I recently purchased the RS 2E from Uncle Bob and while I love the sander I was more than a little dissapointed to see that it does not have the Plug It setup. Does anyone know if they will be coming out with an adapter for this? I love the Universal plug it system as it makes carrying the tools so much easier and neater plus I can just keep one cord on my boom arm and be automatically hooked into my CT 22. Fred
RS 2 E
- Thread starter Fred West
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Brice Burrell
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Fred, I wouldn't count on that happening anytime soon.
GaryLaroff
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Has anyone heard updates on when an RS 2 E with Plug-it power cord might be introduced? I've read Brice's comment from last January but was also told that one was available in Europe. The Festool German website doesn't have one, so I assume it has not been introduced. I just bought the ETS 125 and LS 130 EQ and expect to get the RO 125 FEQ and the CT 22, but would like the RS 2 to also fit the System and not require swapping out power plugs on the dust extractor.
Gary
Gary
Forrest Anderson
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GaryLaroff said:
The RS2/RS2E is no longer available from Festool in the UK, and instead there are several half-sheet or near-half-sheet sanders to choose from, with varying power output, orbits, and pads.
I covered the RS2 and its European replacements in my post of 29 Mar, and if you check it out, you'll see photos of them all, plus specifications. The replacement sanders (RS100, RS100C, RS200 and RS300) all have the Plug-it system.
I don't know when or if the RS2 will be replaced in the USA, however in another thread from July 2007, Christian Oltzscher of Festool USA replied to a similar question to yours, and said:
The successor of the RS2E, the RS200E has a plug-it cord.
Why don't we sell the RS200 in the US? Half-sheet sanders are in general not very popular in the US. Festool sells a big number of half-sheet sanders in Europe. The number of half-sheet sanders we are selling here is small. The random-orbital sanders are a lot more popular here.
Introducing the RS200 would mean to design a 110 volt version of it (currently just available in 220 volt) and then apply for UL. This process is quite costly and current sales of the RS2 don't justify that expense.
The head of Festool's product management department will be in Las Vegas next week. I will check
with him what it takes to get the RS200 (with plug-it) in 110 volt for the US market.
Forrest
GaryLaroff
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Forrest,
Thank you for the information. I am relatively new to the FOG and try to research my questions before posting anything but can't find everything that is there. Your information was quite valuable.
If anyone from Festool reads this post or can get information to Festool, the following should be valuable regarding half-sheet sanders.
The dominant half-sheet sander in the U.S. for over 35 years has been the Porter-Cable 505. Without attempting to compare it to any product from Festool, it is considered fairly smooth to operate despite creating quite the cloud of dust. A dust shroud/ sanding frame was available for years but was basically useless. The sanders are very popular and most furniture shops have one or more.
The PC-505 has been discontinued due to it not being able to meet the latest US safety standards. Basically, too much of it is metal and the current variants have two-prong electrical plugs. As far as I know, there is no announced replacement for the PC-505. Perhaps Festool might see an opportunity here.
Once again, thank you for the quick reply and pointers to the earlier posts.
Gary
Thank you for the information. I am relatively new to the FOG and try to research my questions before posting anything but can't find everything that is there. Your information was quite valuable.
If anyone from Festool reads this post or can get information to Festool, the following should be valuable regarding half-sheet sanders.
The dominant half-sheet sander in the U.S. for over 35 years has been the Porter-Cable 505. Without attempting to compare it to any product from Festool, it is considered fairly smooth to operate despite creating quite the cloud of dust. A dust shroud/ sanding frame was available for years but was basically useless. The sanders are very popular and most furniture shops have one or more.
The PC-505 has been discontinued due to it not being able to meet the latest US safety standards. Basically, too much of it is metal and the current variants have two-prong electrical plugs. As far as I know, there is no announced replacement for the PC-505. Perhaps Festool might see an opportunity here.
Once again, thank you for the quick reply and pointers to the earlier posts.
Gary
Gary -
The fact that Porter Cable has discontinued this sander without a replacement may be a sign that half sheet sanders are past their hey day. If Porter Cable has apparently abandoned this market segment in the U.S., why would Festool or any other tool manufacturer be interested?
Unfortunately the answer may be right in the palm of your hand.
Neill
The fact that Porter Cable has discontinued this sander without a replacement may be a sign that half sheet sanders are past their hey day. If Porter Cable has apparently abandoned this market segment in the U.S., why would Festool or any other tool manufacturer be interested?
Unfortunately the answer may be right in the palm of your hand.
Neill
nickao
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Festool is very interested in 1/2 sheet sanders they have I think 6 different models abroad. The 1/2 Sheet sander is better than a palm sander in many circumstances, especially for large tables.
I loved that Porter Cable sheet sander, but after 35 years I think that model had a nice run. Maybe they will, maybe they won't come out with a new dustless version, but I do not think the cabinet makers can do without their sheet sanders just yet. I love mine and use it over the Rotex to flatten large areas. Craftsman and Milwaukee make some nice 1/2 sheet sanders too.
Nickao
I loved that Porter Cable sheet sander, but after 35 years I think that model had a nice run. Maybe they will, maybe they won't come out with a new dustless version, but I do not think the cabinet makers can do without their sheet sanders just yet. I love mine and use it over the Rotex to flatten large areas. Craftsman and Milwaukee make some nice 1/2 sheet sanders too.
Nickao
Nick -
My point is that some products may be selling well elsewhere but not in the US. We do have different requirements in many aspects of our lives from the rest of the world and also our safety, electrical, emissions and hazmet requirements in many cases are stricter. It is not worth while to many manufacturers to build one model for the US that might not sell very well and a different model for the rest of the world.
There are many brands and models of vehicles that are sold in the rest of the world that are not available here. This is because based on the number of vehicles they could sell here it is not worth setting up a separate production line to meet our safety and emission standards.
Neill
My point is that some products may be selling well elsewhere but not in the US. We do have different requirements in many aspects of our lives from the rest of the world and also our safety, electrical, emissions and hazmet requirements in many cases are stricter. It is not worth while to many manufacturers to build one model for the US that might not sell very well and a different model for the rest of the world.
There are many brands and models of vehicles that are sold in the rest of the world that are not available here. This is because based on the number of vehicles they could sell here it is not worth setting up a separate production line to meet our safety and emission standards.
Neill
nickao
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I think in commercial cabinetmaking is where the 1/2 sheet are used extensively and a lot of them. Random orbital are more popular only because they take less skill for the hobbyist and part time woodworker to use.
I personally would never run a cabinet shop without the flat sanders, 1/2 sheet, 1/3 sheet and 1/4 sheet.
I think if more people tried the 1/2 sheet sanders they would stick with them. Plus its all trends I do see the 1/2 sheet sander coming back. I love the Rs2 e and just pig tailed it myself, although my go to sander is the Rotex for all smaller jobs.
I personally would never run a cabinet shop without the flat sanders, 1/2 sheet, 1/3 sheet and 1/4 sheet.
I think if more people tried the 1/2 sheet sanders they would stick with them. Plus its all trends I do see the 1/2 sheet sander coming back. I love the Rs2 e and just pig tailed it myself, although my go to sander is the Rotex for all smaller jobs.
Nick -
I do agree about liking small sanders from the control point of view. I tend to disagree with you however that the Rotex is for small jobs, especially when they are being used to sand wood floors. I'm not sure that is what they were intended for, but they are bing used that way.
I guess "size" is a matter of opinion. (Don't read anything into that)
Neill
I do agree about liking small sanders from the control point of view. I tend to disagree with you however that the Rotex is for small jobs, especially when they are being used to sand wood floors. I'm not sure that is what they were intended for, but they are bing used that way.
I guess "size" is a matter of opinion. (Don't read anything into that)
Neill
nickao
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A small inlay for me is up to maybe 48 " round. Anything bigger like a 60" or 48" x 96" is much better using the RS2.
The main problem with the Rotex is that if you are sanding and there is a soft wood right next to a hardwood it tends to scoop the softer wood. I went to the hardest pad which makes a huge difference on the Rotex, but on a sheet sander it is not an issue because the pad stretches over most of the soft wood much farther, preventing a slight scoop where the 6" pads round edge hits the softer wood. I have to really keep that Rotex moving when sanding Hard Maple next to pine.
The rotex makes the surface flat up to a point. But as the job gets bigger its easy to keep the surface smooth, but not flat across say 60". That is where I pull out a sheet sander and check with a straight edge. A Rotex can be used for this of course but in my experience this is where the RS2 and other sheet sanders excel.
I sand wood floors all day long, its what I do and the Rotex is the best for fast removal that's for sure. But a floor is smooth and never ever perfectly flat like an inlay or a table top must be when I ship it.
The RS2 will leave the curly q's if you are not careful though, its not a random orbital like a ETS or Rotex.
The main problem with the Rotex is that if you are sanding and there is a soft wood right next to a hardwood it tends to scoop the softer wood. I went to the hardest pad which makes a huge difference on the Rotex, but on a sheet sander it is not an issue because the pad stretches over most of the soft wood much farther, preventing a slight scoop where the 6" pads round edge hits the softer wood. I have to really keep that Rotex moving when sanding Hard Maple next to pine.
The rotex makes the surface flat up to a point. But as the job gets bigger its easy to keep the surface smooth, but not flat across say 60". That is where I pull out a sheet sander and check with a straight edge. A Rotex can be used for this of course but in my experience this is where the RS2 and other sheet sanders excel.
I sand wood floors all day long, its what I do and the Rotex is the best for fast removal that's for sure. But a floor is smooth and never ever perfectly flat like an inlay or a table top must be when I ship it.
The RS2 will leave the curly q's if you are not careful though, its not a random orbital like a ETS or Rotex.
nickao
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Yes, go down two more grits if you can not finish with an ETS 150/3 or similar random orbital. I use the RS2 mostly for flattening and for the last grit or two I use a random orbital.
I just put a pigtail on my RS2, it worked great and 15 minutes at most to put on.
I just put a pigtail on my RS2, it worked great and 15 minutes at most to put on.
GaryLaroff
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Having now figured out what NAINA means and being almost convinced we are not getting an RS 200 EQ with Plug-It any time soon, I will save and buy the RS 2 E. How: 1) Do I go about buying the Plug-It pigtail? and 2) should I assume that I nullify my warranty with such surgery?
Gary
Gary
