Not a collector, but serious user...need recommendation

[Woozal]

Hello again Woozal

Someone mentioned the heat build up with the extended run time. I don't recall  that it was ever uncomfortable, but it did get hot.  My RO90 used to get hot, as well. I just attributed it to the fact that the machine is sucking up a lot of electricity and doing a lot of work but never felt there was a problem.  I did sell the RO150 when I closed my business and it ended up being one of two FTs I wished I had kept.  The other is the TS75. 

Recently I was doing work at church and needed the heft of a sander like the RO150. I couldn't really justify buying another one just for one project so I ended up getting the Makita version and it worked just fine. I would say that it is a bit less smooth compared to the RO150, or in other words, it's a little bit more wearing on the hand and wrist when using it for an extended period of time.

Good luck with your projects.

Woozal

I had a RO150 for years and we used it for all kinds of "non-standard" work, including extended periods of operation with few, or no, breaks.  My dealer, Tom Bellemare, told me that this tool was built like a bulldozer and he was right.  Never had any concerns about that tool.

Nice response, I’ll keep giving it a go then. I was just concerned when it got warm so quick.  No bearing down or anything just gliding along with Saphir paper. It does a great job. Thinking about longevity is all. Thanks for the info.

Good info thanks.

 

[Woozal]

To Festool employees,

I’ll have to admit I’m not much of a fanboy or tool collector. I just want a really nice tool that can be put through its paces with heavy use.

I was wondering how much action can what is probably your most rugged tool be put through, particulsrly the RO 150 Rotex sander. I just got one and was testing it out rotary sanding some circle saw mill walnut crotch pieces.  It seemed to get quite warm after only 45 minutes to an hour. Should this thing be rested every once in awhile Or can it go to work and perform up to its price?

Whatever it needs is fine I just need to know, I know what I need out of it, but if the tool comes first let me know. I got the ets ec 150 when they first came out with like the brushless motors. It was repaired twice and then you guys completely replaces it with a new one after the third time. They are nice looking, nice colors, balanced and do a great job. I just don’t know if they do a great job for a long time or not. Change my mind. Thanks. Oh an I’ve looked at Mafell but haven’t got one in my hands yet. Not sure they are any more duty that festool.

Mafell won't be any better than what you already have....  Mafell market a basic 1/2 sheet orbital, & a basic 150mm random, but that's it.  They once had a joint venture with Kress to produce a big, heavy, extremely powerful Rotex-type tool, that was beset with gear troubles, which faced an early demise.

Festo/ol has always been a bit of a "specialist" sander manufacturer, well at least since the 80s or so when the Rotex was first marketed.  Even then they were at least as good as anything else available, if not better.  That aforementioned Rotex was definitely a bit of a game-changer in the marketplace, & probably singlehandedly established Festo as a premium tool manufacturer.

Should you indeed wish to "change up" then maybe look at other premium sander specialists, such as Indasa, Rupes or maybe Mirka.

Mafell makes the world's best & probably most comprehensive range of circular saws, & all but indisputably best Jiggy available.  But frankly their meagre "range" of sanders is best avoided.  Others, including Festool, simply do it better.

Yeah i’ll Look into those brands too.