Okay Fine.. ill be a green member, but HELP!

[laanguiano]

haha, okay I did a nice furniture piece for some money, and now I can buy a green monster.  Id like to first get tools that i dont have, then replace my tools with greenies if I likey.  Which im sure I will.

I have a traditional 5" Random Orbital Sander Right Now.  Whenever I make a cabinet Im always frustrated that i cant get all the way to the edges or corners.  i usually dont sand till after i glue up the carcus and add the face frame.  its habit.

Ive been looking at the RTS400 a lot, as it seems the square head would be perfect for all those straight edges that are near molding trim, inside cabinet sides and corners and such.

Ive also heard alot of people prefer the DTS400 and RO90 instead....

Any thoughts or suggestions?  Thanks!

 

[tbellemare]

Aside from a delta pad, the DTS has a pad with beveled edges, which protects the adjacent surface.

Tom

 

[MrToolJunkie]

I agree with Tom and to add to his comment, the beveled edges also help keep the sander from jumping all over the place when you do come into contact with the edge.  The delta pad is great for working into corners as well.  I find the DTS400 is a real gem of a sander and it is one of my favorites. 

Scot

 

[tiralie]

First off Welcome to the FOG!
I replaced my well used Makita 1/4 sheet sander with a RTS400. Too often I found myself trying to clean up the fine layer of dust I left in my customers homes. I really like the RTS400, and reach for it often to sand face frames, edges, finishing etc. Other than hand sanding, I find it much easier to use on narrow (

 

[pghmyn]

My first, and at the moment the only, Festool was the TS 55 EQ. I versatility of this saw is just amazing. Really comes in handy with sheet goods, but it also come be really convenient if you have a setup to work like the MFT.

I absolutely recommend it.

 

[duburban]

I can't say enough good about the DTS. I wish I had bought it first. Is there an additional pad for the DTS that you guys are referring to?

 

[MrToolJunkie]

The DTS only comes with one pad...the pad itself has the rounded edges.  I hope that helps answer your question.

Scot

 

[tbellemare]

The rigid plate, to which the compressible part of the DTS pad attaches, is smaller than the business end of the pad. It gives it a set back when approaching perpendicular, adjacent surfaces.

This protects those adjacent surfaces from marring and as Scot points out, it doesn't jump wildly if you happen to touch them.

Tom

 

[erock]

All I will say is be careful.  Be VERY careful!

The first Festool sander I bought was the DTS400.  Love it so much I had to find out what a ETS125 would do.  Love the two sanders!!

Now I have a RO125 (because the RO 125 and ETS 125 share the same paper).  I thought I would only need and want ONE Festool sander.

But, I'm very happy with the three I have and now have my eye on a LS 130 and RS 2 E.

The DTS400 would be a sweet sander for you for sanding plywood with thin veneers. 

Eric

 

[skids]

It's a slippery slope..I started off thinking all I needed was dust collection for the small shop I built in my basement. Fast forward a few short months and several systainers full of vairous tools later...Now I am looking for reasons to get a Kapex. Be careful!

 

[FulThrotl]

Any thoughts or suggestions?  Thanks!

first fact:

all festools cost over $10,000.
doesn't matter which one you get
first, it probably won't stop till you burn
thru $10,000

i needed  a shop vac.

the shop vac led to a ro-150
vac accessories
ts-55
kapex
domino
2200 watt router
accessory kit for said router
ro-90
second shop vac
t-18 drill with accessories
centrotec kit
second t-18 drill

and all the bits, sandpapers,
accessories and stuff i haven't
bothered to mention....

it was an expensive shop vac.

 

[laanguiano]

Thanks for the help everyone; I went to the local woodcraft to fondle the tools.  (I felt guilty knowing I was not going to buy from them, since I wanted to get in on the reconditioned sale and my local woodcraft wasnt participating so I bought an Incra Miter Slider while I was there.)

Anyways,  After merely holding the RTS/DTS 400; I could tell the DTS just felt lighter, more agile, and up to more tasks.  So I went back home to order a DTS reconditioned, and from the time going to the store and back it was gone.  Fart.  So I decided to pull the trigger on the ETS125, since i also fondled it at the store.  It was so much lighter and friendlier than the ETS 150 that it seemed a no brainer to me.  Maybe I just have weak forearms being a 135pound man soaking wet after Hurricane Sandy.  But thats just me.

I think my next purchase Ill buy new and get the DTS and a Vacuum Package Deal.

 

[Alan m]

Any thoughts or suggestions?  Thanks!

first fact:

all festools cost over $10,000.
doesn't matter which one you get
first, it probably won't stop till you burn
thru $10,000

i needed  a shop vac.

the shop vac led to a ro-150
vac accessories
ts-55
kapex
domino
2200 watt router
accessory kit for said router
ro-90
second shop vac
t-18 drill with accessories
centrotec kit
second t-18 drill

and all the bits, sandpapers,
accessories and stuff i haven't
bothered to mention....

it was an expensive shop vac.

what no mft

 

[Kev]

Any thoughts or suggestions?  Thanks!

first fact:

all festools cost over $10,000.
doesn't matter which one you get
first, it probably won't stop till you burn
thru $10,000

i needed  a shop vac.

the shop vac led to a ro-150
vac accessories
ts-55
kapex
domino
2200 watt router
accessory kit for said router
ro-90
second shop vac
t-18 drill with accessories
centrotec kit
second t-18 drill

and all the bits, sandpapers,
accessories and stuff i haven't
bothered to mention....

it was an expensive shop vac.

what no mft

My wife just went through last year's tax ... $35K in tools [embarassed] ... and it's fortunate she didn't find all of the receipts (some were cash, some eBay, Amazon, etc).

She "kindly" excluded materials and consumables - but to be fair there wasn't too many of those.

Bottom line - if you have a compulsive gene, be very careful.

 

[ceddy]

all festools cost over $10,000.
doesn't matter which one you get
first, it probably won't stop till you burn
thru $10,000[/quote]

So very true.