Thoughts on RS 2 E

[DrDankDust]

While searching around I've found a minimal amount of discussion about this particular sander, and those that I have found seem to be rather dated. I have used my Rotex150 for slab work with much success, I saw RS2E on Recon and decided to give it a shot seems like it could be good for flat glue-ups & slab work I guess I will find out Tuesday when it gets delivered.
Does anyone have any experiences with the sander positive or negative, and thoughts on why it doesn't seem to be mentioned often recently?

 

[Alanbach]

I have five Festool Sanders and it is probably the least used (for me) but that does not mean that it is not a great sander. Its just pretty specialized but the good news is that it is REALLY GOOD at what it’s good at. The workpiece really needs to already be flat and if it is and it is really big then this sander really excels! If you make a bunch of large table tops or big flat slab doors you will really love this big boy.

 

[Cheese]

Here's a recent thread on the RS 2.

I have one and love it and though it isn't used a lot, it has a permanent place in my sander line-up.
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tool-reviews/festool-rs-2e/msg599540/#msg599540

 

[peter halle]

The Rs 2 is a specialty or niche sander in my mind.  If you need to sand large panels and want flatness that you will not achieve with a round head sander, then you can find a use of it and it can bring a smile to your face.  And you will not want to tell competitors about how you achieved your finish.  To attend a class and see it in action and the suction properly adjusted and basically guiding the sander by the vac hose with no pressure on the tool is really mind blowing.

I don't own one.  My work doesn't require that although how much I would like to have one.  But I have handled one many times in training classes.

Peter

 

[MrToolJunkie]

It is a gem of a sander. It works with lower grits, but shines at 180 grit and above. It takes a little practice to learn to drive it, but once you do it is a great sander. I think all furniture makers should have one in their lineup.

 

[jeh]

I do a lot of pre-finishing of sheet goods prior to cutting and bought this sander for the first sand after applying a water-based clear or paint. No swirl marks and easy on the hands (low to no vibration).

As an aside I bought the LS130 which is also a sander I use regularly though I only bought it for round stock.

 

[DrDankDust]

As always I ask and the F.O.G delivers, It was a bit of an impulse buy & before even having it in my hands I got nervous, but ya'll have put my mind at ease. It seems this will work in the scenarios I thought it would, was hoping for lower grits too but the rotex plows does that job in spades!
I have an extension that updates me whenever Recon is updated, however I find that it opens the door to F.O.M.O purchases where you buy something that you didn't spend the time researching you normally would, because the clock is ticking on that deal!
Thanks for all the input guys as always it's appreciated!

 

[Mike Goetzke]

I had interest in this thread too. Good to hear it's a good performer. I always seem to buy a tool once I finish a job where I could have really used it. I built couple cabinets for my son that had edge glued tops that were too wide to make a light pass with my 15" planer so had to sand them. Then a week later a like new RS2E with paper punch came up on the local CL for a great price so I bought it - have a couple wood vanity tops to do.

Mike

 

[butzla]

I've had one for over 10 years now.  It's a Cadillac to operate.  Very solid and like others have said, requires little to no downward hand pressure.  It's great for flattening face frames without rounding over the edges and keeping all the surfaces coplanar. 

Would I buy it again?  Definitely not.  I bought it when I first got the green fever and I was gobbling up new tools.  It reminded me of the half sheet orbital sander my Dad had when I was a kid. It was from the 50's and all chrome.  I wouldn't buy it again because I hardly ever use it, maybe once a year....if that.  The other Festool sanders I have (ETS 125 &150, RO150), I've learned to operate well enough to compete with the RS's results.  I keep it for nostalgia's sake and when I do use it, I'm reminded of how well built it is, albeit lacking the plug-it cord (which is a big gripe for me)

 

[Roseland]

I see the Rutscher RS100 is discontinued, and I see very few comments about it.  I have one, and as far as I can tell it's a more brutal version of the RS2.  Anyone know why it was dropped?

Andrew

 

[Cheese]

FWIW...the RS 2 will be going up to $450 on April 1st.

Here's what Festool has to say about the RS 2.