RAS 115.04 ability to remove material

[yellowtruck75]

I am in need of a grinder that will remove alot of material.  I build rocking chairs and the seats are carved out to contour a person's bottom.  I currently use an Hitachi grinder with an aggressive grinding wheel to complete the task.  The grinder works great but it creates ALOT of dust.  To combat the dust right now I grind outside but once winter hits that won't be an option.  I am interested in the RAS 115.04 E Rotary Sander to replace my grinder.  Can I attach any wheels to grind with instead of the looped paper?  How well does the dust extraction work with the CT Mini?  How well does it work on hardwoods?  I need to remove up to 3/4" on a 24" x 20" seat.

I currently have a CT Mini and a ETS 125 EQ Random Orbital Sander

Current grinding wheel is similiar to these but I use a different brand that I can't recall right now
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2080224/28332/Holey-Galahad-See-Through-Discs-Round-Coarse.aspx

Thanks

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

I'll let some of our members answer your questions, but we just featured Charles Brock in our latest email newsletter. He builds Maloof inspired chairs and uses the RAS for the seats.  You can check out his article about using the Festool RAS for chair seats on his blog.  You can also contact him if you have more questions since he has first hand experience in the matter.

You can also call us toll-free if you have questions and we'll be happy to answer them for you.  The number is below in my signature.

 

[nickao]

Yeah, the RAS looks perfect for scooping out the seat of a chair. This is one sander I don't have that I really want and need.  

Stronger than a Rotex, right? Only wish it came in a 6" version.

 

[greg mann]

With 24 grit paper the RAS will probably be as fast as you need it to be. It can remove material quite fast and dust removal will be far better than an angle grinder. Not as good as the other sanders but still pretty good. You will be removing so much more that it really is hard to get it all. I do think you will find it a step up from what you are using now.

I don't know about adapting your present wheel, but if you want to try it I would suggest using a 7/8 size threaded wheel and having an adapter made by someone to the 14mm (IIRC) thread on the RAS. A 5/8 thread and the 14mm are too close to each other to make a good adapter, IMO. This needs to be done right or you can induce a lot of vibration because of unwanted runout. That would be hard on you and the machine. I would try 24 grit paper first to see how you like it. Festool makes another RAS, I think 180mm, but NAINA.

 

[Peterm]

Only wish it came in a 6" version.

7" any good??

http://www.festool.co.uk/products/pages/product-detail.aspx?pid=570747&name=rotary-sander-ras-180-03-e-ah-gb-240v

 

[AlexThePalex]

It can remove material quite fast and dust removal will be far better than an angle grinder.

To the OP, a RAS is just a slow angle grinder with a dust hood attached. And I mean that literally, the dust hood is an attachment you can take on and off at will. It is also possible to buy a dust hood for your normal angle grinder.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Peterm,

That almost looks like my Flex buffer from the early '90's before Pentair (Porter Cable / Delta) bought them out.

 

[nickao]

Peterm are you teasing me?

That 7" is not available here in the US is it?

 

[Peterm]

For whatever reason it looks like it's 240v only, so I guess not - though maybe one of the U.S. dealers could confirm for sure??

Pete.

 

[tbellemare]

No, it isn't. Bit the RAS 115 is available today.

Tom

 

[greg mann]

Peterm are you teasing me?

That 7" is not available here in the US is it?

1500W versus 500W for the RAS115, Nick. I'll bet that puppy would take a load off your Rotex.