Help with sander/ abrasive purchase AND application

[jlcichocki]

I apologize in advance for my stupid questions. 

I have been drinking the Green Cool Aid in a major way and am finally up to the purchase of a sander(s). I am renovating a very large old house.  The current project is a kitchen and bathroom.  I'm making a custom vanity then kitchen cabinets. 

After doing my research and watching you tube videos, I am leaning toward a RO 150 and a ETS EC 150, as first purchases.  My thoughts were to use the RO for heavier sanding and then the ETS for more delicate finish type sanding.  I also picked that combo because the abrasives were common to each other.

Is this a good general starting combo?  Too much, too similar?

I don't think these will be my "only" sander purchases by any stretch of the imagination.  I'm just trying to get the most bang for the buck and have a good general starting point.

My next question is about abrasives.  Where do I start?  I'm using hardwoods for the face frames and Baltic birch for the boxes.  I have other sanders and understand the grits.  Are Festool abrasives drastically different?  Am I over thinking everything?

It's seems by the chart (thank you Festool - very well done) that I should use either Rubin or Granat.  Thoughts?  Are Festool abrasives so different that I should start with a particular grit and how do I step up?

Example :  Rubin 80 - 120 - 180 then Granat 240....done? Add more Granat finer grits?

The vanity will be painted.  The kitchen cabinets will be a mix of painted and stained.  We were thinking of the perimeter cabinets being painted and the island being stained.

I appreciate any advice, many thanks!!

Jeff

 

[Brice Burrell]

Jeff, the work you've described I don't think you need the RO150.  Also, think carefully about the ETS EC sander because it is very pricey.  I mention this because the "older" models ETS 150 sanders are outstanding for less money.  Sure the EC models may be a little better in some ways, but is it worth the extra money for hobbyist woodworkers?  I don't think so.  If at all possible I'd suggest you try both the older ETS and the ETS EC models in person before buying. Remember the savings on the older ETS will go a long towards abrasives. 

If you want to make easy on yourself get Granat abrasives since that is the best all round abrasive Festool offers.  Festool's other abrasive may be a little better for their particular specialty, but for general use Granat is a no brainer.   

 

[travisj]

I have the ETS 150/3 and I love it.  Previously I only had 5" sanders so I was a little concerned about the size difference, but it turned into a non-issue for me.  I would also recommend the systainer for the 150mm paper.  I am not fond of the insert so I will be making my own, but it is nice to have the paper in a systainer connected to the sander.  You always know where the paper is and it is easy to bring it all in one shot to the area you are working.  I would also check with your dealer about mixing and matching the papers.  My dealer let me mix boxes and charged me the per sheet cost of the paper (same pricing as the 100ct boxes).  I bought 20 sheets of each 80-240 then a handful of sheets in the 40-60 and 320-1500 grits.  It made the initial load up of paper more affordable.  I have been really impressed with the Granat paper.  In the past I used Norton or 3M paper and the Granat seems to last considerably longer (at least 2-3 times).  I have not had to replace a sheet yet that was loaded or gummed up when sanding unfinished wood.  The dust collection efficiency of the sanders plays a major role in that I am sure.

 

[Shane Holland]

I agree with Brice that you won't need the capabilities offered by the Rotex 150 for your application. The ETS 150 (EC or non-EC) would be more than adequate. I just refinished a bunch of cabinets and I used my ETS 150/3 and DTS 400.

As for abrasives, since you're sanding bare wood you can go with Rubin. It will be less expensive than Granat, but you can use Granat for almost any application including sanding finishes, stripping, etc.

Shane

 

[ear3]

Granat all the way, even on bare wood.  Cuts faster and lasts longer.

I agree with some of the things already stated that for the project you outline there is probably too much overlap between the ETS-EC and RO150.  So for the most bang for your buck you might consider pairing the ETS-EC 150/5 with a good edge sander, either the RTS or DTS 400.  Alternatively, if you want to get the capabilities of the Rotex, you could get the RO90.  I wouldn't necessarily recommend the RO90 as an edge sander, but it is a very good corner sander, and so would reach those spots inaccessible to the circular pad of the ETS. 

 

[AlexThePalex]

OP says "renovating an old house", and then mentions making furniture. Does the renovation involve only making furniture, for then I would agree with the others who say the Rotex is not necessarily needed, but if also work needs to be done on the house itself I'd say the Rotex is indispensable.

 

[MrGinCT]

for my money, and time, I much prefer the Mirka Abranet disks over anything else.  They seem to wear much better and they come in a wide variety of grits.  You do have to use an interface pad so as to not prematurely wear out the pad on your sander.

 

[jlcichocki]

Thanks for the quick replys.  Here's the story:

Yes, the renovation is all encompassing.  Every room.  The house was a single family home from 1917 to 1975, at which time the wealthy owned passed away.  It was empty for a while and then the property was purchased, rezoned and turned into a funeral home.  That lasted until about 1990. At which time it was turned into furniture store. In about 2001, it was turned into a multi business shopping area (with each room being a different business).

We bought the house in 2004.  Rezoned it.  Removed the parking lot (house sits on 3 acres and most of the back yard was parking lot). And have gone room to room renovating.  The projects slowed with the addition of a child.  But he is getting a little older and I'm gaining steam again.

I've done everything except rebuilding the grand staircase that was destroyed during the funeral years.  I'm refinishing woodwork, floors, updating plumbing and electrical, etc, etc.  The original kitchen was removed and converted into a men's and women's bathroom.  We gutted that area and formed a functional kitchen but now it's time to do it right. 

Buying into Festool should have happened 10 years ago.  I'd probably be much further along with my projects.  But it is what it is.  I'm enjoying myself much more and seem to be less frustrated, although there is somewhat of a learning curve with this equipment. 

From the research, I think I can find plenty of uses for the RO.  Maybe I need to think about adding an edge type sander too.

Thanks for the help.  This is a great site.

Jeff

 

[Holmz]

I got to put paw to an RO150 and the ETC EC last month.
I do not know what all the fuss is about with the RO150, but the ETS EC was good.

Personally for finish sanding I like to use finish sander. One can say that the RO is a finiish sander ( but wait is also a disc sander)..
So for me the finish sander is a 1/2-sheet orbital uva115e, and the there is a FT equivalent.

The ETC EC is the closest sander to the Mirka DEROS (Just acquired the DEROS). I would not hesitate to suggest the ETC EC... as it does not require "special skill" to use.
There was also some post about the ETC sanding faster than the RO150.

And unless you are in RO mode, then the RO150 is a lot of sander to handle compared to a smaller sander with a lower CoG (that also sands faster). You need some ninja grappling skill, where as the DEROS or the ETC EC just work like a sander should.

I second the recommendation of the Mirka screens, I use them on both the 1/2-sheet and the 6" sander.

I think a 1/2-sheet orbital is better overall than a circular random orbital for finish work.
But you cannot go very wrong with a random orbital.
So get one or the other.

If you need some other sanders then there is the LS130 and the belt sanders to consider.
At this point for finish work get a finish sander.

Woodcraft has both the Mirka DEROS and the FestTool ETC EC there if you like 6" round jobs. Maybe put yer paw to the machine?

 

[JeromeM]

As you can see from my signature I have both the RO150 and the ETS150/3. They are a great combination, the RO150 is not difficult to learn to use well. If I could only have one it would be the RO150 not the ETS.

For the amount of work you are doing I would want an RO150

The ETS EC is great if you are doing body work on cars where you seldom work on a horizontal surface so the lighter weight is really important.

For me the difference in price and the fact that I am often using mine on horizontal work would mean that I would have to think long and hard before even considering the EC version, and even if money was no object (& I could only have 1) I would probably still get the ETS

 

[Holmz]

As you can see from my signature I have both the RO150 and the ETS150/3.
...

^Good synopsis^
This is why I pawed the ETS EC and RO150.
(1 at one store and 1 a another)

On FOG one generally get FT recommendation, however there are actually a few good sanders to choose from. Even the lowliest sanders these days often have a dust port.

 

[SS Teach]

There is no such thing as a stupid question. You are involved in a huge project and there is a great deal of expertise on the FOG so ask away. When it comes to sanders bet you will need more than two. If you do not have a CT you should get one. Everybody's lungs will appreciate it, and clean up will be simplified. Once you decide the first project that needs a certain Festool sander and CT, get it and use it. When you get to  a step that needs a different size or shape get the appropriate unit. You will not be disappointed. Oh do not be surprised if you end up with four or five sanders. It happens.