Think I need a 2nd sander?

[Thompmd]

The only sander I have is the RO150. Took a long time to learn how to use,still learning!!

Considering a 2nd sander and I’m thinking 150/3 ets ec.

Everything I do is flat work and 100% wood and 99% Walnut.

Always use dust collection

Hobby guy 100%

Read the sander guide and saw it was a little dated and didn’t know if there were any changes.

Thoughts and Thanks in Advance

 

[afish]

RO150 is a lot of sander to be your only one... You are on the right track with the ec150.  Some will say to get the ec125 and add the 150 pad.  Thats a judgement call for you.  You already have a 150 so Im assuming all your paper is already 150.  Hands down the EC will be muuuuuuuch more pleasant to use.  You wont be sorry and even if you are you got 30 days to try it.  Im not a Festool nut and buy what whatever suits my needs the best but I do really like festools sanders. 

 

[Rick Herrick]

I agree with afish.  The ETS-EC 125 is a great sander (I love mine) and you can get a 150 pad for it.  You can't get a 125 pad for the 150 sander though.

 

[CeeJay]

I have the RO150 and the ETS EC150. I am also a hobbyist. I find the combo to be very good (also DTS for smaller pieces).

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mino]

Having a Rotex, I would go for a finish sander.

I.e. a sander that will allow you what you cannot accomplish with the Rotex aka "the capability play".

Only after/if having a finish sander would I go for an ETS EC as the "efficiency play". Allowing what the Rotex can do, just better and easier.

So having a Rotex on hand, my order would be:

1st) ETSC 125 + the Edge Sanding Guide

2nd) ETS EC 125/3 + 150 soft pad + 150 hard pad

 

[Thompmd]

I should add that I plan on staying with a 6” sander since I have the sandpaper and most of the things I do are larger.

What is the reasoning for getting a 5” and then purchasing a 6” pad?

I haven’t t looked but I assume the watts is higher on the 6”?

I haven’t purchased any Festool tools since the Pandemic, is there a problem getting a 150/3?

 

[woodwise]

As I understand it, the 125 ec has the exact same internals as the 150. But, you can use the 125 with the larger pad and then you have 125 if you ever need it. On the other hand, you can not use the 125 pad on the 150...

Good luck

 

[mino]

As I understand it, the 125 ec has the exact same internals as the 150. But, you can use the 125 with the larger pad and then you have 125 if you ever need it. On the other hand, you can not use the 125 pad on the 150...

Good luck

Correct.
For a hobby user, the ETS EC 150 series really makes sense only in the 150/5 version.

Even my old WTS 150/7 (with 7mm stroke) uses the same "old" non-winged pad interface as the ETS EC 125/3 and not the "winged" type of the ETS 150 EC series. The "simpler" interface is definitely strong-enough to handle the 6" pads with 3mm stroke in the orbital sanding mode ... if it can handle 6" at 7mm stroke.

Probably Festool has/had some future plans to merge the Rotex and ETS pad series, or something, so they introduced the "winged" pad design as a mechanically stronger option for the 6" models.

 

[Cheese]

1. What is the reasoning for getting a 5” and then purchasing a 6” pad?

2. I haven’t t looked but I assume the watts is higher on the 6”?

3. I haven’t purchased any Festool tools since the Pandemic, is there a problem getting a 150/3?

1. More flexibility, if you ever need to use a 5" pad then you're golden...just purchase & install one. The ETS EC 125 = $439, the ETS EC150 = $539.

2. The ETS EC 125/3, 150/3 and 150/5 are all 400 watt machines. Everything is the same except for 3 parts, the drive shaft/pad assembly and the colored plastic insert on the top of the machine.

Here's the interior of an ETS EC 125...hmmmmm.

[attachimg=1]

3. My local Woodcraft has all 3 sanders available. You just have to look around, some places have them & some don't.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I have both a Rotex 150 and a 150/3. (older versions 'cause they last forever and I bought them in the mid-2000s) I only really use the Rotex when it's the right tool for the job...it's a two-handed tool and not comfortable for routing sanding, IMHO. The 150/3 gets the majority of the work accordingly. Good combination and you still have the 5mm orbit available with the Rotex if you really need that for the job at hand while the 3mm orbit does a wonderful job for the rest including finish sanding.

 

[huntdupl]

call me the odd ball out and not to add confusion, but the ETS EC 150/3 (while a wonderful sander) is my least favorite Festool purchase > I would get the 150/5 if back in the same situation. I can get fantastic results with just the Rotex and again (call me crazy), but have worst luck on orbital... The portability and ergonomics of the EC (especially overhead) is hard to beat, but I find myself wishing for more power or faster results. I'm mainly refinishing, renovations, or flatwork such as table tops, but I have zero issues with swirl marks and rarely find myself reaching the 150/3. Paints and hardwax oil finishes typically, paint films or burnishing.

I've always had 6" sanders, can't imagine buying separate sizes for both pads and paper. $$$

 

[Thompmd]

I definitely have some occasional issues w pigtails which is one of the reasons I’d be adding another sander . One of my large frustrations is when I find swirls and go back to repair the I sometimes create a small pit that looks terrible in the right light and I’m hoping this purchase might fix the issue.

I agree that the RO150 is a 2 handed sander. The sander still jumps on me occasionally even when I’m not in the Rotex mode and even in higher grits.

Maybe an obvious question but is there much difference between the 3 & 5mm stroke in regards to finish and the time.

 

[afish]

3mm stroke is considered more a fine finish sander where the 5mm is a bit of a compromise between finish sander and higher removal rate.  Your RO already has the 5mm stroke so you got that covered albeit with 2 hands usually.  I would get the 150/3 or 125/3 with the 150 pad if you so choose, hands down.  That is the perfect complimentary sander to the RO150.  Also the 125 req with the edge guide is a nice add on to those two if you do much edge sanding and then the DTS for corners.  Pretty much the dream team right there. 

I work mostly with sheet goods so I dont usually need to remove much material the 3mm orbit is my largest orbit currently.  I have thought about adding the 5mm but really the 150/3 doesnt seem slow to me.  Its just a pleasure to use with its easy 1 hand operation and low dust I dont see a huge benefit of adding the 150/5 but I really like festools sanders so I might grab one just to have if my visa ever has a light month...

 

[HarveyWildes]

Of course you need a second sander.  This is the Festool Owner's Group.  In fact, you may need another two or three after that!

I have the Rotex and the ETS-EC 150/5.  I only use the Rotex for hogging off large amount of wood dust, so I prefer the 5mm stroke on the ETS for woodworking, but I also have an ETS 125/3.

 

[Mtpisgah]

I have an ETS125 and RO125. They are the perfect combo. I also have a DTS400 which I bought trying to save a few dollars rather than buying a RO90. It is ok but I wish I had bought the RO90.

 

[Thompmd]

Thanks to everyone for their input!

I still like the 150mm but don’t see that you can get an edge guide for it? Am I just not seeing it?

If so that may push me back to the 125, then adding the edge guide and 150 pad.

 

[Cheese]

I still like the 150mm but don’t see that you can get an edge guide for it? Am I just not seeing it?

If so that may push me back to the 125, then adding the edge guide and 150 pad.

For the ETS EC series of sanders, they do not offer an edge guard/protector and will not attach to the newer sanding guide.  [sad]

The ETS 125 was designed to attach to the sanding guide and practically speaking, it is the sander that Festool chose for that task.

Another caveat, is that the ETS EC series will NOT support the use of a dust bag. It needs to always be connected to a dust extractor. To shorten the height of the sander and improve the ergonomics, Festool removed the internal impeller that would normally collect the dust and move it to the dust bag.

 

[afish]

sorry for confusion.  What cheese said the EC will not fit the edge guide.  THIS is the sander you need for the edge guide.  Luckily it isnt one of the more expensive options in the festool line.  I really enjoy having it though.  HERE is a link to the edge guide.  IF I was in the Festool cordless I would get the cordless version of the sander.  I prefer to use mine without the CT hooked up to it and use the bag.  It does a decent job with the bag but the hose wants to put some strain on the sander and my wrist.  The bag makes it easy to maneuver and lighter.  The cord is fine but does get in the way sometimes but not enough for me to buy into another battery platform.  However, if you already have Festool cordless its something to consider. 

 

[Ebuwan]

I have an ETS EC 150 and an RTS 400, and i've not been terribly wanting. 

I do have a RO on my wish list though.

 

[Bertotti]

I'm the odd guy out. I use the ro150 and a ro90 for virtually everything. The 90 is a handful but gets me in the tighter areas but the ro150 gets 90% of all my sanding. I also have an old Craftsman half sheet and Ridgid quarter-sheet sanders but never use them. I have had zero issues getting good finishes with the RO's. Do you want to add a sander for comfort or versatility? I would say that would be the best way to determine where you want to go with your sander purchase. Sadly I think have more into abrasives for both than the actual purchase prices for both. But it will last me a couple of years for some grits a lot more.