What 2 sanders?

[mino]

On topic:

I second the view to get the ETS 125 with the edge guide and the ETS EC 125/3 + 150 pad.

I digress though on the paper. The paper types one needs for finish sanding and the edge guide use is not as broad as the needs of the "main" sander.

So I would go full-on with 150 paper primarily and with 125 only grits necessary/specifically applicable for finsh sanding and the edge work. Besides being bigger, the 150 AirStream 2 pads are so holy they work better than the 125 pads in my experience. That is atop the size bonus of the 150 paper.

As a third sander after those I would add the RO90 as mentioned too.

When it comes to the longevity of headlight headlight covers, I find it's about 10-12 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.
...

Yeah, the glass headlights on my ol' one had something in them ...  [smile]

Still remember the embarassmenet when I quipped that the friends BMW (10 yrs younger and 10x more expensive) seemed to have pretty weak lights ... He confidently proceeded to challenge me, in front of his GF, to "compare" ... did not end well for his precious ... my then 20+ yrs old big glass headlights had their thing to say about efficiency of light projection ... and the longevity of glass.

 

[HighlandMarine]

Million ways to skin a wooden cat, personally running a RO150 and an ETS EC125/3 with the intention of being able to use the 6” pad on it when needed. (RO90 is on the soon list, that way I need more paper.)

 

[Sparktrician]

I found that I had uploaded the wrong document yesterday.  I've found the correct document this morning, updated it to show current Festool product numbers, and uploaded it in place of the solid surface refinishing procedure document.  My apologies for the boo-boo.  [sad]

 

[Vtshopdog]

More headlight polishing off topic, (apologies to OP)

I tried this Meguires spray on clear coat product about 9 months ago and so far no clouding or yellowing on my older Tacoma lights.  Have been polishing them for years and lately they start to cloud up fairly quickly.  Doubt it will be permanent fix but seems likely to extend the interval before repolishing:
https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G17...locphy=9019786&hvtargid=pla-494576505021&th=1

 

[Cheese]

Hi All
Its the age old Festool question what 2 sanders to buy [laughing]?

The latest Festool Live Sanding Applications may be of interest to you. Sedge does a nice job on stepping through the differences between orbital, random orbital & Rotex.
=PLpBJfh9Law-BeGyB5-IGNTLwt3-7-8IUy&t=1

 

[AlexThePalex]

DTS400 + RO150.

The DTS to get into corners and the RO for the rest.

I'd always go for the RO150 over the RO125. Knowing both sanders intimately, the 150 is so much better. It handles better and it works a lot faster.

After these 2 the ETS 125 is my 3rd most used sander. A great finish sander for the  jobs that need a very fine finish.

 

[dougolupski]

Thank you for all the reply's folks

The plan for now is the ETS 125 with edge guide, I am going to add a DTS 400 when it pops up on Recon (so that will take the one of the functions RO90 for me in my opinion). Then when I am near the next Rockler or Woodcraft I want to handle the RO 125/150 and see if the 150 is too big. I do really prefer the idea of the RO150 with the larger pad cutting down on my sanding time. I can appreciate only having one sanding disk size but as a hobbyist and not blowing through a ton at the moment I dont mind stocking two if it saves me more time sanding. I already have a systainer full of Cubitron mesh disks in 5".

 

[mino]

What Coen meant by RO150 is that the bigger Rotex is less jumpy than the smaller one.

The pad size somehow helps with compliance. This a specific thing with the Rotexes where 150 is generally more complaint than the 125 version. Goes contrary to the conventional wisdom of the bigger one being harder to control ... but so it goes.

 

[lwoirhaye]

I have a RO150 and other sanders by other manufacturers.  I've been thinking of getting a ETS 125 REQ because it has the edge guide.

 

[Cheese]

Sorry......you guys are just a bunch of whiners...the RO 125 is not more difficult to control than the RO 150. I'm 74 years old and there is nothing scary about using the 125, it's called technique. You project the story line that using the RO 125 is tantamount to committing suicide. That's ridiculous....and Festool would back that up otherwise why would they continue to produce the RO 125?

It's a great sander and if others are unable to to control the gyrations, then it's on them and not on the equipment. As is said....it's a poor craftsman that blames his tools.

[popcorn]

 

[Coen]

Sorry......you guys are just a bunch of winers...the RO 125 is not more difficult to control than the RO 150. I'm 74 years old and there is nothing scary about using the 125, it's called technique. You project the story line that using the RO 125 is tantamount to committing suicide. That's ridiculous....and Festool would back that up otherwise why would they continue to produce the RO 125?

It's a great sander and if others are unable to to control the gyrations, then it's on them and not on the equipment. As is said....it's a poor craftsman that blames his tools.

Ok boomer!  [tongue]

You contradict yourself. At first you say "RO125 not more diffucult to control than the RO 150" then you go on saying you need technique to control the RO125.

And then later you blame the craftsman if he doesn't have this technique.

The only conclusion that's valid then is; you apparently need some additional skill (going from your words, not mine) to control the RO125 as good as one can control the RO150 without having that skill, which means they are not equal in difficulty.

Nobody is saying that using the RO125 is tantamount to committing suicide. People are saying;

[...]150 is generally more complaint than the 125 [...]

[...]the 150 is so much better. It handles better[...]

 

[Sparktrician]

Sorry......you guys are just a bunch of winers...the RO 125 is not more difficult to control than the RO 150. I'm 74 years old and there is nothing scary about using the 125, it's called technique. You project the story line that using the RO 125 is tantamount to committing suicide. That's ridiculous....and Festool would back that up otherwise why would they continue to produce the RO 125?

It's a great sander and if others are unable to to control the gyrations, then it's on them and not on the equipment. As is said....it's a poor craftsman that blames his tools.

Anyone needing special instructions on using Festool RO sanders would do well to have a look at
Larry Smith's video on using Festool sanders. 

Whining is NOT permitted, per [member=44099]Cheese[/member].  [big grin]

 

[agehall]

I’m actually finding the RO150 a bit difficult to control. I’m really itching to get an ETS EC as everything points to it being much easier to control. I’m considering getting the ETS EC 125 and putting a 150 pad on it to not have to invest in 125 paper but I’m probably going to end up with the ETS EC 150/5 as it is faster to sand with it.

 

[Cheese]

Ok boomer!  [tongue]

You contradict yourself. At first you say "RO125 not more diffucult to control than the RO 150" then you go on saying you need technique to control the RO125.

OK Coen it's like a large rotary floor polisher, they're not difficult at all to use once you know the technique. Without the technique however, the floor polisher will be dragging you around the room.

[popcorn]

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I’m actually finding the RO150 a bit difficult to control. I’m really itching to get an ETS EC as everything points to it being much easier to control. I’m considering getting the ETS EC 125 and putting a 150 pad on it to not have to invest in 125 paper but I’m probably going to end up with the ETS EC 150/5 as it is faster to sand with it.

If you are already in on the 150 paper, and don't need the aggression of an RO, the ETS EC 150/5 is probably the best compromise. It will be faster for both reasons, disc size and orbit size.
The 125 with an additional 150 pad would be good for occasional larger needs, if you were already in on the 125 abrasive.
The RO sanders (all of them) are a more specialty unit. If you need that, it's the way to go, if not? way overkill. Sure, they can work in random orbit, but it's not ideal. The balance is just not there for the much more casual use of an ETS style sander, where you barely have to hold onto it. One hand and very lightly guiding it around just will not work with the RO. It takes an intentional two-handed grip, for most people anyway. I use mine one-handed on vertical surfaces, but it takes the aforementioned skill/experience to do that. I never shift any of mine out of RO mode though, I have other sanders for that. (again, exception to the norm, I'm in a professional environment)
If you really want to be forced to learn the technique, get ahold of an RO90. The little one takes the most attention to control. It's about angularity. You have to "lead" to tool (slightly lean into it) not actually tipping it, that's not good either. It's just an intentional pressure toward one direction, opposing it with the leverage of the back of the unit. It sounds harder than it is, but the smaller the pad, the more reaction you get from this technique. That's why people say the 150 is easier, but it also takes more effort because of the weight and the reaction from the friction of heavy stock removal. It's all a trade-off and personal perception of which you think is harder.

If I had it to do over, I would have an RO150, but at the time I got my O125, that was the sandpaper company stocked. Everybody in the shop uses 5" paper. All I had to do was tell the supplier to switch from no-hole to Festool pattern 9 hole and it works with either.
About a year later they bought an RO150 for the installer crew. They use it for finishing Corian field-seams, so now the 150mm paper is stocked too.
It's not worth the difference to me at this point, so I stick with the 125.

 

[dougolupski]

Anyone needing special instructions on using Festool RO sanders would do well to have a look at
Larry Smith's video on using Festool sanders. 

Thanks I added that to my morning Youtube queue

 

[rmhinden]

My answer to the question is why only two? 

The Festool sanders I own (in order of purchase) are ETS 125, RO 90, and ETS EC 125/3.  I have the right angle adapter for the ETS 125 and the Woodpeck SandStand.

This combination works well for me.  My go to sander is the ETS EC 125/3.

I consider getting the 150 pad for the ETS EC, but haven't need it so far (along with the cost of getting more sand paper).

Bob

 

[dougolupski]

Two, to minimize initial purchase. You didn't catch my post above saying my plan is now three, ETS 125 DTS400 and either the RO 125/150 once i get my hands on them. The only reason I don't go with the EC range is Festool doesn't have the angle adapter for them. I know there are 3d printed fixed units but the cost for versatility for the standard ETS 125 is king for me.

 

[Imemiter]

If you really want to indulge yourself, consider one of the cordless sanders. They're obviously nice at the top of a ladder, but even in the shop it's useful to have a second sander you can use with the bag or a vacuum hose. They work well with other sanders in that after setting BT switching you only have to swap the hose and can leave the corded sander plugged-in. I believe the cordless 125 fits the edge sanding frame as well.

My favorite combo right now is the ETS EC 150/5 and that RTSC. I like how they play well together. I have a DTS and it's a great, but find myself using a delta pad on my Vecturo more often.   

 

[agehall]

If you are already in on the 150 paper, and don't need the aggression of an RO, the ETS EC 150/5 is probably the best compromise. It will be faster for both reasons, disc size and orbit size.
The 125 with an additional 150 pad would be good for occasional larger needs, if you were already in on the 125 abrasive.

Good advice. I probably will never go for 125 paper as I have more 150 paper than I will ever use after I came across a store going out of business a few years ago. All Festool papers were 50% (or more) off…

The RO sanders (all of them) are a more specialty unit. If you need that, it's the way to go, if not? way overkill. Sure, they can work in random orbit, but it's not ideal.

Yeah, the RO150 was great for sanding down two sheets of construction plywood to a decent finish but once I was done in Rotex-mode, I found it very difficult to continue to a real fine finish in random orbit mode.

I never shift any of mine out of RO mode though, I have other sanders for that. (again, exception to the norm, I'm in a professional environment)

A clear difference here - I’m a home gamer but I enjoy good tools and I want to have fun working with them, not struggling to control them.

If you really want to be forced to learn the technique, get ahold of an RO90. The little one takes the most attention to control.

True. I have the RO90 but it has not seen much use. Maybe I should just practice more with it to learn the technique.