 package. 

That's what I would do if I were in your shoes.

Because yes, the CT vac are the center piece of the Festool system.

The RO90 gives you both worlds with detail sanding in corners and agressive sanding when needed.

Have some self control and save for a bigger purchase  [tongue]  [poke]

If you only get one item, it's gotta be a vac to go with the 10 other Festool you will be buying in about 2 years.

Trust me....I know  [big grin].

Eric

 

[Samo]

  "I'm having trouble deciding what to buy last" 

What to buy last?  This is the only problem I can see with your reasoning!

RO90 and the Midi are two of my go to favorites.

 

[Wooden Skye]

I would get the CT, and if you could get by with a smaller size than the 26, you would be closer to the RO 90 and CT Combo.  As for the hose I think you would want both so I would get the 27mm that comes with the vac and then go for the 36mm later.  I am going to buy the universal cleaning kit that comes with the 36mm hose and only costs $5 more than the hose by itself.  Someone correct me if I am wrong, but all Festool sanders need the 27mm hose. 

 

[AlexThePalex]

Dude, you definitely need the CT, it's the backbone of your Festool collection. All the tools you already have become three times as nice with a CT connected. Unless you're in dire need of a sander get the vac first.

 

[ridgenj]

At least my sanders need 27 mm

 

[GarryMartin]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but all Festool sanders need the 27mm hose. 

At least on this side of the pond, the PLANEX is the only one that *needs* a 36mm hose. The BS 75 and BS 105 belt sanders can use 27mm or 36mm. Everything else uses 27mm.

 

[Runhard]

You should buy a CT26 now or save a little more and get the CT26/RO90 combo... then a little later another CT with a RO150, ETS150/3, Kapex, Domino, CXS, all the abrasives and accessories and it goes on and on and on...  [eek]

 

[NERemodeling]

wow, hands down extractor!! (ridgenj, i take it that your second post replaces your first)  i thought there would be a little more variation. i guess the choice is clear

i like how you guys are trying to sneak in a RO90  dont you want my marriage to last  [laughing]

the sander thing did get me thinking though 

  i originally thought ETS125 because it is least expensive of the sanders that i plan to buy  is there any reason not to go this route?  i have heard great things about this sander

  i think i would prefer the RO150 before the RO90 because it seems it would be more useful with the work i do, that said, my brain is telling me that the total price for CT/RO90 or CT/RO150 would be close to the same because of the money i would save buying only one and not two types (delta/round) of sandpaper for the 90   

  thoughts about RO150 before RO90?

 
  im really not sure how long it will be before i can get away with a CT/RO purchase so part of me is thinking just get the CT now and be able to use it in the meantime  or stretch the budget a little and go for the CT/ETS to take advantage of the 10% on the VAC

does this make sense?

another option would be a $135 folding hand truck to tote around systainers, other tools and materials/debris    i forgot to include it before but have a feeling it isnt going to make the cut anyway

Thanks to everyone to all the input, keep it coming
John

 

[RC]

It quite depends what you are sanding - is you are doing large flat surfaces like table tops or polishing cars go for a RO150. If your cup of tea is small or curved pieces and tight corners go the the RO90.

I got first a RO90 and an ETS150/3 and I'm happy with my choise. I'm still on the lookout for a descent RO150 to come on our local craigslist to fill that gap of aggressive material removal on large surfaces and car polishing.

Also you may want to decide beforehand which disk sizes you plan on supporting since actually the sand papers add a significant amount to the price of a sander if you have to get a different size for everything. i.e. I chose 150 as my large paper size and therefore I'm skipping entirely the 125 sanders and will share papers between the ETS150 and RO150 eventually. On the subject of papers you do want to get a set of the same grits for both the triangular pad as well as the round RO90 pad if you are doing cornered pieces with it.

I also suggest getting a CT vacuum expecially if you are planning on getting routers and the domino down the road - they just require good DC to function at all.

 

[Wooden Skye]

I went with the ETS 150/3 and RO90 as my first Festool sanders.  I am going to add the RO150 and the RTS 400 in a couple of weeks, because of a few projects I am doing around the house and the misses gave me the go ahead.  I have been looking for used, but not having any luck so far.  My choice for the RO150 is I can share paper with the ETS 150/3.  The RO 90 I bought from a fellow FOG member and it had the abrasive systainer.

 

[NERemodeling]

I did it!!!  I am up in NY babysitting my nephew for the weekend, my sister lives about 30 mins from Tool Nut so today me and the little man (2yrs old) took a ride over.
I exercised a little self control  [tongue] and used the last month to work on the wife.  id say it truned out pretty good for me [big grin]

I ended up with a CT26, RO90, a bunch of sandpaper, Panther blade for my TS55, few packs of jig saw blades and a few empty systainers

I gotta shout out Doug over at Tool Nut, all the guys actually.  super friendly, helpful and knowledgable!! also great with my nephew, thanks again Doug, you made his day  [thumbs up]

 

[sancho57]

now ya need a C12 Kit

 

[jacko9]

I would buy the dust extractor next it really makes working with your power tools much more enjoyable.

Jack