RO150 vibration issues?

[OffCuts]

Hi,

I got a RO150 last year and haven't really used it much. I heard people raving about this sander about how smooth (not vibrating) it works.

This is my very first random orbital sander / power sander so I don't have anything to compare it with but in my opinion, mine is not that smooth.

I heard that I should be able to set it to the random orbit mode (the smooth mode as opposed to the rough mode) and just hold the dust collection hose and it would just glide smoothly. I found mine sometimes making jerky moves, and I would need to hold it properly by its handle etc.

It might be a bit hard to explain it, and maybe I should upload a short youtube video?

I noticed that when I put it up in the air, and look at the movement of the pad while it's rotating, the pad's surface is not completely "flat" i.e. there's a bit of wiggle on the vertical plane (i.e. not the random orbital plane). Is this normal?

Sorry if my description is a bit vague and hard to understand, let me know and I'll try to describe it better.

I have also read that some people need to "run in" their rotex for several hours (how many hours)? Perhaps this is the problem with mine, in that it was new (well it was a display unit when I purchased it, they only had one and gave me that one - not discounted or anything) and hardly used?

 

[leakyroof]

Sounds normal for the bigger Rotex.
The ETS sanders are more of a One Hand Sander. You will get better with it, it's a great sander unless you just need a finer orbit than the 5mm of the Rotex in Random Orbit Mode.
Then, you would reach for something else .

 

[Jamestoolie]

The RO 150 was the first sander I purchased.  I also purchased this auxiliary front handle link below.  They should make this type of handle for all three RO sanders.  I have found that the RO 150 has for lack of a better word attitude.  My previous sander experiences were belt sanders and various ROS 5" models.  i feel there is a learning curve with the RO sanders.  If you're concerned about the sander give festool service a call.  When using the tool in random orbit I hold the tool by the auxiliary handle and hose and it glides.  I find its utility in having to two modes which I use equally.  if I did mostly random orbit sanding I would probably choose an ETS and ETS EC. 
http://www.amazon.com/Festool-49518...?ie=UTF8&qid=1460169571&sr=8-7&keywords=rotex+150

 

[Holmz]

Unless you require the geared mode of the RO, then the ETS EC is better on most fronts (faster removal, cost, ergonomics).

 

[ear3]

The jerkiness n RO mode is a feature of the sander.  There are subtle ways which you can learn to handle the sander such that this movement is minimized, but it's sort of hard to describe in words, and something you just have to get a feel for -- at the very least, though, it's better to use a light touch with it and not press down too hard.  I actually prefer the way it handles in gear driven mode -- more predictable.

 

[Peter_C]

I heard that I should be able to set it to the random orbit mode (the smooth mode as opposed to the rough mode) and just hold the dust collection hose and it would just glide smoothly. I found mine sometimes making jerky moves, and I would need to hold it properly by its handle etc.

You might have misunderstood. Folks will often hold it right over the sandpaper with one and while the trailing hand gently controls the sander by holding the hose. If you want to single hand it, then you must hold it by the head, right above the sandpaper. Jumping round holding onto just the hose I would consider normal. This is for random orbit mode, as Rotex mode requires a little more force to maintain control.

I noticed that when I put it up in the air, and look at the movement of the pad while it's rotating, the pad's surface is not completely "flat" i.e. there's a bit of wiggle on the vertical plane~

Hard to know without seeing it in person. Might be worth it to buy a hard pad and see if it is different. I tend to use my hard pad more than the medium it comes with for sanding things flat. You could even try marking the high spot, rotating the pad 1/3 and seeing if the high spot moves. Chances are this is a non issues, and the sander is working just fine.