Sander for small hands

[Silverado2312]

A Question for the Women out there.

This is my first post .  However, I have been lurking for a few weeks now.  The search engine is great on this forum!!
Just for fun - -I won a bet with my DH and get to purchase anything I want!!  I chose Festool. Thus, the beginning of our life with Festool, he is a lucky man!!. : )

The first two items (packages) will be the Kapex with the MFT/3 (we are in need a good miter saw for trimming out a remodel project house in the mountains) and a sander with the CT 22 E (these two items seem to be the backbone of our projects ? projects in our near future are a table, rust on a ?65 Mustang and refinishing odds and ends)

I have a couple of questions:

1.  After reading the posts on sanders I have decided to start with a Rotex or an ETS.  Which one do you recommend for smaller hands the 125 or 150?  I am leaning towards the 150 because of the side handle and the ETS model the 150 seems to have a smaller area to hold on to.  What is your opinion and experience? Is weight an issue?  I will only get one for now.
2. Where can I find out about training and classes? I?ve seen some posts but cannot seem to get to a schedule.

Thanks for your feedback!!

Becky

 

[rnt80]

Becky,

Welcome to FOG.  You'll find a lot of helpful people and plenty of good insight and information.  I've had both sanders and I ended up selling the Rotex.  While the Rotex is more versatile I found myself constantly going to the ETS.  It's an absolute pleasure to use and will cause no issues for those with small hands.  The Rotex is a great sander but I found it to be heavier and not as well balanced as the ETS.  I'm sure you'll get a lot of varying opinions on this subject.

 

[Bob Marino]

  Becky,

Good question, and much depends on future  projects; but for the ones you listed, the Rotex would be my first choice and since your hands are small, perhaps the 125 is the better way to go. I say perhaps, because, as you note, the 150 has a side handle that somewhat mitigates the larger size. But if you do go with the RO 125, consider the ETS 125 as you can use the same size abrasives. I know this is not much of a direct answer, just a thought  to consider.

  Bob

 

[tDot]

I personally find the balance on the 150 size sanders to be better then the 125, so I dont need to hold on to them as tightly.  That may also make it suit smaller hands a little better, as you dont need to grip the sander as tightly.

 

[peter halle]

Becky,
[welcome] [welcome] [welcome].

My wife enjoys using the Rotex 150 but her hands are larger than most.  She does use the side handle.  Sorry, I can't give you any other advice than that, but I'll bet others will chime in.  Before posting, I checked out the distance from you to Tom Bellemare, because he loves to do demos and being able to try them on for size might be helpful.  My guess is that 3 hours is still a distance even in Texas.

Regarding classes, Festool is still working on the format of classes and establishing curriculum and schedules.  In the meantime, sign up for the Festool newsletter Sysnotes at the FestoolUSA.com website and they will post in that about demo days in the various areas.  That may help.  

Of course, please ask questions here.  We love to try to help.  

Welcome again, and that must have been some bet.  No real losers when it comes to Festool.

Peter

 

[Brice Burrell]

Hello Becky, welcome to the FOG! I could give you my opinion but being a man, it may be of limited value to you. Laurie, one of the few women on this forum, went through this decision not too long ago. While her needs are a little different from yours she can give the woman's perspective. I'll let her know about this thread so she can chime in.  

 

[AlexThePalex]

Hi Becky, welcome. As for which sander is most suited for small hands, I'd say the ETS125. Not the best option though, because it won't do much work for you since it's the weakest random orbit sander in the entire Festool line up.

About the Rotex, well, I'd recommend this thing to anybody because of what it can do, and I think the size of the hands isn't really that important but what is important is how much strength you got in them. The RO150 requires quite some force to guide it in the right direction, I mean, I'm a strong guy and even I need to put quite some force into it to get it to do what I want sometimes, especially when I'm working vertically in course mode. Horizontally it's mostly not a problem. So for a woman, maybe the RO125 might be a better option, but even that machine's power shouldn't be underestimated.

So maybe the ETS150 might be the best choice. It has a pretty small body, smaller than most other sanders from other brands in the same class. People here speak the world about how controllable it is. I just wished there was an ETS150 with a 125mm pad. I think that such a model would be very suitable for women too. But don't go for the ETS125, that one would disappoint you I think.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Becky, I think you've gotten (and will continue to get) a lot of good feedback from the members here.  Welcome to the forum.  We hope to hear more from you.

I would recommend visiting one of the dealers in your area and actually take the various sanders for a test drive or at least see how they fit in your hand.

If you purchase a Festool product and decide it doesn't suit you, you can always return or exchange it within 30 days.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I have smaller hands with slight sausage fingers and I find that all the sanders are equally comfortable to use.
The ergonomics are very well thought out and a part of the design/engineering process.

The only issue I have is the rotex can get a bit heavy when used verticle for long periods, over 1 hour at a time.
Just take a break when you feel fatigued, it might save you some scew ups from working tired.

 

[tbellemare]

Hi Becky:

My petite Honey uses the Rotex 150 without any problem on horizontal surfaces. It's just a question of knowing how to hold it and let the sander do its thing. She got pretty good at using it and the LS 130 in just a few minutes and she had never held a sander before.

I spoke to a lady this afternoon that wants to come over tomorrow and demo some tools with a couple of other women. I will get their impressions to add to the mix as well.

I have a really good friend of 30 years that lives in Keller. I just might go see them in the next couple of weeks. If you want, maybe we can get together and I'll bring something to test drive. If you don't meet with satisfaction otherwise, just let me know...

Tom

 

[Frank Pellow]

Hi Becky, and welcome to the FOG.

I have small hands for a man (my fingers are shorter than my wife's fingers) and this has never seemed to cause me any problems in over 5 years of use of my Rotex 150.

 

[Dan Clark]

Becky,

I have the Rotex 150.  Great sander.   Other folks have posted great advice.   To reiterate two points:

- Try to pic a single size round sander - 125 or 150.  Over time, a big expense will be paper.  It's a lot less expensive to get one size of paper.

- While I think the Rotex 150 is a great sander and that it fairly comfortable to use, everyone's hands are different.   Given that you'll probably buy some paper when you buy the sander, it's a VERY smart idea to try the sander before buying.   If that's not possible, order only a small quantity of sandpaper and try the sander for a couple of weeks.  Then, if you don't like it, return it for another sander within the 30 day return window.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Silverado2312]

Hi Becky:

My petite Honey uses the Rotex 150 without any problem on horizontal surfaces. It's just a question of knowing how to hold it and let the sander do its thing. She got pretty good at using it and the LS 130 in just a few minutes and she had never held a sander before.

I spoke to a lady this afternoon that wants to come over tomorrow and demo some tools with a couple of other women. I will get their impressions to add to the mix as well.

I have a really good friend of 30 years that lives in Keller. I just might go see them in the next couple of weeks. If you want, maybe we can get together and I'll bring something to test drive. If you don't meet with satisfaction otherwise, just let me know...

Tom

Hi Tom,
Thank you so much for the offer to test drive - -I will pass for now - -may reach out to you in the future  since you are close.  I have tested a couple of sanders for a few minutes in Fort Worth - - I think I am to the point I need to commit - -but was hoping for a little more information/confirmation of thoughts.  I think everyone has provided me with what I was looking for. 

Thanks to everyone for the quick responses!!!

More feedback is awesome too!!

 

[hasslefactor]

Hi Becky, and welcome - nice to see another woman here!

Choosing one sander from Festool's great lineup is tough. It's important to think about the specific applications you have in mind, and to match those to the capabilities of the sanders - the Festool product catalog is quite helpful in narrowing the options, as are some of the end user articles. I personally found Jerry Work's write-up comparing ALL the Festool sanders to be very useful, and there's also a nice comparison of the RO125 and RO150 by Matthew Schenker. Once you've made your final short list, however, there's really nothing better than spending some time in person with the tools (ideally, a demo with a knowledgeable dealer) for making a final decision that's best for YOU.

There will always be some trade-offs. The dual mode Rotex sanders are amazing workhorses that offer enormous versatility, but very fine finish sanding is going to be easier and less accident prone with one of the ETS sanders than with a Rotex (it can be a challenge to keep the Rotex flat, and to avoid leaving swirl marks). An ETS may be easier to hold if one has small hands, but it can't be expected to remove material with the same efficiency as a Rotex.

I have two Festool sanders - a Rotex 150 and a DTS (I have a CT mini for dust extraction - it's great). I bought my RO150 last spring to restore the fiberglass hull on our 28' sailboat, with the idea that I could also use it for some refinishing projects. I was a complete novice (prior to buying the Rotex, the only power tool I'd ever used was a cordless Dremel), and I had a hard time deciding between the RO125 and the RO150. I was equally comfortable holding either sander, so in my case the most important considerations were weight and aggressiveness. Since the hull work was going to be a HUGE job and the work was all vertical (much of it overhead), the lighter weight of the RO125 was very appealing. On the other hand, the greater size, power and stroke of the RO150 meant that the job would go faster - provided I had the strength and stamina to hold a loud, vibrating, 5 pound machine (with a mind of its own) in a vertical position over my head for four straight days.....

In the end, I finally chose the RO150 over the RO125 after JayKnoll suggested that I suspend the Rotex from a snatch block attached the boat's lifeline. The details of that suggestion, along with all the other excellent advice I received on that project - including pros and cons of each of the Rotexes - can be found in various threads at talkFestool (I post as "hasslefactor" there, too). Being able to control the sander without having to carry its weight was a lifesaver. From the wet sanding, to compounding (twice), polishing, glazing and waxing, the RO150 did an AWESOME job and was a joy to use in every respect - I easily performed at least 95% of the work by myself while the Skipper was busy with other stuff that needed doing. If you're interested, you can get the basic idea (or at least a good laugh) from this video.

HOWEVER, if I had NOT been able to suspend the sander, the work would have been miserable. I would not want to hold the RO150 in an unsupported vertical position for more than a few minutes. The RO125 would be a better choice in that case, although it too would be very fatiguing to hold vertically for long periods. If you have a lot of vertical surfaces to sand, and you don't need the power and aggressiveness of "Rotex" mode, the ETS may be your best option.

I bought the DTS because I wanted a finish sander to complement the capabilities of my RO150. The RO150 did a beautiful job stripping the old finish from the top of the desk I'm refinishing - I really went out on a limb there, since the surface was veneered, but I was careful and managed not to destroy it. The DTS, on the other hand, is great for general finish sanding, and perfect for getting into corners and tight places - there seem to be so many of those in refinishing projects... not to mention in the living spaces on boats. [big grin] In my experience, the RO150 and the DTS are both terrific tools - most importantly, both were the right tools FOR ME given what I needed to do. (Full disclosure: Frankly, I'm convinced that the little DX sander is also something I desperately "need" - but for now I'm trying not to think about that).

Good luck with your decision - and with your ambitious projects. Sounds like you're going to have lots of fun with all your new Festools!

P.S. Regarding that vintage Mustang... you may be interested in knowing that DanClark (who replied above) is not only an avid woodworker, but also an auto enthusiast who uses his RO150 to polish his cars.

 

[Silverado2312]

Laurie,

OMG!!  I want to burn calories that fast!!    Love the video.  I can see the best idea was hanging it from the top of the boat. Great ideas.

Thanks for all the food for thought, everyone has given me so much to think about  - - I have a feeling I to will need more then one sander- -so I am not going to put to much more thought into this  - knowing that someday I can grow the collection. DH will be glad to hear that  [big grin].

 

[jvsteenb]

Hi Becky,

I think you've got some great advice, but I'll just chime in anyhow.
In my opinion the RO150 is the easier one to control on horizontal surfaces - it's less prone to tipping due to the larger disc surface.
I have the side handle, but I don't really use it that much. Instead if I want an extra handle, I use the additional front handle:
Front handle
Tames the beast quite effectively. I don't know if it's available in NA, but I guess it should be - picture is linked from the dutch Festool site.
In a vertical plane, things might be quite different - and being 6'4" with rather largish hands, I may not be your best advisor there [embarassed].
A DTS or RTS400 to accompany your Rotex ( or ETS ) will not disappoint you.

Regards,

Job

 

[Silverado2312]

Hi Becky,

I use the additional front handle:
Front handle
Tames the beast quite effectively.

Hi Job,
I had seen a photo of that handle on a sander but was not sure what it was on in the photo.  thanks a bunch - -I do think that would be a good way to help use the sander!!

Becky

 

[tbellemare]

The front handle is typically considered a polishing accessory.

I find the side handle is quite useful on vertical surfaces but useless otherwise.

In RO mode on a horizontal surface, hold the sander back by the hose connection, lightly. I usually put my forefinger through the loop made by the dust collection attachment for steering. The idea is to just take the weight of the hose and cord off so the pad stays flat to the surface. When it's balanced, it will float over the work piece with the greatest of ease and give you a stellar finish. You don't have to adjust the airflow from the CT 22 or 33 either because the pad is big enough to handle full flow.

Tom

 

[hasslefactor]

The front handle is typically considered a polishing accessory.

I find the side handle is quite useful on vertical surfaces but useless otherwise.

In RO mode on a horizontal surface, hold the sander back by the hose connection lightly. I usually put my forefinger through the loop made by the dust collection attachment for steering. The idea is to just take the weight of the hose and cord off so the pad stays flat to the surface. When it's balanced, it will float over the work piece with the greatest of ease and give you a stellar finish. You don't have to adjust the airflow from the CT 22 or 33 either because the pad is big enough to handle full flow.

Tom

I second all of that - it's exactly how I use mine. 

 

[akimo]

I'm a 5'3" guy, and I find both of the Rotex's are too large to be comfortable in my hands. I use the ETS and RS2 with perfect satisfaction.