Which of these sanders would you sell?

[James Biddle]

I’ve got more Festool tools than I need or want to store.  Which of these would you sell? (I just sold my RS2). Most of my sanding is hardwood cabinet parts or veneered panels.
RO 90 DX
RTS 400 REQ
ETS EC 150
RO 150 DX

 

[MrToolJunkie]

Tough call - they all excel at what they are intended to do. If I could only have two off of your list, I would keep the Rotex 150 and the Rotex 90.

 

[sancho57]

what Scot said

 

[Claimdude]

Agree, RO 150 and 90

Jack

 

[Cheese]

I’d dump the Rotex and the RTS 400...and then I’d fill in the void with a RS2.  [big grin]

Seriously, if you’re sanding cabinet parts and veneered panels...why would you need a Rotex to remove .060” of material? It’s like taking a belt sander to a table.

The RTS is just a small RS2. I’d repurchase the RS2 and relish in the fact that all the panels you sanded are now indeed flat.

The RO 90 is versatile, though at sometimes a bit cumbersome but still a keeper.

 

[duburban]

I'd like to buy a ETS 150/5 if you're selling one

 

[Master Carpenter]

I'd dump the Ro90 from that list. I honestly can't remember that last time I used mine, I find it too small to be useful. Keeping the two 150mm sanders makes sense as they use the same paper but have different applications.

 

[McNally Family]

I would suggest looking at your sandpaper usage to determine which platform was the most useful to you in your everyday projects. 

 

[Sanderxpander]

Apart from stripping material very fast (which seems unnecessary for your work) the ETS 150 does the same thing the Rotex 150 does and with the same paper, but with less noise and a lower weight. From that viewpoint I'd get rid of the Rotex 150, it should fetch a pretty price too. If you do need to strip those veneered panels and the ETS and RO90 are too slow for you, keep the Rotex and lose the ETS. The others all have specialized use cases that make them worthwhile. I kinda feel the RS2E was worth keeping too but it's something on my list and not something I've used so your judgment probably trumps mine there.

 

[waho6o9]

Keep the ones with the same size pads.

Rotex 150 and ETS 150 are keepers.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I myself could never get rid of my Rotex 150, but it doesn't really fit into the cabinet making you list as your main jobs.

You could replace the RO90 and RTS400 for a DTS400 and more or less keep the functionality while owning one less sander.

 

[junk731]

Get rid of the RO150, the ETS EC 150 covers most of what it can do and the RO90. RTS400 is a great little sander.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

Fascinating how different everyone's perspective is. I guess that is why it is good to have so many options and shows what is right for one person is not for the next. I enjoy using all of my Festool sanders and appreciate each one for what it does well. The DTS400 is a gem, but I also could not do the work I need to do without the RO90 and I use both Delta heads for both sanders regularly. I use my Rotex 150 regularly for cabinets and I also use my ETS and ETS EC versions. However, if I could only have one Festool sander I might keep the Rotex 125 because it is so smooth and really works for me ergonomically for whatever reason, even though it is smaller than the 150.

 

[sancho57]

what Scot F said, except I dont have a 125 so exchange it for a 150. I went a very long time without a ETS bought on the Recon Sale , glad I did . I used my rotex 150 and 90 for everything. They do a great job in both rotex mode and orbital mode.

Wait til ya got to strip a finish ya botched spraying on a project ya been busting yer hump on building and have to respray. You'll be happy ya got a rotex.

The ETS150/3 I use for final finishing it does a beautiful job esp in the higher grits. I have also found it to do a great job when smoothing out the bumps on a piece after using the undulating head.

I also use the rotex ILO a belt sander.

My DTS 400 is great for refinishing applications. I havent touched on it in this conversation.

You have some tough choices to make. I couldn't get rid of any of my sanders.

 

[HarveyWildes]

I’ve got more Festool tools than I need or want to store.  Which of these would you sell? (I just sold my RS2). Most of my sanding is hardwood cabinet parts or veneered panels.
RO 90 DX
RTS 400 REQ
ETS EC 150
RO 150 DX

I've got both the ETS EC and the Rotex sanders that you mentioned.  From the perspective of furniture & cabinet making, working with unfinished wood and veneered panels, I'd keep the ETS EC 150 and the RTS 400 (in my case, the DTS).  If I could keep a third, it would be the RO 90.  Why the ETS EC over the Rotex? - the Rotex is harder to handle, easier to tilt and gouge, while the ETS EC just floats over the surface.  If I were doing decks or refinishing, I'd keep the Rotex 150 and give up the ETS EC.

 

[Green Mojo]

I would never get rid of my RO 90.

 

[Sanderxpander]

I love/hate mine. Sometimes it's the best tool for the job and it is really powerful but it's balanced so poorly that it's a chore to use. If they'd do an EC weight version of that tool and shift more of the weight to the front I'd be all over that.

 

[SS Teach]

More Festools than you need? How is that possible? I understand lack of storage space. There must be some non-Festools taking up space that your Festools need. You’re barely scraping by with only 4 sanders. How lucky we are to have first world problems.

 

[vuongnuce]

you could sell 90DX,RTS400 and buy DTS400

 

[Cheese]

You’re barely scraping by with only 4 sanders. How lucky we are to have first world problems.

Amen...