Waterlox buffing with ETS EC 150/5 EQ vs Rotex 150

[Godzilla]

Hi Festool Owners!

I made the jump and purchased my first ever Festool tool this Saturday! Boy was it an awesome experience. 

I've been working on a massive white oak dining table, and decided to visit my local Festool dealer for a Rotex 150; I've heard it's an awesome sander. This is my first large project, and it's a rarity I do things this size. I mostly do small projects; dovetail boxes, small furniture items. After talking over my needs with the dealer, he pointed me to the ETS EC 150/5 EQ. Ended up leaving the dealer with the new ETS 150, a CT 15 vac, and a stack of various sandpapers.

One thing I'm curious about, can this sander also be used for buffing? I'm mostly concerned with finishes like the Waterlox TrueTone product line; it's a buff-in type tung oil finish. 

Would you recommend sticking with the ETS 150/5, or use the 30-day satisfaction grantee and go back for the Rotex?

 

[c_dwyer]

Hi [member=74677]Godzilla[/member]
Welcome to the FOG!  Either will work just fine.  I have both the ETS EC 150/3 and the RO 150. I typically use the ETS EC 150 for large items such as tables, where I can reach further while holding the sander with just one hand, vs. the Rotex, which I tend to use real close (two-handed), for aggressive sanding and when my son is using the EC 150.

I like them both, but tend to use the EC more these days based on what I've been working on this past year.
C.

 

[xedos]

Random orbit isn’t really the pattern for buffing.  The rotex sanders in rotary mode are though.  That’s why you see sheepskin pads as accessories for them.

I think you dealer did you a dis-service steering towards the 150mm sander based on what you say you work on.  Especially the /5 orbit.  A better choice would be the EC125.  You can buy the 150mm pad to use on it if you’d like the added surface area, and the /3 orbit will be better suited for finishing on small work.  It’s still not going to be a buffer though.

 

[AlexThePalex]

+1 what xedos said.

 

[c_dwyer]

Ah, makes sense.  Thank you for clarifying that for me as well.
C.