Newbie looking for sander

[Cosmos275]

Hey all.  I currently own a Dewalt orbital sander and I avoid using it.  The vibrations from thing thing my hand tingle for quite a while.  Researching brought me to this brand.

I'm looking for a good woodworking sander.  My typical challenge is I mill down Hard maple using a CNC router.  The mill finish looks like mowing a yard, with tracks going to and fro.  The "fro" tracks are rally hard to get out sanding.  I'm not ready to invest in a thickness sander yet (3k powermatic looks nice), so I want to improve my game with the handheld.  I'm not making piano tops, so getting an intermediate sander sounds good as it seems it can finish decently.

I'm looking at the ETS EC125/3, ETS EC150/3 and ETS EC150/5.  The first one is $100 cheaper.  It seems the 5mm are better for intermediate work, is this correct?  I'm not really sure where you draw the line between 3mm and 5mm.  I'm not sure if I need more than the 3.  Thoughts? 

Do I have to buy the Festool cord?  It looks like a glorified standard plug that I could substitute for at least getting started.

Any advice is appreciated.  Thanks!

 

[Cosmos275]

Hey, also, where do you guys get sanding pads for these.  The Festool website doesn't do a good job of listing accessory part numbers.  Thank!

 

[JonSchuck]

Only a Festool cord can be used with the sanders but they are free and come with the sander.  You should have dust extraction though.  Your health will benefit, the sandpaper will last longer and you won't have dust all over.  And the vac should have variable suction so it won't suck the material to the sandpaper.  Festool vacs are expensive but are 10% off when bought with a tool.

Everybody on here that has bought an EC sander seems to love it.  Festool has many types of sandpaper but almost everybody prefers granat.

Best thing is to find a dealer near you.

 

 

[Cosmos275]

Thanks.  I have a dust collector in my shop currently.  I have a 2.5" or so hose running to my current Dewalt.  It's not variable, but doesn't pull all that much.

Thanks on the cord.  It's not clear that it comes with one.

Any advice on 5" vs. 6" and 3mm vs. 5mm stroke is appreciated.  Thanks

 

[JonSchuck]

http://www.festoolusa.com/where-to-buy/

The 5 mm stroke removes material faster.  3 mm gives a finer finish.  I have a 5 mm and seem to get a real good finish.  The difference between the 5" and 6" depends on the size of the piece you are working on.

 

[Cosmos275]

I work on boards 9-12" wide.

 

[JonSchuck]

I'd get the 6".  It's just faster.

 

[Cosmos275]

cool, thanks for the advice!

 

[JonSchuck]

A Festool hose will probably fit your Dewalt vac but they are pricey too.  Somebody on here can probably tell you how to fit some kind of adapter to your hose to fit the sander.

 

[JonSchuck]

Oops, I forgot.  [welcome] to the forum.

 

[RKA]

The ETS 150 sanders would be more suitable for removing something like planer marks on the surface of the wood.  From the sounds of it, you need something that needs more bite.  Have you looked at the Rotex sanders Festool offers?  They offer a gear driven mode that will scrub down the surface fast and an orbital mode with a 5mm stroke to finish it off.  They are a bit more expensive and you'll need to operate them with 2 hands to keep them balanced on the face of the wood, but it sounds like their jekyl and hyde nature might be suitable based on the description of your task (a picture might help). 

 

[Cosmos275]

Yes, I looked at them, then read some stuff on here about them.  They do appeal to me, but I was thinking the simpler models would vibrate less.  I saw some discussion of a break in period which seemed to generate some controversy.  I don't like the idea of dangling it from its cord for 8 hours

 

[nickao]

DO NOT listen to those break in advocates. IMHO, it's a farce.

What is your budget?

Get a 6" sander and stay in that category because you can always great a 5" sander for 99.00 if you need something small.

If this your very first sander and you are afraid to go 6" because of smaller project size or not being able to afford or handle a larger sander then get one of these. They are 5", inexpensive and BETTER than anything Festool or most anyone else sells in the 5" category at any price. There is just no reason you need anything better as a newb - 99.00:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007XXHGY/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_13?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A41WL3SOLJ8TZ
[attachimg=2]

I prefer the Makita because I like all my sander to have that front hold, just like my Rotex(with front handle attachment) 99.00:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003M5IWM8/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_15?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
[attachimg=3]

If you want to stay in 5" and have the cream of the crop this a fantastic 5" sander, but even for me it makes little sense as at 200.00 just get into the 6" sanders. If you want no vibration this is it, 209.99:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NZ6EHA/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_9?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
[attachimg=4]

Once you get into woodworking more I suggest you make that immediate jump to the 6" sander ie, once you start spending 200.00 plus for a sander go 6". This is the sander you want(well I want and have anyhow) if you can only have one, it ain't cheap - 485.00:
http://www.festoolproducts.com/festool-571892-ets-ec-150-5-eq-compact-brushless-finish-sander.html
[attachimg=1]

And upon graduation get a Rotex, still my favorite sander, but way too much for a newb and you still need a finish sander to use with it Rotex 150 FEQ, 585.00:
http://www.festoolproducts.com/festool-571810-ro-150-feq-rotex-sander.html
[attachimg=5]

Honorable mention ETS 150/3 , you can't go wrong with the 150/3 or 150/5 , this could be a nice ONLY ONE sander. If you can have ONLY one get the 150/5 if you are using as a finisher after a Rotex get the 150/3 or better yet the aforementioned Festool EC sander(my preference now) in 150/5 or 150/3 depending on what other sanders you get. At 365.00 this is still a great way to go:
http://www.festoolproducts.com/festool-571903-ets-150-3-eq-random-orbital-sander.html
[attachimg=6]

Notice the Festool Pro 5 not mentioned here.

 

[rst]

I won't matter which one you start with, you'll end up with multiples.  I use mine professionaly and have seven different ones (actually 9, I just bought the new DTS and RTS..Giving my old ones to the kids).  I had to start with just one, I would get the new ETS EC 150.  It is a dream to use...I have an older ETS 150 that I bought used and that would be another way to start.

 

[Cosmos275]

What is your budget?

My first post has 3 models I'm looking at.  I'd rather not spend that much, but I want a solid tool that I won't want to replace in a couple years.  I'd like to drop 3K on a powermatic thickness sander, but that's out of budget and I don't have shop space for it.

I have the Dewalt now.  If you don't value your nerve endings, I suppose it's fine.  I want to chuck it in the ravine.

Here's an example of the marks I'm trying to remove.  It's more like a texture.  I've seen planer marks that are way deeper.  These marks don't have much depth, it like petting a cat's hair the wrong way on every other pass.  It happens on Walnut and Cherry as well, but it's the most noticeable and hard to remove on Maple. 

Looks like I'm going towards the ETS EC 150/5
View attachment 1

 

[RKA]

That doesn't look too bad.  I think you're on the right track with the ETS 150/5 sanders.  Just start with the appropriate grit to remove the imperfections and work your way up.  One thing to note with the EC versions, you need to keep your hand on top of the machine or it tips back.  The non EC version is balanced so it lays flat on it's own.  It also has a little more weight to it, so you could guide it around the work pieces with two fingers on the extractor hose and let the machine do it's thing. If you're sensitive to vibrations, this would result in the least tiring approach to the task.   

 

[nickao]

He said ETS EC 150, NOT ETS 150, I hate the names are so close.

The two sanders are so completely different, The ETS EC just blows the ETS away in every respect.

I agree if you are going to have one sander the ETS EC 150/5 is a great way to go.

I do follow up with the regular ETS 150/3 on certain woods though. Some of the harder closed pore exotics just need that smaller stroke as to not see the scratches and swirls. But they need the larger stroke to initially get the wood smooth, so you are going to find it's faster and simpler to get a better finish using multiple sanders with progressive strokes than just relying on grit changes using a single higher stroke tool.

 

[Cosmos275]

I'm not opposed to the non-EC sanders.  I'm a newbie.  I'm looking for advice.

I was under the impression the EC ones are the latest and greatest (better).  They say:

Less fatigue
Increased flexibility
Better dust control

#1 and #3 sounds great.  I assume they are comparing them to the predecessor (non-EC) models?  Maybe not.

I'm struggling to come to terms with coughing up $5-600 to replace the dewalt.  I can't buy two right now.

Seems like EC 150/5 it will be..  Thanks all for all the advice!

 

[nickao]

You dont need to spend the 600.00, I totally agree.

 

[Holmz]

... Have you looked at the Rotex sanders Festool offers? ...

In non geared mode they are slower than an ETS/EC 150/5, and as mentioned they are not intuitively immediately natural to use in geared mode.

I have a Mirka DEROS in 5-mm, and it is a jackrabbit on removing material. Going 220 or 320 it leaves about the same finish as a 3-mm. The ETS/EC 150/5 is a stunningly good sander, and essentially the same. The ETS is not the same beast.

If you want the lowest vibration the Mafell uva115e is notable. It is 1/2 sheet and 450W and 22000/min, but it takes "1/2 again longer" compared to the random orbital, and the cost is high.

Basically All those sanders cost a lot, so if cost is also a consideration then there are Bosch and Rupes (etc) in 5-mm and 7.5-mm stroke that also are good on dust. So I would suggest looking at those too.
They would get you down to smooth finish a lot faster than an ETS (non EC).

The wood sounds like it needs to get from milled to finish, not from nearly finished to finished. As maple can be hard, I think you either less time (bigger stroke, more watts), or something that will not vibrate you to numbness and take a lot longer. You need something more than a gentle finish sander like the ETS. (Bosch, Makita, Rupes, etc.)

And then you could always finish with a vacuum hand block like the Mirka or Festool which start at ~$50... doing a linear, with the grain, finish at 220 or higher.