Please help me decide on a second sander

[Simohi]

Ok,

So I am a long time Festool owner having bought a  Shinex  RAP150 five years ago to shine up me car ... It did a really good job ...

Festool Shinex RAP150 aftermath

I have since bought a Kapex 120 mitre saw and Carvex jigsaw and CTL26 for dust control so I am slowly building a small Festool family, expensive brood  [eek]

Due to a recent house purchase I am currently in the early stages of renovating the property from ridge tiles to DPC, pretty much gutting it and taking a few walls down and replacing the very tired original eighty year old woodwork. However, some of the original wood with many layers of paint is going to stay and be rubbed back to within an inch of it's life before undertaking the necessary ding and filling repairs before staring over so that it does not look like eighty year old wood with ten coats of paint on it.

My question is ... I am very close to dropping the hammer on an RO90 which I am sure will serve me well on the stair treads and risers. I will probably go for an assortment of Granat abrasives form 60 to 180 grit, it seems to be the best for the type of work I have planned. Now I know I will most likely need another sanding machine to cover the larger open areas of the staircase and a few cupboards which will be staying too. I am unsure whether to go RO125 or RO150.

Now, please bear in mind also that I plan to use these sanders further down the road when I start building various furniture items that I would like to get in to once the house is finished. Is the 150 going too big for most applications ? Is the 125 and more user friendly machine and likely to get more use one the house is finished.

It's getting very confusing trying to decide so I though I would throw it out there for the FOG masses and se what come back to me.

Many thanks in advance for all your advice, I can honestly say it will be gratefully received.

All the best,

Simon. 

 

[AlexThePalex]

I have since bought a Kapex 120 mitre saw and Carvex jigsaw and CTL26 for dust control so I am slowly building a small Festool family, expensive brood  [eek]

Yeah, but such good lineage!  [wink]

As for 150 vs 125, most people agree the 150 is a lot smoother ride than the 125. And if we look at the number of complaints we read here on the forum, the 125 outnumbers the 150 by far.

I have the 150 and can do a lot with it. Mostly use it around the house, not so much on furniture. I also got access to a 125 when I need it, and think it's just as nice a sander as the 150. But I prefer the 150 myself, because I often have to do larger areas to paint.

 

[SS Teach]

Before I got my Ro150, I was able to borrow a Ro 125. Needless to say I got the 150. When I returned the 125 my buddy tried my 150. After using it he told his wife "honey I need another sander". Aside from size, it is easier for me to control.

 

[wow]

I maintain that the perfect complement is the RO90, the RO150, and the ETS 150/3. I think your idea to go with the RO90 first is an excellent choice - and it's exactly what I did.

I think you'll find after using the RO90 that the 125 isn't a big enough jump from the RO90 and you'll want to go with the 150mm size. Nothing against the 125mm sanders, BTW - I used to only use 5" (125mm) sanders (from Pater Cable, Dewalt, and DynaBrade) before I discovered Festool. But once I had the RO90, it was obvious to me that my next sander would be the RO150, and then the ETS150.

 

[Kev]

I maintain that the perfect complement is the RO90, the RO150, and the ETS 150/3. I think your idea to go with the RO90 first is an excellent choice - and it's exactly what I did.

I think you'll find after using the RO90 that the 125 isn't a big enough jump from the RO90 and you'll want to go with the 150mm size. Nothing against the 125mm sanders, BTW - I used to only use 5" (125mm) sanders (from Pater Cable, Dewalt, and DynaBrade) before I discovered Festool. But once I had the RO90, it was obvious to me that my next sander would be the RO150, and then the ETS150.

wow's on the money ... Particularly with the ETS150 EC's coming down the pipe. To my thinking, the RO125 is appropriate when you're dealing with a specific board size  that doesn't work well with the RO150 (decking or something) ... Otherwise it's RO150 all the way.

 

[Wooden Skye]

I took the same approach as Wow.  Then I added a RTS 400 as well.

 

[wow]

I took the same approach as Wow.  Then I added a RTS 400 as well.

I added the DTS400 next. CLOSE!!!

 

[Kev]

I added ... DTS400, ETS150/3 ETS150/5, RAS115, LS130 ... planning to add some more!

The problem with Festool (to my way of thinking) is you become accustomed to having the right tool for each task and your blood just turns green [embarassed]

 

[Simohi]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I think I will go the RO 150 to add to the RO 90 and then add the ETS 150 at a later stage.

I think the RO 90 and RO 150 should see me through most of the house work since the wood I am sanding back is being done to take more paint, not a natural finish. When I start working on furniture I am sure I will need the ETS 150 to finish to a more refined, er, finish  [big grin]

Many thanks,

Simon.