Sanders

[b_m_hart]

OK, so I started out with the ETS 150/5 - and I'm looking at the RO 150 FEQ. 

Reason being, I went and picked up some platin 2 polishing pads (500-4000 grit) and used them to polish up my test piece.  They produced a very nice polish (better than my wet polisher with diamond pads IMO).  I decided to call Festool, and ask about the possibility of grinding and polishing my concrete countertops.  The guy I talked to said that one of their customers in SoCal was using one of the rotex models for their decorative concrete finishing work, using saphir pads for the rough grinding and platin pads for the finish polishing.

I asked why the rotex was better, and he said the gearing inside was different.  Meaning, that I could put serious downward pressure on a rotex model, whereas the model I bought, downward pressure only slows it down.

To the point: any feedback on this would be very helpful.  I will be doing additional concrete work in the future for my place (bathroom vanity tops, possibly re-do the kitchen countertops down the road), and am willing to spend some money to "get it right" (as well as have another sander for fixing my plaster walls).  Any of you out there with a rotex, what's your experience with placing it under load, or any work on solid or stone surfaces?

 

[greg mann]

I think, more important than the downward pressure, is the fact that you have the rotary orbit mode. This is much more efficient than random orbit only for the work you describe, that is, polishing. You may get a direct response by that SoCal user, whoever he is, and that would be more authoritative than anything I can contribute, but the Rotex can definately be pushed much harder when needed. In fact, an RAS115 might even be better for the 'grinding' content of your work followed by the Rotex for finishing and polishing but it is real easy for me to spend your money.  ;D

 

[The Dude]

I think, more important than the downward pressure, is the fact that you have the rotary orbit mode. This is much more efficient than random orbit only for the work you describe, that is, polishing. You may get a direct response by that SoCal user, whoever he is, and that would be more authoritative than anything I can contribute, but the Rotex can definately be pushed much harder when needed. In fact, an RAS115 might even be better for the 'grinding' content of your work followed by the Rotex for finishing and polishing but it is real easy for me to spend your money.  ;D

During Demo's I will put my entire 175#s worth of body on the machine and I cannot stop the pad while it is in direct / Rotex mode.  The RO 150 will give you a ton of versatility as well. 

There is a fabricator of concrete statues and such...they make many of the concrete figures and big decorative pieces you see in front of the casinos in Vegas...and they have several of the RO 150 FEQs for this very purpose; grinding, shaping and polishing concrete material. 

I think the RAS is a killer machine, but you will find the the dust pick up capabilities more efficient, and the power difference between the two is marked...the RO is much more machine. 

Timmy

 

[b_m_hart]

OK, cool.  It sounds like that may work for what I have in mind.  I'm not trying to grind down inches worth of concrete - simply enough (maybe a quarter of an inch) to expose the aggregate, and then polish it up.  But with my ETS 150/5, it sure doesn't seem like I'm going to be able to get down through the material needed...