Rotex 90 - includes?

[joshhmodclass]

Hi all - I've been a reader on the board for a while. My Festool collection has just started to grow (I've had a Domino for about a year or so and just recently picked up a Kapex, CT MIDI and just yesterday a Rotex 90). Great info here, and I'm hoping you can answer a question for me.

I ordered the Rotex 90 through a Festool retailer online. From what I've seen in online reviews (HalfInchShy, the Wood Nerd, etc) it looks like there should be a small selection of abraisives included with the sander, correct? A small plastic bag or two with maybe 10 sheets total? My question is, what if any abraisives are supposed to be included with the Rotex 90? I opened mine up and I had two pieces of Granat in P80 - one round and one delta - floating loose in the Systainer, and that was it. The retailer was not helpful at all when I first contacted them, but other than some of the review sites I am not finding a lot of clear info on what exactly is supposed to be included, and I know the final product could have changed post-review.

Much appreciated!

Josh

 

[TOOLTOWN]

[welcome] to the site.  Glad to hear you have a growing collection. 

The included paper selection changes from time to time.  Most of the sanders used to include a sample pack with a variety of grits and paper types.  Now there is just a sheet or two included.  

I don't think you need to worry about being cheated if that was your concern.

Ken

 

[Bob Marino]

Agree with Ken. The "scope of delivery" aka what the heck is included has changed with some tools -including the small sample packs of abrasives that are in luxed with the sanders.

Bob

 

[AlexThePalex]

Generally Festool gives out a nice sample package when they introduce a tool, but when it's there for a while you're lucky if you get one sample item.

 

[GarryMartin]

In the UK, my RO90 DX FEQ 230V delivered last week had the same - one delta sheet and one round sheet.

 

[doorguy]

I just picked one up at my local Wood Craft and while I did not inventory what was there, it appears to have come with a pretty nice assortment.  At least enough to give me an idea of what it can do. 8)

 

[bigGaloot]

I went to a Festool demo day before buying my Domino around January, and, in talking to the rep, he asked if I had tried Granat.  Told him how my RO90, and it's sample pack lasted me through the Summer without buying any paper.  The Woodcraft owner chuckled and informed me that the sample pack was an initial offering and they were not getting any more kits with the full sample pack.

It is a testament to the longevity of Festool abrasives with dust collection... but almost a year later, I've only needed to buy a box of the P40 and P60 to replace consumed sheets (and some 24 Sapphir).  ...Thinking about it, most sheets didn't get worn down, they got damaged from catching an edge and tearing the sheet.

No sample pack stinks... but I guess one can understand Festool's stance.

 

[Bikeboy80]

I think it really stinks! [mad]

A small sample pack is a good way to not only have something to try out during the first 30days without buying large boxes of abrasives but also let's you get the feel of using some of the different types.

My first sander (RO90) came with a good assortment, I ended up purchasing mostly boxes of Brillant but over time having some of the other papers have opened my eyes to some of the other types and have lead me to buying boxes of Saphir and Granat. I probably would still only be using brilliant for everything if I had to take the plunge buy buying the full boxes. Also buying Festools as a premium product I think deserves a premium experience, opening the systainer and being able to immediately put the tool to work is an experience, but opening it and finding one sheet of 80grit is to say the least a bit disappointing.

I think Festool is really missing out by not providing some reasonable sized sample packs, and really what would a dozen or two sheets of paper cost. If they are set on not including them then offer them as a trial pack and charge a few bucks for them!

 

[joshhmodclass]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one... but it is disappointing to hear how much they've scaled back. When I bought my Domino about a year ago I ordered the Domino assortment with it. Seemed a little like apples and oranges though; a box of Dominos isn't quite the same as a few sheets of sandpaper.
I do agree that it makes a lot of sense to include a few pieces of abraisives to see what the tool is capable of without having to order a box of 50 or 100 pieces. Plus, there is just something about the principle of spending $350 on a sander... you'd think you would at least be able to get started.. oh well, what can you do. Enough complaining for me!

 

[farms100]

I went to a Festool demo day before buying my Domino around January, and, in talking to the rep, he asked if I had tried Granat.  Told him how my RO90, and it's sample pack lasted me through the Summer without buying any paper.  The Woodcraft owner chuckled and informed me that the sample pack was an initial offering and they were not getting any more kits with the full sample pack.

It is a testament to the longevity of Festool abrasives with dust collection... but almost a year later, I've only needed to buy a box of the P40 and P60 to replace consumed sheets (and some 24 Sapphir).  ...Thinking about it, most sheets didn't get worn down, they got damaged from catching an edge and tearing the sheet.

No sample pack stinks... but I guess one can understand Festool's stance.

That really blows, especially when you consider the mass production aspect of sandpaper and the cost of the tool. Except for some of the really fine stuff, most of the sample pack i got with my sander was gone pretty fast.

 

[peter halle]

I know that many are looking at this as a cost cutting situation by the manufacturer.  I don't know the reason and frankly it isn't any of my business.  But I will offer a couple of thoughts:

1.  It would seem that during the introduction of Granat it would have made sense to introduce new users to a product that was new and relatively unknown.
2.  Sanding is a specialized.  Festool offers sanders optimized to certain ranges of work.  They also offer multiple lines of sandpaper.  A few pieces of sandpaper included might be a nice gesture, but if there is a sheet of Granat 150 in the sampler and a lower grit of Granat would be the proper to do the job, then is the paper included a benefit or a detriment.

Just some thoughts.

Peter

 

[Paul G]

If they are set on not including them then offer them as a trial pack and charge a few bucks for them!

I'd gladly pay for a sample pack

 

[AlexThePalex]

If they are set on not including them then offer them as a trial pack and charge a few bucks for them!

I'd gladly pay for a sample pack

When I was new to all this Festool stuff I could have used one too and would have paid for it.

But as for free paper with a new tool, I couldn't care less. 

 

[deepcreek]

Here's some feedback on the downside of Festool's sample pack frugality.

I almost bought an RO90 this past weekend but money is tight right now and initially I can only afford the tool itself.

I've been on the fence for a while know about getting this sander.  For my work practices, it will need to justify its worth over other available options when sanding faceframes.  I currently have four Festool sanders but nothing this narrow.

I had planned to check it out under the 30-day trial period knowing full well that I would never actually return it.

When I discovered the kit only included 2 pieces of sandpaper I became so incensed that I put it back on the shelf and left the store empty handed.

I love Festool and already have over ten grand worth of products but sometimes a seemingly innocent cost cutting measure can make a good company look cheap.

 

[noob]

Including a sample pack isn't a "generous act of altruism"....more like a drug dealer introducing you to his "other" stuff

All these came with my RO 90:

I don't even know what a couple of them are used for... but I'm going to find out, try it, and probably buy more.

 

[joshhmodclass]

If they are set on not including them then offer them as a trial pack and charge a few bucks for them!

I'd gladly pay for a sample pack

+1

It isn't so much about what seems to be the cost-cutting side of this (though in principle it does bother me a bit). What's particularly frustrating about this situation, especially to someone new to Festool's sanders, is that you really don't know which abraisives you are going to want, which ones you'll only use on occasion, etc. It seems like most options for buying them are either in packs of 50 or 100 - that's quite a bit to get when you aren't sure if it's exactly the one you want. I would gladly pay for a small pack of maybe a sheet or two each so I could experiment and decide what I want in larger quantities.