Plaster Wall Finishing/Polishing RTS 400 EQ Vs ETS 150/5 Which Best?

[atacama40]

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I have no personal preference of machine but want it to work with the CTL-MIDI extractor.....would like it be light (4 days overhead plaster sanding is little fun even with the best of equipment  [crying]) & of course get a great finish.

Very much appreciate advice, experience and recommendations from those with more knowledge.....including folks at Festool of course. Many thanks in advance

You already know about the Mirka screens.
I would not give the haus-boss RO sander to use, as it i too heavy and requires too much skill.

This also fits on a CT vac...

The ETS EC is a very close copy if you prefer festool.

just looking again....The video you attached is very useful for a layman like me to get a good understanding of the tool and grades. I've used Abranet roll with my Flex sander but had not actually made the connection to the Deros. Makes a lot more sense now. Have to say would be good if Festool produced similar range / fit and demo videos like this one. Maybe they do but I've not stumbled across them yet. Thanks again

 

[ThReM]

And then hold the Mirka ... 50% lighter : 800 grams vs 1200 grams.

Great finish, two pad (125 & 150 mm), pretty yellow systainer, compatible with festool's dust extractor.

OK, that's not a Festool, but that's really really a great sander ;-)

Thanks for the advice ThReM, is good to learn from your experience. I had not considered the Mirka....purely as I'd headed down the Festool road.....successfully so far. Again the 400 grams is a big difference ...especially from my benchmark...The Flex 713 is over 1.3 kg, the adapter maybe 500 grams and the Henry hose another 1kg....And the adaptor has to be held together, not secured!!! 800grams on a lightweight hose I lie awake dreaming of! 

And can I just ask how you find the reliability on the Mikra please? I read more than a few stories from P&D guys who had multiple swap outs...they like the kit but had a question mark on reliability. I don;t have any experience good or bad but interested to know about that. I never considered mixing the two makes.....and it is a simple and reliable inter-connection between Mirka and Festool? Many thanks

For my personnal experience, i have it for 2 years and use it weekly, and haven't any problems. It works with  efficiency same as new.
I use it for sanding plaster and wood sometimes, and have ever sanding a floor with it to removed glue on concrete !

My best friend who is painter use one on her job for 5 years ago, the sander is fonctional, but begins to have some problems (electrical connection).
In his company there are ten Mirka !

As Festool and other, Mirka offer a 3 years warranty, that's a very good device i think.

 

[atacama40]

And then hold the Mirka ... 50% lighter : 800 grams vs 1200 grams.

Great finish, two pad (125 & 150 mm), pretty yellow systainer, compatible with festool's dust extractor.

OK, that's not a Festool, but that's really really a great sander ;-)

Thanks for the advice ThReM, is good to learn from your experience. I had not considered the Mirka....purely as I'd headed down the Festool road.....successfully so far. Again the 400 grams is a big difference ...especially from my benchmark...The Flex 713 is over 1.3 kg, the adapter maybe 500 grams and the Henry hose another 1kg....And the adaptor has to be held together, not secured!!! 800grams on a lightweight hose I lie awake dreaming of! 

And can I just ask how you find the reliability on the Mikra please? I read more than a few stories from P&D guys who had multiple swap outs...they like the kit but had a question mark on reliability. I don;t have any experience good or bad but interested to know about that. I never considered mixing the two makes.....and it is a simple and reliable inter-connection between Mirka and Festool? Many thanks

For my personnal experience, i have it for 2 years and use it weekly, and haven't any problems. It works with  efficiency same as new.
I use it for sanding plaster and wood sometimes, and have ever sanding a floor with it to removed glue on concrete !

My best friend who is painter use one on her job for 5 years ago, the sander is fonctional, but begins to have some problems (electrical connection).
In his company there are ten Mirka !

As Festool and other, Mirka offer a 3 years warranty, that's a very good device i think.

Sounds a very solid recommendation. Many thanks for sharing your experiences.....is very helpful to those of us only using occasionally for odd projects but keen to get it right. Sounds like it's a coin toss between ETC EC and Deros. Any other opinions people? Thanks again

 

[demographic]

Is it just me or are all sanded walls a bit crap as far as finish is concerned?
I've always thought that its a far nicer when its a skim done with a float.

Seems that a lot of countries just don't have good plasterers who can skim though.

 

[atacama40]

Is it just me or are all sanded walls a bit crap as far as finish is concerned?
I've always thought that its a far nicer when its a skim done with a float.

Seems that a lot of countries just don't have good plasterers who can skim though.

Take care demographic.....can see inbound scud's from our hod carrying friends as we speak 

Think it depends on what finish you are trying achieve.

For me, the new project is rough...as in 'old' type rough and I'm trying to get it mega flat for first class paint work.

At home we had new plaster finish about 10 years back and it 'seemed' good at the time but it's only when you get to understand the options that things like Toupret and Prestonett French fillers offer, that you realize what a rubbish finish you actually have.

That said whilst some who visit 'Atacama40 Towers' wax lyrical about the finish and smoothness...others wouldn't even notice the effort and finish.

I'd say that it's more likely that folks just don't want to pay for quality results...in the main and I guess folks doing the work have to work to price that people will pay.

I speak as a non-pro but trying achieve pro type results.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Is it just me or are all sanded walls a bit crap as far as finish is concerned?
I've always thought that its a far nicer when its a skim done with a float.

Seems that a lot of countries just don't have good plasterers who can skim though.

Yes it is way better when it is done by a plasterer. But very often you just have to do a small patch or make repairs. And very often (at least here in Holland) it will be painted over with latex so the quality of the plaster layer is not that decisive.

 

[w802h]

I own an RTS400.  It's great for small patches and corners.  The DTS pad is probably even better.  If you only have small areas this is a better choice for control, dust collection, and cost of machine - after all you have the RO already. 

I like my ETS 150/3 for larger areas and I prefer the way it's tall shape gives me a couple extra inches of reach on ceilings and a straight push upward using the machine's body more than the handle.

I've used my ETS EC 150/5 but found I had to use it on half speed (3) for drywall compound when repairing plaster. 

There are other differences between my two ETS models beyond weight and stroke size.  All in all, I prefer the ETS 150/3 for drywall. 

 

[atacama40]

I own an RTS400.  It's great for small patches and corners.  The DTS pad is probably even better.  If you only have small areas this is a better choice for control, dust collection, and cost of machine - after all you have the RO already. 

I like my ETS 150/3 for larger areas and I prefer the way it's tall shape gives me a couple extra inches of reach on ceilings and a straight push upward using the machine's body more than the handle.

I've used my ETS EC 150/5 but found I had to use it on half speed (3) for drywall compound when repairing plaster. 

There are other differences between my two ETS models beyond weight and stroke size.  All in all, I prefer the ETS 150/3 for drywall.

Sorry when you say DTS pad, what is that please? My application will not be patching but entire wall and ceiling refinishing to a glass fine level.

Is a point I never considered the body depth. For me it's a little less of a problem at 6ft 2. The RTS 400 EQ I heard good things about.

As you say there are a good few variables which I'm learning here.....thanks for sharing your experience. Is really helpful stuff.

 

[Gjarman12]

I own an RTS400.  It's great for small patches and corners.  The DTS pad is probably even better.  If you only have small areas this is a better choice for control, dust collection, and cost of machine - after all you have the RO already. 

I like my ETS 150/3 for larger areas and I prefer the way it's tall shape gives me a couple extra inches of reach on ceilings and a straight push upward using the machine's body more than the handle.

I've used my ETS EC 150/5 but found I had to use it on half speed (3) for drywall compound when repairing plaster. 

There are other differences between my two ETS models beyond weight and stroke size.  All in all, I prefer the ETS 150/3 for drywall.

I've only used the 150/3 and thought it was great for patch work. Why doesn't festool list it under drywall sanders?

 

[w802h]

By DTS pad I meant the DTS400 sander - very similar to the RTS400.  I might prefer the ETS EC 150/3 to the ETS 150/3 but I haven't tried it.  I'm sure that part of my preference for the older ETS model is that I own the 3mm stroke and that smaller stroke seems to offer better dust control.  Don't get me wrong the 150/5 EC is fantastic, but I have other preferences for drywall.