Planex, thinking of taking the plunge

aptpupil

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May 21, 2013
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Hate drywall so I had been thinking about buying one in the past and now I have a job with a room with a sand texture that I'll be sanding down and skim coating.
I have a midi, will I need any hose adapters, filters, etc. or am I good to go just with the planex and some extra paper?
Any other considerations before pulling the trigger?
 
I wouldnt use the midi. The ideal situation is the AC extractor.  I suspect if you have a fair amount of work you may ruin your midi, let alone you will fill up/block bags too quickly.

If you watch the video describing how the AC extractor works you will see why it is bundled with the planex.  You wont have any regrets buying the planex.  Its a great example of a well executed Festool tool.  It just works.  Extraction with the AC is great and adjustments can be made from the planex handle.
 
The midi will be fine for a smaller room. No adapters needed. The hose won't lock on but it fits snug enough. Just have a few bags on hand. If you start doing larger projects then you may want to consider the 36AC.

We actually use an older 15 gal shop vac. We put a cleanstream hepa cartridge filter in it and use the drywall bags. We run it through a vac switch. Also we use the Shop Vac brand 1-1/2" contractor hose with it. It works great.
 
If you didn't want to spring for the 36AC, you could get an Ultimate Dust Deputy. I believe I've seen that recommended several times for drywall dust.
 
I've used my midi with the planex on small jobs before and it worked fine, not as good my 36ac but it does the trick. I might spring for the hose as the bigger diameter makes a big difference, and the planex hose is really nice. One trick is to shut the vac off from time to time so the bag can shed the caked dust off. Also get the soft pad kit. It's a must for finish sanding.
 
If by sand texture, you mean sand paint, I don't think it can be sanded off. I usually lightly scrape, just to knock off the loose stuff and then 2-3 coats mud. You could then use the Planex to final sand. I like the soft pad set, helps to keep from gouging.
 
Sand texture already painted, client doesn't like it and wants it smooth.
What's the item number for the soft pad?
 
I agree that you'll want to do a top coat and then use the Planex on that before painting. Should be quick and easy.
 
Head over to CT, PM extrembiker (Travis), I recommend the Planex to him for this type of work. He's new with it and found it to be great to use. You'll get an honest respect from a new user.

I've removed at least 50 textured surfaces ( all were painted) with the Planex, has not failed me one bit.

Tom
 
Bob tells me it's on its way. Will get the vacuum when I get another job like this. Thanks guys
 
tjbnwi said:
Head over to CT, PM extrembiker (Travis), I recommend the Planex to him for this type of work. He's new with it and found it to be great to use. You'll get an honest respect from a new user.

I've removed at least 50 textured surfaces ( all were painted) with the Planex, has not failed me one bit.

Tom

It's xtrememtnbiker Tom, but at least you tried.  [tongue]

I think the Planex is a fantastic sander. We've used it twice now on wallpaper stripping jobs gone bad where a lot of the face of the drywall peeled off. After applying Cover Stain primer, we sanded everything smooth. On the job I did (My brother did the other) I skimmed with hot mud 45 first, then sanded again, then AP bucket mud, sanded, followed by prime and paint.

To have almost zero dust is of course nice, but the sanding speed is so much faster than anything I've used before. As Tom told me, the danger is over sanding. I'm ok with that being a problem compared to the painfully slow hand sanding, pole sanding, or even an ETS125 which works great compared to other options, is very slow compared to the Planex.

I also used it for sanding painted walls before paint. If you come behind the average paint job, there is junk in the paint, drips, previously patched spots that have been painted but we're sanded well, etc..
Prior to the Planex we would sand with a sanding pole with screen on it, it did an ok job of knocking off the worst, but it was a lot of work for not much results. The Planex sands through everything effortlessly (other than fighting to control it, learning curve) and leaves a very smooth wall ready to top coat.

Well there's my two cents on the Planex... awesome sander!
 
No worries about using any of the festool vacuums with any drywall sander.  Ruin your vac?  Nonsense. 

I've used my CT22 vac, a euro Clarke vac and others with my porter cable drywall sander which, in terms of dust generated, is pretty much equal to the Planex I'd think.

Heck,  I even have used the Festool longlife bag for drywall dust with no issues, though at first I wasn't sure if it would work ok.

But with the newer festool linen disposable bags, why not use a regular vac?  Had no issues with the old festool paper bags and the newer bags are said to be much better right?

If all you did was drywall, than maybe I could see springing for the AC, but if you are not a drywall contractor than why would you buy a vac of such a limited use nature?

Haven't heard anyone suggest the AC36 makes a great general purpose vac, but you certainly do hear that about the ct26 or other ct series.

Julian
 
I have used both a ct26 and ct26ac with a planex.  I ended up sanding a whole house (solid plaster). The AC makes a huge difference.  The 26 bag would start getting clogged after one large room.  And they are not cheap.  So you would have to open the extractor, shake off the bag. No such issue with the AC.  Keep the vac under continuous load and what will happen.  Eventually you fry the motor.  The AC system does not use a filter bag but rather a collection bag and the filter is constantly cleaned.  At the end of the job I had the plastic bag 2/3 full and still great suction.  For a small job I agree you can get away with almost anything.  I have also used the ct26ac as a general vac and i think it does a good job.  I bought the planex/vac as a set and at the end of the job I sold the planex and vac separately and almost got my money back.  Theres more than one way to skin a cat.
 
I've done quite a few 1000+ square foot basement remodels in which all of the drywall was sanded with a PC drywall sander and the festool 1/4 sheet sander using either a ct 22 or a Clarke vac, both with bags + filters. 

Jt
 
Excellent drywall sander. Not a bad floor sander either. I used it last week to sand in between poly coats on a wide plank pine floor. Great results.
 
Ordered the 36ac as well. Been busy lately and I have the money now so may as well invest while I can. What bags will I need for the vac?

Thanks Travis. Nice summary.

Ed Bray said:
Shouldn't it be TS-55 thinking of taking the plunge?  [big grin]

Nice one.
 
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