Sander Pads breaking up

[JeromeM]

I have just had 2 RO150 backing pads break up.

[attachthumb=#]

[attachthumb=#]

It was a big problem as the local Festool importer keeps almost no stock so would have to order from Germany with a minimum of 30 days lead time.

I was lucky that a Festool importer in a nearby country keeps stock and was able to get a replacement pad to me in a week though at about 3 times the price. They did say that the more recent stock was better and they had had fewer reports of the pads breaking up

The pads on my ETS 150 and DTS 400 look in bad condition now.

My question is how common is this problem. Was I just unlucky?

 

[Brice Burrell]

I'm not sure how common it is but I just had a new pad on my ETS125 do the same thing.  I've been meaning to call Festool because I'm sure they'd send a replacement. 

 

[Nick C]

Very strange. I have subjected my RO150 to some serious abuse--for years--and never seen anything like this. The only thing I can think of that could break down this material is heat, or chemical fumes. I bet Festool will replace them.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Very strange. I have subjected my RO150 to some serious abuse--for years--and never seen anything like this. The only thing I can think of that could break down this material is heat, or chemical fumes. I bet Festool will replace them.

My ETS 125 pad failed with less than a half hour of use, no issues with heat or chemicals.

 

[wetndry]

I have seen  foams deteriorate like that before.  It was from being in humid environment.  The foam would just crumble and turn to powder just from handling it.

Craig

 

[JeromeM]

So it seems as if Thailand with its hot or humid climate eats backing pads.  [crying] [bite tongue] [bite tongue]

 

[waho6o9]

[attachimg=#]

 

[waho6o9]

Steve at Festool will make this right. Thank you for excellent
customer service.

 

[ward]

Wow ! I though my slight edge deformation was a problem or the fact that i feel the medium density pads that the tools ship with are far superior to all others. But you guys are really suffering. I'd guess bad resin in the foam or the extrusion process was funky. Plastics are not my thing even though they are my finishes. Good luck and be grateful for the support you receive, their is more demand than they can handle is my feeling and reps and support our over taxed and have too large territories. Tooltec makes allot of money in the states, it 's time to invest more in support to the local consumer. Remember your more likely to get local support if you but the tools, not only supplies from local distributors. I love mail order for convenience, service and savings, but it's my local dealers who have what i need in a Jam. Truiet and White in Berkley is a meca for Festools. I'm very grateful they are there, good knowledgeable service and great stock. Not to mention knowing when a Fein part or hose will fit and save you a few bucks or do until another part comes in. . . 

 

[johninthecamper]

yesterday I had a vlies 100 -ro 90,fly off the backing twice,first one worked fine, wore down to be not usable,second one flew off in15 seconds,tried a third one, checked it after 20 seconds, I checked it,it was half separated,I was going to go to my local dealer and say wtf,instead ill call Indiana,maybe they will replace it ,as mentioned above

 

[JeromeM]

Steve at Festool will make this right. Thank you for excellent
customer service.

That is Ok for those who live in a country with a decent Festool branch or importer. I don't so I do not have the  guarantee support.

I'm not complaining. I knew that any tools I bought would have no guarantee. Buying from one country, shipping to a 2nd then using in a 3rd. I don't have any hope of guarantee support that is one reason why I bought Festool.

My original posting was to see if it was more than bad luck, old age, the heat, and humidity in Thailand. It seems as though I am not alone but the condition is not very common.

 

[JeromeM]

yesterday I had a vlies 100 -ro 90,fly off the backing twice,first one worked fine, wore down to be not usable,second one flew off in15 seconds,tried a third one, checked it after 20 seconds, I checked it,it was half separated,I was going to go to my local dealer and say ,instead ill call Indiana,maybe they will replace it ,as mentioned above

Your case is different you have a worn out pad.

The hooks have been damaged. Long use will do it but more probably by heat. Not using a vac with the sander can do that, also not changing the sanding pad when it is worn out is a killer too.

But foggetting to put a sanding pad on will kill the backing pad almost instantly.

You may well get it replaced but that kind of damage or wear is almost always down to the user.

 

[johninthecamper]

you misunderstood what happened,the pad itself separated from the velcro,not the velcro coming unhooked.I am holding the vlies media with nothing attached to it,bad bonding

 

[JeromeM]

you misunderstood what happened,the pad itself separated from the velcro,not the velcro coming unhooked.I am holding the vlies media with nothing attached to it,bad bonding

I understand now. Yes indeed you should get a replacement.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Interesting topic.  I've recently had the pad from my 150/5 separate from the backing plate after only 2 hours of usage.  I called Festool customer service and they promptly sent a replacement pad.  Good customer service but I'm still at a loss as to why it separated in the first place.