Which multi-purpose sander to buy?

[Coliban]

Hello,

next year, i have to do some sanding work, so i am thinking about buying a new sander this year, because of tax-return decisions. I would do different work with this sander, i would like to sand the floor in a flat in another town, do some work on wood and like to polish things, like my 13-year old car. I though, the most versatile device for this job would be the Ro 150 with the option to buy next year the Ro 90 for smaller task. Would this be a sufficient solution or should i look at the ETS EC sanders?

regards

 

[Kev]

The RO150 is an excellent polisher. It's also going to do the agressive stuff. An ETS isn't the sort of thing I'd consider using on a floor - but we'd need to know what you're doing to the floor.

You can achieve fine sanding results with a RO too, but it's heavy, so you probably won't want to be using it on walls and ceilings!!!

Unfortunately nobody makes a perfect "do everything" sander.

 

[Holmz]

A polisher generally does well at polishing.
There are many.

There are also many sanders.
I would be looking at renting a floor sander. The touch up

 

[Kev]

On polishing ... you can buy a rotary polisher quite cheap, but don't practice of your Ferrari !!

A random orbital or forced rotation / ROTEX mode movement is a lot more forgiving.

 

[Holmz]

On polishing ... you can buy a rotary polisher quite cheap, but don't practice of your Ferrari !!

A random orbital or forced rotation / ROTEX mode movement is a lot more forgiving.

Is your Fezza Red or Yellow?
Or Green?

 

[ear3]

The RO150 is a great multi-purpose sander to have, and if you were just going to get one sander, it would be my pick.  It sounds, though, like you have some other sanding options, so I think for the tasks you've outlined the RO150 is the perfect sander.  Where it comes up lacking, and would require complementary machines, are applications like:

-high grit sanding (400+ grit) [it can do it, but you're more likely to get consistent, better results with the 3mm stroke 150, or the 125]
-veneered wood/ply, which the RO150 can burn through in a flash, even in RO mode
-sustained vertical or overhead sanding
-edge work, narrow stock or any piece that requires the pad to be significantly and frequently off edge

Hello,

next year, i have to do some sanding work, so i am thinking about buying a new sander this year, because of tax-return decisions. I would do different work with this sander, i would like to sand the floor in a flat in another town, do some work on wood and like to polish things, like my 13-year old car. I though, the most versatile device for this job would be the Ro 150 with the option to buy next year the Ro 90 for smaller task. Would this be a sufficient solution or should i look at the ETS EC sanders?

regards

 

[Kev]

On polishing ... you can buy a rotary polisher quite cheap, but don't practice of your Ferrari !!

A random orbital or forced rotation / ROTEX mode movement is a lot more forgiving.

Is your Fezza Red or Yellow?
Or Green?

[member=40772]Holmz[/member] hah - try black and German!

 

[Birdhunter]

I would doubt you could get an even surface on a floor with a hand sander of any kind. The slightest irregularities show up on a large flat surface. As another response suggested, have the floor professionally sanded.

I like the RO125 as an all around sander although I have a bunch of the Festool sanders. The 5" pad fits my work better than the 6". If I was doing a lot of larger projects, I'd buy the 6" model. The RO in the aggressive mode with a coarse grit can remove a lot of material very quickly.

 

[SoonerFan]

I like the RO125 as an all around sander although I have a bunch of the Festool sanders. The 5" pad fits my work better than the 6". If I was doing a lot of larger projects, I'd buy the 6" model. The RO in the aggressive mode with a coarse grit can remove a lot of material very quickly.

I like the RO125 best as an all around sander as well.  Like Birdhunter, I don't need to the capacity of the 150.  I also thought the RO90 was a little small.  In addition to the RO125 I ended up with a DTS and between these two I have all my needs covered. 

 

[Coliban]

To come to a conclusion, you recommend the Rotex ro 125 rather than the 150?

 

[Jbmccombe]

If you are looking for a good review of Festool Sanders, check out Jerry Work's web site - The Dovetail Joint  (http://www.jerrywork.com).  Under the How To tab be has a great article called "Getting the Most from Festool Sanders".  His recommendation, if you are going to buy one Festool Sander only, get the RO150. 

 

[Staniam]

I would doubt you could get an even surface on a floor with a hand sander of any kind. The slightest irregularities show up on a large flat surface. As another response suggested, have the floor professionally sanded.

I like the RO125 as an all around sander although I have a bunch of the Festool sanders. The 5" pad fits my work better than the 6". If I was doing a lot of larger projects, I'd buy the 6" model. The RO in the aggressive mode with a coarse grit can remove a lot of material very quickly.

I have the RO125 as my everything sander and it's been my only sander for over a year now. The largest thing I've sanded is 6' bifold doors and while the RO150 would obviously do it faster as it covers more area, the RO125 does it quickly already. It's also much, much lighter which is huge. I'm hoping to get the Bosch detail sander so with those two my needs would all be covered.

If you're doing large jobs, the 150 is practical but my vote is the 125 as it'll still do large jobs but take slightly longer. It excellent at medium to small jobs which the 150's bulk does not. I've only used the 150 a few times though so that's just my experience.

 

[Holmz]

[member=13058]Kev[/member] - I forgot about 10 cars.

 

[Coliban]

Ok,

thank you all very much for your advises!

I made up my mind and i think, the most multi-purpose sander for my needs will be the RO 125.
Because i normally do no floors, maybe only one occasion next year and i use the sander for multiple wood working tasks (and then, it would be only for the lack-surface of a already fine wood-floor). I think the stroke of 3,6mm of the RO 125 (in contrast to the 5mm from the RO 150, the 125 is more versatile,  like Edward A Reno III, SoonerFan, Staniam, suggested) will be more flexible for me. For polishing the car, the RO 150 would be better in terms of time, but also that task is rather sporadic.

I´ve already made an offer for the RO 125 and i am waiting for the response, but i think i order the RO 125 today or tomorrow.

(Jbmccombe,http://www.jerrywork.com is very informative and comprehensive)

Again, thank you for all your advises, i appreciate them very much!!

 

[Toolpig]

My RO "ROTEX" 150 was my first Festool sander and the one I grab for most things because it'll do both coarse and finish sanding.  I've done everything from tabletops to floors with it.

Hello,

next year, i have to do some sanding work, so i am thinking about buying a new sander this year, because of tax-return decisions. I would do different work with this sander, i would like to sand the floor in a flat in another town, do some work on wood and like to polish things, like my 13-year old car. I though, the most versatile device for this job would be the Ro 150 with the option to buy next year the Ro 90 for smaller task. Would this be a sufficient solution or should i look at the ETS EC sanders?

regards

 

[Coliban]

I´ve ordered the RO 125, i though, it would be the most versatile device for me. This will be my first sander. After i purchased it, i heard fro people that it would be better to have there RO 150 together with the RO 90, but i wait now until i have it.

Thanks

 

[Holmz]

...
[member=40772]Holmz[/member] hah - try black and German!

[member=13058]Kev[/member] (ol' M8)
M6?

 

[Kev]

...
[member=40772]Holmz[/member] hah - try black and German!

[member=13058]Kev[/member] (ol' M8)
M6?

[member=40772]Holmz[/member] ... way too sexy for me [embarassed] ... try a very pedestrian RSQ3

 

[Holmz]

[member=13058]Kev[/member] - With your foighting spirit my next guess was two wheels and a Boxer engine.

 

[Kev]

[member=13058]Kev[/member] - With your foighting spirit my next guess was two wheels and a Boxer engine.

[member=40772]Holmz[/member] I'm off the bikes at the moment ... if I head back to them it'll probably be a Bonnie or even a Deus [wink]