Rotex RO 90 Dust Collection

[abgoto]

The dust collection for my RO90 was great and now it is virtually non existent. I am using it in random orbit mode. To test, I hooked an ETS125 up to my CT26 and it picked up all of the dust that the RO90 left behind. Next, I turned on the RO90 with the hose detached, and noticed that there is very little airflow coming from the rear port of the sander.  I then detached the orbital head, and cleaned out the sawdust.  After reattaching the orbital head, I hooked up the power cord and hose, but I'm still having the same problem.

Is there a method for cleaning the inside of the tool in hopes of improving the dust collection performance?  Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[mwildt]

Could the pad holes be clogged ? Or the paper not being aligned with the holes ?

 

[Peter_C]

Remove the pad, then compressed air should do the trick.

 

[abgoto]

Could the pad holes be clogged ? Or the paper not being aligned with the holes ?

Thank you!  The paper was aligned, but the pad holes were clogged.  I removed the orbital pad from the tool, then the metal ring from the pad.  I poked a torx wrench through the holes to remove the sawdust, the reassembled everything. Works like new.

 

[ear3]

Glad it worked out -- but I would like to keep this thread alive and get a response from [member=57769]TylerC[/member] about a related DC issue on the RO90.

As has been pointed out on the FOG a number of times, dust collects fairly quickly inside the metal housing of the RO90 head, requiring that you remove the pad and dislodge the dust with some frequency.  When I was at the Festool Roadshow a couple of months ago, I brought up this issue with the guy who was demo-ing the sanders.

His response was that Festool has -- or is soon to -- adopt a fix for this issue, where the inside of the metal housing near the dust port will be perforated rather than solid, so that the dust does not collect as easily there.  When I asked if it was possible to retrofit my RO90, his response was yes, and if it were still under warranty (mine is only 2 years old), the retrofit would be covered.  So I'm wondering if you could confirm whether what this Festool employee said was true, both the fix and the retrofit part.

 

[TylerC]

[member=37411]Edward A Reno III[/member] - I don't have an answer to that one myself, but I'll see what I can track down. Depending on who is answering their emails over the weekend, I might not have an answer until Monday or so.

 

[Stephen B]

[size=13pt]The issue of dust 'crud' collecting inside the metal head housing is not unique to the RO90. My RO150 also needs to be checked, particularly after sanding treated pine and Eucalyptus Hardwoods such as Mountain Ash. I particularly pay attention when changing pads.

[size=12pt][member=57769]TylerC[/member]

_______

Just went down to the Untidy Shop and see if I could photograph any 'evidence'. Would you know it; 'clean as a whistle' ! [big grin]

 

[ear3]

Thanks Tyler.

Interesting -- this is the first time I've heard of a similar problem on the RO150 -- I've never had that issue with mine..  Is the build up on yours as substantial as on the RO90?

[size=13pt]The issue of dust 'crud' collecting inside the metal head housing is not unique to the RO90. My RO150 also needs to be checked, particularly after sanding treated pine and Eucalyptus Hardwoods such as Mountain Ash. I particularly pay attention when changing pads.

[size=12pt][member=57769]TylerC[/member]

_______

Just went down to the Untidy Shop and see if I could photograph any 'evidence'. Would you know it; 'clean as a whistle' ! [big grin]

 

[Stephen B]

[member=37411]Edward A Reno III[/member]
Probably not, as extractor flow has not noticeably been affected. However at times I have had to gently scrape crud away with a plastic knife. At other times it is just dust which is removed with a brush and shop vac. I carry a thin paint brush in the Systainer. This is not related to DE settings, as these settings vary depending on the task.

I do not find this to be a significant issue. It is just something I monitor.

Thanks,

Stephen

 

[Mort]

I'll be following this. I thought the last time I used mine it wasn't as good as I'd remembered. It used to pick up dust that was left on the table from other sanders. I thought it was my imagination.

 

[TylerC]

I want to quickly update this. Our big annual meeting was this week, so the folks who can best answer this we're unavailable. I'm still working on getting a thorough answer.