Sanding to a scribe line with the RAS 115 sander

[peter halle]

When I got into this field decades ago, it was normal practice to start off with a back cut or beveled filler or scribe strip.  Just like people rough cut wooden parts that will then be cleaned up with a template and pattern routing bit.  That was and is just smart.

From the video does it appear to me that the edge was back cut - yes - based on the shadows.  Could it be an optical illusion - yes.

These videos are not intended to market the tools.  They are intended to show ways to use the tools.  Visitors here are intelligent and can use their own judgement.  Buy or don't buy is up to you. 

Tomorrow I will shoot a couple videos and post them here - if mother nature cooperates - I don't have a shop. They will be not designed to show any skill that I have - rather just to show the tool.

Peter

 

[Holzhacker]

It's not a shadow Peter. From about 2:22 on he is working at the end of the board and you can clearly see it is back cut. Smart in some work applications, yes. For a video to show how good a tool works, I have to be the cynic and see it for what it is, showmanship.
Like I said, I'm still buying one anyway.

 

[JohnDistai]

Blasphemy!  How dare you insult the great and powerful marketing organization of Festool!  Down with you, Infidel!

 

[JohnDistai]

Pay attention to the front corner.  During the video it looks like it is cut to a slight angle.  But when you get to about 2:40 they zoom in and it looks like a square corner.

 

[Brice Burrell]

It's not a shadow Peter. From about 2:22 on he is working at the end of the board and you can clearly see it is back cut. Smart in some work applications, yes. For a video to show how good a tool works, I have to be the cynic and see it for what it is, showmanship.
Like I said, I'm still buying one anyway.

It certainly looks beveled to me. I too picked that up right away, I just happen to feel it's the right way to cut (or grind) a scribed piece so it's no gimmick to me.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

It works as good if not better then a belt sander.
Watch the way it is going and you can quickly remove
material from the scribe on a Formica/laminate top.
Works good on solid surface as well.  I find it easier to
control then my old Bosch belt sander.  I am quicker
with my ras then i was with my belt sander.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Someone should start a thread about who bought what after
going to one of those time share me....er training class!!
[scratch chin] [doh] [scratch chin]

 

[bhendrix]

Brain demonstrated the RAS at training last month and explained to us before the demo that the board is back cut to make the scribing easier to control and complete.  We got the opportunity to try it ourselves.  I was so impressed that I bought the RAS (among other things) when I returned home.

Another sleeper in the Festool line-up that I discovered (OK, Brian showed us) was the RS 2 E random orbit sander, complete with attached power cord.  I had discounted it when considering new sanders, but, as Brian showed us, it is a great, very smooth sander with a 2.5mm orbit.  We tried it in Indy for sanding large flat surfaces (plywood) and it quickly became one of my favorites.  Well done, Brian!!

The RS 2 E now has its own drawer in one of my Sysports and is my go-to sander for sheet goods.

 

[Warrior]

Interesting.

Looks like a wonderful shaping tool. Are there any convex pads?

 

[peter halle]

Elji,

No convex - just flat.

 

[L2theP]

the piece of wood he is shaping is definatelly back cut but i my self always back cut all the pieces i need to scribe be it toe kicks, base moulding, i even sometimes plane the inner edges of crown as its' hard to find a crown moulding that will sit 100% flat on both top and bottom, but regardless of the back cut or not if you took a regular orbital sander and tried doing that i'm sure you would be doing it a little while longer along with worst dust collection, i would think that any festool user realizes that festool's emphesis on dust collection is second to none. 
i also feel that shaping a square piece of wood will show the tools capability in a much more true capacity but i don't think bashing the person who took the time to make the video is called for. 
Anyone that provides insight on the FOG we should be greatful for, as we get a lot of ideas from them and they show us capabilities and different uses of tools that we most likely already own or will at some point. 
dont' have a use for it, you most certainly do not have to purchase it.

 

[Christian93117]

I have to admit that I didn't see this coming.

The intention of the video for sure wasn't to "pull a fast one" or doing a "typical company skewed presentation". It is very obvious that the board is
back beveled, you can see it in the video. It is back beveled because this is exactly what we would recommend for work like this.

"Pulling a fast one" might work for a company that sells a product for a short time and then disappears. Festool has a 30-day money back guarantee. That
means "pulling fast ones" would result in a high number of returns, which would be quite costly for us.

The videos are mainly done to answer concrete questions from customers.
There is no script. And there is no plan of doing skewed presentations.  It is Shane or me walking into Brian's training room with the camera, filming what he does, and then putting it on Youtube. You might notice that most of the videos are not edited.

Holzhacker, don't trust the video. Try the tool and see if it works for you. If not, return it.

Christian

 

[justinmcf]

i can see clearly on the video that the workpiece in question was back bevelled. for anyone to think it is an optical illusion is blind. for anyone to think that festool is "pulling a fast one" is crazy.
try scribing without a back bevel. you would spend twice as long doing the scribe.
i personally want to see more of these videos.
keep up the good work christian!

regards, justin.

 

[bhendrix]

"Holzhacker, don't trust the video. Try the tool and see if it works for you. If not, return it."

In addition to buying/trying, sign up for one of the training classes in Lebanon and get to know the people in the company before you pass judgement.

I am a "seasoned professional" that's been woodworking for over 40 years.  I spent two days with the folks in Lebanon and found them to be very genuine, caring people of highest integrity.  These folks care for each other like family and they consider us part of their family.  Other companies should aspire to the excellence Festool has achieved in genuine customer care.  Just my humble opinion . . . .

Now, back to the regular scheduled program . . . .

 

[Frank Pellow]

Elji,

No convex - just flat.

Too bad.  I think that I could make us of convex pads -and also concave pads.  I suggest that Festoll should consider such enhancements to this sander.

 

[JohnDistai]

You guys are missing the larger detail.  That's one helluva a crooked wall he is trying to scribe to!  I'd probably refloat that!

 

[Jonhilgen]

Although I'm not Darcy  [big grin]  I have used mine to cope crown molding.

I forgot about that one. 
I have used it a few times for base and crown. 
I still need a bit more practice on that part.

Although I don't own the RAS (yet), I too have used a 1/2" belt sander by (gasp!) black and decker to cope crown and base molding.  The biggest problem with using it is my sinuses are a mess for a few days after the fact due to the dust.  I've also used it to scribe cabinets to a stone fireplace surround.  I really wish I had the RAS for it!

 

[john ferri]

So much for the limitations of UTUBE--everyone notices something different. This tool has been in the festo (festool) lineup for years.  In his book Making Heirloom Boxes (2001), Peter LLoyd has a nice big photo of this tool, which is an essential part of his woodworking. His medium is solid wood (of course) and the main free-hand shaping tools he uses are an unidentified small angle grinder fitted with an arbortech (coarse), the RAS (medium) and the Rotex (fine).

Of the three he waxes poetic about the angle grinder (!), but says that it tends to "fill up the workshop with dust very quickly (p.13)." We can see from Christian's video how magnificent the dust collection is, not to mention the control issue.

 

[jonny round boy]

Jon,

That's a heck of a scribe there! [eek] Nice job!

 

[Holzhacker]

Sure got everyone agitated didn't I? I've been to Lebanon and met everyone down there. I agree they are a great group of people who consider themselves and the FOG, Family. Noting the idea of 'pulling a fast one' was in no way intended to reflect upon their individual character. I know everyone down there loves what they do and it shows. Someone may have just set up the video as they thought would be good or maybe they set it up per a corporate memo. In corporate marketing, almost anything goes. I don't know who decided the Spec's of the test video and frankly don't care.
The video shows the product being used in a very 'ideal' situation, i.e. sanding a back cut board. When a manufacturer shows their product performing great under an ideal scenario, that is too their advantage, not mine. It may be educational for me or it may be complete nonsense. As the consumer purchasing that product I have ask, 'Will that product also perform as portrayed in many less than ideal scenarios?' In my opinion, the video is average marketing and doesn't prove the worthiness of the tool. Like I said, it may convince a DIY, but not me as a contractor.
Luckily I am heavily invested in Festool and have known about the RAS since before I went to Lebanon. My comment is in no way an attempt to bash the RAS. I want one and will buy one when the right job comes along. My intent is to bash the fluff level of the video. I would expect a lesser tool manufacturer to 'make it easy' on the tool by back cutting, NOT Festool. I cranked the daylights out of the T15 when I was in Lebanon, it took the beating and asked for more. I have since bought one. I am already sold on the RAS. If I weren't I sure wouldn't buy one based on that video. I want to see that tool take some punishment, maybe that's just the German in me.
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