RO 150 and little scratches(pig tails) - Issue or bad technique?

[nickao]

I read  someone was complaining they got little scratches using the RO 150 and returned it for that reason. It was on another forum.

I never had this problem to an extent that I would return the sander.

The RO 150 is my favorite sander of all time and I am confused when anyone returns them saying they do not work well.

I think it is their technique, using the wrong paper and jumping to another paper to soon, what do you think?

 

[Jim Becker]

Any time I've had that problem, it was because there was stray abrasive on the surface from the previous grit. Therefore, I always clean the workpiece between grits and haven't experienced the issue since.

 

[woodshopdemos]

I concur with both of you. The RO150 s my favorite sander/polisher of all time. That said tho, some of my assistants don't like it as much. I take it be a matter of balance. If you have to hold it with both hands and it is still hard to manage, that's a problem. When you come to f ine sanding and polishing, I can hold it in one hand and it is comfortable and coontrollable. The older RO150 was more so for me. The ergonomic design of the newer models I think forces a two hand holding method -- you just have to relax into it.

 

[nickao]

That is where the front handle made the difference for me!

Until I replaced the pad on the sander to hard and then added the front optional handle I was not hooked on the sander. Once I made those two additions it made all the difference to  me.

My daughter can not even use the RO 150 with the side handle, but she can with the front handle. I can use it one handed now, at first it was tough.

Nick

 

[wnagle]

I'm with you nick on the hard pads... really like them... I have one on my RO and  ETS 150/3... I just added it to sand the TV cabinet I'm making for my daughter... I haven't found one of the new handles for my RO yet...  I bought my RO first.  My thinking was If I only had one sander, that would be the one... then I added the 150/3 and I use it the most....

 

[Mike Goetzke]

First, where do users get the front handle for the Rotex? When I inquired at Festool they claimed to have no knowledge of it.

Second, even before I recently purchased a couple of Festool sanders I've had a couple of times where a ROS left pig tails from something hard like leftover abrasive - probably not a festool related problem.

 

[nickao]

I do not think you can get them in the USA yet.

I got mine sent from another forum member a while back as a favor. I thought they were going to have them here in the USA very soon..

Nick

 

[Chris Hughes]

I do not have a ro150, however I have a ro125 and I have the problem you described.  It's weird, I'm sanding along and then the sander takes off in a new direction.  Both hands and balanced still it takes off.  I've asked about the problem at a show but I haven't shown a tech yet.  I think the problem is in the bearing.  I've compentsated by using The sander primarily in rotex the remove stock quickly and to polish.  I'm using my Bosch to do my ramdon orbital sanding.  C Hughes

 

[nickao]

When the RO takes off like that it is hitting an ever so slight high spot, even one you can not see and or feel. But if you take a straight edge you will see that area probably was not dead flat. As it hit the small hump it floats a differnt direction down to a low point, pull it tight against against where it wants to go a few strokes and it becomes flat and will not pull again.

My arms have gotten so strong getting this technique right. But when I am sure an inlay it totally flat, not smooth, but flat with a straight edge, it never floats or pulls away on that piece anymore.

The sander taking off in a new direction is not a defect at all but an indication where to pull the sander. Its the only sander I have used that acts like this and once I accepted it as a characteristic of the sander and not a flaw I really excelled with this sander.

Unless your particular sander is faulty I believe it is okay and the bearings are fine, every RO I have used does this so it is not just yours unless it is totally unwieldy.

But a great reason to get a 150/3 as the finish sander I guess.

 

[Chris Hughes]

Thanks Nick.  Yeah I'm thinking about get a finish sander thats a little more stable for one hand use.  You like the 150/3?  C Hughes

 

[nickao]

Yes the 150/3 is better than I ever imagined.

There is no question the RO 150 FEQ is squirrelley(is that a word?) I guess you would call it.

I am so use to the RO and it does so many things great I think I overlook the negs. It definitley does not act like any other sander I have used. I presented my theory though, not fact. It just works for me.