Rotex 125 v Rotex 150

[Woodwork Wizard]

Is it just me or is the 500w 125mm Rotex much more of a handful than the 720w 150mm Rotex sander? I find the 150mm sander much easier to control.

 

[AlexThePalex]

This has been said by plenty of others here on the forum, so no, you're definitely not the only one.

 

[Scott B.]

I find the RO150 to have the best dust extraction of all the sanders. I think that contributes to it's smooth ride. I do still prefer the RO125 on vertical applications though.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I don't have any problems working with the 125, but I do think the 150 is smoother, it has a better balance, probably due to the bigger surface of the pad. I agree the dust collection with the 150 is very good. On vertical surfaces I mostly use the 150, and I am very used to it so it's never a problem for me. I only use the 125 when the 150 doesn't fit. I was sanding an outside wall the other day, made up of 7 full 8x4 sheets. You really want a 150mm sander for that.

 

[Scott B.]

Alex

I agree, if vertical for me was flat work, it'd be 150 all day long. Unfortunately, vertical for me is 3 1/2" clap stripping and corner boards and fascia that is 5 1/2 max. In those cases, it's 125, 90 and maybe a DTS for chine.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Well, like I said, it has to fit of course. Many times it doesn't, and another sander has to do it.

 

[DanielOB]

Ro150 is with higher torque than ro125, and it is harder to keep it under control when doing final surfacing. Due to that torque it is easy that a sander digs into material leaving unrepeatable surface. However for rough work it is not a problem. It's higher stability is false feeling due to higher mass of the sander and each change of direction is followed by the inertia and by gyroscopic effect (like a bicycle wheel, the faster it turns harder is to change its direction).
For do it all ro125 is much better choice. It is a little bit slower due to smaller surface of the sand paper but well ro200 is then better than ro150, ro250 is better then ro200 ... No end.