RTS 400 EQ Problems with Midi CT

[drdabrown]

I have been having trouble using my RTS 400 EQ sander hooked up to my Midi CT. Even with the vac turned all the way down, the sander is difficult to control sanding BIN Shellac based primer on my shelving units that I have just constructed. The sander works fine with the Turbo bag, but when I hook it up to the CT vac with minimum vacuum power, it creates such a suction that it is hard to control. It works fine when the pad is not completely on the surface, like when I'm sanding the edges of the shelves, but when the sander pad is entirely on the surface, it is hard to move/control.
It almost seems like I should have one of those adjustments you find on the vacuum wand handles for floor vacs that enable you to open a vent to reduce the suction.
Am I doing something wrong?
Is there an answer to this issue?
Thanks

 

[Brice Burrell]

This issue has been a source of frustration for me too. [mad]  This really drives me up the wall when sanding drywall compound.  I've tried partially covering the holes on the sanding pad with the sandpaper to reduce some of the suction, and that helps some, still not ideal.

I don't really want any kind of add on vent/gate to reduce the suction, I'd much prefer to be able to reduce the suction on the vac more. 

 

[drdabrown]

Thank you Brice. I feel much better now that I know it isn't just me. I agree, I don't want to have to work with some sort of add on either, but I'd sure like this sander to work as nicely as my ETS 150/3. It works just fine with the CT 33, CT26 and the Midi.
I never thought of trying to cover part of the holes with the sandpaper when attaching it to the pad. I'll try that. Thanks again, Brice.

 

[cblanton42]

I feel for the money we spend on Festool it should be near perfect and this one really chaps my hide.  I have the same problems with the RTS 400 sander more often than not.  The European version comes with a waste gate that allows you reduce suction so you can use it but for some reason it's not included in the US kit.  So spend more money for an aftermarket waste gate on an already expensive tool so it works properly?  I hardly ever reach for it anymore and regret buying it, sometimes the green Kool-Aid isn't very sweet.
CB

 

[Hurricane Whisperer]

I bet the reason festool doesn't include the waste vent valve has something to do with the EPA rules and HEPA. FESTOOL seems to have chosen to make all vacs HEPA even though that is not necessarily a requirement and that decision may be because they wish to avoid legal issues due to use of vacs and sanders in various environments where HEPA may be required.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I bet the reason festool doesn't include the waste vent valve has something to do with the EPA rules and HEPA. FESTOOL seems to have chosen to make all vacs HEPA even though that is not necessarily a requirement and that decision may be because they wish to avoid legal issues due to use of vacs and sanders in various environments where HEPA may be required.

Sorry, but you'd lose that bet. And you speculate too much. Furthermore, the previous poster's claim that the waste vent is included in Europe is not correct. I have never seen it included in any package in the store and the websites of Festool UK, NL and DE don't mention it as included either.

The waste vent also has no influence on the HEPA rating of the vac.

 

[cblanton42]

Alex,
    Festool part #496112 is the piece I'm referring to that is available in Europe but NAINA, I thought it was included in the European kit per some previous posts I followed concerning "RTS 400 squiggles" since that's where I learned others were having similar problems with their sanders. Do a search for that topic and you'll see links posted to the piece, probably around Christmas 2014 since that's when I bought mine. 

CB 

 

[tjbnwi]

I turn the speed up to over come the resistance. Normally ends up around 5.

Tom

 

[AlexThePalex]

Alex,
    Festool part #496112 is the piece I'm referring to that is available in Europe but NAINA, I thought it was included in the European kit per some previous posts I followed concerning "RTS 400 squiggles" since that's where I learned others were having similar problems with their sanders. Do a search for that topic and you'll see links posted to the piece, probably around Christmas 2014 since that's when I bought mine. 

CB

I know the thing exists, I'm just saying it's not included with a sander. You have to buy it separately.

As with many things NIANA, it is beyond my comprehension why Festool doesn't want to sell it in North America.