Name Brand Festool paper will not stick to my ETS EC 150 / 3?

[Woody Knotsensplintahs]

Hi,
Is there any way to refresh the soft backing on Festool brand sandpaper disks that have been purchased new, never used, but stored for some time?

I have some Festool Granat that keeps flying off my sander, but my stock of cheap Chinese paper disks holds just fine.

I just purchased, received, and installed a brand new Festool sander pad, hoping it would hold up better than my old pad.

Nope. The Granat is flying off the disk.

Is there any hope of making use of my Granat stock?

Thank you.

 

[Packard]

I don’t have an answer.  But I was interested enough to do a Google search and it appears this is a matter for discussion in many places.

Perhaps you will find the answer in one of the discussions.
https://www.google.com/search?q=gan...issues&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1-m

 

[Woody Knotsensplintahs]

It seems that the first twenty or thirty threads linked to in that Google search conclude that the user is using cheap paper with cheap adhesive glues or a worn-out hook-and-loop style sand pad.

I am working with my brand new Festool hook and loop sanding pad with fresh new hooks.

The Granat sanding disks have soft loop material affixed to the sandpaper. The loop material is not peeling from the sandpaper. The disks look like they are brand new, although they were purchased and stockpiled in 2019.

I use the sander infrequently, but I began a DIY remodel project last week and became aware of the problem, so I ordered the new sanding pad hoping that would remedy the issue.

Thank you.

 

[six-point socket II]

First thing that comes to mind, and please don’t hit me, you’re using the correct side of the sheets to attach them to the sander, right? (I know, but … Lord knows I’ve done that in a hurry or when interrupted while changing a sheet …)

That said, I went for my sanders and took the oldest GranatNet I have, definitely pre-dates 2019 since it’s my seldomly used secret stash I keep with the sanders, and that sticks just fine to them. Maybe a tiny bit less than a sheet pulled from my storage Systainers/ or box - which all is way newer. But none of them move without me pulling them off. This reminds me that I probably should rotate that stuff a little more frequently.

All I can think of is either a bad batch, bad storage conditions, maybe?

Sorry to hear the GranatNet is giving you troubles!

One more thought, you do use a protecton pad between the sanding plate and paper, right?

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Woody Knotsensplintahs]

Hi,
Thanks for the questions and suggestions.

I don't know what you mean by a protection pad. The sanding pad I purchased was the same part number as the pad that came with my sander, and I have had good luck with it for the past 5 years.

Festool 202459 ETS 150 Ultra-Soft Sanding Pad

I'm confident I am using the loop fabric side correctly, as the grit side is Granat 40 grain and quite obvious.

When I place the Festool paper on the pad, it appears to stick and is not easy to pull off, but shortly after the sander starts, the paper spits out and flies a short distance.

Storage conditions may be a factor, but all the sandpaper, brand name, and no name were stored in the same plastic Festool case as the sander in an unvented garage in the Utah desert. It gets very hot in the summer, but it rarely gets cold.

I have noticed that the cheap paper's loop fabric is much more defined in terms of a fabric bias, has more structure, and has visible weaving. The soft fabric on the Festool brand paper is just soft and mushy felt.

I guess I'll just move on and avoid the Festool paper in the future, even though I was hopeful and confident that the abrasive materials found on the name-brand product were superior to that found on the discount stuff.

Thank you.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

The hooks on the Festool pads are much finer than the typical big box retailer brands. This shouldn't be a problem with matching brand abrasives though.
The protection pad, that Oliver mentioned, is a thin interface disc, that has hooks on one side and loops on the other. It is meant to go between the sander and the net/mesh type abrasives. The thought is that the abrasive damages the hooks, so it becomes a sacrificial separator.
This might solve your problem? For $10 or so, it's worth a try.

 

[woodferret]

Try a soft toothbrush on the Granat paper back.  Swirl it about a bit, just enough to unmat the fibers.  Likely a storage/humidity/oxidation issue.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Woody, are we talking paper or mesh? If it is mesh, you need the interface pad.

 

[Woody Knotsensplintahs]

Hi,
Thanks for the reminder about the mesh and the protective pad. With the context of the mesh abrasive, I recall what the protective pad is and what it is for.

The Festool Granat I am referring to is the paper style.

Festool 575154 40 Grit GRANAT For 6" Sander

It is colored blue on the grit side, and the soft fluffy backing is white.

It's not the end of the world for me. I love the sander and the other sources of sandpaper work well enough.

Thank you.

 

[Cheese]

I'm wondering if just running a vacuum over the mating surface of the paper would lift and pull the small fibers upwards so that they are easier for the hooks on the sanding pad to grab.

 

[mino]

I would try get some new paper. They sell 10-piece sets now I believe in the US. To make sure the issue is related to the paper batch and not something else.

If confirmed the paper got bad, IMO it may be worth it contacting FestoolUSA. They may be interested in what caused the degradation /assuming there is degradation/. No reason for the paper to not last a decade or so when unused.

That said, there could have been some accellerated degrations in your case. Like from paint fumes, storing at a hot place (sunlight, etc.).

I am from a town that is famous for natural radioactive sulphane springs with related spas ...

There are minute concentrations of natural Hydrogen Sulphide in the air in the town area. By far not enough to cause health issues, but enough to make any silverware go black within a couple years of being left on the air ..

 

[six-point socket II]

I apologize. My mistake, I didn’t think of the “paper” backed variant.

Kind regards,
Oliver