Sanding Pads and Paper

[GPowers]

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The attached picture show the different type of sandpaper and sander pads Festool has. Starting on the top with the original hole configuration, the middle with MULTI-JETSTREAM and the bottom the newest MULTI-JETSTREAM 2 .

Are these paper and pads interchangeable?  Examples:

Can MULTI-JETSTREAM 2 paper be used on the original hole pattern?
or
MULTI-JETSTREAM 2 paper on a MULTI-JETSTREAM pad?

Are there combinations that will work and some that will not?

Also the new MULTI-JETSTREAM 2 pad fits on the original ETS 150/3 sander. Will the dust collection work correctly? I assume the collection ducting is done in the pad not the sender. Since that sander just has a fan built into the bottom.

I tried installing the new MULTI-JETSTREAM 2 pad (super soft, Gray) and paper with 800/1000/1200 Granat MULTI-JETSTREAM 2 paper on the original ETS 150/3 and got a lot of dust build up on the paper after two or three passes (left to right) over a 40" inch long table top (with a Poly finish). Thought the new MULTI-JETSTREAM 2 configuration was to prevent this?

 

[peter halle]

Greg,

Old paper will fit on new pads.  New paper will fit on old pads.  But fewer holes does result in less less pickup.

Peter

 

[ayhan]

The only issue I see is that when using the multi-jetstream 2 sandpaper with the old pad ,  the material you are sanding might very well get scratched by the hook and loop that is exposed by the unmatched holes.  This puzzled me for the longest time when I used Festool paper with my Mirka sander.  Only some of the holes lined up and I couldn't seem to get rid of swirl marks no matter how little pressure was applied to the sander and no matter how many grits I worked through. 

 

[Michael Kellough]

[member=72088]ayhan[/member]  thanks for posting your actual experience. I would have thought the thickness of the abrasive pad would not allow the hooks to reach the surface.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I'm not a fan of the latest papers, there are so many holes now the paper is getting too structurally weak. It tears very quickly. This is simply getting out of hand.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I'm not a fan of the latest papers, there are so many holes now the paper is getting too structurally weak. It tears very quickly. This is simply getting out of hand.

There is a lot less abrasive on the newest Festool pads too.

[member=5277]Alex[/member]  what is your opinion of the Mirka screen type abrasives? I don’t use them steadily enough to be certain but my feeling is that there is too little abrasive in actual contact with the work so the pads wear out too fast.

 

[mrboult]

I'm not a fan of the latest papers, there are so many holes now the paper is getting too structurally weak. It tears very quickly. This is simply getting out of hand.

Exactly my reaction to the latest hole pattern. I genuinely think it’s ridiculous, both in terms of abrasive loss and paper robustness. So many holes to catch an edge now. .

 

[ayhan]

I have found abranet to be my favorite sandpaper so far.  It covers 100% of any sanding pad and has more porous survace for dust extraction. Hard to beat.  Lasts about the same as all the festool paper ive tried.

 

[VirTERM]

I have found abranet to be my favorite sandpaper so far.  It covers 100% of any sanding pad and has more porous survace for dust extraction. Hard to beat.  Lasts about the same as all the festool paper ive tried.

I agree 100%. I have not tried yet their AbranetHD which is available for lower grits (40-60-80), so basically if I need to go that low I use Granat.

 

[AlexThePalex]

[member=5277]Alex[/member]  what is your opinion of the Mirka screen type abrasives? I don’t use them steadily enough to be certain but my feeling is that there is too little abrasive in actual contact with the work so the pads wear out too fast.

My opinion is limited to the fact that I stay away from them without having ever tried them. Seems to me they would tear up in a jiffy, and destroy my sander's pad. I already have a line of papers (Indasa) that suits my needs and costs half what Festool and Mirka offer, so no need for me to even go anywhere near mesh abrasives.

I also hadn't bought Festool paper for quite some years, but last week I got a box of Granat P80 from a painter for my RO150 and I am using it now, I am astonished by how little actual paper is left because of all the holes.

I was already impressed with how well Festool dust extraction is when I first got into Festool 11 years ago, it is what got me hooked on the brand, but I see little improvement on that part with the newer abrasives, but I do see how flimsy it is now. Festool's gone completely overboard with their "more holes is better" idea - it is not, sandpaper's main goal is not to extract dust is, it is to CREATE dust. And in order to improve the extract part with 3% they now decreased the create part with 40%. And, you catch a corner or a nail ...... boom, paper torn. No thanks.

Mesh paper seems even worse to me.