sander on sheetrock

[theplanesaw]

Every month or so I spend a weekend working on my daughter's 50's era house.  Pulling old nailpops, putting in sheetrock screws, and spackling.  I have only a Festool ETS 150 sander.  Will it work (without damaging the sander -- or vacuum) to sand the spackle?

Is there any information I should know about using the Festool for this sort of purpose?  Any question I don't know to ask, that I should?

Thanks,
Alan - planesaw

P.S.  You probably answer questions like this repeatedly.  I am new to FOG, so if this has been answered specifically elsewhere, please let me know.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Alan, first let me welcome you to the FOG! [welcome]  There are a lot of guys using Festool sanders for drywall work.  Festool doesn't necessarily recommend it, however... Your occasional drywall work isn't going to do any damage to your sander or vac (if you have a Festool vac).  In fact, there is a guy that does a lot drywall sanding professionally with Festool sanders and the new CT26.  Festool gave him the vac to "test out" with drywall sanding and it has worked very well so far (although I suspect they already knew how it would perform).  You can read about it here.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Alan, welcome to the forum.

There's no reason you can't use your Festool ETS 150 and Festool CT to sand drywall compound or spackle. In fact, I did this very thing with my LS 130, Rotex 150 and CT 22 over the weekend. The filter bag in your CT is rated to capture particles down to 1 micron. So, it will capture nearly all, if not all, of the dust before it even makes it to your primary filter.

If you're doing a lot of it, just make sure you don't completely pack your filter bag full. That could make a mess.

If you ever have questions, we also have application specialists that you can call and speak to M-F, 8a-5p EST at 888-337-8600.

Shane Holland
Festool USA

 

[peter halle]

I have sanded drywall with my ETS 150 also.  Quite a bit.  Are you using it with a dust collector / vacuum?  If you are, don't turn the suction up too high - start mid way.  I found that starting your sander after it is touching the material prevent gouges.  Also, if you are using a vac, sanding in a clockwise motion picks up more dust than if you go the other way or random or a straight line, although a straight line left to right is better than right to left.

Good luck!

Peter

 

[theplanesaw]

Thanks everyone.  Yes, using a Festool vac.  CT 33.
If I didn't have the ETS 150, which sander would you recommend?

Regarding the Dust Deputy.  I like the concept, but not the price.  Seems as if you use the name festool in the description you can double the price -- my editorial comment.  Started to buy one recently -- until I looked it over.  Because of one connection, the inside diameter of the hose gets reduced.  Instead of using an outside coupling, then use an inside which reduces the diameter considerably.  Any thoughts on why they did that?  Lack of planning?  Lack of foresight?  Or is there more to the story.

Alan - planesaw

 

[tbellemare]

Alan:

I have and will continue to recommend the RTS 400 or DTS 400 for sheetrock sanding until the Planex comes out (or something else I don't know about). They are orbital so they don't fling the results like RO's might and they are light, which makes them easy to use on walls and ceilings.

Tom

 

[SteveC]

Just purchased an RTS400 (CT26 had come with the Kapex) for similar purpose in my own home. Prior to skim coating, needed to sand down textured paint (Rubin 50). Sanding right next to smoke alarm, it didn't go off. I would say the sander and vac do a good job of dust collection. Almost full tilt vac when doing ceiling and about 40 - 50 % throttle on walls. Some very minor dust today sanding (Brilliant 220) skim coat when no full pad surface contact.
All this thanks to replies to inquiries on FOG. [thumbs up]