the new hand sanding blocks from festool

honeydoman

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was at woodcraft yesterday and bought on the the 3 sanding blocks that has velcro on them so you can attach a single sheet of the 6"  round paper (the 5" fits pretty good also) and the small sheets.

they come in 3 types... a softer one with side velcro raps around the block and a hard one.  and also the one for sheet paper.

it works good,  I was using it today while making some drawer fronts and needed to sand the edgebanding. 

the block was comfortable and easy to use.  they are only    $25.00 each or all 3 for $75 with a small small systainer..

 
Kreg,

I got mine about 10 days ago and haven't had a chance to use them.  At the training class we got a chance to fondle feel them.  Placed an order once I got home.  Festool green mini systainer.  I won't be able to misplace these.

Peter
 
Haven't seen them here in Holland yet. Would like to have the 133x80 one. Now that I'm used to Festool dust collection, the dust from hand sanding really bothers me.

I do have the new multi-jet pad now for the RO150, and some of the new Granat paper arrived today. Gonna try it out tomorrow.
 
Alex,

At the training class it was interesting that the very first thing that the Festool engineers start on for a tool is the dust collection aspects.  Everything is designed around dust collection.  Even if that never makes it into a tool they plan for it.  We were told that only one line of tools was the exception - and if I remember it correctly - it was wasn't the hand sanding blocks.  Who knows, maybe we'll see a model with dust collection in the future!  

Peter
 
I don't know if those were them, we didn't get any sort of details.  It might have just been something that was said in an off manner way by someone - possibly Christian, and my ears perked up and stored the tidbit away for future retrieval.  Now I have disgorged that memory.

The sanding blocks illustrated are the type that would generally be used by auto body shops.  Maybe there are others coming for other purposes.  I don't know and don't want to speculate.

Peter
 
My sanding blocks arrived today and I put the right to use.  

First of all, I really like the small green systainer that they came in.  But, my wife likes it even more.  I doubt very much that I will have the systainer for my use very long.

I tried out all three blocks with various grades of paper and with various types of wood.  They are both comportable and effective.

One application that I used a block on is the handle of a wand to be used by my granddaughter Isla when she dresses as Hermione Granger for Halloween:

[attachimg=#1]
 
I believe I may have solved the DC issue on the hand sanding blocks. It's been bugging me since Lebanon. Fabriating prototype. Not clean enough yet to post pics, no tome to finish. Here's the deal, it hit me a couple weeks ago. I happened to be cutting with the trion and had the block laying there and it clicked. If you hold the trion hose adapter to the rea of the block it is a beautiful fit! So far, bought extra block, cut in half 3/4 cross section, drilled holes matching paper, carved out rear end to accept trion hose adapter, partially carved out air channels inside of block, air seems good so far. I plan on inserting a small piece of sheetmetal at the rear so the hose adapter tab locks in. Wondering if I will need to coat the inside so it doesn't get sucked out over time. What do you guys think?  [big grin]
 
My previous post in this thread was written before they put the items on the Festool website.

Just checked it, holy guacamole! 61 euros. For the smallest. Well, this thing is not for me, I can't justify such a price tag. A shame. My current sanding block only cost me 4 euros. It has got no DC but it works just fine anyway.
 
If someone would have asked me 2 months ago if I would spend $75 American dollars on 3 sanding blocks and a green case, I would have said no and asked them if I had stupid (Not Old) written on my forehead.  I own them now.  You really need to try them before you poo poo the idea of them.  Your hand fits into them versus clenching them.  Hand sanding is not something many of us enjoy.  If these guys make that experience faster, easier, ad / or better - then I made a wise decision.

Peter
 
peter halle said:
If someone would have asked me 2 months ago if I would spend $75 American dollars on 3 sanding blocks and a green case, I would have said no and asked them if I had stupid (Not Old) written on my forehead.  I own them now.  You really need to try them before you poo poo the idea of them.  Your hand fits into them versus clenching them.  Hand sanding is not something many of us enjoy.  If these guys make that experience faster, easier, ad / or better - then I made a wise decision.

Peter
Peter, I couldn't agree more.
 
It just strikes me odd, that for some reason Festool did not think of dust extraction with the sanding blocks. They would have had a role-model already existing, please see the Mirka offering:

Mirka accessories - sanding blocks
136DFEBA-EBC6-4CD9-8016-353141DA4CCB1

D013ACA5-26AD-403F-833E-158C8707C45F1

9FBE0109-03CD-47B7-B784-72946DD7AC801

These are quite excellent and comparing the prices in Finland - they seem to be at the same price as the Festool blocks, but these have the connection to the vacuum as well (and it works!).

 
jakiiski said:
It just strikes me odd, that for some reason Festool did not think of dust extraction with the sanding blocks.

jakiiski, they did

I was mistaken to think this thread was about the new sanding blocks with dust extraction instead of the new sanding blocks for round 150mm paper.

peter halle said:
If someone would have asked me 2 months ago if I would spend $75 American dollars on 3 sanding blocks and a green case, I would have said no and asked them if I had stupid (Not Old) written on my forehead.

Actually, $75 for 3 pads and a sys-mini isn't a bad deal at all.

peter halle said:
I own them now.  You really need to try them before you poo poo the idea of them.  Your hand fits into them versus clenching them.  Hand sanding is not something many of us enjoy.  If these guys make that experience faster, easier, ad / or better - then I made a wise decision.

I'm not poo-pooing the use any sanding block, just the ridiculous high price of the types with dust extraction. Even the smallest one is the same price as all your 3 pads together.

Btw, the blocks for the 150 mm paper seem to be a re-badge of an already existing product.
   
Only the 80x133mm block seems to be custom made by or for Festool. But when you compare the price of the standard 80x133 block of 22 euros to the price of the type with dust extraction at 61 euros, I think it's a bit odd. Simply fitting it with a dust extraction port almost triples the price.

 

 
wow I thought dust collection on a sanding block was a joke, then I saw the pictures... impressive... those non festool sanding blocks look great, did not realize there was such a selection of nice sanding blocks.  I like the feel of the festool ones and the green mini!! [smile] I am curioius to see how to hook it up to the CT though, haha
 
Got mine last night, and DANGIT, I got a grey box.  [crying]  I was kind of hoping for the crazy green box.  I had other plans for it (not storing the sanding blocks) because the green really makes it hard to miss (and forget)
 
A question then, if I get one with a dust attactment, how do I hang myself off the boom arm?
 
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