need some advice on sanders

Timtool

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2011
Messages
1,011
hello all, it's my first post here!
i would like some advice on wich sander(s) to look for, my current festool collection is limited to the CT22 and Kapex120 both bought used. all my other tools are Bosch, bought new during the last year when i started woodworking(festool was out of my budget!)
im currently sanding with a Bosch Gex 125 ROS sander, and it's a pretty fine tool. i occasionally work in school with the Festool ETS 150 and i can't say the difference is verry noticable.
so i was thinking maybe the rotex would be a possible upgrade, but then wich one? and are they tools that can be used extensively and comfortably like a regular ROS?
chances are that later i would also buy a standard festool ROS, and i would not want to be left with x types of different disk sizes.

i use my sander mostly for furniture, not large surfaces. so a 125mm pad is more than big enough, won't a 150mm pad be oversized in this case?

so if i would take the rotex 125, and later the ETS 125 (for the sake of same pad sizes) would i be armed to comfortably handle any task? or is there a too lrge gap between both, missing an intermediate ROS?

hope this wasn't too complex!
thank you.
 
[welcome]to the FOG , this is a sloippery slope. enjoy your time here and look forward to your imput .
i have a ro 150 and love it, i wouldnt bother with the ets but that me. some say it leaves a finer finish due to its smaller stroke. my next sander purchase will be the ro 90 . together i hope this combination will cover all eventualities from rough to fine to polishing.
only you know how fine a finish you need. althow it might be handy to have two sanders set up , 1 for rotex mode and the other for normal mode.
 
I have the RO 125 and the ETS 125, and they do it for me.

I suggest you get these; I think they will satisfy your needs comfortably.

Bienvenue!
 
Welcome Timtool
My vote would be rotex  because the rotex has two sanding modes a 5mm orbit for rough sanding and a 3mm orbit for finer sanding
I have RO 150 and ETS150 I only ever use the RO150
I also own a RO 90 this a fantastic little sander especially for furniture it's lite a very easy to youse one handed  
 
Tim,
Welcome to the forum.  We're all very glad that you are here!
I will throw you a different piece of advice.

Consider the RS 2 E or the RTS 400 EQ

You already have a fine sander that is working well for you.  Sure, it doesn't remove stock quickly, but you likely don't REALLY need a sander that does so.  Why not expand the capabilities of your shop in a different direction.  How often do you need to sand something and make certain that it is flat... DEAD FLAT?!?  Bingo... RS 2 E for larger pieces, or the RTS 400 EQ for smaller pieces.  I don't know the scale of your current projects, but that should dictate what you purchase first.  You say you build furniture.  For casework, I would take the RS 2 hands down.  Panels would be a snap. For boxes or chairs or the like, the RTS 400 would be my choice.

To answer your other questions, the 150mm diameter of the Rotex 150 isn't all that much larger than the 125.  Draw out the circles to get an idea.  They aren't ALL that big.  Youtube can also show you the products in use which can help you gauge scale.

Hope this help.

Ben

 
I have a different opinion entirely.

Get the Rotex 150. In reality a 5" vs a 6"  is a HUGE difference in size and the Rotex MUCH more versatile than the RS2. I can get things just as flat using the Rotex with the hard pad as with the RS2, so much so I sold my RS2.

The RS2 is nice, but I found that I could get the Rotex to flatten about twice as fast as the RS2 with no noticeable difference at all in the final sanding. Whether I used the RS2 or Rotex I generally sanded my last pass or two with the ETS 150/3 anyway.

A Rotex 150 and an ETS 150/3 FOR ME is the best Festool combination. I am adding the Rotex 90 for the smaller stuff and a RAS, but the Rotex 150 and ETS 150/3 would be my first Festool sanders if I had to purchase first time again.
 
I started out with the RO125, and just used that for about a year.  If you think that is big enough for you that will probably be fine. 
 
I like the RS2 a lot but the Rotex 150 and a hard pad is what I'd get first followed by the RTS 400 for detailing. I got the ETS 125 and I feel I made the wrong choice with it. I'd much rather have the 400.
 
I concur with Dovetail65 -- the Rotex 150 and ETS 150/3 is a great combination.  I bought a DTS400 for the corner work, but had the RO90 been out I might have gone that route instead.  I think that the 150 is better than the 125 -- you can cover more surface area and I find I can get a more even and flatter surface.  I also mostly make furniture and this combination works perfectly for me.

Scot
 
I'm with Ben regarding the RTS400.  It can sand with a
very light touch.  I also have a RO 150 that I like but
I haven't put it to the test yet.  If I had a job with large
flat surfaces I would grt a RS 2.
 
thank you all for the replies!
so im not yet sure wich combination is best, everybody seems happy with theirs.

i should maybe add that 80% of my work is building the same type of furniture in series of 4 to 10.
the parts are between 40 and 80mm wide, with a few small panels and drawer fronts. 80%pine 20% beech.
on the pine i only use 120 grit, the beech needs 80-120-240.

so like i said, i don't need a huge removal capacity. i mostly want it to be pleasant fast and not tiring.
my fear is that the ETS 125 may not be enough, and if i picked the ETS 150, i would also need the RO 150 to share disks wich may be too much!
so would the RO 125 be a good allround sander on it's own? they look awkward to use! or do you still prefer a normal excentric for regular sanding?
 
Now don't get me wrong I think festool makes some very nice sanders, I have five of them. But I just bought a Mirka Ceros and it is hands down the nicest little sander I have ever used. For the price of the rotex I would highly consider one of these. I may be selling off some sanders now!
 
hi tim and welcome to the fog!

the rotex sanders are designed for aggressive material removal such as removing old paint or varnish.
they also can be used as normal sanders too.

if all your furniture that you build is new timber then you probably dont need the rotex.
the ets 125 would be a good choice.
i would also recommend you look seriously at the rotex 90.
i think this would be a combination for you.

p.s. have you considered the duplex ls130 sander?
this is an awesome sander for furniture making.

regards, justin.
 
hello again,
just telling that i bit the nail today and bought the RO 125 and ETS 125, managed to haggle for a free box of sandpaper and a box of polishing disks. cashed out almost €900!

initial impression is not all that great, the fancy systainer looks practical though sanders are not the kind of tools that i keep in their box.
the RO 125 is less noisy than i thought it would be, but it's not easy to controll and creates alot of vibrations, in rotex mode it's even worse!

i thought that after getting these two i would take pics of my Bosch and post it on sale, but im not sure anymore.
for now when i compare, the Bosch has better ergonomics than both Festools, less vibrations than both. did a test on some pine and beechwood. the Bosch with it's 2.5mm stroke took away the planer marks in 2-3 passes, the ETS with its 2mm stroke needed an eternity ( it's a finish sander so i can't blame it) but the rotex needed 2-3 passes aswell while it's got a 3.6mm stroke. and it was the least pleasant to use.

maybe i should turn in the ets 125 and switch for a 150, and keep the rotex for rotex work and not regular sanding.
but i guess i have 30 days to decide, maybe i'll like em better by then. and maybe i'll turn em in both!

ps, how come the hose rubber adaptor of my CT22 shop vac seems slightly too large for these two sanders? it doesn't hold too well, and falls off occasionally
 
Tim,

Don't change anything just yet. There is a learning curve to be had with the RO 125, and you need to break the sander in. There are a few videos on youtube of the RO125- do a search for rotex 125- these will help you. I did one sanding birdseye maple for example.

With both sanders, the vibrations are reduced if you turn UP the speed. I always leave it on maximum speed for sanding, less for polishing.

The vac adapter should be tight and not come off easily. You may need to push it on further.

All the best and hang in there.

Richard.
 
My advice. Keep the Bosch! When they work they are great!

Fast, better then festools. Or keep Bosch and add a rotex. They are worth the money!

My company uses the high power Bosch 5". Unless it breaks down in the first week! Which a couple have, they are great aggressive sanders. The opm's are higher so we burn through work faster. And availability of great sandpaper.

I wish festool would make a 5" high speed orbital. Maybe 13000 opm's or so. Until then mirka is on the list.
 
Back
Top