Rotex Poll

[Matthew Schenker]

This topic comes up fairly often as people consider the uses of a Rotex and a belt sander. 

Rotex owners, what's your experience?

 

[Dan Clark]

I find both useful.  On narrow materials like 2X joists and doors, especially for removing lots of material, the belt sander gives me a bit more control.  Otherwise, it's the Rotex.

Dan.

 

[ejantny]

Rotary polishers used by car detailers are hard to control. In non experienced hands not only will they create swirls but burn the clear coat or even worse the paint.

That is why amateurs user a ROB instead.
It takes experience to control a rotary but once you get the hang of it you'll soon forget about a belt sander.

My two Dewalt jitterbugs, PC belt and ROB, Makita rotary will be in retirement now. Replaced by a Rotex and Deltex.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Not sure what you meant by "belt sander".  My handheld belt sander has been in a storage box for years (anyone want one cheap?).  I have a stationary belt sander that I use often.

If you're talking about the need to hog out a lot of material in a hurry, the Rotex is as aggressive as anything I would ever use.

A stationary belt sander with a long table and a fence is a different animal, though, capable of finesse and precision - or hogging out a gouge if you don't pay attention. :

 

[Tinker]

I found that my belt sander was not used very often.  I used sharp blades on my TS (and later on my AFT 55), kept my planer sharp, hand plane blades sharp and my hand scrapers sharp.  When i did use the belt sander, because i was not using it all the time, it would usually do strange things, like very uneven gouging, that just meant a whole lot of extra work to straighten things out.  And then i got introduced to Rotex.  Once that happened, i was hooked (to hook & loop) to the Festool sanders. Next came the Deltev and then the LS 130.  The last time i used my belt sander ( a bottom of the line home owners quality), it burned up.  I have never had the desire to even look at another.  I do have a statioary belt sander that I only use for such shaping duties as rounding off corners, and that's about it.  I have an old Milwaukee reciprocating sander that I made a plate for and I use it upside down in a table, but i don't use that anymore since i got my Rotex 150.  That toy gets used for atleast 75% of my sanding.  The Deltex 93 would be next for use and the LS gets used for final sanding with fine grit.  Maybe 180 or finer.  By the time I reach for the LS, it is to just touchup if there are any swirls left from the Rotex.  I do not get into high gloss finishing as I do not want a whole lot of extra flamables in my cellar shop.  I stick with wipe on finishes, so I don't need to get into extra fine sanding & finishing. 

some time back, I did a lot of trim work in my house that never got finished.  All #2 pine which i liked the looks of natural.  The Boss says she has been yelling at me for 20 years to put a finish onto all of it.  That's funny, i only recall her telling me after I discovered how much fun sanding became with the Rotex and CT combo.  I swear, she never mentioned finishing before that  :  Any how, that Rotex made all of that trim (all flat/square cut) look like new in an unbelievable short time.  It looks so good now that THE BOSS has quit yelling (I think)  ;D
Tinker

 

[bassman00]

The reason that made it easier to jump on the Rotex 150 was it can replace both my belt and RO sanders.  I'm currently building a project with a lot of glued up panels.  I used the belt sander hooked up to my shop vac on the first few panels.  I found it was way too easy to make mistakes.  Spent a lot of time fixing them.  It's dust collection was atrocious.  Even with the air cleaner on, there was a layer of dust on everything.  I used the Rotex 150 / CT 22 on the remaining panels and even though it was brand new to me, I never had any troubles controlling it.  The results were better and since I didn't have to fix any problem, much quicker.  The best part is I didn't have to wear a dust mask and didn't need to have the air cleaner on.  I will most likely be selling the belt sander (PC 362? 4x24) in the very near future.

PaulD

 

[Dan Clark]

Just to be clear...  I never use my belt sander (Makita) unless it is hooked to my CT22.    Dust control is very good with that combo. 

FYI, a cut-down Fein hose adapter fits the Makita dust hole quite well.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[EdL]

I still have a belt sander in my shop.....a Milwaukee 5936, usually equipped with a 60 grit or coarser belt. I've never used it on a "woodworking" project.
Its' used for hogging off material when the finish is not important. Such as making a couple of unruly 2x4's flush during a remodeling project, cleaning up recycled lumber to find nails or just to see what the grain looks like. It also works great for cleaning cement off of wood form boards.
While I love my Rotex 150 sander, I don't think it will compete with the Milwaukee the way I use it.

Ed

 

[Tinker]

I sstill keep all of my milwaukee tools, either in my shop, or with my son who has permanently borrowed them. Those 30 and 40 year old machines just go and go and go.  i use what i still have only for rough stuff, or where i might run into nails, etc. They are also reserved for the help.  The places where i would not want to damage a tool, but damage is possible or likely.  all of my FT toys are used where it really counts and are not allowed out of my sight or into anyone else's hands. PERIOD!!!
Tinker

 

[Michael Kellough]

...all of my FT toys are used where it really counts and are not allowed out of my sight or into anyone else's hands. PERIOD!!!
Tinker

I think this is why Festools are considered Professional grade tools which you use yourself, compared to Contractor grade tools you buy for the employees to use.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

When I need a sander, I choose my RO 125 for most jobs.  I still use my belt sander when I am concerned that the rotary action may splinter or delaminate veneered surfaces, e.g. when shaping the edge of a veneered door to final fit an irregular frame or a veneered panel scribed to fit a wall, and for some rough jobs where I want to hog off a lot of material (and use up my considerable stock of belts!).  Use of a TS 55 with Guide Rail has all but eliminated the need to the sand edges of doors, excepting to break the sharp corners which I do with an LS 130 or by hand.

Dave R.