LS130 LS 130 EQ Review Duplex

[Eli]

Not the same. The main differences between the RTS400 and the LS 130 are:

1. size. the 400 is lighter and smaller.
2.pad motion. LS130 is linear
3.LS 130 pad shape can be changed out for a different profile. 400 is fixed

they do use the same size sandpaper, and they are both black and green.

 

[jo041326]

Eli,
I thought if it's not the same as for the sanding. I want to sand saw marks and burned spots from router and it seems to me LS130 is too fine for that. Your points are clear from every prospects. I am interested in real usage, not the paper data.
Josef

 

[Eli]

I've got the 400, but I do like the LS130. Do you have an ETS125 or 150? They're pretty good for cleaning up edges.

 

[jo041326]

I have RO150 and it is too big for small edges (about 1 inch). But I do like the ability of quick rough sanding and very fine sanding. My TS55 makes sometimes very visible marks and it is long process to sand it away and keep the edge still in right angle.
Josef

 

[Eli]

Well, if you do use the 400, start between 80-120 grit for that. Much higher and it just takes too long.

 

[cflansbaum]

Josef - if you are in the market for a sander for edge work and not profiles, you may want to look at the RS2.  It's a big flat sander that you could use on edges if you have the clearance.  In fact I think this is what Jerry W. uses and suggests.

As an aside, I recently got the soft pad for my 150/3 and am going to try this on profile work...

Carl

 

[Mr Jones]

I have had great results with the LS130, but I do use the coarse (50 grit) and find it gives me a 100/120 hand sanded finish, I'm using it on painted surfaces mostly, maybe that makes a difference, as a painters sander I can't fault it and would recommend it to anyone, one thing I find is even with mouldings it extracts a lot of dust, and that is a big plus for me.

 

[semenza]

Josef - if you are in the market for a sander for edge work and not profiles, you may want to look at the RS2.  It's a big flat sander that you could use on edges if you have the clearance.  In fact I think this is what Jerry W. uses and suggests.

As an aside, I recently got the soft pad for my 150/3 and am going to try this on profile work...

Carl

      I am curious to know how this works out for you. I have the super soft pad. It may do all right on a shallow profile but it seems that it will tend to flatten the high spots.

Seth

 

[cflansbaum]

      I am curious to know how this works out for you. I have the super soft pad. It may do all right on a shallow profile but it seems that it will tend to flatten the high spots.

Seth

yeah, I tried it this weekend and it didn't really work.  I even tried it with the foam interface pad w/o success.  Oh well, hand sanding it is!

c.

 

[jo041326]

Hm,
thanks for your experience. I think I'll buy boom arm instead and stay with hand sanding.
Joseph

 

[Dave Ronyak]

       I am curious to know how this works out for you. I have the super soft pad. It may do all right on a shallow profile but it seems that it will tend to flatten the high spots.

Seth

yeah, I tried it this weekend and it didn't really work.  I even tried it with the foam interface pad w/o success.  Oh well, hand sanding it is!

c.

Have you considered the "make-your-own-profile" kit offered for the LS 130.  Per Swenson wrote a photo essay on its use, and rated it well for his molding sanding projects.  I have the sander and the soft interface pad, but have not used it on any complex moldings.  Most of the moldings in my house are a simple convex profile.

Dave R.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Not the same. The main differences between the RTS400 and the LS 130 are:

1. size. the 400 is lighter and smaller.
2.pad motion. LS130 is linear
3.LS 130 pad shape can be changed out for a different profile. 400 is fixed

they do use the same size sandpaper, and they are both black and green.

4. The RTS 400 costs considerably less than the LS 130 (US$ 190 versus US $ 290).
(I have an LS 130 and intend to buy an RTS 400 because I expect the RTS 400's orbital action to be somewhat more aggressive than the lineal action of the LS 130 and I can use the same interface pad and abrasive supplies with each machine.)

Dave R.

 

[semenza]

Hi,

         Another LS130 use / method. 

                      For easing edges I usually use the flat pad  (or a radius pad to straddle both edges at once) with 150 grit Rubin.  But Dave Ronyak has come up with a different method which is posted below. I have not tried it yet but it certainly seems like it should (does) work very well. And will take out blade marks as well.

  Seth

         "When sanding the edges of (birch) plywood with the LS 130, I first sand using the hard flat pad - the one that is supplied with the basic LS 130 package, using 80 grit Rubin, then I peel off the Rubin, apply the soft interface pad and reapply the 80 grit Rubin.  If I want a significant amount of rounding of the edges, before changing to the soft interface pad, I will intentionally tilt the sander to help aggressively abrade away the edge, then repeat this motion after installation of the interface pad.  Because I have been focused on making shop cabinets, I have not gone above 150 grit abrasives.

The next time I try this, I may try some Cristal abrasives.  I used Rubin because that is what I had in stock, and it has a durable thick backing that does not easily tear through.  In contrast, if you try the same motions of the LS 130 on sharp edges using Brilliant abrasives, they are likely to tear through due to their much thinner and thus weaker backing.

Dave R."

       

 

[Dan Clark]

Seth,

I'm considering getting an LS130, but I'm confused...

According to several dealer sites, only Brilliant and Rubin are available for the LS130.  Where do you get Cristal for the LS130?

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[Corwin]

Where do you get Cristal for the LS130?

I have cristal for my LS130.  The Festool USA site lists 40, 60 , 80, 100 and 120 in 10 packs.  Also available are 40, 60 and 80 in packs of 50, along with 100 and 120 both in packs of 100.

You'll like this stuff!

Corwin

 

[nickao]

Seth,

I'm considering getting an LS130, but I'm confused...

According to several dealer sites, only Brilliant and Rubin are available for the LS130.  Where do you get Cristal for the LS130?

Thanks,

Dan.

Item # 494052 through item# 494056 are the Cristal paper I believe are used with the 130. Click on the link, then click accessories, then page 2 in blue on the botttom.

130 sandpaper

nickao

 

[Dan Clark]

Corwin, Nickao,

Thanks.  I did some further reading and realized that the DTS400 and the LS130 paper is the same size.  I forgot to come back here and correct my error.

For a long time the Dealers had much better product info than the Festool USA site.  It looks like there is a lot more up to day info there.  (I suspect that Shane had a hand in this.)

Cristal looks interesting, but I saw a comment somewhere about it having a thicker backing.  For the custom profile I need, I think it would have to curve around a radius of no more than 1/2". Do you think Cristal would do that?

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[nickao]

I only have the Cristal for a 6" Rotex here, but it seems it would.

The 100 grit yes, the 60 grit okay,  the 40 grit possibly may crack. But I am basing this on the Round sheets sitting on my desk right now.

nickao

 

[Corwin]

I used Cristal on the 90 degree pad that comes with the sander without any problem.

 

[brandon.nickel]

Dan,

The DTS is the delta-shaped sander.  Are you sure you don't mean the RTS400?  I just looked at Festool-USA and the RTS and LS130 use the same paper.

-Brandon