rotex and ets

[oldoak]

I have been using a 150 rotex and a 150 3mm ets sander for about 7yrs and I love em......but I sand floors for a living so they get put through their paces daily the sanders can handle it but we keep burning out the leads! iv sent them back and they are ok for a month or so then one of the little connection holes melts and it starts cutting out iv burnt out loads of em. I got a new ets and it stated melting leads after 8months. im about to try the mirka deros but can itcompare with festool?

 

[peter halle]

Welcome to the Forum.  Sorry to hear about your issues.  Is it fair to assume that you are talking about the cord issues at the tool end?  Do you remove the cords from the tools?

The reason I ask is that if the cords are not properly tightened then arcing will occur between the cord and the pins on the tool.  The pins on the tool can become burnt and damaged and then they will damage other cords attached.  Then if the different cords are mixed around with the various tools it is like a cold and everything is game.

You might want to send one of yours in for service - cheaper than buying a new sander - and see what they say.  Then tighten the cord completely and do not take it off, or make sure that when the Plug-it is tightened you can't tighten any more.

just a suggestion.

Peter

 

[Dan Clermont]

I have been using a 150 rotex and a 150 3mm ets sander for about 7yrs and I love em......but I sand floors for a living so they get put through their paces daily the sanders can handle it but we keep burning out the leads! iv sent them back and they are ok for a month or so then one of the little connection holes melts and it starts cutting out iv burnt out loads of em. I got a new ets and it stated melting leads after 8months. im about to try the mirka deros but can itcompare with festool?

Welcome to the forum. When the connector is replaced are you also replacing the Plug it cord? They should both be replaced at the same time otherwise one will prematurely wear the other one out.

You are well past your warranty period. Have you considered possibly having the sander "hard wired"? A customer of mine recently did this and although I cannot do it for you perhaps you can find someone to do it.

The Mirka sanders are good. IMO not as aggressive as the Rotex although more aggressive than the ETS

Good Luck
Dan Clermont

 

[AlexThePalex]

Unfortunately the plug-it cord is a weak spot of all Festools, but especially the sanders because you constantly twist and turn them in all directions.

It is possible to get parts for both the Rotex 150 and the ETS 150 to make their cords permanently attached. Maybe that's an option for you.

I don't know the Mirka sanders so I can't say anything about them except that they've been spoken highly of on this board.

You can find alternative sanders to Festool and Mirka with brands like Rupes, Bosch and Makita.

 

[dicktill]

Hi oldoak,

Can't help you with your plug-it problem, but am very interested in your experiences using these two sanders for floors. I am currently sanding some old oak and maple floors with a Rotex 150, ETS 150/5, and a DTS 400. What grits and type of papers do you use? What progression of grits? How hard do you "lean" on the sanders, especially the Rotex?

Thanks in advance, Dick

 

[semenza]

Yup, if either the tool side connection or the plug-it cord tool end goes bad , you need to replace both. Otherwise the problem will persist.

Seth