Recommendation on Sander and Dust Extractor Combo

[surfjungle]

Introduction
Hi everybody. I'm a first time poster so please bear with me. I have some questions and require your expertise on a sander and dust extraction purchase.

Sander Requirements
- Sand down the gypsum plaster walls making them ready for painting
- Excellent dust extraction potential and takes a net style sanding disc
- Be light with a low centre of gravity
- Be a random orbit sander
- Future use on other projects especially woodwork

Dust extractor requirements
- Use for attaching to the above sander for the gypsum plaster
- It absolutely must clean its own filters automatically with no loss to suction
- Use for attaching to other power tools (one at a time is fine)
- Has a power tool socket for auto starting with the tool
- Can be used with attachments to perform on-site cleaning of floors etc
- Can be used to extract glass fibre / glass wool / mineral fibre work such as in the attic making it a H class vacuum
- Reasonably compact yet powerful
- Future use on other projects especially woodwork

The Original Plan
- Buy a Mirka Deros 5650cv with Abranet discs. At 1.03 kgs / 2.26 lbs its light, relatively ergonomic and is compatible with Abranet discs. I liked that this was both a 125mm / 5" and 150mm / 6" sander in one as well as coming in a systainer with many Abranet discs
- Buy a Starmix iPulse H-1635 Safe Plus. It's a H rather than M class because of the glass fibre / glass wool / mineral fibre requirement above and it should also work for everything else. Starmix seem to be rather highly rated and (apparently) make Metabo and Mafell dust extractors as well as their own branded versions

Why a Change of Plan?
Recently, I found out about complaints around that model of Mirka sander breaking even after being sent back for fixing. It appears that there are many complaints indeed. On one occasion, I found the reason for the breakage given by Mirka hard to swallow. If I'm spending that amount of money, I want something that will outlive me provided it is cared for and not used 12 hours every day. See Peter Millard / Hand-I-Craft and various other Youtube channels as well as reviews online regarding breakages. The above may be a divisive statement for the many that are satisfied with that Mirka model but I have deemed it an unacceptable risk and will consider it no longer. Now I would like to investigate Festool for the sander and possibly the vacuum.

The New Plan
- Buy the Starmix as above. Festool offer a H class vacuum and a vacuum that can clean its own filters but they are not the same vacuum therefore it appears that Festool has no vacuum that suits my needs. It seems nothing can touch that Starmix model
- Buy the Festool sander (Eccentric) ETS EC150/5 EQ-Plus 240V and use Festool's Granat Net discs (comparable Abranet disc) on the gypsum plaster with the dust extractor. This model of sander seems eminent comparable to the above Mirka model and I'm sure it will be straightforward enough to connect it to the Starmix vacuum

Your Thoughts on my New Plan?
Does my new plan make sense and are there better alternatives to the sander / vacuum based on my requirements? What if anything am I missing? Remember, if it is not a H class vacuum with auto filter clean, that's automatically a deal-breaker. Note that I live in Europe so everything is 240 volts and must be available here.

Thank you kindly for your time, much obliged!

 

[guybo]

I have heard good thing about this, with any extractor[attachimg=1]

 

[guybo]

Sorry missed the 240v .

 

[FestitaMakool]

There’s many here that will advise you on the sander. Although, from my perspective the ETS EC 150/5 is probably the closest you’ll get to your applications. Bear in mind though, that the ETS EC 125 accept the 150 pad from its sister sander. The stroke will reduce to 3mm as this the only choice on the 125 version. You CAN NOT do the other way around without modifying the pads or shaft on a ETS EC 150.

You probably don not need the H class CT, unless sanding hazardous material?
Look for AC clean on Festool CT’s - you’ll find them in both 36L (which is most common) and in the 26L - Most CT 36AC are Planex pre-compatible as the AC stands for Auto Clean.
Looks like this on the panel - this is mine with the bluetooth module installed (Some have other knob configurations, either 3 or 4 dials) Don’t ask me about experience with the AutoClean function, I only bought it at a private sale because it was unused and cheaper than a new CTL 26.

[attachimg=1]

 

[bertv]

For your specific requirements a Planex configuration should be what you need. The latest generation has built-in led lighting!

OTH If you need the combo to work for other uses after doing the plastering, the tips before are valid.

 

[AlexThePalex]

- Can be used to extract glass fibre / glass wool / mineral fibre work such as in the attic making it a H class vacuum

Do you really need an H class vac for these materials? H class is for things like asbestos, these are not in the same league I thought.

Festita makes a good recommendation, ETS EC 150/5 + CTM 26 E AC.

Festool doesn't have an H class vac with automatic filter cleaner. Then you must buy the StarMix. Yes, a very good brand indeed.

 

[surfjungle]

[member=58842]guybo[/member] - Thanks for your suggestion. I've had a quick look at surfprep sanders. While they look terrific, there's very little about them here in Europe. As you mentioned, we're 240 volts here. Also, between customs, tax and the risk of making the warranty work if something broke is too much trouble.

[member=71478]FestitaMakool[/member] - Thanks for your advice and the tip on the 125 using the 150 pad. Glass wool / glass fibre / mineral wool / mineral fibre are not (to my knowledge) catered for by M class vacuums meaning I need a H. Thanks for the photo of your vacuum's panel - that's useful for comparison, even if I go down the route of getting the Starmix.

[member=5467]Bert Vanderveen[/member] - Thank you for your response. Because of glass wool / glass fibre / mineral wool / mineral fibre, I need a H class vacuum - no way safe around that it appears.

[member=5277]Alex[/member] - Thanks for your support. See my response to FestitaMakool and Bert Vanderveen above regarding the vacuum safety designation. Even Festool themselves mention it as part of why one uses a H class vacuum. Search for "mineral" on this Festool CTH 48 E / a overview page. Thanks for comment on Starmix. It's good to know others are having a positive experience with them.

 

[surfjungle]

I just bought the Starmix iPulse H-1635 Safe Plus vacuum. I'll let ye know what I do regarding a sander

 

[binettea]

How is your unit working? I got my ETS EC 150/5 about 2 weeks ago, and it hasn't been a good experience so far. Extreme vibrations to start with, and the unit is plagued with the recent intermittent shut down issue that seems to be affecting several of the ETS EC models lately. I am told Festool is working on a fix, but no expected date for resolution yet. On top of that, they are back ordered by about 33 weeks right now, so virtually impossible to exchange the unit.

 

[surfjungle]

I bought the Festool ETS EC 150/5. I didn't get around to doing this until last May due to parts shortage. I've had zero issues with it and am quite pleased. It works very well with my Starmix iPulse H-1635 Safe Plus which uses Starmix fleece bags. I can recommend the combination. There is very little dust. The nice thing is that while we have the UK 3 pin plug here, and despite the vacuum using the European style plug and socket for power tools, because the Festool has a detachable cord, I can swap the Festool UK 3 pin cord for a European plug so it can be connected directly to the vacuum. I've been using the stander almost exclusively on gypsum walls and I'm really happy with the results. I've gone through 2 backing pads already.

Thanks again to all who provided advice and apologies to [member=75392]binettea[/member] as I only saw your post now. As you can see, things worked out well for me - I was lucky.