Sander pairings - what to add to the rotation

[rsh]

So i'm torn as to what to pair the 150/3 with and was wondering what combos you all have had success with.
I have the 150/3 and it is great, but if i wanted a quicker result / starter is the 150/5 noticeably more aggressive or is the the Rotex 150 an inevitable addition?

Furniture maker - mostly large flat surfaces - new to this system

thanks in advance

 

[peter halle]

I went the opposite direction.  I started with the Rotex 150 with its 5mm orbit.  With its two modes you can get aggressive in Rotex mode or go random orbit.  Then I got the ETS 150/3 for its finer orbit - 3mm.

Peter

 

[tiralie]

So i'm torn as to what to pair the 150/3 with and was wondering what combos you all have had success with.
I have the 150/3 and it is great, but if i wanted a quicker result / starter is the 150/5 noticeably more aggressive or is the the Rotex 150 an inevitable addition?

Furniture maker - mostly large flat surfaces - new to this system

thanks in advance

I have the Rotex paired with the 150. Works wonders on solid wood, and most importantly, reduces the time spent sanding. That's good cause I hate sanding.
Tim

 

[GarryMartin]

Definitely the Rotex RO 150.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

A Rotex 150 is good or you could go with a DTS400 or Rotex 90 to give you the delta pad and the ability to sand into corners.  I like the RS2E for bigger pieces that need to be flat as well.

Scot

 

[Oldwood]

Another vote for the RO 150 it is a great sander & the fact it uses the same paper is just a bonus.

Gerry

 

[Kev]

The EST150/5 is noticeably more aggressive than the ETS150/3 and it less of a handful to use compared to the ROTEX 150. It really depends on your application. More aggressive still are the rotary sanders (RAS115 and RAS180 - but NAINA for the 180 I think) .

RO90 + RO150 + EST150/3 does seem to be one of the most common combination spoken about. If I could only keep 3 sanders, those would probably be the ones ... But if I could only keep one sander, it'd be the EST150/5 ironically.

 

[Jmaichel]

Personally I think you could do very well with an ETS 150 (either the 3/5) and the DTS-400, I know I do. I recently added the DTS-400 and I absolutely love it! Both of the sanders meet all of my sanding needs. I primarily build furniture and do not really see the need for a more aggressive sander at this point. I think the DTS-400 gets glossed over and everyone seems to go straight for the RO90.

 

[sancho57]

I use the FEQ 150 and the RO90. How ever my ideal combo would be to add a RS 100 into the rotation.

 

[Stephen B]

Rotex 150 with your ETS 150/3, then as a furniture maker consider sheet sander and possibly ETS 125.  [smile]

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

These are all great suggestions. You can't go wrong with any of them! I mostly make furniture and small things...right now, a four foot table, a window planter, two computer stands, and on deck... dresser and a medicine cabinet. I like tools that are light to hold (also, because I have a nasty case of carpal tunnel) ...I find the the ETS/125, the Rotex 90, and a spindle sander covers most of my needs.  (If Festool develops a spindle attachment for the RO 90, then I could even lose the spindle sander.) Hope this helps.

 

[BUTTER]

If you want those large flat surfaces to stay flat, go RS2.  [big grin]
I just added one and love it! 
In addition, you can have a less skilled person sanding with it and suffer less risk of dips or arcs from a ROS.

I also have the 150/3 and DTS400, both of which are fabulous, but I almost never lug out the RO150 as it's no fun to handle (and neither is the 150/5, IMO)