sanding pad for ETS EC 150/5

[stefano]

Hi I'm new on this forum  [smile]

I was wondering if it's possible to install a 125 sanding pad to the Festool ETS EC 150/5 orbital sander.

Thanks,
Stefano.

 

[pixelated]

As I understand it, no, a 150 pad can be installed on the 125 sander, but not the other way round.
There are a few threads in here discussing the differences.

And, welcome to the forum.

 

[stefano]

thanks a lot mate for your reply.
I really appreciate your help.

 

[Cheese]

Like Pixelated noted, the shape of the pad mounting driveshaft is the issue.

Here's an ETS EC 125 with the pad removed, note the shape of the end of the driveshaft.

[attachimg=1]

The 125 pad on the left and the 150 pad on the right. The 150 pad has room for the additional "ears" that are on the 150 driveshaft. So, a 150 pad fits a 125 however a 125 pad will NOT fit a 150.

[attachimg=2]

 

[squall_line]

Like Pixelated noted, the shape of the pad mounting driveshaft is the issue.

Here's an ETS EC 125 with the pad removed, note the shape of the end of the driveshaft.

[attachimg=1]

The 125 pad on the left and the 150 pad on the right. The 150 pad has room for the additional "ears" that are on the 150 driveshaft. So, a 150 pad fits a 125 however a 125 pad will NOT fit a 150.

[attachimg=2]

It never ceases to amuse me that almost everything under the skin of a 125/3 is stamped "150/3".

 

[Peter_C]

Like Pixelated noted, the shape of the pad mounting driveshaft is the issue.

Here's an ETS EC 125 with the pad removed, note the shape of the end of the driveshaft.

The 125 pad on the left and the 150 pad on the right. The 150 pad has room for the additional "ears" that are on the 150 driveshaft. So, a 150 pad fits a 125 however a 125 pad will NOT fit a 150.

I seemingly remember it having something to do with with the pad brake also??

Out of curiosity couldn't one modify the 125 pad with a pencil grinder so it would fit onto a 150 sander? Or just change the driveshaft? There are times I would like a 125/5 sander as the Pro 5 is weak (Mine lives with an edge guide on it). Warranty would be the reason not to, but that only lasts 3 years.

 

[Cheese]

I seemingly remember it having something to do with with the pad brake also??

Out of curiosity couldn't one modify the 125 pad with a pencil grinder so it would fit onto a 150 sander? Or just change the driveshaft? There are times I would like a 125/5 sander as the Pro 5 is weak (Mine lives with an edge guide on it). Warranty would be the reason not to, but that only lasts 3 years.

Ya, on my first go-around with Festool service they said the pads were not interchangeable, the 2nd time they said there was an imbalance issue between the pads and then the 3rd time they said the brake wouldn't work.

After all of that obfuscation & smoke, I just attached the larger pad and used the sander. Well, 5 7 years later everything works fine and I've not had any issues.

I wouldn't really try modifying the 125 pad because there isn't much material to work with there, better to change out the  driveshaft on the 150 instead. That's the route I was going to take if I wanted to use the 150/5mm stroke sander with a 125 pad. I think it was only $40 to do that.

 

[stefano]

Thank's a lot Cheese
I really appreciate your help

 

[thefloormat@gmail.com]

Old thread, but I have a question that may be answered here. Can the drive shaft of the 150mm be swapped out for a driveshaft of a 125mm?

And could a person order that driveshaft as a part?

 

[squall_line]

Old thread, but I have a question that may be answered here. Can the drive shaft of the 150mm be swapped out for a driveshaft of a 125mm?

And could a person order that driveshaft as a part?

In theory, yes.

In practice, it would be cheaper and easier (and more warranty and resale friendly) to just buy an ETS EC 125 and sell the ETS EC 150 if you want to have the "hybrid" capability of using both 125 and 150 mm pads.

 

[mrboult]

I am using my ETS EC 150/5 with both sizes of pad (festool) very happily. . .

I purchased the ETS EC 150/5 and simply modified the 125mm sanding pad to fit with a multitool/dremel. It works 100% great.

Having owned the 125mm sander and used the 150m pads on it for years I realised that the round mount drive shaft, with flat sides, on the 125mm sander was more than enough to secure the 150mm pad without the extra 'fins' that the 150mm sanders have on their drive shaft.

So the modification/adjustment to the 125mm pad, to fit the 150mm sanders doesn't even need to be that neat or accurate, in relation to the fins. You simply need to remove enough plastic from the 125mm pad to allow the 'fins' on the 150m sander shaft to fit into/onto the pad. The main shaft with it's flat edges, is in reality enough to hold the pad tight in position.

And the pad design has the metal plate/disc inside, that the drive shaft seats onto, so knowing how deep to remove the plastic is easy, you just remove the plastic until you hit the metal plate.

IF you are wearing through pads every month or two then this is obviously not a great solution, but if like me you just want the occasional use of the 125mm pad, this is a fantastic solution. And honestly, I've never used a sanding pad that lasts as long as a festool pad.

NOTE: I did mine fairly accurately, but not in a way any engineer or machinist would call actuate It took me about 10-15min to modify and it's worked fine for months.