which Festool sander to buy?

[1toolshort]

RTS 400 and ROTEX 125

I had the same dilemma a few years ago.  I felt the 150 was too aggressive for what I was doing, (medium sized furniture pieces, generally)  Then I was hired to make a custom stain grade kitchen and the ROTEX was not so subtle for finish texture.  The 400 is fabulous for that task.  Between those two, I am able to take care of just about ANY task.  I just had a pre-colonial bookcase to build matching existing shelves.  I found that I needed to pull out the belt sander for the first time in 5 years.  That was the exception and I finished the job with the two sanders I mention above.

 

[scoffelt]

I don't have a Rotex, but the 150/3 is my universal sander. Obviously is is a finish sander and not a rough sander, so it takes longer if I need to hog out a little as they say.

 

[Holmz]

Does everyone use sanders these days?

I seems like I hardly hear anyone talk about scrapers.
(I suppose that using powered tools is always better.)

 

[Bigchasbroon]

Does everyone use sanders these days?

I seems like I hardly hear anyone talk about scrapers.
(I suppose that using powered tools is always better.)

I've recently bought scrapers but not had the chance to use them in anger. I'm from a joiners shop background, windows doors stairs and not so much furniture. But an  old cabinet maker told me to use scrapers so I thought I'd try them out. I do remember my old journeyman would use a flat scraper on hardwood with interlocking grain that the machine had torn up.

As for which sanders don't we have this asked and answered every week. And the answer is always RO90 and ets150 and get a midi if you're mobile and ctl26 for the shop.
We should have a list of which to buy in which order until you have them all.

 

[avrs22]

RTS 400 and ROTEX 125

I had the same dilemma a few years ago.  I felt the 150 was too aggressive for what I was doing, (medium sized furniture pieces, generally)  Then I was hired to make a custom stain grade kitchen and the ROTEX was not so subtle for finish texture.  The 400 is fabulous for that task.  Between those two, I am able to take care of just about ANY task.  I just had a pre-colonial bookcase to build matching existing shelves.  I found that I needed to pull out the belt sander for the first time in 5 years.  That was the exception and I finished the job with the two sanders I mention above.

The Rotex can easily produce a finish ready surface.

You can not compare any of the 3 rotex sanders to a finish sander, there 2 different animals.

 

[Holmz]

Does everyone use sanders these days?

I seems like I hardly hear anyone talk about scrapers.
(I suppose that using powered tools is always better.)

I've recently bought scrapers but not had the chance to use them in anger. I'm from a joiners shop background, windows doors stairs and not so much furniture. But an  old cabinet maker told me to use scrapers so I thought I'd try them out. I do remember my old journeyman would use a flat scraper on hardwood with interlocking grain that the machine had torn up.

As for which sanders don't we have this asked and answered every week. And the answer is always RO90 and ets150 and get a midi if you're mobile and ctl26 for the shop.
We should have a list of which to buy in which order until you have them all.

Ideally this forum would have a Wiki where these sorts of things could be put into.
Like which sanders to start out.
Getting the Holy grail for the TS55/75.
etc.

 

[rst]

I use scrapers a lot but on plastics for smoothing edges before flaming or sanding.

 

[Holmz]

I use scrapers a lot but on plastics for smoothing edges before flaming or sanding.

Followed by an iron to apply the wax to the ski bases?

 

[Kev]

RTS 400 and ROTEX 125

I had the same dilemma a few years ago.  I felt the 150 was too aggressive for what I was doing, (medium sized furniture pieces, generally)  Then I was hired to make a custom stain grade kitchen and the ROTEX was not so subtle for finish texture.  The 400 is fabulous for that task.  Between those two, I am able to take care of just about ANY task.  I just had a pre-colonial bookcase to build matching existing shelves.  I found that I needed to pull out the belt sander for the first time in 5 years.  That was the exception and I finished the job with the two sanders I mention above.

The Rotex can easily produce a finish ready surface.

You can not compare any of the 3 rotex sanders to a finish sander, there 2 different animals.

A Rotex CAN produce a finish ready surface and if it is your only sander you're choosing to put up with a heavier unit to do the job. A light, purpose built, finish sander with always feel betting and cause less fatigue.

We also need to be completely aligned by what we mean by "finish" ....

Coarse, medium, fine, ultra fine, etc are common finish terms (coarse, maybe no so much) .. I rate the Rotex as capable of a good "fine" finish. Let's not assume everyone is trying to polish glass!