RO 90 opinion

[Ashton]

Hello,

I'm new to Festool. I'm picking up my TS 55 (it really is the Gateway I think) and a CT 26 (maybe a 36?) on Monday. This leads me to my question.

With the TS 55 and CT 26, I'm spending most my budget for a while, but not all of it. One thing I need is a good sander. What I have already is ok to junk. (Read Porter Cable 6" orbital and a BD Mouse someone gave me) I will have about $450 left over and need a sander that I can get by with for a while as a jack of all trades until the next wife budgetary meeting.

I will be making a few built-in bookshelves in the house. Various chests to smallish medium boxes interest me as well.

Should the RO 90 be my target in this?

Thanks.

 

[PeterK]

You will get several recommendations on this. I have the RO90, the RO150, the ETS150/3 and several of the smaller Festool sanders. My go-to sander is the ETS150/3. It can give fast sanding with course grit paper, fine sanding since it has a 3mm orbit, and it works very well to sand large flat surfaces and still keep everything flat without any dips or dishing. I routinely use it on stuff as narrow as 1" wide. The RO90 is a handy sander but sure would not be what I would want as my primary or only sander as the pad is so small in diameter.

 

[semenza]

Hi,

Welcome to the FOG!  [smile]

The RO90 will do many jobs, but it might be a bit tedius on large surfaces due to it's  small size.  It certainly can do almost everything though, and may indeed be the way to go for now.

Depending on wether or not you sand before or after assembly and how small the boxes you mentioned will be one of the ETS sanders will fit in your budget. Keep in mind you will need at least $100 of you r budget for abrasives.

Also get all the pad hradnesses available , doing that will increase the versatility.

Seth

 

[dltflt]

I have all the sanders that Peter just mentioned but for smaller projects I would stick with the RO90.  The real problem is they are all great and you will want them all eventually.  Pick the size based on the size projects are planning on building.

 

[ccarrolladams]

One major downside to the ETS sanders is that they do not have optional hard pads.

The hard pads are vital when it is necessary to keep the work flat and the edges crisp, with is often important making cabinets and built ins.

By the time the RO 90 DX was introduced to the USA in early 2011, I already owned most of the other Festool sanders, including the Deltex 93.

For sanding the solid lumber parts of custom cabinets, that 90mm round hard pad on an RO 90 DX is very useful.

 

[Ashton]

I do eventually fully expect the green bug to bite me hard and add to the collection. The PB 300 comes to mind as my jig is dying. I will defiantly be buying more sanders. I'm just trying to find the best to hold me for maybe six months.

On the schedule is a 42" wide built-in bench seat top upholstered.

Next we have a bookcase that stands on both sides and over a doorway.

Then a linen closet with hamper in the master bath.

After that maybe a toy chest for my son, and then various boxes in the sub 1 cu.ft. range.

I will be painting most of the built-ins, so paint prep of sheet stock is of primary concern in the short run..

 

[semenza]

One major downside to the ETS sanders is that they do not have optional hard pads.
The hard pads are vital when it is necessary to keep the work flat and the edges crisp, with is often important making cabinets and built ins.

By the time the RO 90 DX was introduced to the USA in early 2011, I already owned most of the other Festool sanders, including the Deltex 93.

For sanding the solid lumber parts of custom cabinets, that 90mm round hard pad on an RO 90 DX is very useful.

Yes, for the ETS150, the hard and super soft pads are available.

Seth

 

[semenza]

I do eventually fully expect the green bug to bite me hard and add to the collection. The PB 300 comes to mind as my jig is dying. I will defiantly be buying more sanders. I'm just trying to find the best to hold me for maybe six months.

On the schedule is a 42" wide built-in bench seat top upholstered.

Next we have a bookcase that stands on both sides and over a doorway.

Then a linen closet with hamper in the master bath.

After that maybe a toy chest for my son, and then various boxes in the sub 1 cu.ft. range.

I will be painting most of the built-ins, so paint prep of sheet stock is of primary concern in the short run..

Looks like for the upcoming projects you will want something with a larger pad than the 90. I would suggest that the ETS150/5 with added pads will do an excellent all purpose job on what you have immediately planned. It is a surprisingly versatile sander. For about two years it was the only sander I owned and it was used for a very wide range of  work. It also fits in your current budget.

Seth

 

[Ashton]

Thanks! So you think the /5 would work better for me in the short run than the /3? I have no idea. Seems to me that 2mm wouldn't make that much difference, but I'd probably be wrong.

 

[jacko9]

Ashton,

I have the ETS 150/3 and it's a versatile sander for most projects that your talking about.  I think the 150/5 might be a bit too aggressive for finish sanding and while I love my RO 90, the small pad size is not suited for large surface projects.

I have the RO 90, ETS 125, ETS 150/3, LS130 linear sander and just gave my son my 5" Bosch RO.

I use the ETS 150/3 the most.

Jack 

 

[Scott B.]

If choosing between the /3 and the /5, I will usually take the 5. I'd rather have a little more, than not quite enough. And there is a 40% difference in those strokes, kinda.

But, to me, all of these sanders are very grit and extraction rate sensitive. The /5 has a range to it. We can run it with 80g and clean up a deck. Or, as posted last week, 180g and its a clear grade millglaze remover.

I think the question comes more down to whether you want a 6" sander or not. When you need it, you need it. When you don't, you don't. But man, when you do, its so nice. Even compared to the 125. Its more than just the difference in 1" of diameter. It changes the a task completely.

 

[dltflt]

If you ever plan on getting the RO150 it is a 5 when in Random mode.  Just something to think about.

 

[semenza]

The /5 is a bit more versatile than the /3, but the /3 would be a good choice also. I recommended the /5 thinking it may be your only sander for a while.  I used the /5 for everything from stripping to sanding between coats of finish. Given the choice I would pick the /3 for the finish sanding but the /5 can do it quite well. If you get the /3  an excellent partner for it down the road is the RO150.  Or even the RO90.

The RO90 would still be the most versatile , but the first projects in your line up seem to have quite a lot of large surfaces.

Seth

 

[Scott B.]

The /5 is a bit more versatile than the /3, but the /3 would be a good choice also. I recommended the /5 thinking it may be your only sander for a while.  I used the /5 for everything from stripping to sanding between coats of finish. Given the choice I would pick the /3 for the finish sanding but the /5 can do it quite well. If you get the /3  an excellent partner for it down the road is the RO150.  Or even the RO90.

The RO90 would still be the most versatile , but the first projects in your line up seem to have quite a lot of large surfaces.

Seth

Well, if the cabinets/bookcases/builtin part of his life is loaded with faceframes, it'd be nice to have something small around.

I generally do agree with you, Seth.

 

[promark747]

I have the RO 90 and it is great, but it's not my primary sander.  For large, flat surfaces (like the bookcase you mentioned), I start with my RS2.

 

[ceddy]

I would go with the ETS150/5 as well. It was my first sander and I found it very versatile. Then it makes sense to ad an RO90.

 

[Bob Marino]

 I'd toss my hat into the ETS 150/5 camp if you are considering to have a one sander shop. It's a pleasure to use and is large enough to get larger jobs done quickly. I don't remember having any customer not being extremely satisfied with that sander  - or the ETS 150/3 for that matter.
If you intend on getting a Rotex 150 or 125 a bit further down the road, I'd weigh in favor of the ETS 150/3. Many people consider the ETS 1530/ to be the perfect complement to the Rotex150.

Bob

 

[oldie]

Just a thought:
if...if you can get by with your Porter Cable 6" sander for a while,
what about a DTS400?
Superb dust collection, gets into corners, ok for 'small' flat surfaces, very easy to handle and keep level, easy to sand along an edge.
If time taken to do task not overly important, can still use modestly aggressive abrasives.
I think it is surprisingly versatile sander.

Richard.

 

[leakyroof]

Plus 1 again for the 150/5 sander if you have to live with just one sander for awhile. As Seth and others noted, the extra aggressiveness over the 3mm version really helps with rougher sanding jobs. And yet, the 5mm will give you fine sanding when you need it.

 

[3PedalMINI]

I have a ETS125 and it was my gateway sander. Got an RO150 and the thing is a beast, the RO90 is a tiny sander, i really dont think or can imagine how it could be used for larger surfaces. My honest opinion would be to go with the RO125, the 125 is a nice size and i haven't wished for anything smaller. You get the best of both worlds, a "rotary" sander and a "random orbit" in an all around versitle size MHO, YMMV  [smile]

For the record, the ETS125 is an incredible sander, i wouldn't dismiss it or the ETS150