Just recieved my RO90. Interface pad??

[jnug]

OK I'm back for more help. What else is new.

My Rotex RO90 just arrived.

So I have not as yet purchased any of the interface pads. Folks here comment that they are pretty fragile and I thought I would forgo getting any until I really understood what kind of job I would do with them. Plus I know this sander takes some getting used to. I don't want to destroy interface pads just getting used to the sander.

Looking at the "standard" pad, now that I see what that feels like and looks like I might only use it when first working a flat surface if it had some irregularities in it that I wanted to attack before general sanding. I would do my general sanding with the hard pad. The standard is just too soft I think.

So what kind of surface would define the use of the interface pad? The standard is so soft, it seems to me that it could do some profiling. Maybe I am just wrong in thinking that. So is that were I am off? Will the standard pad not be useful in sanding any sort of profile so that in truth you really need the interface pad for just anything that is a profile?

Also is the interface pad the sort of item that just about requires you buy one and a back up because you ARE going to damage the first one somewhere along the way...maybe even pretty early in the game?

Thanks as usual guys.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I never bothered with an interface pad. The standard soft pad does curves just fine as long as they're not too heavily curved.

But you have to put some investment in to get to know the sander. Just try the sander with and without interface pad and see what it can do for you.

 

[tbellemare]

I used the RO 90 for a long time with just the "soft" pad that comes with it and was happy. Then, I started doing some more significant (smaller radius) contours. Heeding Scott Burt's advice, I tried an interface pad and it was almost like magic.

I wouldn't consider it fragile but it isn't as tough as a direct drive pad. I expect to use mine for a long time.

Tom

 

[jnug]

Thanks...I think I will order one and work my way up to feeling I can use it with confidence.

 

[DB10]

I don't think the 90 will take you that long to get used to, just go with the flow, so to speak.
I used the interface pads for some bull nose work and they held up really well, sanding lightly and keeping the original profiles.
The pad I use the most is the blue hard pad. They are not really that hard but I find I get better results from these when on flat surfaces, maybe it just suites the 90 better than the pad that comes with it.

 

[jnug]

I am obviously just thinking out loud because I have not used the tool  to know...But I don't wonder if adjusting the right suction from your vac (in my case a CT26) has an effect on how the tool moves across the workpiece. Its a pretty small pad (3.5"). So I don't wonder that on a flat surface, the suction through the pad might have in impact on the interaction between the sander and the workpiece. Obviously you don't want too much suction as I would imagine you could suck the sander right down onto the workpiece. On the other hand, just the right amount of suction might just help you control that small head.

 

[sancho57]

You guys are really helping me spend my money aren't ya....

 

[roblg3]

I notice a difference with my 150.  I turn suction all the way down.  I haven't noticed a difference with the 90. full suction doesn't seem to "stick" the sander to the workpiece.  I can lift a small board with the 150 but not the 90 on full.

 

[DB10]

Forgot to mention that one of the not so obvious benefits of the 90 is the cost of all the consumables compared to the 150. The interface pad I think was half the price. And so are a lot of the papers. So this makes it a good sander to try out new products.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Forgot to mention that one of the not so obvious benefits of the 90 is the cost of all the consumables compared to the 150. The interface pad I think was half the price. And so are a lot of the papers. So this makes it a good sander to try out new products.

It's the opposite. Per sheet a 90 mm disk might be cheaper, but if you look at surface area you get about 50% more bang for your buck with a 150 mm disc.