New ETS 125/3

[Birdhunter]

I was doubtful the new ETS 125/3 would be all that much better than my old ETS sander. I bought it anyway and I am very happy that I did.

It is a lot smoother and quieter than my old ETS. I also like the near instant stop feature. The ergonomics, at first, were not what I though was all that good. But, after a few hours using the new sander, I find it feels "just right".

Expensive, but a good value.

 

[SoonerFan]

Good to hear.  I looked at the ETS 125 to share abrasives with my Rotex 125.  If I purchase I will have three Festool sanders (have a DTS).  That's enough right?

 

[ajcoholic]

I also took delivery of one (5") yesterday, along with the new sleeved 10 meter hose.

We (me and my two employees) fight between several Festool and Mirka sanders, on a daily basis.  However, I personally like the sanding qualities of the Mirka Ceros - but the Festool sanders are so much better with dust collection.

We used it a bit today (I was in the finishing room most of the day and just got a bit of time on it, but one of the guys used it for a while)... seems it is most definitely more powerful than the older ETS 5" we have (2 of them), but leaves a very good finish with 120 paper, and is a lot easier to control with one hand.  If it works as good as I expect I will grab another.  If not, its going back and I will pick up the 6"/5mm stroke.

Dust collection is great as I had expected.  On a side note - that 10 M hose is LONG... but now we can work all around the 4'x8' work tables without moving the vacuum around.

 

[flair woodworks]

Andrew,

Can you expand on your thought on the Festool sanders having better dust collection?  How are you using the sanders?  I have the CEROS in my own shop and have found the dust collection to be very good.

 

[Cheese]

I've always loved using my ETS 125, it's always been my favorite...until now. Picked up an ETS EC 125 and am using it on drywall...incredible. It's hard to believe the additional 1 mm stroke can make such a difference. It's a lot more aggressive but in a good way.

On drywall with the old ETS I'd use 120/150 grit paper on speed 6, with the EC I'm using 180 grit on speed 5. The lower profile also makes it easier to keep the sander flat on a vertical surface.

The on/off push button switch is also much easier to activate than the rocker switch on the old ETS. Sometimes I needed to use both hands to operate the rocker switch because of how stiff it became from time to time. And as already mentioned, the instant stop feature is really nice. The pad stops within a second of shutting off the sander.

All in all...I'm very happy with the new EC and find it well worth the extra $$. However, the jury is still out on the sleeved hose.

 

[Brice Burrell]

.....All in all...I'm very happy with the new EC and find it well worth the extra $$. However, the jury is still out on the sleeved hose.

[member=44099]Cheese[/member]
Since you brought it up, how about you give us some of your thoughts on the hose sleeve. It sounds like maybe it's not meeting your expectations??

 

[john.phelan.961]

What drove you to the 125 over the 150?  I looked at them today and am leaning towards the 125 but am interested in others decision.  I'm just a hobbiest the but love the sander.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I'd definitely go for the 125, but the RO 125 is good at polishing which is something i want to try..so it looks like not either but both  Right now I'm settling in with my RO 90, the detla modus is going to come in useful for a window frame renovation and painting project coming up..My NAINA RS 300 EQ is built like at tank and I use it on narrower straight surfaces that just need touching up or even larger surfaces likel tables. Hey I've also got two other brand sanders that are useful as all. So buying the ETS EC 125, and the RO 125 are going to come when a specific need for their special abilities comes up.. The RO 125 for renovating vertical surfaces in a large project for example. The ETS EC a lot of finer finishing work under deadline..

 

[Birdhunter]

I bought the 125 and not the 150 because I seldom do large surfaces. Having only 5" and 3" disks minimizes both paper cost and storage space.

 

[Cheese]

I bought the 125 and not the 150 because I seldom do large surfaces. Having only 5" and 3" disks minimizes both paper cost and storage space.

Ya I'm with you, most of my stuff is fairly small and if I need a sander for doing large surfaces, then I enlist the services of the RS 2.
Unless you're made of money, I find it tough to validate the purchase of both 125 mm and 150 mm equipment. Ya pays your money and ya takes your ride. The 90 mm system works as an alternative because it's so much smaller.

 

[Cheese]

Since you brought it up, how about you give us some of your thoughts on the hose sleeve. It sounds like maybe it's not meeting your expectations??

Brice I think that's a great idea. The new zippered hose sleeve is presently attached to the CT 22 downstairs which works with the RO 90, Domino and the TS 55. I've not noticed a difference in ease of deployment while using these tools with the new smaller hose, but thinking about this, it makes sense because all of this equipment is fairly large and a smaller hose attached to this equipment will yield a "das macht nichts" statement.

So meanwhile, the EC is attached to the Midi that I'm using upstairs to finish the bathroom. Per your suggestion, I'll be installing the zippered hose sleeve on the midi upstairs so that I can evaluate how it functions with the smaller EC 125 sander.

Whoops...the Rinnai just went down

Science experiment put on hold...

 

[ajcoholic]

Andrew,

Can you expand on your thought on the Festool sanders having better dust collection?  How are you using the sanders?  I have the CEROS in my own shop and have found the dust collection to be very good.

Hey Chris,
I am not using any mesh abrasives on my two Mirka sanders (one 5", one 6").  I use 6 and 8 hole paper, since I go through quite a bit, and also I find the mesh abrasives very fragile (except for sanding lacquers on flat surfaces like when I am finishing table tops etc).

I just dont get as good pick up of dust with the Mirkas, as I do with any of my Festool sanders (two ETS old style, RO 125 and 90).  I also still use my Makita 1/2 sheet orbital that also has excellent dust pick up.  Its not bad mind you, just not as good.  Especially when sanding face frames, edges, etc where the entire pad is not on a surface.

I think the new EST will be a decent sander.  I am already thinking of getting another and retiring the older ETS's - which are fine sanders, for finer sanding - but the new ETS is so much better felling, both in the hand, and also doesnt tend to dance around.

To clarify - I dont use my hand sanders for anything but final sanding - as all my woodwork is sanded generally on a widebelt sander, stroke sander etc (stationary machinery) with the hand held orbitals being used (in concert with hand sanding) for final sanding before finishing.

 

[grbmds]

Since you brought it up, how about you give us some of your thoughts on the hose sleeve. It sounds like maybe it's not meeting your expectations??

Brice I think that's a great idea. The new zippered hose sleeve is presently attached to the CT 22 downstairs which works with the RO 90, Domino and the TS 55. I've not noticed a difference in ease of deployment while using these tools with the new smaller hose, but thinking about this, it makes sense because all of this equipment is fairly large and a smaller hose attached to this equipment will yield a "das macht nichts" statement.

So meanwhile, the EC is attached to the Midi that I'm using upstairs to finish the bathroom. Per your suggestion, I'll be installing the zippered hose sleeve on the midi upstairs so that I can evaluate how it functions with the smaller EC 125 sander.

Whoops...the Rinnai just went down

Science experiment put on hold...

My experience with the sleeve has been better. I am happy I bought. I installed it on the boom arm as a second hose along with my 36mm hose. (Why  the dual mounted hoses is another whole post . . .) I have always just had the 36mm hose and it works well with the TS55REQ, the Domino 500, and an OF1400 router. However, with the sanders I have, I have always been dissatisfied; basically too much suction and not enough hose flexibility.  So, now I have the best of both worlds. I merely connect the 27mm sleeved hose when I'm sanding and it the cord is not in the way, suction is just right for sanding (turned down on low of course), and I found that it also works well with the Domino. So, I think the sleeved hose is great for my application. Since I use it exclusively in my wood shop, being able to switch back and forth between the 36mm and 27mm hoses is great (as long as I remember to connect the right hose to the CT).

 

[flair woodworks]

Hey Chris,
I am not using any mesh abrasives on my two Mirka sanders (one 5", one 6").  I use 6 and 8 hole paper, since I go through quite a bit, and also I find the mesh abrasives very fragile (except for sanding lacquers on flat surfaces like when I am finishing table tops etc).

Hi Andrew,

Yes, the Abranet can be on the fragile side, as the mesh can tear if caught on a corner.  I have always managed to get a pretty good service life from mesh disks.  Yesterday, I was using my RO 90 on a narrow contoured workpiece and kept catching the disc on one of the dust extraction holes in it, resulting in tears pretty quickly.  That's not an issue I have with the Abranet.

 

[Cheese]

Well [member=1146]Brice Burrell[/member],
I finally got the Rinnai under control and managed to avert another domestic crisis.  [thumbs up]

Previously, I was using the Festool zippered hose on a CT 22 and using the Domino, TS 55 and the RO 90 attached to the end. There wasn't any apparent advantage with the zippered hose when using these tools.

So, I installed the new Festool zippered hose on the Midi and installed the ETS EC 125 on the end of the hose instead, this was a huge difference. I really like the zippered hose for its flexibility and its ability to bend in tight areas. The new zippered hose is definitely application specific.