Need a sander for general work like cabinets and doors.

[Jaybolishes]

Hi guys, I've yet to buy a sander and typically I either go outside or use my ridgid 5" which works pretty good if not for the fact hooking the vac is a pain. But I'm looking for a festool one which would be a good general use sander for sanding newly constructed cabinet face frames and door panels.  I already have a pointed sander for the tight corners, but if you cabinet makers can chime in that would be great. Thanks.

 

[K119Phil]

ETS125 or RO125

 

[tjbnwi]

ETS 125 AND RO125. DTS or RTS next, have to get in the corners. A Pocket Stickfix will due for now.

Tom

 

[Jaybolishes]

Thanks guys, price difference is so different on the RO and ets, if there isn't a huge difference I think I'll save some money.  Their designs are so different I wish I had a place to try them out. 

 

[K119Phil]

Thanks guys, price difference is so different on the RO and ets, if there isn't a huge difference I think I'll save some money.  Their designs are so different I wish I had a place to try them out. 

Hey this is what the FOG is all about

Granted I would love to earn your business, I'd suggest looking around to see if you can find a local dealer with demo tools.  I have the entire lineup for demo, but I think asking you to drive to California for a sander demo is a bit much :

The bigbig difference between the ETS125 and RO125 is that the RO125, or Rotex, is a multi-mode sander, able to toggle between a gear-driven coarse sanding mode (much like a grinder) and random orbit fine sanding mode.  Going back into gear-driven mode and slapping on a Polishing Backing Pad will allow you polish as well, thus you could consider the RO125 a tri-mode sander.

The ETS125 on the other hand, has one unique trick up its sleeve -- an ultra-fine 2mm sanding stroke.  As compared to the RO125's 3mm stroke, the ETS will give you an ultra-fine finish.  Small strokes, in one school of thought, may result in less swirls and finer finish. 

So in all essence, rate of stock removal is one consideration, as well as potential final finish quality.

I wasn't 100% clear what you meant by "newly constructed face frames" in terms of how raw they are.  If you plan to do more (or exclusively) fine/finish sanding, the ETS125 would work beautifully for you.  If you require going from raw bare wood, then the RO125 would help you power through the coarse grits faster.

Aside from sanders, Festool also spent a great deal of time developing abrasives.  If you're going bare wood, Rubin 2 would work wonders.  I'd switch over to Brilliant 2 for your fine finish.  If you're going between coats of paint, stripping, or powering through finishes, Granat would be your magic bullet.

 

[Paul G]

Like you I found those Rigid sanders are actually pretty good, I've got a 5" and 6" and they work great for the $. It's kinda ghetto but for connecting to my vac I keep a short hose semi-permanently attached to the sanders (I kid not-using bailing wire and duct tape lol) and a long hose on the shop vac/dust deputy rig and just plug hose to hose when switching tools. As convenient and feature rich as a festool sander/CT combo? Not even close, but much less $ and plenty good enough for the sanding work those get used for by me and the dust extraction is pretty good. Main reason I'm mentioning this is you might get some more useful work from your existing tools and use the funds for other Festools that might be of interest.

 

[semenza]

Hi guys, I've yet to buy a sander and typically I either go outside or use my ridgid 5" which works pretty good if not for the fact hooking the vac is a pain. But I'm looking for a festool one which would be a good general use sander for sanding newly constructed cabinet face frames and door panels. I already have a pointed sander for the tight corners, but if you cabinet makers can chime in that would be great. Thanks.

For building cabinets and general use I would go with an ETS150/5. Since you are already set for corners. I know that seems large for face frames but if you add the hard pad it works very well. And is a great all purpose sander  barring going with a Rotex.  It will handle all the panels  and larger surfaces very quickly too.

I am a little confused about your first sentence. Why do you go outside or use the Ridgid 5"?

Seth

 

[Scott B.]

I'm gonna inch myself right out onto a limb here and recommend the RTS400 as the ideal entry level sanding tool for this situation.

Thank me later.

 

[w802h]

I own an RTS400 and I like it's shape a lot for cabinets.  It's narrower which means more in contact with the sanding surface and greater dust extraction.  Also you can get into square corners.  I think the only difference among the ETS125, RTS400, and DTS models is the shape of the pad so I don't think you'll see a difference in the quality of finish. 

 

[semenza]

I own an RTS400 and I like it's shape a lot for cabinets.  It's narrower which means more in contact with the sanding surface and greater dust extraction.  Also you can get into square corners.  I think the only difference among the ETS125, RTS400, and DTS models is the shape of the pad so I don't think you'll see a difference in the quality of finish. 

ETS  = random orbit

DTS / RTS  = orbit

Seth

 

[kmdwoodwork]

I would go with the 150/5 and hard pad, just have to be careful on the narrow pieces until you get used to it.

 

[Jaybolishes]

Man these are great responses, just what I was looking for. I own 14 apartments, so occasionally when people move out I redo the kitchens and such.  I typically build all my cabinets the same, poplar wood, cherry or birch high grade plywood, and I always paint them white or another color.  I plane with my shelix planer, so the wood is very smooth and what I need to sand is just the joints where there's glue or slight warpage due to shrinkage and slight irregularities where joints come together.  

("I am a little confused about your first sentence. Why do you go outside or use the Ridgid 5"?). I go outside so I don't get dust in my basement workshop, wife's complain sometimes.  And I use the ridgid sander because it's a pretty good sander.  

Paul g, your comments on the duct tape and the ridgid sander is exactly what I want to change.  I'm sanding away then the tape gives way and dust goes everywhere, ha it's annoying as heck.  The abrasive thing I will do research on the fog as I know this May be like beating a dead horse,but I have no clue about this yet as I've avoided reading about them when it comes up, but I'll take your advice Phill.  I have a sander already for the tight corners, it's a 20v dewalt multi tool, but it works fine for me for now.  I'll be looking for a festool version for the job sometime down the road.  I have a black and decker Mouse sander too, but it doesn't get used now I have the dewalt.  

 

[Paul G]

Paul g, your comments on the duct tape and the ridgid sander is exactly what I want to change.  I'm sanding away then the tape gives way and dust goes everywhere, ha it's annoying as heck. 

Yup, that's when I added the bailing wire and its stayed put. But if you've got the cash for Festool then upgrade and enjoy

 

[sancho57]

Hi guys, I've yet to buy a sander and typically I either go outside or use my ridgid 5" which works pretty good if not for the fact hooking the vac is a pain. But I'm looking for a festool one which would be a good general use sander for sanding newly constructed cabinet face frames and door panels. I already have a pointed sander for the tight corners, but if you cabinet makers can chime in that would be great. Thanks.

For building cabinets and general use I would go with an ETS150/5. Since you are already set for corners. I know that seems large for face frames but if you add the hard pad it works very well. And is a great all purpose sander  barring going with a Rotex.  It will handle all the panels  and larger surfaces very quickly too.

I am a little confused about your first sentence. Why do you go outside or use the Ridgid 5"?

Seth

Just when I thought I was going to be unique and FEQ 150 for the boxes, RO 90 for the F/F

 

[Sparktrician]

ETS125 or RO125

I'd go with the RO 125 / ETS 125 / RTS 400 combination, and if needed, the RO 90 for detailed/inside corner work. 

 

[panelchat]

Are you doing doors in the apartment, or kitchen cabinet doors?
in any cabinet making, i have a hard time imagining where you would really need rotex- it is one step away from a belt sander.
face frames and cabinet doors typically just need finish sanding- as opposed to material removal sanding.
so the ETS 125 might be all you need.

i have the RO 90 and it is made for small parts like face frames and cabinet doors (esp rail/stile or raised panel doors you might have with face frame cabinets) and works great.
if you do any other work around these apartments, it can jump in and do all three: corner work, super rough sanding wherever you might need it, and finish sanding, all with excellent dust collection if you are using a festool or similar vac.

it is waaay too small a finish sander for production cabinet shops, but works fine for intermittent use.

the rotex can be used well for scribe cuts also- saw a rough line then finalize the line in rotex mode.

 

[Timtool]

I own a wide variety of Festool sanders and THE workshorse is without doubt the ETS 150/5, it's fast, stable, ergonomic, perfectly balanced and will do anything you want with the right paper. All the other sanders are specialized sanders concentrating on a specific task, or like the RO models trying to do just to much to be really the best at anything.

Like any sander with a round pad it won't do corners though, so it's not a post-finish sander. You need a specialized sander for that, the best companion for the ETS 150 is IMO the DTS400.

 

[Jaybolishes]

Really appreciate all the responses.  After going to my local store I decided my first sander will be the rts400.  A round pad is out of the question for my application I realized.  I really need to get to as much as possible on the corners of things, going in after to get what the rounded sander missed seems crazy.  Can't wait to give it a try and see what these festool sanders can do.  Seeing how I already have a round random orbit 5" ridgid, and tons of paper in all grits, I'll have two good sanders to tackle things with for a while.  A good square sander like the rts400 is just the ticket. I have a permanently installed 36 mm hose and cord above my Paulk work table, am I going to need anything special to connect it to my rts.  Is it Bob Marino who sells that little short hose? I know I can search for this so why ask right?

 

[tiralie]

 After going to my local store I decided my first sander will be the rts400.  

Great little sander. You'll love that thing...and it travels well. Great for face frames.
Just say bye to your Ridgid now, you will likely have the ets soon.
Tim

 

[Sparktrician]

Is it Bob Marino who sells that little short hose?

Bob does have the hose adapter.  Suggest that you go to your local plumbing shop and get a 1-1/4" copper connector to tighten the connection between the 36mm hose and the hose adapter.  Note its usage in the attached picture.