What sanders do I need?

[dltflt]

I have the RO150 and have been looking at what other sanders I might need/want.  I've been looking at the ETS150/3 for a finer finsh, LS130 for sanding coves and ogees, RTS400 for a small finish sander, and RS2 for a large finish sander.  I primarily build cabinets and finished woodwork.  I never do any painted projects.  I figure I will keep my Fein Multimaster instead of getting the DX93 since I don't use that very often and it does do a good job just no dust collection.  I don't see a need for the DTS400 because it looks like it does the same job as the DX93.

 

[nickao]

I just received the RS2 and I am in love! It flattens large surface great. It does not have the removable plug though. From what I hear North America will not get that sander with the removable plug. Consider it if you are going to be sanding a lot of large flat surfaces.

nickao

 

[dltflt]

Thanks Nickao,
That was the sander at the top of my list.  I have PC 1/2 sheet sander now but no dust collection, That has become my goal to very little dust in my shop.

 

[Fred West]

Don T., I have all of the sanders you are referring to with the exception of the ETS 150/3 as I have the 150/5 and I absolutely love it. So far I must say that I have used my RO150 and ETS150/5 the most but close after that would be the RS2 and the DX93. However, I have yet to use any of the Festool sanders and have any major complaints and the dust collection on all of them is simply superb. You literally just can't go wrong with any of them in my opinion. Fred

 

[Greg_R]

I have noticed a definite difference in finish quality between my ETS150/3 and Rotex150.  This is particularly evident in compressed grain regions of walnut (near knots, etc.).  You can really see the larger orbit marks in certain lighting conditions (a whole bunch of 5mm circles).  The smaller random orbit action of the /3 sander is a lot less obvious (a lot of random fine scratches vs obvious circular scratches).  If it were me, I'd get the 150/3 over the 150/5 if I already owned a RO150.

 

[semenza]

Hi,

  Don , it looks like you have a well thought out line up. And as Fred said - they are all going to do what they are supposed to do very well.

Seth

 

[Joe Jensen]

I purchased the RS2E first as I needed a 1/2 sheet finishing sander and I had been curious about Festool.  I as soon as the RS2E arrived, I ordered the RO150.  I had the RO150 for a week when I decided to replace my old Porter Cable 6" RO with a 150/3.  A month or so later I replace my small palm sander with the RTS400, and I just received an LS130.

I don't have a the Deltex(sp?), DTS400, or any 5" sanders.  I'd like to get a 5" orbital, but that would mean yet another size of sand paper to stock.  As it is, I've spent a ton of money this year on sand paper.  I elected to get all the sizes I've typically used over the years, and to get the 50 count boxes.  Wow, this paper lasts a lot longer than what I'm used to.  Hope the paper holds up over time.  I had a about 20 3*24 sanding belts have the glue joints fail due to age.

Good luck and your list sounds good..joe

 

[dltflt]

Thanks everyone, I feel like I have made the right decisions.

Joe, the sandpaper is an investment that is the other thing I'm looking at with all these sanders due to the cost.

Don

 

[PeterK]

Your selection of sanders I believe exactly matches what Jerry Work uses and recommends.http://www.festoolusa.com/Web_files/Getting_the_most_from_Festool_sanders.pdf
I have the Rotex 150, the ETS150/3, the small 400 series sanders. Thinking of the big RS2 pad sander but it requires another whole set of sand paper.

 

[semenza]

Hi, Don

  Glad you got useful advise.   The other answer to your question is of course  .............   All of them ;D

                  The Festool abrasives last 2-3 times as long as the Mirka Gold I had used previously.  For comparisons sake I had a 6" PC palm grip and did use a vac.  That actually makes them cost less than other brands not more.  If you use enough of it you can eventually make up the cost of the sander 8)  Thats a lot of sanding though.

Seth

 

[Brice Burrell]

  Don, I can comment on the ETS150/3 and RS2, both are worth the money, no question to me. If you were to compare the RS2 to your PC 1/2 sheet sander, well don't bother. The ES2 runs so smoothly you'll wonder why you didn't buy it sooner. I think the ETS 150/3 sander is Festool's finest tool. Other tools may be flashier and/or better promoted, but the ETS 150 is a purpose built machine. Its designed and manufactured to produce the best possible finish, I don't know of a better sander on the market today. I don't think the Rotex sanders can match the performance of the ETS 150. The ETS 150 and the RS2 have an unbelievably flat orbit with almost no vibration transmitted to your hands. Festool's sanders are the most underrated tools in the their lineup, well except for those of us that own them. Good luck, let us know what you decide.

 

[nickao]

  Don, I can comment on the ETS150/3 and RS2, both are worth the money, no question to me. If you were to compare the RS2 to your PC 1/2 sheet sander, well don't bother. The ES2 runs so smoothly you'll wonder why you didn't buy it sooner. I think the ETS 150/3 sander is Festool's finest tool. Other tools may be flashier and/or better promoted, but the ETS 150 is a purpose built machine. Its designed and manufactured to produce the best possible finish, I don't know of a better sander on the market today. I don't think the Rotex sanders can match the performance of the ETS 150. The ETS 150 and the RS2 have an unbelievably flat orbit with almost no vibration transmitted to your hands. Festool's sanders are the most underrated tools in the their lineup, well except for those of us that own them. Good luck, let us know what you decide.

I disagree! Of course you can not compare a sander you can get on amazon off and on for 150.00 to a 300.00 sander.

I have both those sanders and you can compare the Porter Cable. If the dust collection were better than the dumb dust shroud accessory they offer on the PC it would sand even better. Before Festool I used that Porter Cable model outside for flat deck railings and such and it rocked. Sometimes you can get those PC for 150.00 or even less. They are great  sanders. Better than the Festool, no, but a better value for a homeowner, most probably yes, as long as you know there is minimal to no dust collection. I love the Milwaukee 1/2 sheet sander too and guys on the job site would wrestle over it. I also have a Craftsman Professional 1/2 sheet sander I got and for 65.00 I paid on close out. It blows the PC out of the water, when you consider what I paid,. And it has integral dust collection through the pad that works.

I love my Festools, but it seems unfair comparing them to tools that  cost half as much.

 

[festeringtool]

Sadly many of the posters on here do that.

 

[Brice Burrell]

  Nick, I said "If you were to compare the RS2 to your PC 1/2 sheet sander, well don't bother." I didn't compared them. We some times read about unfair comparisons, its hard to comment on what is fair. PC is selling their sander in the same market as the Festool's RS2, so the way I see it, it is fair to compare them. This is especially true because Don already has the PC sander, it would be giving him a basis for comparison and that is very important.

  I took some heat in a recent Kapex thread for not making an apples to apples comparison about dust collection. Truth is comparisons don't have to be "apples to apples" to form a well thought out conclusion. If one is looking for a sander to produce the best possible results then money isn't an important factor. If one is looking for a sander to fit a specific budget, money is. If we are talking about the best value, all factors should be considered, price, performance, built quality and so on of the tools in question. In other words, we aren't comparing "apples to apples", we are looking at the strengths and weaknesses of each product amd weighing them against each other.

 

[Ned]

...seems unfair comparing them to tools that cost half as much.

"Fair" really has nothing to do with it.  The manufacturers offer many different potential solutions to your problem, however you define it:  "Don't want to spend more than $15", "Have to use this thing 7 hours a day", "My guys will probably lose it.", "Sandpaper costs are eating up my profits.", "I'm doing this to relax, and don't want to breathe dust and be vibrated to death", whatever.

Brice's point about what we already have experience with ("Don already has the PC sander") is really important.  Before I was introduced to the ETS 150, I thought my Porter-Cable 333 was a top-of-the-line sander.  A review that said "Festool's ETS 150/3 is really smooth" wouldn't have got through to me, because I thought I had a really smooth sander, the PC.  There has to be a comparison, like "The Festool sanders were vibration-free, much better than the PC..."

Ned

 

[The Woodentop]

I must first state I don't have a Festool sander. Next, I find it impossible to believe the exaggerations I've just read on this thread. Being 'shaken to death' being one. For goodness sake, some folk might be considering buying a sander. Are Festool sanders worth the extra money? Do they do a better job? Let's try to be objective. We don't want to hear why we should buy one just because YOU did! Personally, given the amount of time I spend using an orbital sander I don't mind if it vibrates a bit........my Mrs would love it!

 

[nickao]

  Nick, I said "If you were to compare the RS2 to your PC 1/2 sheet sander, well don't bother." I didn't compared them. We some times read about unfair comparisons, its hard to comment on what is fair. PC is selling their sander in the same market as the Festool's RS2, so the way I see it, it is fair to compare them. This is especially true because Don already has the PC sander, it would be giving him a basis for comparison and that is very important.

  I took some heat in a recent Kapex thread for not making an apples to apples comparison about dust collection. Truth is comparisons don't have to be "apples to apples" to form a well thought out conclusion. If one is looking for a sander to produce the best possible results then money isn't an important factor. If one is looking for a sander to fit a specific budget, money is. If we are talking about the best value, all factors should be considered, price, performance, built quality and so on of the tools in question. In other words, we aren't comparing "apples to apples", we are looking at the strengths and weaknesses of each product amd weighing them against each other.

Point taken

 

[Brice Burrell]

...............We don't want to hear why we should buy one just because YOU did!....

  Actually, that is exactly what most people want to hear or they wouldn't have posted. We understand that "my" needs aren't necessarily the same as "your's". "Your" budget may not be the same as "mine" and so on. But it is the different opinions that allow potential buyers to make informed decisions and that is what makes this community of Festool users so great. If your opinion is different why not explain your views instead of being so hard on those that the time to offer help.   

  So are Festool sanders worth the money, to me yes. Why? Because they have the flattest orbits producing supper flat sanded surfaces. The flat orbit is the result of the high quality materials built to tight tolerances. The bearing used in Festool's sanders are far better than any other sander that I have used. Fein makes high quality sanders also, their 6" sander will produce equal results with a price approaching twice that of Festool's ETS 150. The tight tolerances almost eliminate all vibration, this not only produces better results, it allows the operator to run Festool sander all day long since vibration isn't transmitted to the hands. You don't have to run a sander all day to notice the difference in your hands. Festools dust extraction also helps to produce better results.  The vac collects the little pieces of abrasive that brake off during use. These partials can cause swirl marks by getting trapped between the stock and the paper, they make deep scratches the surface as they make travel under the paper. The vac helps keep the sanding surface and paper cool, this reduces the chances of melting the finish and loading up the paper. Festool's high quality abrasives allows you to choose the right paper for the job. This does a number of things, with the correct abrasive means the paper cuts faster and loads up much less, speeding up the process and reducing the cost by using fewer sheets. I haven't own my Festool sanders for many years yet, but I do expect they will last a long time, I base this from Festool's past performance. All Festool product hold their resale value much, much better than other tools. So if I want to sell one of my sanders to meet my changing needs I'll not only be able to sell one, but also get a fair price for it. You can't do that any of this with cheap sanders and that is why I think my Festool sanders are worth the money.

Edit, forgot to mention the dust collection is better than 95%, really think about that if you ever sand exotic woods with nasty dust.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I have the RO150 and have been looking at what other sanders I might need/want.  I've been looking at the ETS150/3 for a finer finsh, LS130 for sanding coves and ogees, RTS400 for a small finish sander, and RS2 for a large finish sander.  I primarily build cabinets and finished woodwork.  I never do any painted projects.  I figure I will keep my Fein Multimaster instead of getting the DX93 since I don't use that very often and it does do a good job just no dust collection.  I don't see a need for the DTS400 because it looks like it does the same job as the DX93.

Don T,

I have a Proxon detail sander with a triangular pad.  No dust collection.  I think of it as a miniature Multimaster.  When I use it in the house, e.g. removing old finish from window and door frames, I simply plug it into my vacuum and hold the end of the vacuum hose near the sanding action.  That captures most of the dust.  You should be able to do that with your Multimaster.  If search and read other thread on FOG, you'll learn that many have characterized the ETS 150/3 as perhaps the best finishing sander / final polishing machine available, lauding it for its smoothness, stability and balance and the results that can be obtained.  Since you already have the RO 150, I think most on FOG would say you don't need the ETS 150/5 and the less aggressive ETS 150/3 would be a better choice to extend your range.

Dave R.

 

[Les]

I must first state I don't have a Festool sander. Next, I find it impossible to believe the exaggerations I've just read on this thread. Being 'shaken to death' being one. For goodness sake, some folk might be considering buying a sander. Are Festool sanders worth the extra money? Do they do a better job? Let's try to be objective. We don't want to hear why we should buy one just because YOU did! Personally, given the amount of time I spend using an orbital sander I don't mind if it vibrates a bit........my Mrs would love it!

Since you state you don't own a Festool sander, do you think you should comment on the quality of the Festool sanders? The answer to your questions are yes. I have 5 PC sanders that I haven't picked up since buying my 7 Festool sanders.