Rotex demo question

[zapdafish]

I was watching a video where the rotex takes a rough piece of wood and goes through the various stages till it's a polished piece of wood. Both the 125 and 150 can do it right?  If I bring a chunk of rough wood to my dealer, is that something I can ask them to demo for me on both the 125 and 150? Taking something rough to polished?    Seems like it takes several attachments and grits to do that.

That video pretty much got me fixated on getting a rotex, hehe.

 

[jujigatame]

I have a 125 and used it to take 20 panels of brazillian walnut from very rough to polished at 220 grit.

It worked like a charm.

 

[mouppe]

The 125 and 150 are essentially the same but with different size pads. You can sand moving up through different grit papers till you get a smooth finish. I also purchased a sheepskin pad attachment so that I can buff a layer of wax on the wood.

A festool dealer could definitely put the rotex through its paces for you. It was the first festool that I bought, along with a ct22 vac. The vac is really important to get the most out of the tools.

I have 80, 120, 180, 220 and 320 grit papers. There are others but that's all I have found a need for.

It's not too late to get off the slippery green festool slope by the way. But once you start, uh-oh...

 

[zapdafish]

cool, thnx. Just want to be sure I am able to factor in costs for accessories when the time comes which will hopefully be soon  [laughing].

If it wasnt for the rotex video, I prob wouldn't have gotten the CT22 as a package deal with my TS55.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I agree the RO 125 and 150 are basically the same tool with different sized pads.  As for having a dealer demo the Rotex sanders could be a problem.  To "polish" a piece you need to sand to 2000 grit minimum, 4000 would be better.  The dealer might not have these grits available for either sander.  Call ahead so you don't wasting time.

 

[Neill]

I agree, as usual, with Brice.  I can tell you that I have done exactly what the video shows with my Rotex 125.  I took it through all the Brilliant grits through 320 and Platin 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 using African Mahogany.  Got a pretty good sheen but obviously no protection.

Strangely enough I have not tried it with my 150 simply because I had the Platin disks in 5" but not 6".

Neill

 

[Michael_MA]

It's not too late to get off the slippery green festool slope by the way. But once you start, uh-oh...

Great statement !

btw.. i've polished an old Oak stairway, after i removed about 1mm wood and coating debris.. all done with the Rotex.. it was a pleasure !

kind regards, Mike..  enjoys slipping the green road since early 2004 and still slipping very comfortable

 

[clintholeman]

If you take the grit to 2000 or 4000 then put a coat of wax on it, it turns out pretty nicely.  And the the 125 works just fine...

 

[tbellemare]

Brice and Neill nailed it.

I do that Rotex demo' using all the grits through Platin 4000. Even dry, it gives mahogany a nice sheen. It also doesn't take very long.

The most effective way I know to do it is to start with a course grit like Rubin P50 in gear driven mode to knock down the high spots. Then, with the same paper, switch to RO mode and work it a bit. Repeat with each grit until 100 and then just use RO mode until you get to Platin. At 500 or 1000, switch to gear driven mode again.

Tom

 

[mouppe]

Brice and Neill nailed it.

I do that Rotex demo' using all the grits through Platin 4000. Even dry, it gives mahogany a nice sheen. It also doesn't take very long.

The most effective way I know to do it is to start with a course grit like Rubin P50 in gear driven mode to knock down the high spots. Then, with the same paper, switch to RO mode and work it a bit. Repeat with each grit until 100 and then just use RO mode until you get to Platin. At 500 or 1000, switch to gear driven mode again.

Tom

Tom,

Why do you switch out of random orbit mode at 500? I'm still a novice and would appreciate a couple of tips.

Thanks
Richard.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Tom,

Why do you switch out of random orbit mode at 500? I'm still a novice and would appreciate a couple of tips.

Thanks
Richard.

I'll try my hand at this question.  The way I see it there are two reasons.  First, the Platin abrasive has a foam backing that's about about 5 mm thick. The foam can absorb some of the orbital action of the sander in RO mode making the abrasive a little less effective.  The second reason is what is happening while sanding with finer grits.  At a certain point you are no longer sheering wood fibers as you sand with a fine grit abrasive, you're really burnishing the surface of the wood.  Given these two factors the rotary action of the Rotex mode is more effective than the random orbit mode.

These are my thoughts, I could just be full of it.

 

[tbellemare]

I'd say you nailed it again, Brice.

Also, if you're using an adjunct to polish, you want to slow down the speed so it doesn't sling it everywhere.

Tom

 

[daviszr1]

I'd say you nailed it again, Brice.

Also, if you're using an adjunct to polish, you want to slow down the speed so it doesn't sling it everywhere.

Tom

Tom,

At what grit do you start using polishing compounds, if at all?  I would imagine so by you comment about slinging the stuff everywhere!

Ben

 

[tbellemare]

I'm no finishing expert, Ben, and I know there are some on this forum so I can only offer my take on it and hope someone that is an expert will chime in.

To me, it depends on what you are using, but I wouldn't apply any polishing compounds below 1000 and I might wait until 4000.

I have a neighbor that recently got an old, oxidized Airstream. I'm trying to discover or learn an easily repeatable formula for shining it. It isn't as easy as I thought it would be. I've read a lot of stuff online about it and it all seems pretty exotic. I tried polishing compound and it got the grungy look out but it doesn't have the mirror look that is so cool. I'm not done trying...

Tom

EDIT: I just reread what I wrote and it is confusing. In the first 2 paragraphs, I was talking about wood. In the last paragraph, I was talking about aluminum.

 

[woodguy7]

Is an Airstream what we would call a caravan ?  Those aluminium ones look really cool  [thumbs up]

Woodguy

 

[Brice Burrell]

Is an Airstream what we would call a caravan ?  Those aluminium ones look really cool  [thumbs up]

Woodguy

Yes, it's a brand of caravan, Airstream.com.  Tom is referring to restoring an old Airstream.  These things can be very valuable.

 

[mouppe]

On of my all-time favourite albums has an Airstream on the front.

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[tbellemare]

That's the look I am hoping for, Brice. So far, it ain't easy.

I think I can get to Ry's look.

Tom