RO 150 as a finish sander

[carpetride]

I have a RO 150 on the way.  I'm on the verge ordering a ct26 with an ETS EC 150/3 to serve as my finish sander although I keep considering delaying the purchase of the ETS EC and picking up a festool router instead to use for flattening slabs.  So I know that question is really asking for personal opinion as only I can decide but...how will the RO do when used in higher grits for finish sanding?

 

[ear3]

It works great.  Although I now use my EC's for most of my sanding, when I was just working with the Rotex I found it delivered the goods for most finish sanding.  It would sometimes be inconsistent if I was going 400 and north, but even then I was able to get a decent finish most of the time.

The one thing to watch out for with the Rotex sander is that it is easier to tear the holes of the paper on corners -- if this happens on the last grit you're doing, you'll end up with those tell-tale spirals that mar the finish.

I have a RO 150 on the way.  I'm on the verge ordering a ct26 with an ETS EC 150/3 to serve as my finish sander although I keep considering delaying the purchase of the ETS EC and picking up a festool router instead to use for flattening slabs.  So I know that question is really asking for personal opinion as only I can decide but...how will the RO do when used in higher grits for finish sanding?

 

[Jim_in_PA]

The RO in ROS mode will perform fine from a sanding standpoint for "finish" sanding. The downside is that it's really a "two handed tool" IMHO and that can be uncomfortable for finish sanding over a long period of time as you work your way through to finer abrasives step by step. While I have the older version of the RO-150 which is truly unwieldy in one hand, I don't think the current versions are going to be more comfortable in a huge way, either...they still have a beefier structure than the 150/3. (I do 98% of my sanding with my 150/3) That said, if you need the router and your budget dictates, you absolutely can use your RO for finish sanding in the interim until you can get the ROS to take over that task.

 

[Coen]

The Rotex is a monster compared to the old ETS 150. Compared to the ETS EC the difference is even bigger.

Having said that; if money is a problem right now I would just try it first. If you later on think it will be way easier with an ETS; order that too. If the advantage is too small, return the ETS.

 

[SoonerFan]

I agree with Jim.... the Rotex will do fine as a finish sander but will take two hands to control. 

I got the RO125 with my first Festool purchase because I like the size better than the 150.  I got by with just that sander for a couple of years.  I did eventually get an ETS EC 125 and a DTS 400.  I use the ETS EC the most but if I could only have one it would be the Rotex.

 

[Ben63]

I have an old version of Rotex 150. It works fine in finishing. Mirka abranet 320 grit full speed. When Mirka 320 is worn out, it behaves like finer grit. Haven’t yet tried Festool Granat Net.