Is the RO 125 worth the extra $$$ compared to the ETS 125???

[sessler2013]

Am I better off going ahead and getting the RO 125, is there anything about it that might cripple me in the future, when compared to the ETS 125?

I do pretty general wood working and believe it would be nice to have rapid material removal every now and then but would mostly be using it in orbital mode.  ???

basically should I get the ETS 125 now and later on get the Rotex, or just get the Rotex and be done with it?

 

[AlexThePalex]

I see it like this: the RO 125 can do what the ETS 125 does. The ETS 125 will never, EVER, be able to do what the RO 125 can.

 

[mouppe]

You'll probably end up with both anyway!

I have both of them. The RO125 was my first sander, then the ETS 125. I use the ETS 125 far more than the RO125 now. It's just so light and smooth to use. But Alex is right- the Rotex is far more versatile.

So basically I can't help you decide!

 

[Sparktrician]

Each has a definite place where it excels.  The RO 125 is the more versatile tool, yet the ETS 125 just shines at fine sanding, and is a one-hand pleasure to use. 

 

[Birdhunter]

I bought the ETS first for finish sanding. Wonderful tool! I then wanted a more aggressive sander and bought the RO 125. I didn't think it worked very well and returned it for the RO 90. The RO 90 and the ETS 125 are a very nice combination for the smaller projects I do a lot of.

I am now faced with doing a large project and re-bought the RO 125. For some reason, this RO 125 works far better than the first one I tried. It does require a lot of experimenting to get the sander speed, vacuum speed, and sander handling all synced up. This is especially true if you are using the aggressive mode. The sander can get very hard to handle in the aggressive mode if you aren't careful. It's a strong willed machine.

I'd recommend the ETS and RO 90 for small projects; the ETS and RO 125 for large projects; and all three if you can swing the cost.

 

[skids]

I see it like this: the RO 125 can do what the ETS 125 does. The ETS 125 will never, EVER, be able to do what the RO 125 can.

I disagree..The RO125 is not a very good ROS sander, in fact for fine work, or softer wood it's sloppy until you become an expert with it. Like it or not, where it really shines is with material removal. ETS will produce a much nicer finish than the RO due to the stroke differences. And the DTS and RTS even better for fine finish IMO.

OP-, if it were me knowing what I know now I might get the ETS first, it can do alot with the right paper. Albeit a little slower than the RO. The RO is fantastic, just more aggressive and not as comfortable to use and hold. I compare it to a horse that is broken and a horse that is unbroken.  The sad, and more expensive reality is, you will need both because they are both very specific to their intended task. Ask yourself what you will be doing with it, if you lean towards smaller woodworking tasks then ETS. If you get into flooring, paint removal on siding, even buffing your car the RO is for you. It's an absolute weapon in that regard.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I see it like this: the RO 125 can do what the ETS 125 does. The ETS 125 will never, EVER, be able to do what the RO 125 can.

I disagree..The RO125 is not a very good ROS sander, in fact for fine work, or softer wood it's sloppy until you become an expert with it. Like it or not, where it really shines is with material removal. ETS will produce a much nicer finish than the RO due to the stroke differences. And the DTS and RTS even better for fine finish IMO.

No way, the RO125 is also a good ROS sander. Calling this a removal only sander is a gross mislabeling.

And how about polishing?

 

[Motown]

To your original question I think the RO125 is worth the extra money because it's more versatile and provides rough/strip sanding capabilities. That said, if you are doing extended finish sanding than the ETS is ideal because of it's size and weight. Hope that helps.

 

[GregBradley]

The ETS125 is a pleasure, the RO125 is a pain when doing the job of the ETS. And it is noisy and vibrates more and is harder to use. If you have both, I bet you never choose the RO to do finish sanding.

 

[skids]

The ETS125 is a pleasure, the RO125 is a pain when doing the job of the ETS. And it is noisy and vibrates more and is harder to use. If you have both, I bet you never choose the RO to do finish sanding.

Exactly!

They are designed for specific tasks-Festool knows what they are doing. The RO is a pleasure for larger more rough tasks. If it's fine work, it's tricky to get the results the ETS can produce with ease. Whereby the ETS is great and chew up some wood with the right paper, and produce a fine finish. And the DTS is even better for fine work IMO.

Like I said earlier, I would start with the ETS. The Rotex sanders are beasts, and as ROS aren't as good for finer work, and because of that in my opinion have less range as a tool in your arsenal. The ETS is more versatile and much easier to use. Best thing to do now is take this info here and go try one for yourself for validation.

 

[skids]

I see it like this: the RO 125 can do what the ETS 125 does. The ETS 125 will never, EVER, be able to do what the RO 125 can.

I disagree..The RO125 is not a very good ROS sander, in fact for fine work, or softer wood it's sloppy until you become an expert with it. Like it or not, where it really shines is with material removal. ETS will produce a much nicer finish than the RO due to the stroke differences. And the DTS and RTS even better for fine finish IMO.

No way, the RO125 is also a good ROS sander. Calling this a removal only sander is a gross mislabeling.

And how about polishing?

I didn't say it was a removal only sander, let's not get carried away. I said it's not good for finer work. Go ahead take it to an old piece of furniture from start to finish and let me know how efficiently you can work. I have done it, so I know first hand. Getting rid of the pig tails and swirls required a certain amount knowledge of paper order and most importantly experience handling the tool. Whereas if I could have grabbed an ETS (or better yet the DTS I now own) I would have flew through the later part of the job.

I am not disparaging the RO125, I own one. I am speaking the truth of what it's range is. In giving it the benefit of the doubt to the RO125, maybe on hardwoods like oak with stronger grain patterns it produces and acceptable finish from start to finish. But in my uses, it's not a start to finish sander. And I think the ETS meets that requirement a little better.

Now when I used the RO125 on an oak stair case I installed that was a horse of a different color. It was spectacular for that job. Whereas an ETS would have doubled my time. But again, a last pass with the ETS made the treads take on look the RO125 couldn't quite get them to.

 

[rdesigns]

I have both, but to answer your question, I'd recommend starting with the ETS125 since you say you do general woodworking. To me, that means not much stripping of old woodwork or furniture.

The ETS125 is capable of some pretty aggressive material removal with the right disk--like Rubin 50-grit to start.

From there, it just gets better as you go thru progressively finer grits. It's a pleasure to use one-handed and to use in any position, which the RO125 is not.

The RO125 is really good for other jobs, and it's a great polisher with the right pads.