What 2 sanders?

[dougolupski]

Hi All
Its the age old Festool question what 2 sanders to buy [laughing]? I currently have a 3M 5" 5mm stroke electric sander and while it works well I have been seeing a troubling amount of failures of this new sander as of late. I was already planning on buying an ETS 125 and the angle holder because they would fit a niche I dont have for a lighter fine sander and as far as Festool is concerned its cheap.

So I am now planning on selling my 3M and just going all Festool so the thoughts are still buying the ETS 125 and now add to replace the 3M with the RO 150.

I do all hobby work and repairs on our 80 year old home so theres lots of paint and fills to clear away (i am testing for lead) on projects. And slowly graduating from ply wood cabinet building to solids woods.

No matter what I buy I have a Midi 1 to collect dust.

Is there another combo you would go with or does this track for most?

 

[jeffinsgf]

Being chea.....uh, frugal, I would lean toward getting the same size pads for both sanders. I have an ETS-125 and an RO-125 and an RO-90. That threesome takes care of anything I need to do. Aside from abrasive size, I'm not sure I'm man enough anymore to handle an RO-150 all day.

 

[Sparktrician]

Being chea.....uh, frugal, I would lean toward getting the same size pads for both sanders. I have an ETS-125 and an RO-125 and an RO-90. That threesome takes care of anything I need to do. Aside from abrasive size, I'm not sure I'm man enough anymore to handle an RO-150 all day.

I concur, but would add the RTS 400.  [smile]  That said, the RO 150 is easier to handle and less sensitive to tipping than the RO 125.  Be aware that the RO 125 takes a good bit of finesse to get the best results.  Pick one size of round abrasives that work best in your circumstances and go with that. 

 

[Cheese]

I have an ETS 125, an ETS EC 125 and a RO 125. When I need a 6" sander I swap out the pads on the ETS EC 125.

Pad swapping only works on the ETS EC 125, NOT the ETS EC 150. Here's the 150 mm pad on the 125.

[attachimg=1]

 

[NiteWalkerGR]

My first two festool sanders were the ets ec 150/5 and the rts 400.
Doing it again, I'd make the same choices, though I'd be very tempted by the dts 400 as well.

 

[jeffinsgf]

...  That said, the RO 150 is easier to handle and less sensitive to tipping than the RO 125.  Be aware that the RO 125 takes a good bit of finesse to get the best results.  Pick one size of round abrasives that work best in your circumstances and go with that.

I am surprised to hear that. I picked that monster up a couple times in the store and gravitated to the 125 just from mass. That, and the 6" pad just seems like it would be too big for a lot of the smaller items I tend to make.

 

[Doug H]

I agree with Jeff. I recently picked up a RO-90 to go with my RO-125 and ETS-125 and those 3 cover just about everything. (I should have purchased the RO-90 much sooner)  The edge guide is a great addition for the ETS-125, too.

 

[jeffinsgf]

.... (I should have purchased the RO-90 much sooner)  ...

It's like the Swiss Army Knife of sanders. My Fein Multimaster hasn't been out of its case since the RO-90 got here.

 

[Cheese]

It's like the Swiss Army Knife of sanders. My Fein Multimaster hasn't been out of its case since the RO-90 got here.

I use the RO 90 for polishing out headlight and taillight lenses…a perfect application for that.

 

[woodferret]

It's like the Swiss Army Knife of sanders. My Fein Multimaster hasn't been out of its case since the RO-90 got here.

Heh, I thought it was just me.  I'm still kicking myself for not getting the Vecturo (because I might want to sand with the MM).

 

[Coen]

80 year old home = a lot of wood? So wood-covered overhang roof? Wood window frames?

I'd say... RTS 400. ETS is not gonna get into any inner corner.

.... (I should have purchased the RO-90 much sooner)  ...

It's like the Swiss Army Knife of sanders. My Fein Multimaster hasn't been out of its case since the RO-90 got here.

The oscillating tools suck at sanding. I think I only ever used one for sanding where was something where only the sleek body of the Multimaster fitted.

It's like the Swiss Army Knife of sanders. My Fein Multimaster hasn't been out of its case since the RO-90 got here.

Heh, I thought it was just me.  I'm still kicking myself for not getting the Vecturo (because I might want to sand with the MM).

I don't get it?? You can buy sanding pads for the Vecturo just as well???

 

[Doug H]

It's like the Swiss Army Knife of sanders. My Fein Multimaster hasn't been out of its case since the RO-90 got here.

I use the RO 90 for polishing out headlight and taillight lenses…a perfect application for that.

I use my RO-125 for car polishing, as well as woodworking. I got the polishing pad for the RO-90, too.  It should be great for headlights and narrow areas. Great idea.

 

[Sparktrician]

It's like the Swiss Army Knife of sanders. My Fein Multimaster hasn't been out of its case since the RO-90 got here.

I use the RO 90 for polishing out headlight and taillight lenses…a perfect application for that.

I use my RO-125 for car polishing, as well as woodworking. I got the polishing pad for the RO-90, too.  It should be great for headlights and narrow areas. Great idea.

If you're going to polish headlights and the like, first use blue tape to protect painted surfaces, but hold it back from the lens by 1/8" or so.  Then use aluminum duct tape over the blue tape, but run it right up to the lens.  You'll have to cut several pieces of the aluminum tape to go around curved surfaces.  The aluminum tape will prevent paint burning, and the blue tape releases from painted surfaces much more easily than the aggressive adhesive on the aluminum tape.  I have a document somewhere that goes into the schedule of abrasives needed for headlights.  PM me if you'd like a copy.  [smile]

I've attached a PDF to this message since it appears that I can't attach to a PM. 

 

[Crazyraceguy]

My first Festool sander was an RO90, for just the reason stated above, Swiss Army knife. The next was an ETS EC 125, because I was beginning to see the need to get away from pneumatic sanders, which lack dust extraction. The form-factor was what drew me in, I just don't like the tall body of most electric sanders.
Later came the RO125, again to have the much more aggressive sander, while still on dust extraction.
Keeping with the 125mm discs, to minimize sizes.
The RAS115, which I couldn't do without, is a little beyond what I would really call a sander. Sure, it moves abrasive discs around under power, but I use it more like a grinder, than sander.
I just bought the RTS400 on a whim, but found that I use it quite a lot. In my current workflow, it's a luxury, not necessity though.
The company I work for has a couple of RO150s that I have used several times. Having already become accustomed to the RO125, I don't see it as much different, other than heavier.
Overall....RO90, RO125, ETS EC125 for most people/situations
Sorry, that's 3 not 2  [unsure]

Polishing headlights is a bit like an addiction, once you start, you have to keep doing it.
There is a coating on them from the beginning, which is the UV protector. Once it fails, the polishing begins, but it won't last long, the UV screener is nolonger  helping, so repolishing more often is required.

 

[PaulMarcel]

I've attached a PDF to this message since it appears that I can't attach to a PM. 

Thanks, Willy!

 

[Doug H]

I've attached a PDF to this message since it appears that I can't attach to a PM. 

Thanks, Willy!

I will second that.  Thanks for sharing.

 

[PaulMarcel]

My most used is definitely the RO-90.
My first was the RO-125 then picked up the DTS-400, which I used to death. Smaller pad than the RTS-400 (cuz triangle not rectangle) so if you don't need corners, the RTS-400 may be better (I don't have it).
I have the RO-150 and have largely stopped using the RO-125. As for the balance, there is an optional front handle that snaps on for the RO-150 that makes a world of difference.
So if I had to pick 2 especially given your home repairs, it would be the RO-90 (remember that it has a delta pad, too) and either RO-125 or RO-150. 150 is more expensive, but has a 47% larger pad and stronger motor so you can definitely do large work more quickly. But if that isn't a large part of what you'll be doing, the RO-125 is really nice and easy one-handed.
I don't have any ETS style sander since the Rotex have eccentric mode besides direct drive.

 

[woodferret]

I don't get it?? You can buy sanding pads for the Vecturo just as well???

The MM has that long vacuum boom arm for sanding pads.  Kinda like the integrated port on the RO90, but worse

 

[Cheese]

Polishing headlights is a bit like an addiction, once you start, you have to keep doing it.
There is a coating on them from the beginning, which is the UV protector. Once it fails, the polishing begins, but it won't last long, the UV screener is nolonger  helping, so repolishing more often is required.

When it comes to the longevity of headlight headlight covers, I find it's about 10 years from the original date of manufacture before you'll need to address the issue. Those that peddle their automobiles sooner needn't worry about this issue...wish I was so fortunate.  [smile]
Initially, the headlight lens will become cloudy but eventually after more exposure, it will also become yellowed, that's when you need to take some type of action.

Once you decide to polish the headlight cover, which removes the latent factory UV coating, it will need to be repolished every 1-3 years depending upon the exposure of the headlights to UV lighting.  The best scenario is to keep the automobile garaged indoors rather than being exposed to outside sunlight.

 

[alltracman78]

I have old trucks too.
Crazy that stuff made in the 2000s is old.....
Unfortunately there's no room in the garage for them.

I won't touch my headlights with anything powered, I want to take as little material off as possible. They're small enough I just use elbow grease.

After I polish I coat them with Klasse.

I'm actually overdue to do them.