What 2 sanders?

[Cheese]

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.

Because the Rotex mode is so aggressive, I'd try stepping back one grit level when going from Rotex mode to DA mode. If the last grit was 150 in Rotex mode, start with 120 in the DA mode and then go up from there.

Remember, the RO 150 has a 5 mm stroke so you'll probably not get as fine a finish as you would if you used a 3 mm stroke sander. The RO 125 has a 3.6 mm stroke and the ETS 125/DTS/RTS all have the smallest sanding stroke at 2 mm to give you fine/super fine sanding results.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I've spent most of the last weekend doing many long hours of finish sanding, and it reminded me again just how good the ETS EC's are. No sore wrists, fatigue or tingles, just amazing ergonomics in a brilliant tool. I couldn't be without them now.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Remember, the RO 150 has a 5 mm stroke so you'll probably not get as fine a finish as you would if you used a 3 mm stroke sander.

Meh, it's just technique, I get as fine a finish with the 150 as with any other sander..........  [tongue] [smile]

 

[jcrowe1950]

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?

    Probably no answer for all use cases but if it was me, I'd go for a Rotex 150 and an ETS EC 150/5. But my use case is doing large flat surfaces. Those are the two of my six Festool sanders that I use the most. For specific purpose of creating a flat surface, I still like the old RS 2. Mostly what I have done is various sizes of tables. The one Festool sander that I have and rarely use is the RAS 115, which I suspect was eliminated in favor of the Rotex 125 but it's a pure rotary sander.....good for sculpting wood quickly but a pretty rough tool....as always...YMMV.
P.S. - the advice from others here is really good. Lots of very experienced and talented folks here.

 

[dougolupski]

Yeah I kinda knew posting this I would all types of answers but I got a lot of good info out of it. I picked up a used DTS400 for 180.00 yesterday so I am looking at the ETS 125 next then the deciding on the RO 125/150 next month when I can play with them.

 

[Coen]

Remember, the RO 150 has a 5 mm stroke so you'll probably not get as fine a finish as you would if you used a 3 mm stroke sander.

Meh, it's just technique, I get as fine a finish with the 150 as with any other sander..........  [tongue] [smile]

I see burnnnnn marks all over the place  [cool]