Which Festool Sander?

[Don Bullock]

OK, SWMBO has just given her permission to buy a Festool C22 and a sander. Now I need to know from the "experts" here which sander would be best for my situation. I already have a RO 125. I'm planning on using the sander for finishing work on furniture. For that purpose am I better off getting a RS 2 or an ETS 150/3? ;D

 

[Per Swenson]

150-3

Thats the ticket.

Per

 

[Daviddubya]

The 150/3 would be my choice.  However, since you laready have the RO 125, perhaps the ETS125 would be a better choice for you, since they both use the same paper.

 

[nickao]

What kind of furniture? You need to be more specific on what you are to make.

Table tops the RS2! Smaller items without large flat surfaces the 150/3!

I like the RS2 for face frames on cabinets or thinner flat stock too. It is easy to round over small thin pieces with the 150/3 when you don't want to.

I believe the 1/2 sheets are more popular in Europe so someone from there may say RS2, in the US they will probably say the 150/3.

To me the 150/3 is more versatile. But I would get the RS2, I just love the 1/2 sheet sander and you already have the round orbital RO 125.

I got addicted to Festool and ended up with both.

nickao

 

[semenza]

Hi,

  I have the ETS150/5.    Very nice, very smooth.  Probably more versatile than the ETS150/3. But you already have versatility in the RO125, so the ETS 150/3 or ETS125 are probably a better compliment to the RO125.    The  ETS125 has a soft and super soft pad available. But the ETS150 also has a hard pad available. I like the hard pad for narrow edges (no rounding over problem) and leveling miss matched surfaces. 

Seth

 

[Steveo48]

I have the ETS 125 and have used it to sand a lot of end grain cutting blocks and just recently a face frame on a big kitchen project.

At times I thought I might have liked the ETS 150, but the 125 works just great.  I was really grateful to have it when I was working overhead.

Steve

 

[Forrest Anderson]

I believe the 1/2 sheets are more popular in Europe so someone from there may say RS2, in the US they will probably say the 150/3.

Oddly enough, in this corner of Europe we don't have the RS2! Instead we have four sanders in the RS series which look rather like it, and it can take a bit of time to work out the differences and to decide which one is best. Note the different motors, pad sizes and strokes.

[25 Apr 2008: I have also added details of the RS2 half-sheet sander, so that it is easy to compare specifications and photos]

RS2

Intermediate sanding of varnished doors
Leveling large surfaces
Fine sanding of delicate stock

Specs:
Power consumption  330W 
Speed  4000-10000 per min
Sanding stroke  2.5 mm 
Sanding pad  115 x 228 mm 
Connection  d/e  27 mm 
Weight  2.5 kg 

RS100

Sanding off varnish, paint, filler over large areas
Flush sanding of protruding edges on glued parts
Sanding the surface of mineral sublayers
Polishing metal

Specs:
Power consumption  620 W 
Speed  6000 per min
Sanding stroke  5 mm 
Interchangeable sanding pad  115 x 225 mm 
Connection  d/e  27 mm 
Weight  3,3 kg 

RS100C

Sanding off varnish, paint, filler over large areas
Flush sanding of protruding edges on glued parts
Sanding the surface of mineral sublayers
Polishing metal

Specs:
Power consumption  620 W 
Speed  6300  per min
Max. speed  10000  per min
No. of strokes  12600 per min
Sanding stroke  5 mm 
Interchangeable sanding pad  115 x 225 mm 
Connection  d/e  27 mm 
Weight  3,0 kg 

The RS200:

Main applications:
Intermediate varnish sanding over larger flat areas
Final sanding prior to varnishing
Light sanding of painted surfaces
Sanding of natural wood and veneered surfaces
Light sanding of undercoats

Specs:
Power consumption  330 W 
Speed  4000-10000  per min
No. of strokes  8000 - 20000  per min
Sanding stroke  2,4 mm 
Interchangeable sanding pad  115 x 225 mm 
Connection  d/e  27 mm 
Weight  2,5 kg 

RS300

Main applications
Sanding surfaces and corners in one working procedure
Sanding louvres with a special pad
Light sanding of varnish, paint, wood and plastic
Sanding natural woods and veneer prior to varnishing
Light sanding of varnished surfaces
Light sanding of mineral materials
Special applications 
Extended length pads in rectangular and iron shapes are available.

Specs
Power consumption  280 W 
Speed  4000-10000  per min
Sanding stroke  2,4 mm 
Interchangeable sanding pad  93 x 175 mm 
Connection  d/e  27 mm 
Weight  2,3 kg 

Forrest

 

[semenza]

Hi,

    I still don't understand why it is more cost effective to produce the RS2 just for NA, instead of simplifying the line and getting UL to approve one of those others , the RS200 maybe?

Seth

 

[Ned]

Just checked Festool UK.  There's no 110v version of the RS200.  Probably because it's not a jobsite tool, the only place where the UK uses 110v.

So it's not just our local certification, it's perhaps a little more development time.

It's pretty clear that the RS200 is the next generation RS2.  Spec's nearly identical and all the others Forrest shows replace single-digit equivalents (RS1, etc.)

I'm sure we'll see it eventually.

Ned

 

[Hotwheels]

Don,
I have the RO125 also and I bought the 150/3 and I have been very pleased. I used the Rotex for rougher sanding tasks and the 150 for most of the rest. It works well for me. I recently bought the RS2, but have not used it much yet. However, I cannot imagine that you would not be pleased with the 150, it is just a remarkable sander that both my wife and I find very pleasing to use.
John

 

[nickao]

Forrest I would purchase all of those, wish we had them here in the US. I just love the 1/2 sheet sanders!