RO 150 heat related issue

[rnt80]

I was using my relatively new 150 today to clean up a counter top that I picked up.  The unit got extremely hot (which I expected since I've read about the break in period for these) but after a while it started throwing off black, adhesive like material off of the top of the pad.  Is this normal? I'm assuming that the sander got so hot that this stuff melted and then was thrown off of the sander.  Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Wow - that does look like a problem.

I recently purchased this sander too. I used it for the first time over the weekend for removing some of the rough saw marks from a large piece of walnut so I could see the color/grain. I have also heard about the over-heating issues so I paid extra attention to it. I only used the sander for about 10 minutes, but, it seemed to heat up quickly and then stablize. I could feel hot cooling air exiting the sander but there were no parts that were too hot to touch - maybe I didn't run it long enough.

Mike

 

[tbellemare]

That's not normal.

I use a Rotex 150 a lot and have never had anything like that happen. I've used it for hours at a time also. It gets warm but not hot and certainly not even close to hot enough to melt a pad.

Tom

 

[rnt80]

I just got off the phone with Festool and David recommended taking the pad off and adding some lubricant.  I'll be darned if I can't get the pad off!  It is on really tight.  Are there any tricks that I should know of?

 

[rnt80]

Well, I got the pad off and this is what I found.  Any recommendations?  I'm inclined to send this thing back for Festool for repair or for a new sander.  I guess I can try the lubricant first but this can't be normal for a sander of this caliber.  I was only using it for less than 10 minutes in the rotex mode when I started to notice the black material flying off.

 

[Forrest Anderson]

I was using my relatively new 150 today to clean up a counter top that I picked up.  The unit got extremely hot (which I expected since I've read about the break in period for these) but after a while it started throwing off black, adhesive like material off of the top of the pad.  Is this normal? I'm assuming that the sander got so hot that this stuff melted and then was thrown off of the sander.  Has anyone else experienced this?

Two threads may be of interest to you.

Back in April, FOG member underused complained of small black particles which appeared on the workpiece when he used his Rotex RO150. Some of the messages have since been removed, but hopefully you'll be able to make sense of the discussion and see his solution.

The subject of very hot RO150s was discussed much more recently under the heading RO 150 FEQ Gets really hot. You might not get a definitive answer, but at least you'll see that you're not alone!

Forrest

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Well, I got the pad off and this is what I found.  Any recommendations?  I'm inclined to send this thing back for Festool for repair or for a new sander.  I guess I can try the lubricant first but this can't be normal for a sander of this caliber.  I was only using it for less than 10 minutes in the rotex mode when I started to notice the black material flying off.

Just looked at my used once sander and mine looks clean "like-new" under the pad (your's looks a little dusty). I only used mine about ten min. but I think you used your's the same amount of time. Does the sander depend on good vacuum air flow for cooling?

Where are you supposed to lub it?

Mike

 

[nickao]

The black particles happened to me. I noticed no difference in performance and ignored it. A week later it did not do it any more and has not since. I know at least 3 people that this happened to, kept the sander and it stopped with no other issues coming up with the sanders.

I would keep it and use it  based on what I have experienced along with three others. And the black particles will stop. My sander also got VERY hot, but not anymore. There truly is a break in period where it runs hotter at first. Maybe its that the sander cooled down(stopped running super hot) and that is when the particles stopped, I do not know. The sander runs very warm now, but nothing like when my RO 150 was new.

Its a non issue unless the sander is not performing.

Nickao