Sanding to a scribe line with the RAS 115 sander

Christian,

That very interesting.  But I don't have a RAS, just a RO150.  Is it reasonable to use an RO150 with something like Saphir 24, 36, or 50 grit abrasive to do the same thing?  I'm assuming that it might be a bit slower, but are there any other downsides?

Thanks,

Dan.
 
At the cabinet class last week, they showed off using the RAS. I had never see one before and never knew it existed until late last year. Really a hidden jewel in the line-up and a price far lower than I would have thought.

As to using the RO150 versus the RAS, the differences would be these (to me)----
The 4.5" disk of the RAS would be far easier to control for scribing type use versus the 6".
The RAS is strictly a circular rotation with no random pattern so works better for scribing.
The RAS has a dust trapping brush that rotates into the needed position to force the dust into the collection port while the RO150 only collects through the pad and so would miss much of the dust as it is coming off the edge of the disk.
I am sure there are others.

Pete
 
WarnerCC - what type uses have you found for it? I have not fallen for this tool yet and need other uses than just scribing that I would very rarely do.
Thanks
 
Stripping finishes (great for wood siding) I can sand to 80 with the ras and have a darn nice finish.

Leveling things, ground thinset, ground a high lip off a cast iron toilet stack.
Sharpened my mower blades, ground old roller textures off walls, adhesives off of walls.

Probably more as well.
 
Peter Halle said:
Although I'm not Darcy  [big grin]  I have used mine to cope crown molding.
Click to expand...

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.
 
Man, you guys aren't making this easy, I want one...badly. Now if there was some work coming is stead I'd be set. Springs is around the corner (it's snowing like crazy here now) and I'm sure work will pick up. The RAS will have to wait until then.
 
Dan,

Pete pretty much summed it up why the RAS works better for this kind of sanding than the Rotex.

The aggressive mode of the Rotex is not a pure rotary motion, but an eccentric rotary motion. The advantage of that gear-driven eccentric
rotary motion of the Rotex is that you get a fine scratch pattern, even with rough grits. The benefit is that your subsequent sanding steps
are a lot shorter, because you don't have to sand out deep sanding scratches from the step before. This cuts down the overall sanding time
from start to finish.

As well as the eccentric rotary motion of the Rotex works, the RAS has an advantage when it comes to material removal (even more
aggressive than the Rotex), or to sanding thin pieces like the filler strip in the video. On thin pieces the RAS is easier to control, because you
have only to control one motion, and not two layered motions. The disadvantage compared to the Rotex is, that the scratch pattern is not
as fine, so it is tougher to get to a good finish. But that does not matter for filler strips.

Hope that helps.

Christian

 
Christian and (other) gentlemen,

Thanks for the feedback.  I hadn't thought of the RAS for scribing, stripping, or grinding. 

It turns out that I have a fair amount of scribing and some paint stripping to do in the next 12 months.  And, my Makita 4.5" grinder is starting to make noises (probably from grinding stone too much). 

Does any one know if the RAS can use standard 4.5" backing pads and grinding cups?  (I have several of these.)

Thanks,

Dan.

 
Dan,

I don't think that they wiil.  I thought that there was an adaptor and backing pad available that would allow the use of the grinding disks - not the grinding plates.  I thought in Europe you could get the grinding cups.

I have a makita grinder and can check tomorrow to see it it works, but I doubt it.

Will check if you want.

Peter
 
Gentlemen, you have gave me a new toy to buy, Never considered the RAS because i have never seen it work, but i'm sold and will probably go scoop one up this week.  On a side note, i do a ton of scribing on a daily basis and i always used a jig saw and probably will since i just ordered 4-25blade packs from festool but sometimes i get an install where i have to scribe to a stone fire place or some wickedly natural stone wall and that just eats up jigsaw blades where the RAS wouldn't brake a sweat.  Once again thank you kindly, if you would like to see what kind of work i do check out www.jemwoodworking.com. 
 
L2theP said:
Gentlemen, you have gave me a new toy to buy, Never considered the RAS because i have never seen it work, but i'm sold and will probably go scoop one up this week.  On a side note, i do a ton of scribing on a daily basis and i always used a jig saw and probably will since i just ordered 4-25blade packs from festool but sometimes i get an install where i have to scribe to a stone fire place or some wickedly natural stone wall and that just eats up jigsaw blades where the RAS wouldn't brake a sweat.  Once again thank you kindly, if you would like to see what kind of work i do check out www.jemwoodworking.com.   
Click to expand...

Very nice work, actually, incredible work.

Bob
 
I have thought about buying a RAS and probably will but not for this purpose. Having done more kitchen installs and custom work than I care to remember, I am unable to buy into the hype of that video. That video is a typical company skewed demonstration and an insult to the power of Festool's.
Am I the only one who noticed that the board was already back cut, looks like maybe 30 degrees? Given that fact of course there was great DC. He was only sanding an 1/8" to 3/16" of material at the most. Looked like AC plywood.
That video might fool a dumb DIY hobbyist but not a seasoned contractor. RAS better than a belt sander or electric plane? Prove it! Do that same video with 3/4" cdx, mdf or particle board, 90 degree corner with a layer of formica on top.
I owned a belt sander for years and didn't know what to do with the big stupid thing, then I apprenticed with an old timer. Scribing with a big PC belt sander is all we did. I'll stick to using my belt sander for real work.
I will still end up buying a RAS but am appalled you guys in Lebanon thought you could pull a fast one.
 
This has been my 'next Festool tool to purchase' for at least 6 months.  I guess that it is about time that I did so.
 
Holzhacker -
At the class last week, Brian demoed this to us identically to the video. It was on a square edged board and worked exactly as the video shows. The dust collection was total as it was captured by the replacable brushes. No trickery at all. We were allowed to try it ourselves with identical results.
 
Holzhacker said:
Am I the only one who noticed that the board was already back cut, looks like maybe 30 degrees? Given that fact of course there was great DC. He was only sanding an 1/8" to 3/16" of material at the most. Looked like AC plywood.
Click to expand...
I noticed too,but that's also the way i do it.Why sand/cut/shave the full 3/4" .Waste of time and papers/blades
 
Holzhacker said:
I have thought about buying a RAS and probably will but not for this purpose. Having done more kitchen installs and custom work than I care to remember, I am unable to buy into the hype of that video. That video is a typical company skewed demonstration and an insult to the power of Festool's.
Am I the only one who noticed that the board was already back cut, looks like maybe 30 degrees? Given that fact of course there was great DC. He was only sanding an 1/8" to 3/16" of material at the most. Looked like AC plywood......
Click to expand...

I don't think they were trying to pull a fast one and I agree with Master Cab, why wouldn't bevel a piece that is going to be scribed? Scribing a countertop, I don't know how well the RAS will work, probably better than my crappy belt sander.
 
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