Rotex 150 purchase advice

[Wuffles]

Hello.

First up, you might remember me from threads such as "you can stick that Rotex 150 up your...I've got a Metabo 450 Turbo!" and "I'll never spend THAT much on a sander" and also "I've bought an RO90 and I LOVE it!". So please bear with me while I adjust my expectations on the fly.

So, I was sanding this slab of oak earlier and I got to thinking, wow*, this 450 SXE Turbo is taking its sweet time using 40 grit getting things a little flatter. It did it, and I stepped up through the grits as I have learned to do through this very forum and it's now a reasonably smooth piece of oak.

Would the RO150 have made my life easier? Should I then keep the Metabo as a finishing sander, especially as I've jammed it in /3 mode (as opposed to /5)?

Having watched the ebb and flow of opinions on here for years, I think I know the responses from a couple of forum regulars without them even typing them, I'll call "FOG bingo" if I see them answer  [big grin]

*I was reading through his previous posts earlier, only a few pages of the 120 pages you'll find on here (go and check if you don't believe me) and I was reminded of how many of his posts I have read subconsciously. Not a bad word was said by that guy and I think we could all learn a thing or two from that. I don't think I interacted directly with him, but in the words of Grant Naylor, "What a guy". I wish I could be as friendly.

 

[mike_aa]

Wuffles,
See Reply #8 for my experiences with the RO150.  It was not oak and I did not try any other sander, but I was able to smooth out a lot of bandsaw marks starting with 60 grit and going through the progression.

Mike A.

Edit: You always have the 15 day return period to try one out.

 

[joiner1970]

Ive had a metabo 450 for years (non turbo) and its been good but recently I bought the ro150 and I'm glad I did. Got it for a great price £360 if I remember rightly.

With the geared rotex mode it eats through anything. I stripped paint off some old mdf cupboards in literally seconds , ready for new paint.

 

[Wuffles]

Ive had a metabo 450 for years (non turbo) and its been good but recently I bought the ro150 and I'm glad I did. Got it for a great price £360 if I remember rightly.

With the geared rotex mode it eats through anything. I stripped paint off some old mdf cupboards in literally seconds , ready for new paint.

I recall you got it from somewhere that didn't have any more of them - I certainly emailed them at the time to ask. I'm glad it's working for you as at the time I mentioned my 450 Turbo and was wondering if you'd see an improvement.

Do you still use the 450 for finer stuff?

Less of an investment than the 90 for me as I have the sanding sheets knocking about already.

Edit: You always have the 15 day return period to try one out.

I'll read through that in a mo. I'd feel bad with the 15 day thing after the haggling my shop gets from me. It's like something from Life of Brian.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Bingo? The Metabo is a nice random orbit sander, but I concur with joiner1970, if you really want to eat away material, the aggressive rotating mode of the Rotex takes it to a whole other level. Lots of time won.

 

[joiner1970]

I don't really use the metabo anymore. The rotex does all I need it to and I use my multimaster for corners and details.

 

[Wuffles]

Bingo? The Metabo is a nice random orbit sander, but I concur with joiner1970, if you really want to eat away material, the aggressive rotating mode of the Rotex takes it to a whole other level. Lots of time won.

Ha ha Alex. I was actually expecting you to chime in with a mention of how the Rotex models don't remove as much material as people expect!  [blink]

In fact, you have just made my mind up and will probably try and get one this week before the sanding of the top of the slab starts.

I don't really use the metabo anymore. The rotex does all I need it to and I use my multimaster for corners and details.

If the 150 is anything like the 90 I reckon I'll still be relying on the 450 for the calmer one handed stuff. But I'll reserve judgement until I've had a go with one.

 

[joiner1970]

Bingo? The Metabo is a nice random orbit sander, but I concur with joiner1970, if you really want to eat away material, the aggressive rotating mode of the Rotex takes it to a whole other level. Lots of time won.

Ha ha Alex. I was actually expecting you to chime in with a mention of how the Rotex models don't remove as much material as people expect!  [blink]

In fact, you have just made my mind up and will probably try and get one this week before the sanding of the top of the slab starts.

I don't really use the metabo anymore. The rotex does all I need it to and I use my multimaster for corners and details.

If the 150 is anything like the 90 I reckon I'll still be relying on the 450 for the calmer one handed stuff. But I'll reserve judgement until I've had a go with one.

With rotex turned off its very easy to handle pretty much the same feel as the metabo

 

[Wuffles]

With rotex turned off its very easy to handle pretty much the same feel as the metabo

Roger that. Still rocking the domino plate by the way, you saved me SO much time with that thing.

 

[mike_aa]

Ive had a metabo 450 for years (non turbo) and its been good but recently I bought the ro150 and I'm glad I did. Got it for a great price £360 if I remember rightly.

With the geared rotex mode it eats through anything. I stripped paint off some old mdf cupboards in literally seconds , ready for new paint.

I recall you got it from somewhere that didn't have any more of them - I certainly emailed them at the time to ask. I'm glad it's working for you as at the time I mentioned my 450 Turbo and was wondering if you'd see an improvement.

Do you still use the 450 for finer stuff?

Less of an investment than the 90 for me as I have the sanding sheets knocking about already.

Edit: You always have the 15 day return period to try one out.

I'll read through that in a mo. I'd feel bad with the 15 day thing after the haggling my shop gets from me. It's like something from Life of Brian.

Wuffles,
Does your shop have a demo RO150 unit to try out?  You could always bring a chunk of wood and your Metabo to do a comparison.

Mike A.

 

[Wuffles]

Wuffles,
Does your shop have a demo RO150 unit to try out?  You could always bring a chunk of wood and your Metabo to do a comparison.

Mike A.

Now that WOULD be funny, me walking in there like that. They'd run for cover.

But no, I doubt they have one. I've been looking for an excuse anyway I think, this slab might be it.

 

[joiner1970]

Ive had a metabo 450 for years (non turbo) and its been good but recently I bought the ro150 and I'm glad I did. Got it for a great price £360 if I remember rightly.

With the geared rotex mode it eats through anything. I stripped paint off some old mdf cupboards in literally seconds , ready for new paint.

I recall you got it from somewhere that didn't have any more of them - I certainly emailed them at the time to ask. I'm glad it's working for you as at the time I mentioned my 450 Turbo and was wondering if you'd see an improvement.

Do you still use the 450 for finer stuff?

Less of an investment than the 90 for me as I have the sanding sheets knocking about already.

Edit: You always have the 15 day return period to try one out.

I'll read through that in a mo. I'd feel bad with the 15 day thing after the haggling my shop gets from me. It's like something from Life of Brian.

Wuffles,
Does your shop have a demo RO150 unit to try out?  You could always bring a chunk of wood and your Metabo to do a comparison.

Mike A.

Or just get festool to send round a demo guy. That's what I did , Bob Vine came around and demo'ed the 90 and 150 at my workshop.

 

[Stone Message]

Dan

Have you seen my Rotex 150 video where I attack the slab of rough oak?

Take a look from the 10 minute 40 sec point.



Peter

 

[Wuffles]

Or just get festool to send round a demo guy. That's what I did , Bob Vine came around and demo'ed the 90 and 150 at my workshop.

What's that you say (*cough* [member=41214]Phil Beckley[/member]) they do that still?

Dan

Have you seen my Rotex 150 video where I attack the slab of rough oak?

Take a look from the 10 minute 40 sec point.



Peter

I'm going to re-watch now, with the sound down a bit so Mrs Wuffles doesn't figure out what's going on.

Who am I kidding, the domino found its way here after about an hour of Paul Marcel's videos were watched, she's got to be wise to this by now.

 

[Phil Beckley]

Or just get festool to send round a demo guy. That's what I did , Bob Vine came around and demo'ed the 90 and 150 at my workshop.

What's that you say (*cough* [member=41214]Phil Beckley[/member]) they do that still?

Dan

Have you seen my Rotex 150 video where I attack the slab of rough oak?

Take a look from the 10 minute 40 sec point.



Peter

I'm going to re-watch now, with the sound down a bit so Mrs Wuffles doesn't figure out what's going on.

Who am I kidding, the domino found its way here after about an hour of Paul Marcel's videos were watched, she's got to be wise to this by now.

Yes we do have a team on the road who will come and visit at an address to suit. P.M me your details and i will contact the guy for your area to give you a call. You are of course not committed to anything - they give advice on the kit.
rg
Phil

 

[Wuffles]

Yes we do have a team on the road who will come and visit at an address to suit. P.M me your details and i will contact the guy for your area to give you a call. You are of course not committed to anything - they give advice on the kit.
rg
Phil

Right on. Will do.

Peter, which was the video where you lost a bit of paper to the dodgy knot in the slab of wood, the RO90? Didn't see it happen in this one.

 

[Discap]

I am a big fan of the optional extra handle for the RO150 (don't remember part# or name).  Well worth the extra cost.

Bill

 

[Wuffles]

I am a big fan of the optional extra handle for the RO150 (don't remember part# or name).  Well worth the extra cost.

Bill

Sounds very much like the kind of thing that should be included with it.

 

[Stone Message]

Peter, which was the video where you lost a bit of paper to the dodgy knot in the slab of wood, the RO90? Didn't see it happen in this one.

It is at the 3 minute 40 second point in this video:



Peter

 

[Wuffles]

Ah yes, the RO90. I normally only watch your videos if I am about to buy that item or already have it, otherwise well, you know, I get grouchy.