sander

MTbassbone

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Joined
Oct 24, 2016
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I just purchased an RO 150 from a fellow FOG member,  I am relatively new to Festool.  I have not had a chance to use the RO 150 yet.  However, I have been wondering about smaller spaces and corners.  I am considering either the DTS 400 or the RO 90 (due to its versatility).  I do have a Fein Multimaster with a small delta sanding pad, but I have read that it is not very good.  The dust collection is not as good as Festool.  I am not a professional, just someone that is getting into a hobby and wants to buy the right tools.

Also, anyone know why Festool has discontinued the TS 55 REQ?  I really don't want a battery powered saw.
 
MTbassbone said:
I just purchased an RO 150 from a fellow FOG member,  I am relatively new to Festool.  I have not had a chance to use the RO 150 yet.  However, I have been wondering about smaller spaces and corners.  I am considering either the DTS 400 or the RO 90 (due to its versatility).  I do have a Fein Multimaster with a small delta sanding pad, but I have read that it is not very good.  The dust collection is not as good as Festool.  I am not a professional, just someone that is getting into a hobby and wants to buy the right tools.

Also, anyone know why Festool has discontinued the TS 55 REQ?  I really don't want a battery powered saw.

As far as I know, the saw has not been discontinued. It is also in Imperial now.

Cheers. Bryan.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
MTbassbone said:
...I do have a Fein Multimaster with a small delta sanding pad, but I have read that it is not very good. ...

For the number of corners the Fein may be good enough.
At least you will know where it is lacking if you try it.
 
I own multiple Festool Delta sanders, DX 93, DTS400 and RO90 with Delta head installed, the Fein MM can not match any of them for sanding ability and dust collection. I own a Fein MM as well, so I've had the chance to compare it to other sanders. The oscillating action just doesn't have the material removal rate or even fine sanding pattern of the orbital action of the above sanders.
 
Welcome to the forum!

If you're just going to be finish sanding, go with the DTS 400. It's a great little sander and one of my favorites.

If you need to do heavy-duty sanding, stripping, paint removal, etc. then go for the RO 90. It can do everything the DTS 400 can, plus it can be aggressive with the added bonus of an interchangeable round pad.

The TS 55 REQ is still available. In stock with imperial or metric scales.
 
leakyroof said:
I own multiple Festool Delta sanders, DX 93, DTS400 and RO90 with Delta head installed, the Fein MM can not match any of them for sanding ability and dust collection. I own a Fein MM as well, so I've had the chance to compare it to other sanders. The oscillating action just doesn't have the material removal rate or even fine sanding pattern of the orbital action of the above sanders.

Which of the 3x Festool delta sanders  are the most multi-functional? ie. balance of aggressiveness, finishing, getting into tight spaces, ergonomics all in a single package. - Lets exclude the RO 90's other abilities, only taking its delta pad into consideration.
 
Jmacpherson said:
leakyroof said:
I own multiple Festool Delta sanders, DX 93, DTS400 and RO90 with Delta head installed, the Fein MM can not match any of them for sanding ability and dust collection. I own a Fein MM as well, so I've had the chance to compare it to other sanders. The oscillating action just doesn't have the material removal rate or even fine sanding pattern of the orbital action of the above sanders.

Which of the 3x Festool delta sanders  are the most multi-functional? ie. balance of aggressiveness, finishing, getting into tight spaces, ergonomics all in a single package. - Lets exclude the RO 90's other abilities, only taking its delta pad into consideration.
. Unless you can actually get a DX 93( it's been discontinued in many places), then your current choice from Festool is the RO90 and the DTS400.  They're so different that your needs should make choosing between them easy.
  However, here are some of my thoughts on each sander.
DX-93, It won't be a one handed sander for the most part due mainly to its long body. It's better to lightly keep the pad down and flat to prevent wearing out just the outer tip of abrasive that you're using and heating up the Velcro style pad as well. To do that, you usually use two hands, but it's not a struggle with this light sander.  You can use it one handed, but watch your pad angle in the front while you're using it.
Not that quiet of a sander either for its size and type, has its own high pitched noise when it's running, but it sneaks into many tight spots for me and is smaller than a RO90 for the same tasks of sanding, so I tend to reach for it over the RO often.
  DTS400, larger pad size, easy to keep it flat on a surface and very easy to use one handed. Great finishing sander for wood once you dial in your speed versus vacuum suction levels for the grit abrasive you're using. I use it for paint work or drywall compound too. Downside is the lack of turning or rotating abrasive sheet for wear since the pad shape isn't symmetrical like the RO90 or DX93.
RO90, you have the 3 modes, you could own just this sander and be really happy with that ability since it's in a class of its own doing that. Two handed operation for the most part, I have Delta sanded with one hand since the sander isn't hard to control in either Random Orbit or Delta mode, but the balance of the tool doesn't really lend itself to one handed usage from what I've seen working with it. You also get the ability to rotate that small abrasive sheet for wear while you're sanding. Dust Collection in Delta mode is weaker or less affective for this sander compared to using it in the other two sanding modes. This is due to the Delta head attachment moving the dust pick-up further away once it's installed.  Compared to the earlier DX93, the RO90 won't capture as much but in some cases like outdoor work that won't matter to you.
 
I guess I like the RO 90's versatility, and it has the same stroke as the DTS 400 so for the little amount of corner work I probably could get away with the delta pad vs a dedicated sander.
 
I forgot about my dx93... I got it used, but haven't been doing many corners lately.
It is a nice sander for corners.
 
Welcome to FOG. I have both, the Ro 90 and 150. They are both two handed sanders. The 90 is so versatile. It's an amazing sander. Very easy to go from round to delta to round. Since it's an equilateral pad if the front wears out just turn the paper to a good point. I would suggest you watch some YouTube videos on the proper use of a Ro sander. They can make your sanding more pleasant experience. Whichever sander you choose enjoy. I would also suggest putting your papers in systainers. It's so much easier.
 
MTbassbone said:
However, I have been wondering about smaller spaces and corners.  I am considering either the DTS 400 or the RO 90 (due to its versatility). 

If you're talking about RO 90 versatility, this may help. I took a break from my never-ending bathroom project today to enjoy some late in the season beautiful autumn weather. I decided to remove the nasty yellow haze from my headlight covers and attempted to bring them back to normal. RO 90 +400+500+800+1000+2000+4000+black sponge pad with polish.  [cool]
 

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Cheese said:
MTbassbone said:
However, I have been wondering about smaller spaces and corners.  I am considering either the DTS 400 or the RO 90 (due to its versatility). 

If you're talking about RO 90 versatility, this may help. I took a break from my never-ending bathroom project today to enjoy some late in the season beautiful autumn weather. I decided to remove the nasty yellow haze from my headlight covers and attempted to bring them back to normal. RO 90 +400+500+800+1000+2000+4000+black sponge pad with polish.  [cool]

I thought you could also get there by just using the polish without having to scratch the surface?  After all, it is just an oxide you are removing?
 
Xoncention said:
Cheese said:
I thought you could also get there by just using the polish without having to scratch the surface?  After all, it is just an oxide you are removing?

No, don't I wish. It's an actual yellowing of the polycarbonate, if it's still clear (white in color), maybe you can get by with polish, but when it starts to take on a yellowish hue, you have to use abrasives or it will take forever and still not give you the desired results.
If it's the first time you've polished the cover you may need to start out at 320, hopefully not at 280.

On one cover I started with 320, on the other side I started with 500.
 
Xoncention said:
Cheese said:
I thought you could also get there by just using the polish without having to scratch the surface?  After all, it is just an oxide you are removing?

No, don't I wish. It's an actual yellowing of the polycarbonate, if it's still clear (white in color), maybe you can get by with polish, but when it starts to take on a yellowish hue, you have to use abrasives or it will take forever and still not give you the desired results.
If it's the first time you've polished the cover you may need to start out at 320, hopefully not at 280.

On one cover I started with 320, on the other side I started with 500.
Let me know how long it lasts before you have to think about having to do it again.  I have a set of headlights that are in need of a little bit of TLC.  I have read that if you cut the surface by scratching, it will return to the same condition sooner than later as you have removed the protective coating they use on the surface.  I have also read that there is a chemical application that converts the ionization on the surface.  Headlights on my van are around A$390 each.
 
Xoncention said:
...
I have also read that there is a chemical application that converts the ionization on the surface.
...

Usually it is q UV blocker.
Searching on Airplane Windows (Cessna not 747) probably would help.
 
I do a lot of plastic fabrication and occasionally need to repair a piece.  I just buy the headlight or acrylic paint polishing kits that 3M sells.  I have used my RO 90 and my ETS 150 both to repair pieces and to clear the headlights on my 12 year old 4-Runner and 2001 Ford van.  The last treatment applied, as noted above is to reduce UV clouding.  The most important thing is to use slooow speed to avoid heating the suface.  Pledge furniture polish is actually a very great product for final polishing.  Sometimes the old school stuff still works as well as many newer, think more expensive, products.  Another example is Johnson's floor wax, which is what I have used since 1971 for final polishing of my wood projects.  eplastics.com/plastic_polish - for volume work 
 
leakyroof said:
Unless you can actually get a DX 93( it's been discontinued in many places), then your current choice from Festool is the RO90 and the DTS400.  They're so different that your needs should make choosing between them easy.
  However, here are some of my thoughts on each sander.
DX-93, It won't be a one handed sander for the most part due mainly to its long body. It's better to lightly keep the pad down and flat to prevent wearing out just the outer tip of abrasive that you're using and heating up the Velcro style pad as well. To do that, you usually use two hands, but it's not a struggle with this light sander.  You can use it one handed, but watch your pad angle in the front while you're using it.
Not that quiet of a sander either for its size and type, has its own high pitched noise when it's running, but it sneaks into many tight spots for me and is smaller than a RO90 for the same tasks of sanding, so I tend to reach for it over the RO often.
  DTS400, larger pad size, easy to keep it flat on a surface and very easy to use one handed. Great finishing sander for wood once you dial in your speed versus vacuum suction levels for the grit abrasive you're using. I use it for paint work or drywall compound too. Downside is the lack of turning or rotating abrasive sheet for wear since the pad shape isn't symmetrical like the RO90 or DX93.
RO90, you have the 3 modes, you could own just this sander and be really happy with that ability since it's in a class of its own doing that. Two handed operation for the most part, I have Delta sanded with one hand since the sander isn't hard to control in either Random Orbit or Delta mode, but the balance of the tool doesn't really lend itself to one handed usage from what I've seen working with it. You also get the ability to rotate that small abrasive sheet for wear while you're sanding. Dust Collection in Delta mode is weaker or less affective for this sander compared to using it in the other two sanding modes. This is due to the Delta head attachment moving the dust pick-up further away once it's installed.  Compared to the earlier DX93, the RO90 won't capture as much but in some cases like outdoor work that won't matter to you.

Thanks for the detailed info, appreciate it.

 
I have the RO90
And have used to hog wood, and epoxy as well as to finish all the way to 1000 grit.  With the available pads it also becomes a nice polisher.  Only downside is the 90mm pad, so the 125 is on the list.  Different to handle than the random orbital sanders but you get use to it.  Oh and the dust collection is top notch.
 
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