RAS 115 and Saphir is tougher than nails

[stvrowe]

When I ripped up the carpet and padding from my master bedroom in preparation for laying hardwood flooring, I discovered some rather uneven seams.  Some spots were as high as 1/8" from the adjacent sheet of ply and this just wouldn't do for a new floor installation.  So I went to my Festool armory and pulled out the RAS 115 and a 24 grit Saphir disc to take some high spots down (actually quite a few high spots).  This thing cut through nails that I hadn't set low enough, plywood , paint, drywall compound, construction adhesive, and cementitious leveling compound in very short order (about 45 minutes for an entire 17.5' x 14.5' room).  Only one disc was used and no loading was noted.  Dust collection was pretty good but not perfect.  It was better than I expected for a sander of this type and seemed to have more difficulty collecting dust from grinding the leveling compound than anything else.  I did get pretty aggressive with the sander and caused it to slow several times but it recovered quickly when pressure was reduced.    When I pulled the disc off the pad, there was some partial separation of the loop material from the Saphir paper so I ended up trashing the disc even though the abrasive itself had a lot of life left in it.  I have a 4x24 belt sander that I opted not to use for this project as I figured I would be going through belts right and left (come to think of it, I haven't used that belt sander in the past 10 years since I purchased my first Festool sander).

I really hadn't used the RAS 115 much and had only used it to scribe a few post formed vanity tops.  As I continue the home remodeling effort, the RAS is going to get a lot more use.  In the future, I may just leave the disc on the pad to see how many rooms it will complete before requiring replacement.

 

[duburban]

Just ordered mine through the recon.

 

[leakyroof]

It is an awesome sander that many people never get a chance to use since it falls outside the realm of many people's needs when sanding.  I love mine.

 

[Walk On Wood]

It is an awesome sander that many people never get a chance to use since it falls outside the realm of many people's needs when sanding.  I love mine.

Agreed 100%

 

[SittingElf]

The RAS has recently shown up on my short list of Festools to buy in the next month or two.

Paul-Marcel's video was the final nail.

 

[festooltim]

SittingElf your shopping list must be short after the spree you have been on. Have had the Ras for a couple years know and it does some jobs well.  Definitely like having it at my disposal.

 

[MattrYYC]

I'm curious - how does the RAS compare to the RO150 in rotex mode? I had thought the RAS would be nice, but since getting the RO150 I haven't thought much about it - would having both make sense?

 

[leakyroof]

I'm curious - how does the RAS compare to the RO150 in rotex mode? I had thought the RAS would be nice, but since getting the RO150 I haven't thought much about it - would having both make sense?

  Very different as the RAS is straight rotary. Dust Collection as previously mentioned is geared more to chunks and pieces sort of collection with the RAS115. But, you DO have the cool, and useful, handle/gear system to turn your collection brushes left or right where you need to as you move the sander around for best dust collection while using the sander.

 

[VW mick]

Not really looked at it before

Looks a bit like an angle grinder to me

 

[waho6o9]

"Looks a bit like an angle grinder to me"

Exactly, it works quite well and is an unsung

hero in the sanding department. When you need

it nothing can compare to it's performance.

 

[Kev]

The RAS has recently shown up on my short list of Festools to buy in the next month or two.

Paul-Marcel's video was the final nail.

You don't have a RAS115?? [huh]

What an amateur ... [tongue]

Don't forget the abrasives systainer and "Bob-mix"

 

[VW mick]

I think something is going on

I've started looking at prices and thinking "yes I need that too"

Festool is watching us

 

[stvrowe]

I did take a video of some of the operation and finally got around to editing it.  I am close to finished with the room and will show some pictures taken during the process in another thread.

RAS 115 and Saphir to Level Floor Seams

 

[duburban]

Got my RAS. Used it immediately to back bevel and scribe 1.25 inch countertop slabs. THing is really something new, and fast. The ability to sculpt easily makes life easy.

 

[dltflt]

Has anyone used the RS115 to grind mortar that would be on a tile floor.

 

[meatman]

I have  had mine now for about three years. I use it all the time for rough sanding with a 40 grit pad.
I have been restoring an old house for the past 18 months and have used the RAS115 mostly for pre sanding wide oak flooring, prior to finish sanding with my Rotex. I have now gone through about 4 backing pads, as they heat up and tear off the hook and loops, but when you consider just how much sanding it has done, I think its money well spent.

 

[tjbnwi]

Has anyone used the RS115 to grind mortar that would be on a tile floor.

Yes, it works very well.

Tom

 

[tjbnwi]

I have  had mine now for about three years. I use it all the time for rough sanding with a 40 grit pad.
I have been restoring an old house for the past 18 months and have used the RAS115 mostly for pre sanding wide oak flooring, prior to finish sanding with my Rotex. I have now gone through about 4 backing pads, as they heat up and tear off the hook and loops, but when you consider just how much sanding it has done, I think its money well spent.

Use this backing pad with 5" center hole paper for your coarse sanding. Solves the pad issue.

http://www.festoolusa.com/power-tool-accessories/sanders/pads/soft-fiber-sander-backing-pad-for-ras-115-sander-d115-1-pack-485298

Tom

 

[meatman]

Thanks for the link Tom.
I have already got one of these backing pads, however I also still have about 40, 40 grit pads to use, so will have to use these first.
Meatman

 

[Cutlass]

I work in composite boat building.
  The RAS has transformed my working environment. We use 4" grinders for rebates and scarf joins of carbon fibre laminate. Before the RAS it was impossible to keep work place anything like clean. Full suit, full face mask and the nipper holding vacuum trying to catch what he can from a P36 disc.

Now it's a one man operation, no need for the suit in most situations. Combined with a festool extractor Midi in my case.

A tip is to get the female plug it accessorie and replace the full length cord. Must be some health and safety reason for that.