RTS 400 REQ issues

[sheperd80]

So i just added an RTS to my collection of Festool sanders and loved it at first, until i applied stain and saw that its scratching the heck out of my work.

Ive tried using 150 and 220 grit. Ive tried fresh sandpaper, slow passes, various speeds on the sander, and various levels of suction on the vac. Nothing changes this result.

The workpiece is red oak, and im getting the scratches on ply and hardwoord surfaces. You can see the scratching everywhere but its most prominent where i move across the grain to start a new pass.

Anyone experience this? Do i need to return it? And if so, what kind of defect could cause this result?

I was really psyched to start using this for final sanding on everything, especially shaker panels.

 

[Woodsurgin]

I just purchased a new RTS 400 Req and have exactly the same problems.
I have tried everything.
I have contacted Festool.
If no good answers, I will send it back.
I had the same issues with my old DTS EQ 125.
I had it since 2014.
It was not worth fixing.
I am disappointed as all of my other Festool tools are wonderful.

 

[Alanbach]

What sandpaper are you using? Are you using a protection pad?

 

[JINRO]

I use Festool sandpaper and I too get marks when I'm staining. I found a solution to this by: do as you normally sand wood, but for final pass, don't push on the RTS but rather try to glide it over the surface without any pressure. This has been successful for me leaving no marks when I stain.

 

[Cheese]

Try turning down the suction all of the way on the vac, and let the machine do the work.

 

[peter halle]

Another thing to try if you haven't already is to vacuum the work between grit changes so that any loose abrasive can be pickup up.

Peter

 

[Woodsurgin]

l have read all of the replies and have tried all of them.
Yes, I even bought the protection pad, which helped a little.
Yes, I turned the suction way down to no avail.
I have tried all of the different grits etc.
I can get rid of the tiny circles but not the long lines of scratches.
Festool should put out a video with the various scratch patterns and time them to a specific mistake.
I am giving up on this sander very reluctantly.
It just won't sand without scratches.
I have run out of options.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I don't get that, the RTS is about the only sander I don't have, but once I go around 180 or higher using any of my sanders the swirl marks are pretty much indistinguishable. Even 150 on my RS2E gives really great results.

Strange.

 

[bobtskutter]

I've seen a similar thing with my DTS400.
I believe it's due to the paper folding over on the edges and leaving a very slight raised section.  That raised section puts more pressure on the work piece and leaves the marks.
It's a particular problem at the "pointy end" (it's the delta sanding pad).

Regards
bob

 

[petar73]

I always move the sander along the grain for finish sanding