The fun that buying tools bring. A little info then the options. Sorry in advance for the long post.
So I've been using festool for about 5 years now. Last year i purchased the RO 90 DX as i had a whole house window refinish project and that little sander easily payed for itself 2ce over on that job. This was my first Festool sander. My old 5" RO sander bit the dust and I find I am using my RO90DX more than the backup sanders so it is time to upgrade. I've been trying to decide on the Rotex vs the ets ec series. The Rotex allows me to have the driven aggressive sanding for when I'm doing refinish work and need to remove lots of material. However, most of the time I am just doing finish work on furniture and built in projects. So for the money I'm spending (I would consider myself a highly skilled hobbyist / not a pro) is the ets ec that much better of a finish sander vs the Rotex?
I currently own a ts 55, mft 3, of1400 w/ lr 32 set, CSX w/ centrotec kit (Awsome compliment to my dewalt stuff), domino 500, RO90DX. I use a Fein Vac for dust collection currently.
My plan is to go with a CT26 with the sander as i need a 2nd vac and I want a more portable / work friendly option as my fein is the older R2D2 model. I will be getting the installers accessory set as well.
The sander options I am considering:
Getting the ETS EC 125 with both 5 and 6" pads and using this for now. and add in the Rotex 150 at a later date.
OPtion 2 is purchase the Rotex 125 now with the vac so I have an all around sander. Then buy the 150 Rotex when i need / funds allow. I really like the 5" sanders as alot of my work is organizational based for closets, garages, entryway built ins and so forth. Eventually i want the 6" sander as I am branching out into larger furniture such as tables and custom doors and can see the benefits of the larger pad.
Would greatly appreciate any input as everything I've read it really seems like the Rotex sanders can kinda do what the ets sanders do just not as well. I'm getting great finishes on my face frames using the RO90 so I am fairly competent with the RO action on the Rotex sander. I have tried both at the local dealer and I agree the ets ec is a more enjoyable finish sander however I am a semi serious hobbyist so I have to watch my pennies a bit as I do most projects cheep for my close friends and family.
Is there something I haven't considered or should I just get off the pot and buy everything at once and have swmbo mad at me for a few months.....
Appreciate input from the knowledgeable user base here.
AJ
So I've been using festool for about 5 years now. Last year i purchased the RO 90 DX as i had a whole house window refinish project and that little sander easily payed for itself 2ce over on that job. This was my first Festool sander. My old 5" RO sander bit the dust and I find I am using my RO90DX more than the backup sanders so it is time to upgrade. I've been trying to decide on the Rotex vs the ets ec series. The Rotex allows me to have the driven aggressive sanding for when I'm doing refinish work and need to remove lots of material. However, most of the time I am just doing finish work on furniture and built in projects. So for the money I'm spending (I would consider myself a highly skilled hobbyist / not a pro) is the ets ec that much better of a finish sander vs the Rotex?
I currently own a ts 55, mft 3, of1400 w/ lr 32 set, CSX w/ centrotec kit (Awsome compliment to my dewalt stuff), domino 500, RO90DX. I use a Fein Vac for dust collection currently.
My plan is to go with a CT26 with the sander as i need a 2nd vac and I want a more portable / work friendly option as my fein is the older R2D2 model. I will be getting the installers accessory set as well.
The sander options I am considering:
Getting the ETS EC 125 with both 5 and 6" pads and using this for now. and add in the Rotex 150 at a later date.
OPtion 2 is purchase the Rotex 125 now with the vac so I have an all around sander. Then buy the 150 Rotex when i need / funds allow. I really like the 5" sanders as alot of my work is organizational based for closets, garages, entryway built ins and so forth. Eventually i want the 6" sander as I am branching out into larger furniture such as tables and custom doors and can see the benefits of the larger pad.
Would greatly appreciate any input as everything I've read it really seems like the Rotex sanders can kinda do what the ets sanders do just not as well. I'm getting great finishes on my face frames using the RO90 so I am fairly competent with the RO action on the Rotex sander. I have tried both at the local dealer and I agree the ets ec is a more enjoyable finish sander however I am a semi serious hobbyist so I have to watch my pennies a bit as I do most projects cheep for my close friends and family.
Is there something I haven't considered or should I just get off the pot and buy everything at once and have swmbo mad at me for a few months.....
Appreciate input from the knowledgeable user base here.
AJ
