ROTEX 150 Sanding Discs Clogging

[HawaiianBrian]

I bought the Rotex 150 FEQ and the CT26 Dust Extractor recently and for its maiden voyage I sanded a small Monkey Pod slab table that needed to be refinished.  There was no finish on the wood when I started sanding with the rotex.  After just a few minutes of sanding with some 150 grit I noticed lots of saw dust on the surface of the table, I turned the sander over and the sand paper was totally clogged with sawdust.  Is this normal? In the past I've used a Dewalt sander hooked up to my shop vac and I've never had saw dust build up like that.  I had the vacuum on high and was sanding on med speed, hopefully this is just user error that can be corrected by tweaking some settings or something.  I've done some google searches to find some tutorial videos for the Rotex that may be helpful but i'm not finding anything.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bohdan]

Sounds like the CT is not doing its job. Something is blocking the air flow.

Do you have the holes in the sand paper lined up with the holes in the base of the sander?

 

[HawaiianBrian]

Yes holes are all aligned.  When I get to the shop in the morning I'll check the hose for any obstructions.  Mahalo...

 

[aloysius]

Turn the vac onto "Manual" & check it's sucking through the airways on the sanding pad with a fag/candle/match.

If not, remove the sanding pad, & visually check the airways.  Repeat the test on the bare tool with the same apparatus.

If still nothing, then visually check the "front" & "back" airways of the tool for blockages;  clean with a bamboo skewer if necessary.

Oh, and the most obvious check first of course, remove hose from tool whilst going & ensure that the hose isn't blocked.  If it is, then run a bare broomstick/dowel carefully down the hose from one end to the other.  I recommend caution here.  I've stupidly punctured a couple of hoses by using the broomstick as a ramrod against an embedded nail!

Yet another more obvious check:  (I'm not treating you like an idiot here, just going thorough all possible contingencies)  ensure the vac is on high or "hare" setting, not the "tortoise" setting.  The biggest Rotexes seem to like a fair volume of air throughput.  It's performance whilst on the deck sanding will soon tell you if the suction is a tad high.

This step-by-step procedure will at least help isolate the source if nothing else.  The cure unfortunately may not be so straightforward.

 

[Birdhunter]

Great checklist. My experience is nearly no dust escaping and pads lasting a long time. I've got most of the Festool sanders and they are all consistently clean to use.

I check the strength of my vacs just by cupping my hand over the end of the hose with the vac turned full on (hare position). If I don't think it is strong, I check the bag. If it isn't full, I check the hose.

I disconnect the hose from the vac and drop a 2' long 3/8" steel rod down the hose. That's always been enough to clear any junk obstructing the airflow.

If your hose is clear, I'd take the pad off the sander, look for obstructions, and then blow it out with compressed air. I'd do this last step outside.

Also, I've made the mistake of plugging the sander into a wall socket and have the vac on auto. Doesn't work! Sander has to be plugged into the vac and the vac on auto. I did feel pretty dumb.

 

[slimm]

I had a similar issue the advice I recieved was to turn the aped settings down and move the rotex around more to reduce concentrated heat buld up

 

[clark_fork]

There is a 3 D solution just out this week. There is a whole array of Festool 3 D items that may be ordered. Just go on the site and search "Festool."

I have not tried this. I don't believe in Rotex.

Here is the link:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2388924

 

[magellan]

This may sound dumb but how do you purchase from thingiver?  I've been wanting this item for ages to adapt to the RO 150 E.  also the 1010 router I believe

 

[clark_fork]

Instructions:

You can download the file and take it to an outfit that does 3D printing. I don't live near civilization so I don't have that option.

If you want it printed, Just go down to the Heading "Things Apps Enabled" Click on "Order Printed." You will get several company options. I had a good experience with " Print A Thing." Just follow order instructions. I received a hose clip in less than seven days. You can pick a color.  There are currently some 85 Festool related items, some very intriguing.  Via this site, I have received a dust collector for the PGS and hose clips to keep the vacuum hose in one place on the edge of the MFT. My dust collector came in the familiar Soylent Green. (note: The dust collector is no longer available)

[attachimg=1]

Good Luck!

 

[Holmz]

When you hold you hand Ove the end of the vacuum hose is it sucking?
When you have the vacuum on, and the hose in the sander, can you feel or hear air go through the sander with the sander not powered and the vacuum on manual?

 

[semenza]

I had a similar issue the advice I recieved was to turn the aped settings down and move the rotex around more to reduce concentrated heat buld up

Yes, that helps when sanding off a finish or paint to help keep the abrasive from clogging. But the suction should still be picking up the dust.

[member=65330]HawaiianBrian[/member]  Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

            Does that wood have some sort of oil or resin in it that might be getting into the Rotex air passages and stuffing them up?

Seth

 

[Scott in San Diego]

Check the plastic dust pipe connection to sander head.  Mine became slightly dislodged and bled off much of the suction.