RO 90 awkward?

[Tayler_mann]

So I bought the RO 90 today and used t for a little bitX I find the sander to be almost awkward and hard to control. Is there a technique to the sander. The 90 mm pad is hard to keep from tipping without being extremely careful.

I'm debating or not taking it back and getting the TS 75 to accompany my 55.

Any advice would be great.

 

[Shane Holland]

Use it like so until you get the hang of it. It's a matter of learning to balance the sander and keep the pad flat. Using the technique shown below with one hand back at the dust port helps the learning curve. After a short while you'll be able to use it one handed.

Full article here -http://www.festoolusa.com/sysnotes/sysnotes-feb-2011.html

 

[Cheese]

I'll echo Shane's reply. Give it some time, it's really the handiest of the lot. I'd probably let the 125 Rotex leave before I parted ways with the RO 90. One of the best ways to quickly break an edge or sand a narrow surface.

 

[sae]

I had a differing experience; I purchased this, and sold it 6 months later.

I found that it was awkward as you did; I've had much better luck with a dedicated Bosch delta orbital + the Metabo 80mm RO. The RO90 tried to combine the two, but made the experience worse, IMHO. A detail sander should be small and maneuverable (like they had in the DX93), and the RO90 is not that.

 

[Holmz]

I am assuming that the RO90 was chosen for something not being sanded flat?

The ETS EC 150 has no learning curve and it just behaves. I do not sand things all that often, so I like something that does not require special skills.
But if one is scooping out something, then a larger sander may not be too useful.

I have not handled Festool's 1/2 sander, but for finishing that seems like it would be worthwhile to consider.

 

[yetihunter]

I can see it being awkward. 

As Shane pointed out, it's best to have one hand way back and on the hose connector and the other on the head.  In course mode, it will run away from you.
In fine mode, not nearly as much. 

I've owned the 80mm Metabo for some time, and have used other detail sanders, including the Bosch.  I can understand SAE's preference towards those.  The RO 90 just happens to fit my needs. 

 

[Kev]

I think it really depends on what you've experienced previously. I initially read this and thought "he's crazy, the RO90's a dream", but then I've used some bucking broncos in the past .. so it's all relative.

Every tool has a "character" and the RO90 has several due to it's multiples modes, speeds, variable vacuum, different abrasive grits, etc.

To my mind the RO90 is really worth getting to know well. One minute you could be using it to strip deeply weathered outdoor finishes with 40 grit .. next you could be polishing the scratches out of your car's headlights with S12000.

It's a great little unit.

 

[Mort]

Give it a couple more days. It's worth the effort.

Unlike a previous poster, I got it because it does a lot of different things. So far, in the two months I've had it, I've fine sanded an outdoor bench, taken pallet boards from rough to smooth, polished the aluminum on the dump trucks at work, buffed out my headlights and tail lights, and I'll be using it to work on a camper I'm fixing up this weekend. Coming up it'll be used to strip paint off my in-laws' porch (and mine).

The learning curve really isn't that steep, and more of a feel thing than a perfect one-size-fits-all technique. But one I feel is worth the time for this great little machine.

 

[rmwarren]

I'll chime in that I think it is an awesome little sander, would not want to do without it, and it can be a bit squirrely.

If you have ever used a floor polisher, I liken it to controlling the polisher. If the disk is perfectly flat in contact with the material it just floats over the floor (material being sanded). To move the polisher to the side you tip it very slightly so the edge of the disk gets a bit more pressure and it moves sideways. The RO90 is like that to me.

I think the weight of the back of the sander is what tends to make it hard to control. Practically speaking I hold it the way Shane's photo illustrates to keep the weight from tipping the sander and causing it to move around.

Where the tool really excels is sanding organic shapes, something none of the rest of the fleet is particularly good at.

Give it a bit of time, it's worth it.

RMW 

 

[rst]

There is definitely a learning curve to operating the RO 90, as mentioned above, mostly because of the weight imbalance.  If you put the hose either over your shoulder, use with an overhead arm, or use one of the belt clips that Toolnut sells www.festoolproducts.com/Innotwins-Slide-Kick-Hose-Cable-Hook-s, it will help, along with the two handed technique. 
After you use it a while you will get the feel of the balance and be able to work it one handed.  I just finished sanding my wife's two seat, with side table between, Adirondack settee, PITA.  I used every sander I own to rework this beast Ro 90, ETS & RO125, LS130, Fein Multimaster (I cut two edges off the triangle pad to get at the narrow slats at the seat, had to one hand this so the other hand could hold the vac hose), and the stick fix sanding block. I also use lots of interface pads and Festools foam backed sanding pads (www.festoolproducts.com/SearchResults.asp?SEARCH=sanding+roll), while these seem to be expensive, they last a long, long time and really cheap by the piece compared to buying Norton or 3M pads. Most important, of all this job required vast quantities of Sam Adams to dull the tedium and time involved.

 

[Tayler_mann]

I'm going to really give it a chance because I can see how versatile and handy the sander could be. I'm just finding it hard not to have the big beastly TS 75 since at this point the only table saw I have is a Bosch. However for working with shaker, and set in paneling the 90 has to work like a dream. I also do not have a delta sander either so it's hard decision

I think I will use the sander for a good amount of time today and give it a solid chance.

 

[RJNeal]

The RO 90 and the RAS 115 are the only sanders that have real estate in my truck 24/7. The other 6 sanders only come out as needed. Room in the truck is tight.
Being so versatile...
Maybe try it with a higher grit paper on a flat board then work back to a lower grit and a rough board.
Good luck and hope things work out.
Rick.

 

[Nigel]

The RO 90 is jewel. All the Rotex sanders need a learning curve but when you get you don't want anything else. RO 90 is the best of all and the delta function is exactly that and not some half baked job like the Fein multimaster.

 

[sancho57]

The RO 90 is a great tool. It as most tools has a learning curve to use it comfortably.

 

[Tayler_mann]

So I used the sander for about 2 hours today and decided to give the 30 day trial a go. I returned it and picked up a TS 75 without the track and with the price of the pads and paper I bought with the 90 I actually saved some money. I told my sales man to hold the 90 for 2 days and if I felt the 75 wasn't up to snuff I'd come back for the sander.

I layed out 3 laminated pieces of white oak that measured about 2 1/2" and gave the 75 the test.  [eek]Do you remember the feeling when you put your brand new domino 500 in your hand and your knees shuttered a bit. That's what happened when I made the first cut with the 75. I'm keeping the 75 and will possibly get the 90 later when I have a piece with odd sanding and carving to do. Which, is actually planned for in the future for a piece I am going to make.

I absolutely cannot believe the power and clean cutting abilities of the 75. I really liked the track saw when I only had the 55 but now that I have both I feel I'm going to be unstoppable. Can someone say, "butcher block countertop with water fall front?"

The end conclusion is the RO 90 is an excellent sander. I did get used to it as you have to for the RO 150 and the sander had some incredible power for how small it was. I just feel at the end of the day I will be using the 75 more often. Let's get real here how many sanders can a guy have? Well that's the wrong question for this particular of a website I guess, but I have 4 sanders already and they all do a great job. One day I'll complete the collection with a 5th but for today the saw won and let me tell you...it won big.

 

[Nat X]

I absolutely cannot believe the power and clean cutting abilities of the 75. I really liked the track saw when I only had the 55 but now that I have both I feel I'm going to be unstoppable. Can someone say, "butcher block countertop with water fall front?"

I love my RO90, but I'd probably make the same decision. Been building a lot of giant butcher blocks lately and the 75 is a godsend. I just wish it was an 85 so I could make them a full 3" thick.

 

[L.J]

I absolutely cannot believe the power and clean cutting abilities of the 75. I really liked the track saw when I only had the 55 but now that I have both I feel I'm going to be unstoppable. Can someone say, "butcher block countertop with water fall front?"

I love my RO90, but I'd probably make the same decision. Been building a lot of giant butcher blocks lately and the 75 is a godsend. I just wish it was an 85 so I could make them a full 3" thick.

Festool needs to stop screwing around and bring the Swordsaw over !!!

 

[Kev]

Festool needs to stop screwing around and bring the Swordsaw over !!!

[member=12138]L.J[/member]

I got one here in Oz when it came out in Protool colours, but it has since been taken off the market locally [mad]

To my understanding this is a cost reaction locally and nothing to do with Festool HO.

If you're lucky they'll update the swordsaw to be compatible with the FSK rail and then let it cross the Atlantic !! That would improve it immensely.

 

[Shane Holland]

The swordsaw will likely never make it to the US market is my guess.

 

[L.J]

The swordsaw will likely never make it to the US market is my guess.

Never say "Never" my good man,if they brought the insanely expensive Conturo over why not the Swordsaw. We need to raise Hell and we'll get it !!!!  [mad]