New Rotex user

[Jimhart]

Hi,

Just got a chance to try out my new Rotex 150 today. Sanded my hard maple top on my workbench. It had some pretty deep scratches so I started out with 60 grit paper in rotary mode.

Even with the speed and CT set at their lowest settings I felt like I was riding a wild horse. I tried holding it light and firm, didn't seem to matter. It kept doing it as I moved up grits. It also got pretty hot after only 10 to 15 minutes of sanding.

Am I doing something wrong, or does this just take some getting used to?

Table top looks great by the way, so I'm thinking it takes getting used to.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[Dan Clark]

Jim,

In Rotex mode, it can be a beast.    Switch to RO and it turns into a lamb - one hand use.  Also I believe that it runs hot initially and after a couple hours of use will run cooler.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Hi,

Just got a chance to try out my new Rotex 150 today. Sanded my hard maple top on my workbench. It had some pretty deep scratches so I started out with 60 grit paper in rotary mode.

Even with the speed and CT set at their lowest settings I felt like I was riding a wild horse. I tried holding it light and firm, didn't seem to matter. It kept doing it as I moved up grits. It also got pretty hot after only 10 to 15 minutes of sanding.

Am I doing something wrong, or does this just take some getting used to?

Table top looks great by the way, so I'm thinking it takes getting used to.

Thanks,

Jim

I don't have a Rotex but do have a similarly functioning Bosch sander. These things are a handfull in aggressive mode. You need a lighter touch, the opposite of pushing down, and it takes a little practice. Perhaps contrary to what you think, turning the speed of the sander up actually helps. The shape of the abrasive particles are the equivalent of "negative hook" teeth on a saw blade. They don't want to grab the wood, and the faster the disk spins the more they repell it. Let it spin with lighter contact and it is easier to control. It still cuts plenty fast so stop frequently and check your progress. The soft start makes restarting less damaging but you do need to suspend the sander a bit when starting.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

You really have to hold on in aggressive mode.  Do experiment with speeds, one will probably work a little better for the combination of grit and grain you are working.  I always use the handle, find it easier to control that way.

 

[merklebob]

also back off some on the vacuum.  hi vac pulls the paper harder to the surface.

 

[poto]

I found that the placement of your hands, and the angle of the pad made all the difference. Keep your hands apart, and make sure the pad is flat to the surface you're sanding. Otherwise it'll take off. When you get the swing of it, you can use subtle rotations of the machine to make it track left, right, forward and back. When your hands are close together it's more difficult to maintain a constant angle on the pad. And don't push down!

 

[Ned]

I found that the placement of your hands, and the angle of the pad made all the difference. Keep your hands apart, and make sure the pad is flat to the surface you're sanding. Otherwise it'll take off. When you get the swing of it, you can use subtle rotations of the machine to make it track left, right, forward and back. When your hands are close together it's more difficult to maintain a constant angle on the pad. And don't push down!

Sounds a lot like handling a floor buffer, doesn't it?



Ned

 

[Jimhart]

Ned,

I was a gofer for a few years during high school and college for a flooring company. One of my frequent assignments was tearing out tile, skim coating the floor with latex, then grinding it smooth with a floor grinder.
The comparison of the Rotex with a floor grinder is a big help.
i weighed about 140 when i was doing that work. Recognizing situations where it was going to act up was the only way to position yourself to maintain control.

Jim