OK, UPS delivered and there was a big box sitting on the kitchen table when I got home. Grabbed it to head down to the basement and my first impression was that the thing was damned heavy for a tool that I was impressed with because of its weight...
WoodWerks shipped it in a box that very tightly fit the Mirka box which was sized to very tightly fit the baby-puke-yellow Sys2. Took some prying to separate the layers of corrugated shiptainer but evidently they were enough to prevent UPS from doing their best: The Sys2 was unmarred. But still heavy...
My heart gladdened when I noticed that Mirka had carried on in the time-honored Festool tradition of the self-removing label, I felt right at home. Although they did screw up a little, as you face the Systainer the tool label is on the LEFT of the Sys. The label facing you simply says "Mirka", but it also met my expectations for adhesiveness(or lack thereof).
Opening up the Sys, the first thing I was confronted with was goodies, an Abranet sampler pack containing one of each grit and an additional sampler of the Abranet HD discs in 40/60/80 grits. Haven't found anywhere to buy the HD discs yet, but at least now I have three....
Below lay the sander, the cord(permanently attached), the transformer, some scratch paper otherwise known as a manual, a DVD in a clamshell case and a stamped-steel wrench. Picked up the sander and noticed it definitely wasn't the cause of the weighty box, about the same as I remembered from using it at the show. Picked up the zip-tied cord and found it weighed in at least half-again the sander weight. Next the transformer, it's heavier than the cord... They did add a carrying handle to the transformer, though: a piece of 18-AWG steel cable attached by two crimp-on ring terminals(all insulated). Cheesy... [wink]
I had 11 drawers to put together and mount tonight so I put it all back in the Sys and went to work. After I was done, I decided to modify one of them, attacked it with the tablesaw and jigsaw and figured I'd put the sander through its paces cleaning up. Transformer first, to set under the MFT 3. It comes with a power cord, standard PVC coated with all it's associated kinks, looked to be fairly long and I didn't need that so I subbed a short cord I had lying around. Hooked the vac hose up to the Fein, screwed forever to get it mated to the sander, plugged it into the transformer, plugged the sander cord into it, checked the Abranet on the sander(120 grit), flipped the switch on the XFMR and hit the paddle on the sander: Nothing! Panic! Then I figured out I had to turn the sander on.... Once that was done I sanded the cut ends and edges of the drawer with ease, this thing is an absolute joy to work with! Fits right in the palm of your hand, practically weightless compared with any sander I've used, cuts fast and practically no dust. No "stiction" with the Fein, no need to cut back on suction power.
Set it down, grabbed a 180 disc to finish up and discovered that you really, really need to get in the habit of turning the thing off when you change discs: there ain't much of a spring under that palm lever. Changing discs involves laying the sander down upside-down, pulling off the disc and pressing on the new disc. Having the tool spring into life at 10,000 RPM at the last stage of the process is a bit disconcerting [eek]. A stiffer spring for the palm lever would be welcome, IMO.
After finishing up with the drawers I decided to give the HD discs a try. I have a chunk of 8/4 roughsawn walnut leaned up in the corner acclimating so I slapped on the 40-grit disc and went at it hard, full RPM. After a couple minutes the last foot or so of the board was cleaned up, the sander was getting warm, nowhere near uncomfortable to hold. I leaned on it as hard as I could and never slowed it down. I don't know what they've got in that transformer box or inside the sander but it's STOUT! Switched over to the 180 disc(something I'd never do after a 40-grit roughing), another couple minutes and the board's smooth as the proverbial babies butt. Absolutely a-freaking-mazing!
Haven't worked with it long but it looks like this might just be the sander I've always wanted but never believed could be made. Pro: great power, great dust extraction, unbelievably light weight and handling for an electric sander. Con: First and foremost, the price. Once you get over that, the wimpy spring in the actuation lever, the seemingly endless twisting required to attach the hose, the indicator light on the transformer being on the opposite end from the switch.
Keep in mind these are first impressions, but on a 10 scale I'd have to give this baby a solid 9. First "9" sander I've seen in thirty years....
Best,
Bill
WoodWerks shipped it in a box that very tightly fit the Mirka box which was sized to very tightly fit the baby-puke-yellow Sys2. Took some prying to separate the layers of corrugated shiptainer but evidently they were enough to prevent UPS from doing their best: The Sys2 was unmarred. But still heavy...
My heart gladdened when I noticed that Mirka had carried on in the time-honored Festool tradition of the self-removing label, I felt right at home. Although they did screw up a little, as you face the Systainer the tool label is on the LEFT of the Sys. The label facing you simply says "Mirka", but it also met my expectations for adhesiveness(or lack thereof).
Opening up the Sys, the first thing I was confronted with was goodies, an Abranet sampler pack containing one of each grit and an additional sampler of the Abranet HD discs in 40/60/80 grits. Haven't found anywhere to buy the HD discs yet, but at least now I have three....
Below lay the sander, the cord(permanently attached), the transformer, some scratch paper otherwise known as a manual, a DVD in a clamshell case and a stamped-steel wrench. Picked up the sander and noticed it definitely wasn't the cause of the weighty box, about the same as I remembered from using it at the show. Picked up the zip-tied cord and found it weighed in at least half-again the sander weight. Next the transformer, it's heavier than the cord... They did add a carrying handle to the transformer, though: a piece of 18-AWG steel cable attached by two crimp-on ring terminals(all insulated). Cheesy... [wink]
I had 11 drawers to put together and mount tonight so I put it all back in the Sys and went to work. After I was done, I decided to modify one of them, attacked it with the tablesaw and jigsaw and figured I'd put the sander through its paces cleaning up. Transformer first, to set under the MFT 3. It comes with a power cord, standard PVC coated with all it's associated kinks, looked to be fairly long and I didn't need that so I subbed a short cord I had lying around. Hooked the vac hose up to the Fein, screwed forever to get it mated to the sander, plugged it into the transformer, plugged the sander cord into it, checked the Abranet on the sander(120 grit), flipped the switch on the XFMR and hit the paddle on the sander: Nothing! Panic! Then I figured out I had to turn the sander on.... Once that was done I sanded the cut ends and edges of the drawer with ease, this thing is an absolute joy to work with! Fits right in the palm of your hand, practically weightless compared with any sander I've used, cuts fast and practically no dust. No "stiction" with the Fein, no need to cut back on suction power.
Set it down, grabbed a 180 disc to finish up and discovered that you really, really need to get in the habit of turning the thing off when you change discs: there ain't much of a spring under that palm lever. Changing discs involves laying the sander down upside-down, pulling off the disc and pressing on the new disc. Having the tool spring into life at 10,000 RPM at the last stage of the process is a bit disconcerting [eek]. A stiffer spring for the palm lever would be welcome, IMO.
After finishing up with the drawers I decided to give the HD discs a try. I have a chunk of 8/4 roughsawn walnut leaned up in the corner acclimating so I slapped on the 40-grit disc and went at it hard, full RPM. After a couple minutes the last foot or so of the board was cleaned up, the sander was getting warm, nowhere near uncomfortable to hold. I leaned on it as hard as I could and never slowed it down. I don't know what they've got in that transformer box or inside the sander but it's STOUT! Switched over to the 180 disc(something I'd never do after a 40-grit roughing), another couple minutes and the board's smooth as the proverbial babies butt. Absolutely a-freaking-mazing!
Haven't worked with it long but it looks like this might just be the sander I've always wanted but never believed could be made. Pro: great power, great dust extraction, unbelievably light weight and handling for an electric sander. Con: First and foremost, the price. Once you get over that, the wimpy spring in the actuation lever, the seemingly endless twisting required to attach the hose, the indicator light on the transformer being on the opposite end from the switch.
Keep in mind these are first impressions, but on a 10 scale I'd have to give this baby a solid 9. First "9" sander I've seen in thirty years....
Best,
Bill
