I give!! Need a new finish sander

[Holmz]

^^^^^^^

No that's not correct.

If you get the 150 EC , you can swap its pad for the 125mm version, but you can't add the 150mm pad to a 125EC.

lol you have that reversed. Read through the thread I linked. If you have the ETS EC 125/3 you can use the 150 pads. The ETS EC 150/3 & 150/5 CAN NOT use the 125 pads.

Unfortunately just over 30 days ago I bought the ETS EC 150/3 and while I havent used it yet and might still be able to return it, I really wish I would have known this fact before I'd made my decision.

Many do not do thorough and exhaustive research, you would not be the first.
Do you even need a 5" pad?

 

[ben_r_]

Do you even need a 5" pad?

Or the reverse, did I even need a 6"? I went back and forth there for a while.

 

[Holmz]

Do you even need a 5" pad?

Or the reverse, did I even need a 6"? I went back and forth there for a while.

If you need a /3 then it becomes a good question.
If you need a /5 then it is the 150.

The interplay with a 1/2 sheet in the finishing is also something worth considering.
I find that using the 1/2-sheet initially gets a flat surface, and then the random-orbital 'finishes it off' to be smooth after it is flat.

But there are many ways to skin this cat.

 

[OXCanada]

Wow, I hadn't heard you could switch the pad. That's a game changer.

Any negatives in your experience putting the 6" pad on the 125?

 

[Cheese]

FWIW...having used the ETS 125 for several years, and being very happy with it's performance, I find the ETS EC 125 much more aggressive than its predecessor. Whereas the ETS was strictly a finish sander, the ETS EC has far greater capabilities. It's definitely more well-rounded.

 

[Cheese]

Any negatives in your experience putting the 6" pad on the 125?

Ya there is...having to use a tool to change the pads! The push of a button...done.

Festool certainly has the technology and the capabilities to do better, but their marketing arm is seriously dysfunctional. They are certainly laggards in disruptive thought. Mirka made it right...Festool made it wrong. Shame...shame ...shame.

 

[Holmz]

...was gobsmacked ...

How does one say this in Norse language?

 

[yetihunter]

Son of a diddly.

Well, anyway, my ets ec 150 / 3 has definitely proven to be my favourite sander.
I like it so much, I bought the PRO5 to stop myself from eyeing the ets ec 125 to go with it.  Long story short... I'm still eyeing the ec 125....

 

[Slider613]

Just my own thoughts as an amateur/hobbyist. I have the Rotex 125 and the ETS 150/3, I had the Rotex 125 for a while before the ETS 150/3, was using the Rotex 125 in conjunction with a small dewalt RO sander as a finish sander. 

I didn't get the EC because I don't think paying for brushless makes any sense unless you work in a commercial shop, and the extra power is not needed, because I have the Rotex 125 and that is way more capable in heavy removal than the ETS EC.

Having a Rotex and a Finish sander like the ETS 150/3 gives more versatility than the ETS EC.

As an aside, I just used the Rotex last night with the 40 grit to take 1/4" off the front of a plywood shelf that sat proud of the case, something that many would use a belt sander for.

 

[duburban]

The 6" Brushless 150/3. You will be in heaven. Its a really great experience.

 

[mikeyr]

I have a Bosch half sheet sander and a month ago bought a ETS EC 125, its the only sander I have used since then. I bought a box of 80, a box of 120 and a box of 220 grit.  I can easily see getting rid of the half sheet someday.  With 80 grit paper the EC 125 is quite aggressive and it has done all I have asked of it.  I debated between 125 and 150 but I am very happy with 125.  I also debated between the ETS EC 125 and a Rotex since I have used a Rotex before, quite happy with the 125, not sure that 1" difference between the 125 and the 150 makes a noticeable difference when actually using the thing and I really like its small size and light weight.

Unfortunately, that made me fall into the Festool pool and within a week I had lots of Festool $tuff

 

[Holmz]

I have a Bosch half sheet sander and a month ago bought a ETS EC 125, its the only sander I have used since then.
...

I can foresee a time when you need to have something flat, and may start by using the 1/2-sheet with 60 or 80gr, before finish smoothing with the random-orbital(??)

 

[OXCanada]

I'll be darned!

When I started my search I had thought I would end up with the 5". But now I am sold on the 6 from a versatility perspective. And it helps with my desire to speed up my finishing work so I can keep on building new projects.

My only concern is sanding face frames. Can you still sand narrow stock with the 6" or is that more of a job for a 5"? 

 

[semenza]

I'll be darned!

When I started my search I had thought I would end up with the 5". But now I am sold on the 6 from a versatility perspective. And it helps with my desire to speed up my finishing work so I can keep on building new projects.

My only concern is sanding face frames. Can you still sand narrow stock with the 6" or is that more of a job for a 5"?

  I do face frames and narrow pieces all the time with 6". Just get the hard pad to go along with the sander to help prevent rounding from pad flex.

Seth

 

[Holmz]

I'll be darned!

When I started my search I had thought I would end up with the 5". But now I am sold on the 6 from a versatility perspective. And it helps with my desire to speed up my finishing work so I can keep on building new projects.

My only concern is sanding face frames. Can you still sand narrow stock with the 6" or is that more of a job for a 5"?

I do not believe that I am alone in preferring an orbital sander for face frames.
1/2-sheet or a DX93 style, or the RTS/DTS.

Going back to your Original post...

... last night I was sanding until midnight with a fairly new (4yr old or so) Bosch 5" RO sander.  Its not a bad sander, but it doesn't have dust collection...

..I don't do a lot of hardwood panel work and typically do plywood construction for cases...

For the large expanses of plywood the ETC/EC is hard to beat.

There are also the Mirka and Festool sanding blocks, if the face frames are not something your are doing a lot of, then they at least address the dust.

Mirka:https://www.amazon.com/Mirka-91402-...rd_wg=LM0xE&psc=1&refRID=ZQWV6T00VZXE3BH5D33Phttp://tools-paint.com/mirka-handy-...s-connects-to-your-vacuum-cleaner-46551-p.asp

Festool:https://www.amazon.com/Festool-4969...e=UTF8&qid=1485579684&sr=1-3&keywords=festool+sanding+block

Or some other brand of smaller orbital sander with a dust port.

 

[rrmccabe]

[member=39612]OXCanada[/member] what are you using for pads on the Bosch?

I have a 5" and 6" Bosch RO sanders and have my Festool dust extractor connected to it. It does a nice job on dust collection but it goes through pads like crazy. I have several dozen boxes of Bosch pads that I am burning through pretty quick.

I assume the Bosch pads suck but might be wrong.

I have some Abranet pads out for delivery today that I want to test. 

I have been lulled into crappy pad performance over the last few years and took delivery on a Festool detail sander last week and over the weekend I pulled out a half dozen pads for a project and never removed the first one as it did the entire job and still like new when done.

 

[OXCanada]

I have been using the standard pad that came with it.  ;D

I'll be anxious to try a different pad. I'm going to be making a huge mirror made out of walnut with very straight lines and just a simple angled edge from the table saw. I think the very soft pad will do a great job on that project.

 

[OXCanada]

I wanted to thank everyone for all the help my sander choice. I couldn't be happier with my new sander.

I ended up with the ETS EC 150. I was hesitant to go with a 6" pad and such an expensive sander. But, I will never go back. The 6" pad works for 99% of what I do and the control is awesome. No need for a 5" pad except for very small projects. Also the vibration is minimal and the power is exceptional.

Since I bought the sander I have made some large projects and have been able to work faster with better results. It's a game changer.

Thanks again!

 

[Poindexter]

Congrats!  That 150/3 is one of the most amazing sanders out there.  You'll get many happy miles on it.

 

[McNally Family]

I wanted to thank everyone for all the help my sander choice. I couldn't be happier with my new sander.

I ended up with the ETS EC 150. I was hesitant to go with a 6" pad and such an expensive sander. But, I will never go back. The 6" pad works for 99% of what I do and the control is awesome. No need for a 5" pad except for very small projects. Also the vibration is minimal and the power is exceptional.

Since I bought the sander I have made some large projects and have been able to work faster with better results. It's a game changer.

Thanks again!

[member=39612]OXCanada[/member]

This thread reminds me of my conversation with the Festool Rep during the  Roadshow stopover in Nashville last year.  I started the conversation with "which sander should I get", and he corrected me with "which sander should you get first".

I agree with [member=40772]Holmz[/member]  on the RS2 E, which was my initial sander purchase.  If you want to do horizontal sanding, and getting something flat is critical, it can't be beat.  It also excels at saving money on consumables because you can use anyone's sheet sandpaper (with the optional sandpaper punch).  However, it does get heavy when you go vertical or overhead.  My second sanding purchase was also discussed (and linked) by Holmz , when I purchased the hand sanding blocks capable of using dust extraction.  My next sander purchase will be the LS130, for detail work. 
https://www.festoolusa.com/power-tools/sanders/ls-130-eq-linear-detail-sander-567852

Fortunately, my sandpaper supply fits all the sanders I just mentioned.

In fact, if I was not so busy buying chisels right now, I would already have my next sander.