Interface pads. What is the difference?

[oradba69]

Between these two options?https://festool.toolfan.co.za/FES20...-IP-STF-D150_MJ2-15_1-203351?search=interface
https://festool.toolfan.co.za/FES20...D-IP-STF-D150_MJ2-5_2-203348?search=interface

 

[luvmytoolz]

I think they've screwed up the dimensions and are giving the whole blister pack size there.

The first link looks to be the thick interface pad (~15mm) and the second is the thinner one (~5mm).

 

[oradba69]

I think they've screwed up the dimensions and are giving the whole blister pack size there.

The first link looks to be the thick interface pad (~15mm) and the second is the thinner one (~5mm).

Thanks a lot, and when will you use which one?

 

[luvmytoolz]

They're absolutely mandatory for when using mesh discs like Festool Net, Cubitron, etc, or you'll destroy the velcro hooks real fast, can't stress that enough.

I recently did some butterfly inlays, they stuck out 4mm above the timber, so using a mesh disc I used the thick interface pad to round over all the edges as it deforms over the inlays beautifully without tearing the disc or wearing any one point too much.

For the rest of the project I used the thin interface pad to sand the flat faces and sides with the mesh discs.

When I need to swap to a standard disc for a bit of roughing (low grits) I'll use the thin interface pad then too as I sometimes need to dwell on one spot or hold an angle to sand.

 

[jeffinsgf]

My understanding is that the pad in the first link is designed to soften edges. The pad in the second link is to use mesh abrasive.

 

[rvieceli]

[member=5831]oradba69[/member]

The two pads you linked to are interface pads. They provide a softer foam layer between the sander pad and the sand paper. The thicker one is helpful to sand curved areas on your piece and the thinner is generally used on the normal flat surface to give a bit of cushion to the paper.

Here's how to read the Festool codes:

IP-STF D150/MJ2-15/1

IP is interface pad
D150 is the diameter
MJ2 is multijetstream 2 for the hole pattern
the number after the  - is the thickness
the number after the / is the units in the retail pack

The second one you link to is the same type but a thickness of 5mm instead of 15mm and has 2 units in the pack

This is the pad protector for using with net abrasives. 203343 It does not have a foam layer only hooks on one side and velour on the other.
https://festool.toolfan.co.za/FES203343_FESTOOL-PROTECTION-PAD-PP-STF-D150-_2-203343?search=203343

Ron

 

[luvmytoolz]

Ron, Festool 203343 is definitely a soft foam pad.

Or at least in OZ it is.

 

[rvieceli]

The 203343 pads I ordered here in the USA and received don’t have any foam. A layer of hooks bonded to a layer of velour. They are about 2mm thick. Two in a pack.

203348 DO have foam and are 5mm thick, 2 to a pack

[huh]

Ron

 

[luvmytoolz]

That's so weird, the Festool sites list it as foam, and these were the part numbers I ordered and received and they are definitely foam pads:
https://www.festool.com.au/protection-pad-for-granat-net-d150mm-203343.html

Why they would have a different product for OZ with the same code as US is strange.

 

[woodferret]

That's so weird, the Festool sites list it as foam, and these were the part numbers I ordered and received and they are definitely foam pads:
https://www.festool.com.au/protection-pad-for-granat-net-d150mm-203343.html

Why they would have a different product for OZ with the same code as US is strange.

Did someone send you something that looked like this by accident?
https://www.festool.com.au/soft-interface-pad-150mm-x-15mm-203351.html

Probably easier to tell by qty.  The thin protection pads come in 2 qty.  The foam above comes single.

edit: could also be a confusion in what each of us are terming 'soft'.  The protection pad does kinda make it slightly squishier than barebones.  Not enough for me personally to call it an interface pad as it doesn't entirely conform.  It pushes the underlying pad softness a quarter to half way towards the next softer pad.