Various sources of sandpaper for use with ETS EC 150/3?

[Woody Knotsensplintahs]

Hi,
I am about to order a CT26 and after asking here previously about sanders I have decided to bundle a ETS EC 150/3 sander with the purchase.

Are there various sources or alternate brands of sandpaper that work well with this sander? Are there some alternatives that offer great value, or perhaps just false economy?

I will most often used the sander with cabinet grade plywood for finish prep and finish work.

Thank you.

 

[Sanderxpander]

I don't know about budget options but for plywood sanding I've had great results with Mirka Abranet, I suppose it would be the same as Granat Net from Festool as Mirka manufactures this for Festool. But it lasts forever and leaves a really smooth finish. I got starter packs of ten of the Abranet which are proportionally more expensive but I've only using like three sheets of each grit on a whole bunch of plywood sheets.

 

[Woody Knotsensplintahs]

Thank you for the information.

I guess I should also add/ask if any alternative brand sanding papers offer the same level of dust extraction as the main reason I am buying the Festool Sander is to experience the high level of dust extraction.

Thank you.

 

[Sanderxpander]

Mirka Abranet is as good or better. Other papers, for dust extraction I think mainly the hole pattern matters. But sheetgoods are basically "best case scenario" for your sander, you really won't have to worry too much.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Years ago when I purchase my CT33 I too looked for less expensive paper alternatives. I ended up purchasing Festool brand and although expensive up front the paper last long so it's actually a good value.

I know Bob Marino has retired but he was nice enough to split up boxes of abrasives if you didn't need a full box - maybe other dealers still do that.

Mike

 

[Holzhacker]

Get a hold of Chip at festoolnirvana. I believe he'll put together a box with various grits.

 

[AlexThePalex]

If you lived in Holland I could name you many alternatives that work great and are much cheaper.

3M, Colad, SIA, Klingspor, Flexovit, Hamach, Indasa.

3M and Colad are American brands, you should be able to find those in the USA.

The brand that's most economical and the one I use most is Indasa, their Rhinogrip line is very good and only half the price of Festool paper. I've read about Americans on this forum who used it so it must be available from some source somewhere. My main supplier www.nonpaintstore.nl will send it all over the world also.

Any paper with an 8+1 hole pattern offers just as good a dust extraction as Festool paper.

 

[DynaGlide]

[member=70323]Woody Knotsensplintahs[/member] See reply #21 in this thread: http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/sanding-discs-less-$-alternative/msg574679/#msg574679

 

[Woody Knotsensplintahs]

Thank you to everyone for the helpful information.

FWIW the Festool brand $68 100 packs seem like a very good price, but I am not ready to stock up on a full kit at those quantities, so thank you for the suggestions about the custom assortment options.

I finally ordered the dust extractor and sander last night, and having bought the sander sight unseen, I am wondering what the ideal hole pattern for the brushless ETS EC 150/3 EQ-Plus looks like.

The Festool paper products look to be riddled with numerous holes which seems very different from any of the alternate brands.

Do the latest sanders really have that many ports in their base?

Thank you.

edit to add:

...Any paper with an 8+1 hole pattern offers just as good a dust extraction as Festool paper.

I didn't read your post thoroughly before posting a reply. Thank you for the information.

 

[leakyroof]

Klingspor offers some alternatives, available online here in the US.
Granat and Saphir, I feel, are still mainly Festool only since some of the aftermarket alternatives don’t match them exactly. Alex says Europe offers more Mirror copies of Festool Abrasives , I don’t doubt him.
If you’re only needing to sand raw wood or sheet stock, you’ll find more options outside of Festools line since those type abrasives are the most common.

 

[Cheese]

Do the latest sanders really have that many ports in their base?

New pad vs old pad.

[attachimg=1]

If you're going to use either Granat Net or Abranet, you'll also need to use a pad protector. Festool P/N 203343 will prevent the pad from premature wear.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Alex says Europe offers more Mirror copies of Festool Abrasives , I don’t doubt him.

Not sure I said "mirror", but alternatives.

I know of no equal to Saphir, it is really the toughest disc I have ever seen from any brand. There is a type of Flexovit disc though that has a cloth backing reinforced with fibers that is very though also, but still not as strong and durable as Spahir.

I have once seen an entire metal disc for 150 mm sanders, with velcro backing, grit 40 or 50, it looked like you could use it to dig a hole in the Earth's crust. But at €35 I didn't need it.

The Festool paper products look to be riddled with numerous holes which seems very different from any of the alternate brands.

Do the latest sanders really have that many ports in their base?

There is a bit of a "holey" war going on lately in the world of professional sanders, an arms race to get the most holes in a pad. They promise you heaven with all the extra holes, and impressive lab results, alledgedly, but in actual use I don't see the difference with the older pads.

 

[leakyroof]

No slight intended Alex, my choice of Mirror. 

 

[AlexThePalex]

No slight intended Alex, my choice of Mirror.

I know that dude, it really hadn't crossed my mind.  [smile]

 

[Woody Knotsensplintahs]

...I've had great results with Mirka Abranet, I suppose it would be the same as Granat Net from Festool as Mirka manufactures this for Festool...

Hi,
It took me while to figure out that the "net" refers to a netting mesh and that these sheets do not need specific holes.

Thank you.

 

[Woody Knotsensplintahs]

Hi,
I was quite surprised at how rapidly everything shipped and got caught behind schedule with regards to ordering sandpaper, so I just ordered some 17 hole Mestool paper on 2 day Amazon Prime because I couldn't imagine having the new tools in the shop and being able to wait on just the right paper to arrive.

Thank you for all the suggestions. I intend to try many of them over the course of the year.

Thank you.