Rotex use

[JuniorJBL]

Hi everyone.

I am sure this has been asked before but I am not having much luck. need to learn common search words.

What is the best way to use a Rotex sander. I have a 125 and a 90. I am finding it very difficult to get the sander to stay flat on the surface and to go the direction I want.
With that said I have tried different pressures on all sides to "move" the sander in the directions I want it to go but I can not get the unit to do what I think I want.
I get allot of chatter as well and have slowed down the vac and that has helped some. Higher speed seems to give a bit better results but still these sanders are very hard to control for me.

I am sanding bare wood (Cedar) using 100,120,180,220 granit on the RO90  and Rubin/Brilliant on my RO125.

Maybe someone can tell me how to use a real tool versus the others I have been using.

 

[JuniorJBL]

Thanks for that Chris!

This is what I am finding also. Maybe it is better to get an ETS150/5 for heavy removal of bare wood?

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Check out this blog post...

http://blog.festoolusa.com/post/2011/02/18/Why-Technique-Matters.aspx

 

[JuniorJBL]

Thank you Mr. Holland! [big grin]

I did not know about blog.ft

Very helpful!

 

[Brice Burrell]

Thanks for that Chris!

This is what I am finding also. Maybe it is better to get an ETS150/5 for heavy removal of bare wood?

I think you'd need to carefully define heavy removal.  The ETS 150 sanders are a real pleasure to to use but for aggressive stock removal I'd reach for a Rotex.  However, with the 100,120,180 and 220 grits you described using the ETS 150/5 would be perfect.

 

[adubeau]

Thats what planers are for....

 

[JuniorJBL]

I think you'd need to carefully define heavy removal.  The ETS 150 sanders are a real pleasure to to use but for aggressive stock removal I'd reach for a Rotex.  However, with the 100,120,180 and 220 grits you described using the ETS 150/5 would be perfect.

Heavy for a random Orbit style sander say 60/80/100 grit. It seams, as hard as the Rotex pulls on that setting that you would have a heck of a time to keep the sander flat so as not to cause more grief with uneven surfaces from sander hop.

As per the blog I was pointed to it seems as tho I am holding the sander wrong. I did find out that you cant really put much down presure on the sander, as it will just chew groves from wobble or start hopping or try to transfer the sander action to my hands.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Another member recently described using the Rotex as being similar to that of an industrial floor polisher.  The first time you use one it takes you for a ride and the more you fight it the worse it gets.  At some point you learn the subtly of handling it and it becomes almost effortless to control.  Stick with it and you'll figure it out.   

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I use my RO with 150 grit for all my stain and paint prep sanding.

I just give it one pass in Rotex mode with 150g and my planed lumber is ready to finish.

 

[JuniorJBL]

Thanks for the replies!

Gave it a go again last night and did find that just keeping my hand on the hose/cord and the other on top of the sander that has worked well.

It really does take a LOT less holding power that I was useing.
Thanks again for the replies.

 

[jmbfestool]

I have found using the rotex on a wall and above your head is a little more tricky to keep it from bouncing around    but  sanding a piece of wood on a bench you will soon pick it up you just gotta go with it!  I often have to show other trades men when they just try out my Rotex 150 and it bounces around and they then say to me its crap.  lol I just laugh and tell them they you need to learn how to use it and then I show them.

    I have found you remove more material and it stays al ot more steady by just moving slowly across the wood. As many of the trades men who first turn my Rotex on they just fly left to right quickly which is just point less and more likely to bounce around

JMB

 

[JuniorJBL]

Thanks everyone for your coments. It is for sure user error!! [sad]

I will keep on learning. [smile]

 

[Sam Murdoch]

Don't despair JuniorJBL, I have recently written on another post that the RO125 has required the steepest learning curve of any sander I have ever used. Having said that I think it is a great tool.  My tips: low vac suction (medium anyway), easy hold on the tail and on the top , let it float through the work. The aggressive mode seems to be the easiest to hold on to which is counterintuitive, but it also leaves the most tracks. Anything past 120 grit Rubin (especially for soft woods )and I switch over to Brilliant. The RO is not the perfect finish sander but with practice it can do a good job. I used it yesterday to sand a very weathered porch floor and it was the dream tool. Good luck.