Video: Comparison of the ETS EC 125/3 EQ and ETS 125 EQ

[erock]

Good morning, good afternoon,  good evening.....depending on which part of the world you are in.  I just wanted to cover all the possibilities.    [tongue]

I thought I would put a little video together sharing what I like about the new ETS EC 125 and compare it to the previous ETS 125 model.  Often I get asked for sander recommendations.  Hopefully this video will help someone.    Hope you enjoy !



If you don't want to watch the video.  But would like to know why I upgraded.

1. Brushless motor.  The power of the ETS EC 125 is double of the previous ETS 125.
2. The brake pad is a fantastic feature. 
3. The low profile makes it a breeze to use all day.
4. Very little to zero vibration.  With the previous ETS 125 after sanding for a extended period of time, my hand would have that
    numb feeling.  I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

Take care FOG-ERS !      Go make something with your collection of tools and share them with us !!!!!

Eric

 

[ear3]

Thanks for posting.  You wouldn't think that the brake pad would make all that much difference prior to using it, but the first time I switched back to my ETS 150/3 after using the EC it felt like an eternity waiting for the pad to stop spinning.

 

[Jamestoolie]

helpful comparison.  thanks.

 

[peter halle]

Thanks for the video.  I had forgotten about the shut off if no hose attached feature.  Great thing in put into the old memory box for when the question arises here on the forum about "My new sander is working intermittently..."

Peter

 

[AndreyUK]

my fast review of EC series http://gear-mania.com/review/festool-ets-ec/

 

[erock]

Thanks for posting.  You wouldn't think that the brake pad would make all that much difference prior to using it, but the first time I switched back to my ETS 150/3 after using the EC it felt like an eternity waiting for the pad to stop spinning.

[member=37411]Edward A Reno III[/member]

Yep,  sometimes the small things in life make a huge difference !   

Eric

 

[erock]

Thanks for the video.  I had forgotten about the shut off if no hose attached feature.  Great thing in put into the old memory box for when the question arises here on the forum about "My new sander is working intermittently..."

Peter

[member=1674]Peter Halle[/member]

"The old memory box"    Hmmm......off the top of my head I have a couple jokes......you get plenty of headaches around here that I'll leave you alone.......

Well.....maybe just one joke.....I can't resist.......  [tongue]

Careful with what you add to that OLD memory box of yours, Peter.    You might want to check too see how much memory space you have available.      [tongue]    [poke]

Eric

 

 

[Tinker]

[member=8352]erock[/member] Great demo and vid.
Not so great joke  [poke]

How does the ETS 125/3 EQ compare to the RO 150 in control?  A lot of guys seem to have serious problems with controlling the RO.  I had a lot of years operating trowel and grinding machines for concrete finishing and polishing, so have had little problem; but I can see where the tool can develop a mind of its own if not paying attention.

I realize when comparing a 125 to a 150, it is not exactly apples to apples, but I am sure you have a feeling, or others will chime in with the answer.  Also, how does the EQ compare to the RO for taking down rough material in a hurry? 
Tinker

 

[Holmz]

[member=8352]erock[/member] Great demo and vid.
Not so great joke  [poke]

How does the ETS 125/3 EQ compare to the RO 150 in control?
...

I only used a RO for 1/2 hour and the ETS EC for 5 minutes, and I have a sander similar to the ETS EC.

Basically your grandmother or little sister can use it without any special skills. It is nice.

 

[Cheese]

Thanks for posting the vid Eric.

One thing I did notice, is that the ETS EC 125 has probably twice the amount of suction than the ETS 125 does with no vac hose attached. It would probably work extremely well with the ETS 125 Turbo Dust bag if it fit.

 

[erock]

[member=8352]erock[/member] Great demo and vid.
Not so great joke  [poke]

How does the ETS 125/3 EQ compare to the RO 150 in control?  A lot of guys seem to have serious problems with controlling the RO.  I had a lot of years operating trowel and grinding machines for concrete finishing and polishing, so have had little problem; but I can see where the tool can develop a mind of its own if not paying attention.

I realize when comparing a 125 to a 150, it is not exactly apples to apples, but I am sure you have a feeling, or others will chime in with the answer.  Also, how does the EQ compare to the RO for taking down rough material in a hurry? 
Tinker

[member=550]Tinker[/member]
You're correct buddy,  no comparison between the Rotex sander with any other sander.  It's simply a different animal. 
Controlling the ETS EC only takes one hand.  Very easy to handle.  The Rotex sanders, some guys need two hands, some can use the Rotex with one. 
When it comes to material removal, the ETS EC has plenty of power to remove material fairly quickly.  You can't compare the material removal of the ETS EC 125 with the Rotex 150.  There simply is no comparison between the two. 

I've used the ETS EC 125 with 60 grit working my way up to 220 grit on a very rough piece of poplar.  I made a video about it....

Wanna see it ?



Hope you get an idea of how well the ETS EC 125 can remove material. 

Eric

 

[erock]

Thanks for posting the vid Eric.

One thing I did notice, is that the ETS EC 125 has probably twice the amount of suction than the ETS 125 does with no vac hose attached. It would probably work extremely well with the ETS 125 Turbo Dust bag if it fit.

[member=44099]Cheese[/member]
I tried the Turbo bag on the ETS EC 125,  but it was not a perfect fit.  With the low profile of the ETS EC, the power cord kinda gets in the way of the turbo bag.    I did not give the turbo bag with the ETS EC  a full trial run while sanding a board.  I just tried hooking up the turbo bag to the ETS EC for giggles.   

Eric

 

[Tinker]

[member=8352]erock[/member] Great demo and vid.
Not so great joke  [poke]

How does the ETS 125/3 EQ compare to the RO 150 in control?  A lot of guys seem to have serious problems with controlling the RO.  I had a lot of years operating trowel and grinding machines for concrete finishing and polishing, so have had little problem; but I can see where the tool can develop a mind of its own if not paying attention.

I realize when comparing a 125 to a 150, it is not exactly apples to apples, but I am sure you have a feeling, or others will chime in with the answer.  Also, how does the EQ compare to the RO for taking down rough material in a hurry? 
Tinker

[member=550]Tinker[/member]
You're correct buddy,  no comparison between the Rotex sander with any other sander.  It's simply a different animal. 
Controlling the ETS EC only takes one hand.  Very easy to handle.  The Rotex sanders, some guys need two hands, some can use the Rotex with one. 
When it comes to material removal, the ETS EC has plenty of power to remove material fairly quickly.  You can't compare the material removal of the ETS EC 125 with the Rotex 150.  There simply is no comparison between the two. 

I've used the ETS EC 125 with 60 grit working my way up to 220 grit on a very rough piece of poplar.  I made a video about it....

Wanna see it ?



Hope you get an idea of how well the ETS EC 125 can remove material. 

Eric

Thanks Eric.  For a large area, I do sometimes use my Ro 150 one handed. With back problem, I hold my body up by putting the other hand on table, or the wood I am sanding if the wood piece is large. smaller pieces, I hang on with both hands tho.  I think many use slow speeds when sanding.  There was a discussion a while back about using the RO sanders and the problems people were having.  It was mentioned by several responders that hey used slower speeds.  I had always run my RO at slower speeds until Darcy Warner mentioned that he ran his at full speed.  I tried that and as long as I let the weight of the tool do the work, it was easier to use. That is with harder woods.  I have not had occasion to try fuels speed on softer woods such as pine and popler yet. It looked on your demo that you were using slower speed with the Norton paper. That RO sander is my "do it all" sander.

I watched your demo vid and felt it was more a demo of the sand paper quality.  I looked up Norton site and they have some info.  The discription of the paper is very impressive. They show paers in all grits and small quantity packages for the 5" size.  The packets for the 6" size cover the same range, but in larger quantity packets.  No prices shown on the Norton site.  Also, no dealers shown.  The technology is interesting tho.  I am interested enough to do a little more researching.  Thanks for the heads up.
Tinker

 

[Holmz]

...
You can't compare the material removal of the ETS EC 125 with the Rotex 150.  There simply is no comparison between the two. 
...

Nice Eric.

One could compare the removal rate... If they so choose to do so.

 

[erock]

[/quote]

Thanks Eric.  For a large area, I do sometimes use my Ro 150 one handed. With back problem, I hold my body up by putting the other hand on table, or the wood I am sanding if the wood piece is large. smaller pieces, I hang on with both hands tho.  I think many use slow speeds when sanding.  There was a discussion a while back about using the RO sanders and the problems people were having.  It was mentioned by several responders that hey used slower speeds.  I had always run my RO at slower speeds until Darcy Warner mentioned that he ran his at full speed.  I tried that and as long as I let the weight of the tool do the work, it was easier to use. That is with harder woods.  I have not had occasion to try fuels speed on softer woods such as pine and popler yet. It looked on your demo that you were using slower speed with the Norton paper. That RO sander is my "do it all" sander.

I watched your demo vid and felt it was more a demo of the sand paper quality.  I looked up Norton site and they have some info.  The discription of the paper is very impressive. They show paers in all grits and small quantity packages for the 5" size.  The packets for the 6" size cover the same range, but in larger quantity packets.  No prices shown on the Norton site.  Also, no dealers shown.  The technology is interesting tho.  I am interested enough to do a little more researching.  Thanks for the heads up.
Tinker
[/quote]

[member=550]Tinker[/member]

In the demo video with the Norton paper the ETS EC 125 speed was set at 6, the max.  For the video the focus was more about the sandpaper.    I thought the Norton paper was impressive and just as good as the Festool paper. 
Just yesterday ( Saturday, March 19th) I took my yearly visit to my local Woodcraft, I wanted to buy a Japanese hand saw.....
Anyways,  I noticed that Woodcraft carries the Norton paper.  And the pricing was similar to Festool paper. 
I did a quick little search for Norton paper and Rockler also carries it.

In no way am I saying that the Norton paper is better then the Festool paper.  I don't want to start that debate. 
It is nice to have a second option for me if I find myself in a jam and I can't wait for my preferred dealer to ship me paper.  Being able to run up to a local place and buying a 10 pack of quality paper could save my bacon if needed.

Eric

 

[erock]

...
You can't compare the material removal of the ETS EC 125 with the Rotex 150.  There simply is no comparison between the two. 
...

Nice Eric.

One could compare the removal rate... If they so choose to do so.

[member=40772]Holmz[/member]

Okay.....Okay....Okay.......yeah, if someone wanted to compare the  ETS 125 with a Rotex 150 they could.....But it wouldn't take them long before they notice that the Rotex  possesses  much more power  that will remove material a lot quicker.

I guess I should have said  "It would be unfair to compare the ETS EC 125 to the Rotex 150."

Sorry.....next time I'll have my legal team proof read any further comments I type out before I click "post".    [tongue]    [poke]

Eric

 

[Holmz]

[member=8352]erock[/member] I hear it works faster, but also that it may not be all that much faster.
I only used an RO for ~20-30 minutes.
The RO is certainly more of 2-handed tool.

Better would be the ETS EC 150 to the RO 150.

 

[Tinker]

quote from my original question to Eric >>>I realize when comparing a 125 to a 150, it is not exactly apples to apples, but I am sure you have a feeling, or others will chime in with the answer.  Also, how does the EQ compare to the RO for taking down rough material in a hurry? 

 

[Cheese]

I tried the Turbo bag on the ETS EC 125,  but it was not a perfect fit.  With the low profile of the ETS EC, the power cord kinda gets in the way of the turbo bag.    I did not give the turbo bag with the ETS EC  a full trial run while sanding a board.  I just tried hooking up the turbo bag to the ETS EC for giggles.   

Ya it's that 7/16" extension on the rear of the ETS EC 125 hose connection that prevents the turbo bag from being fully engaged. I also noticed the same extension on the RO 125 & the RO 90. I wonder if that extension was put on specifically to prevent turbo bag usage with those tools?

 

[Scott B.]

quote from my original question to Eric >>>I realize when comparing a 125 to a 150, it is not exactly apples to apples, but I am sure you have a feeling, or others will chime in with the answer.  Also, how does the EQ compare to the RO for taking down rough material in a hurry?