rotex 150 changing pad to standard pad

[superfly]

Hi there,

I have an issue with my rotex 150, first time I have a festool tool.

For a bit of a background, I have purchased a Rotex 150 a few weeks ago, and a mate of mine got me a a lot of disc pad at his supplier so I have a bit of a discount.
He also have a Rotex 150, but it is an older model he used it daily pretty much for the last 10 years, he order the same as the one he used daily.

On his rotex 150, he can simply change the pad by removing the hex bolt, as you can see on the pics he used standard multi-hole pads and 7 holes disc.

On mine I can't because I have the easy fix thingy for the pad, so I can't use the 7 hole disc because they do not fall in the corresponding all.
So I wonder if I can remove the hex hole, and use the standard multi-hole pads, and the 7 hole disc ?

I order some festool sanding pads, but as I have a lot of other disc too, I would like to be able to switch pads, it will be a lot more flexible machine for me. I also have stick on disc and pad which I could use too.

His Machine
View attachment 1
View attachment 2

My Rotex 150, I would love to remove the hex bolt and try the standard pad.
View attachment 3View attachment 4

 

[Alan Mack]

I have used my old discs, the 7(9) hole ones, on my rotex and when i changed the pad for a new one it was a multistream pad. The 7(9) hole discs fit on there as well. Looking at the photo, perhaps some dust extraction would be in order

Oops my bad, re Alexs point below, I meant the 9 hole discs/pad. Its not in my hand so didnt count how many there were...

And I see you have added more pics. I would guess removing the fastfix attachment for the pad would be a sure way of losing your 3 year warranty. Seems a bit daft just to use some cheap pads

 

[AlexThePalex]

Hello Superfly, welcome to the forum.

Sorry, but you can not use the 7 hole discs for your newer type RO150. The newer RO150 only uses the 9 hole discs, with the so called jetstream or Multi-jetstream pads.

The older RO150 your friend has is very old by now and Festool has not used the 7 hole discs for a very long time. The 9 hole discs have a better dust collection.

You can ofcourse use the 7 hole discs if you don't need dust collection, but that's not adviseable.

 

[superfly]

Why I can t simply Unbolt the easy fix system and bolt the 7 holes pad and use the corresponding disc ?

I do understand it is better to use the festool system and all but I was thinking using my disc I have in stock would be a good idea.

 

[superfly]

And I see you have added more pics. I would guess removing the fastfix attachment for the pad would be a sure way of losing your 3 year warranty. Seems a bit daft just to use some cheap pads

I am a bit surprise that removing the fast fix would cancel a 3 year guarantee.
I have read onto another thread that people were untied it a bit to be able to fit the fast fix pad, as it is hard at the start.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Why I can t simply Unbolt the easy fix system and bolt the 7 holes pad and use the corresponding disc ?

Because it probably won't fit. Can't say I have ever tried to modify it myself, so maybe you're lucky and it does fit. But I doubt it.

It's your tool, so you're free to try if you insist. Let us know how it works out.

 

[superfly]

I am surprise nobody thought about removing the system,  my guess would be the hex bolt is like 1/2 inch long so you remove it and then you remove the fast fix plate and back on when you need it.

I wanted to make sure of that before trying.

I am also thinking in a shop where they have different machine and all they must have pads and disc for each machine it is a bit of a constraint.

I have on order the festool disc but they are due to arrive only in a 1 week. So I wanted to see if I could use my machine before that.

 

[Alan Mack]

Why would it invalidate the warranty? Because removing the fastfix mechanism is not necessary for normal use. Take it off and the machine is not as designed.  As Alex said its your machine, so its up to you, but I would use the discs as specified. Theres no loss, your mate can use the 7 hole discs in any case.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I am surprise nobody thought about removing the system,  my guess would be the hex bolt is like 1/2 inch long so you remove it and then you remove the fast fix plate and back on when you need it.

In the 7 years that I have been on this forum we had hundreds of talks about the Rotex 150. Not once has anybody mentioned he wanted to use the older 7 hole paper. You really are the first I know of. Most people see the benefit of using the 9 hole paper and on the other side the problems that could arise from modifying your sander.

The Rotex was my first Festool and the moment I used it I realised it was a lot better than the sanders with 7 hole pads I used before. Suddenly all the dust was gone. I don't ever want to go back.

You don't have to buy the expensive Festool paper. There are much cheaper 3rd party papers available. I mostly use Indasa or SIA lately and they do just as well but for half price.

I am also thinking in a shop where they have different machine and all they must have pads and disc for each machine it is a bit of a constraint.

In a professional shop you certainly don't bother to change pads all the time. You just buy sanders with the same pads and/or have different sizes of paper on hand.

 

[nickao]

Instead of changing pads, I would modify the old paper until you run out of it.

I had my kids change all my paper over when I went to the newer pad. They used a long reach punch, it took less than 2 hours to do about 1000 sheets. You can also make a punch jig and just pop the holes in the old paper as you use them. Its about 30 seconds time every time you put on new paper. The newer paper pattern(well not new now)allows for a faster, better sanding, I noticed the difference immediately, don't go backwards.

 

[superfly]

You don't have to buy the expensive Festool paper. There are much cheaper 3rd party papers available. I mostly use Indasa or SIA lately and they do just as well but for half price.

Would you have a link for those paper?
So I can see if I can source it local or online, I could try next time I order some paper.

Instead of changing pads, I would modify the old paper until you run out of it.

I like this idea a lot it will allow me to be able to modify paper in the future too.

Where I live it is hard to find supplies at a affordable price, so I order must of my stuff online. I also don't have much time to go to the shop which usually is close when I finish my job.

I have 2 job a 9-5 one and the fun one where I do stuff for myself at evening and weekend.

Do you have a link of the puncher you used ?

I have someone who is died to do it at home. [wink]

 

[AlexThePalex]

You don't have to buy the expensive Festool paper. There are much cheaper 3rd party papers available. I mostly use Indasa or SIA lately and they do just as well but for half price.

Would you have a link for those paper?
So I can see if I can source it local or online, I could try next time I order some paper.

Yes, I have. I buy often from these guys, they're the cheapest I know, have a large selection and are so close to me I can go for local pickup. Excellent service. Dutch company but they will ship to many countries.
http://www.nonpaintstore.nl/index.php?target=categories&category_id=32&sl=EN

 

[Jbmccombe]

Klingspor makes paper that fits the RO150 hole pattern. I'm sure there is a dealer in Ireland that sells it. That's the paper I use most often

 

[superfly]

Thanks a lot to everyone it is very useful info.

I'll defo try different brand of paper,  I have so far 80,  120, 240, 320,  100 sheet each on 7 hole and 100 sheet of each in festool.

I also have some 40, 60, 150 but on stick on, and I wonder if there is any adapter which would be hook and loop on one side and stick on this other.

Thanks again

 

[Holmz]

There are also Morka screens which obviate any hole pattern issues on the sander.