Rotex RO 150 E - No Dust Extraction?

[onocoffee]

About a month or so ago, I picked up a used RO 150 E (the one with the green Rotex switch on the side above the sanding pad) and I finally got to try using it today. As expected, it's an aggressive sander but is spewing dust everywhere. I thought that was odd so I pulled the abrasive off, turned on the vac and put my hand by the pad - I could sense no suction.

Could there be a blockage along the extraction pathway? Or does the sander have an internal blower? What should I check on this sander? Thanks!

 

[bobtskutter]

My RO125 has a "seal" between the pad and the casing. Is yours missing?

Bob

 

[Hipplewm]

About a month or so ago, I picked up a used RO 150 E (the one with the green Rotex switch on the side above the sanding pad) and I finally got to try using it today. As expected, it's an aggressive sander but is spewing dust everywhere. I thought that was odd so I pulled the abrasive off, turned on the vac and put my hand by the pad - I could sense no suction.

Could there be a blockage along the extraction pathway? Or does the sander have an internal blower? What should I check on this sander? Thanks!

The part with the hose attachment comes off and you can check for blockage. there is a little toggle by the back of the handle to press and it comes apart

 

[jeffinsgf]

Sounds like someone sanded without extraction. Or...with poor extraction.

 

[rvieceli]

@onocoffee obvious things first, is there suction at the hose end? I had one where I thought the problem was in the tool but the hose was clogged

If you have access to a compressor, try blowing air through the hose end and the pad end of the tool. If it was used to sand something wet may have caked up material stuck in there somewhere.

Ron

 

[jeffinsgf]

The part with the hose attachment comes off and you can check for blockage. there is a little toggle by the back of the handle to press and it comes apart

Interesting. I just looked at the manuals on the Festool site and the RO-125 doesn't have this feature. I didn't remember it on mine, but I haven't used it for while.

 

[Distinctive Interiors]

The part with the hose attachment comes off and you can check for blockage. there is a little toggle by the back of the handle to press and it comes apart

The hose attachment on my 2002 Rotex 150 E is an oval shape and is a permanent part of the sander body and cannot be removed.....

 

[Jim_in_PA]

The hose attachment on my 2002 Rotex 150 E is an oval shape and is a permanent part of the sander body and cannot be removed.....

Same although I 3D printed an adapter to work better with current generation hoses.

OP, I also suspect a serious clog, probably because a previous owner didn't use extraction religiously.

 

[Hipplewm]

Interesting. I just looked at the manuals on the Festool site and the RO-125 doesn't have this feature. I didn't remember it on mine, but I haven't used it for while.

afaik, 125 doesn't have it, only 150

 

[Hipplewm]

The hose attachment on my 2002 Rotex 150 E is an oval shape and is a permanent part of the sander body and cannot be removed.....

ahh, OK - I am not a festool historian, I know mine comes off - so maybe some of the older ones it is permanent like the 125's

 

[Distinctive Interiors]

ahh, OK - I am not a festool historian, I know mine comes off - so maybe some of the older ones it is permanent like the 125's

Do you have the Rotex 150 E model...?
As far as I know, all the 150 E models had the oval dust port...?

 

[Hipplewm]

Do you have the Rotex 150 E model...?
As far as I know, all the 150 E models had the oval dust port...?

I have a FEQ version i think - within the last 2 years

Piece 51 is what I am talking about

 

[onocoffee]

Thank you all for your thoughts.

@rvieceli I did check the suction on from the hose at the time. It was pulling strongly but was non-existent at the pad. Strange, which is why I also thought it might be blockage but did not want to start tearing into it without knowing what to look for.

@Hipplewm You’re right about the extraction tube.
That is something that is on the RO150 FEQ and is readily removed. However the RO 150 E is an older design where the “tube” is built into the body of the Rotex.

I thought I would take some pics for this thread and got to looking at it and have found the issue. Checked the tube with a light and all looks clear. Put the MIDI hose on it at full and you could hear it pulling. Just not at the pad. Unbolted the pad (it’s the same as the ETS EC 150) and the suction pulled well through the body ports.

Put it back together, connected the hose and turned it on again. I could hear the suction pulling strongly and could hear it coming from the vicinity of the pad. But no suction at the pad.

I’m guessing there’s supposed to be some sort of boot surrounding the pad?

It’s sucking. Very well. But only as a halo around the pad!

It still sands like a beast though.