Which Sander/Extractor is best for female in trade?

[Girl_w_Style]

I want to purchase a sander + extractor before the combo discount deal ends next week but am having a hard time picking the right combo...

I’m a decorative finisher- work on anything from stripping doors, wood flooring finish, polishing plaster, painting cabinets, and also do some hobby woodworking on the side.

We’re also starting a home remodel this yr & will be doing 99% of it ourselves (w/ contractor colleagues help of course) so it will get a wide range of use there too.

For the longest time I wanted the Rotex 125 since it can basically do all tasks from stripping to polishing but have read a few comments that its cumbersome & heavy so I’m worried it may be too much for daily use (since I’m a smaller female & often polishing plaster walls can be an all day event).

Have now been considering ETS-EC 125/3 + 150 pads but not sure how well it will work for the harder jobs (stripping finishes) or finer work (fine grit sanding + polishing)....Anyone w/ experience with wide range of use that wants to share thoughts?

Thinking the Midi or CT 26 dust extractor...any cons to spending less & going with the Midi?

 

[RKA]

You have to get used to the idea that no one sander does everything.  The /3 sanders are finishing sanders with only a 3mm stroke.  It's a great choice for general woodworking when you're prepping for finish.  For construction and removing old finishes, it's not the best choice I would think.  I don't like any sander for stripping finishes, but if I had to, a Rotex would probably me on my list.  You're not going to want to replace your EC sander with a Rotex, you would want both I think. 

The midi vs. the 26 really boils down to capacity and portability.  If you envision moving it around a lot, you'll appreciate the lighter weight of the midi, particularly with a 3/4 full bag.  But you will be changing the bag more often.  The one plus with the midi is it has bluetooth built in (have to buy a BT module for the 26).  Get the optional BT remote that wraps around the hose end and you'll be surprised how handy it is!

 

[Alanbach]

I agree with [member=21249]RKA[/member] , the ETS-EC is a great sander and my “go to first” sander. It is also the first one I bought. Then although the ETS EC was great I did encounter some more intensive work ( flattening end grain butcher blocks and paint removal for example) where the ETS EC would do the job but with the 3mm orbit it was taking too long. At that point I bought the Rotex.

Also agree with RKA on the extractor. The CT26 is great and has nice capacity but it’s a bit of a beast to carry around and up and down stairs (especially as the bag starts to fill). The MIdi has the same power with a smaller bag capacity and is significantly lighter and therefore so much more mobile.

 

[Cheese]

Overall, the ETS EC 125 with 150 pads is my favorite. It works well with the right paper for stripping light finishes.

However, if you're stripping multiple layers of enamel paint, it's going to be slow going.

If stripping paint is 80% of your work, the Rotex is fine because you'll only have to use it for 20% of your job. However if 80% of your work is fine finishing you'll not be happy with it. It's heavy, and you need to use 2 hands because the balance is off. The ETS EC on the other hand, is a one hand sander that just glides along the surface.

If you're sanding vertical or overhead surfaces, you'll also not be happy with the Rotex.

For me, the ETS EC is the all-arounder, while I use the cordless ETSC for overhead work because I don't have to deal with a vac hose. The Rotex 125 is used for flattening slabs or sub floor underlayment and for polishing the cars.  [smile]

From your comments...I think you'll be needing both, especially if you're trying to do all the work yourself. Besides, it also sounds like there will be at least 2 of you sanding for the home remodel so 2 sanders along with 2 operators will shorten the project time.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I've had 13 different Festool sanders at one point, now down to 6. Unfortunately I have not had the pleasure to own an ETS EC sander yet, but I think the 125 you mention together with a 150 pad might suit you very good for general work.

I am not realy a fan of the Rotex 125 and would not like it to be my only sander. The Rotex 150 was my first sander and the only one I had the first 1 or 2 years I got into Festool. It is a heavy sander and not something I would advise for a smaller woman, but it is a lot better than the 125. Compared to the 150 I find the 125 very light and small, but also very weak and I concur on the unruly part.

I do have the older ETS125 and ETS150/3 sanders, and they are both very fine sanders. Especially the 150 is very suitable for most common jobs for paint prep. Slap on a high grit and you can get a very fine finish, use a low grit and you can still strip reasonably fast. Not in the same league as a Rotex of course, but very workable.

I agree with RKA that there is no one sander that does it all. That's why I have a few, all with their own strengths. But an ETS 125 EC combined with an 150 pad and you can cover a lot of different jobs. Perhaps add a DTS400 delta sander later to cover 95% of all jobs you can possibly do.

As for the vac, just get a Mini or Midi. Works perfect for sanding and it is easy to take it wherever you want. I used to have a 26 and a Mini, but traded the 26 for a second Mini, and I don't really miss the 26 at all, even though I also work a lot with saws and routers.

 

[Girl_w_Style]

Awesome thank u!!

Based on the recommendations + the fact that most jobs requiring orbital help are fine finish it sounds like the 125 + 150 pad is my best option!

Have seen some decent deals on used rotex so will save up & add that to the mix later if I find I really need the gear driven mode...but as u said, I’m sure I’ll want another since 1 can’t do it all (if only right?!).

Was only considering the C26 over the Midi for the optional boom arm since I worry the cord + hose would drive me nuts but doesn’t sound like the extra weight is worth it since I’ll be lugging it around to job sites.

Does anyone find the cord n hose to be a nuisance when working on a job site or in the shop when sanding cabinets, doors, etc that require constant movement/adjustments?

 

[AlexThePalex]

Does anyone find the cord n hose to be a nuisance when working on a job site or in the shop when sanding cabinets, doors, etc that require constant movement/adjustments?

The weight is no nuisance at all, the hose is very light.

The only nuisance is that you're tied to something, but there is no going around that, and the boom arm would not change that.

The boom arm is best for shop work. You really don't want to drag that thing along everywhere together with your vac.

 

[Vondawg]

An over head vac hose would be nice sometimes, but would be of use a small percent of time....your not using it polishing walls (and you’re going to love polishing w/150 pad and 1500-3000 or ?) the hose/cord just becomes part of the operation...go light weight  CT...mini or midi
One guys opinion.

 

[Kanuka]

Sanders don't care what gender anyone is. At all. I spent about 30 seconds showing a young lady who was roughly 5'2" how to use the RO 150 to strip down a large table top she had picked up at a salvage yard and she had no problems operating it whatsoever.

The 125mm models are a lot more jumpy than any of the 150s and I generally avoid them for that reason. Recent OSHA laws mean Makita and Bosch also have extremely comparable products with dust collection for substantially less money these days.

 

[RKA]

In a shop setting a boom arm is nice luxury.  Otherwise the hose and cord are dragging or catching on your work piece or every time you disconnect the hose and cord they find their way to the ground.  At a minimum you get sick of bending over to grab them and possibly you find yourself tripping over them.  On routers, I think it’s particularly helpful to have the hose suspended from above so they aren’t catching on anything and screwing up the routing operations.  It also gives you a pretty large working area since the arm can rotate side to side.  But having one is far from a necessity and there is no way you’ll be using it when moving the vac from place to place.  If you need the hose angled up away from your tool, drape it over your shoulder.

Worse case, if you later decide you want a boom arm in your workshop, you can build one or anchor the boom arm to something else in your shop instead of the extractor.  Improvisation isn’t the end of the world.  Some people even have more than one extractor.  [eek]  So the other one could be a 26.  [tongue]

 

[ScotF]

I have just about every corded sander Festool makes and the Rotex machines and DTS 400 are the ones I would keep of the lot if I had to give any up. I actually really like the Rotex 125 and find it to be very smooth and capable and not heavy or cumbersome to use. Same with the 150. Once you know how to control it, I find it works great. The brushless EC sanders are also nice. I like my 150/5 as it can remove material quickly and leaves a great finish. The 125 is just as good in a smaller package. As as been discussed here, my 125 does NOT work well with the 150 pads - it spins them fine, but the brake does not engage. Have no idea why, but I gave up on trying to use 150 pads with the 125 and just got a 150/5 instead. I think I am in the minority on this point. I think a DTS is invaluable for corner work. I have a 26, but would get a mini if buying now just for the compact size and weight.

Have fun - sanders are often the gateway tool into the world of Festool.

 

[Cypren]

I’m curious: I see people recommend the ETS-EC 125 a lot, but not the ETSC. Is that simply because of the cost difference, or does the 3mm vs. 2mm stroke difference factor into it as well? Or is there another reason that has simply escaped me?

I currently have an RO150 and was thinking of picking up one of the ETS sanders to replace my little brushed Milwaukee cordless eccentric.

 

[ScotF]

The ETS is a great finish sander and small stroke. The ETS EC 125 is more powerful and a better all around sander - slightly bigger stroke. Also, form is different which may or may not be important.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I’m curious: I see people recommend the ETS-EC 125 a lot, but not the ETSC. Is that simply because of the cost difference, or does the 3mm vs. 2mm stroke difference factor into it as well? Or is there another reason that has simply escaped me?

I can't speak for others, but for me cordless sanders are second rate citizens.

First, I am tied to a cord anyway because I really hate sanding without active dust collection (yuck, the mess), and second, I prefer to have a sander that runs whenever I want without having to worry about batteries.

 

[forestmount]

If weight is your biggest concern try looking at Mirka,
https://www.mirka.com/en-AU/au_diy/

We have a few Festool sanders/tools and  highly recommend them. We did recently bought a Mirka Orbital. This is a very capable and light sander. The Orbital we bought won’t be suitable for your use however they do have random orbitals as well.

The dust collection is compatible with Festool,

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[DeformedTree]

I have the setup you talk of in your first post.  CT-26,  the ETS-EC 125 and rotex 125.  As people comment, you need multiple sanders. I am in the camp of not getting along well with the rotex, but it has it's place so it stays.  For me the 150 sanders are just huge beasts, I am am not a small person, but just holding them in hand in a store made me stop thinking about 150mm models.  Also the benefit with the 125 is you can get sand paper anyplace in a pinch verses have to order it online or find a specialty store like a Festool dealer.

On boom arms, there are times I would like it, but then you have basically committed to not moving the vac much.  At times what I do is put a clamp or similar on ceiling joist and hook hose/cord up over that if I'm working in the same area for a while.

Like Alex says, since you have the hose for the dust collect, there isn't much of a issue with having the power cord.  On the sanders it's not as annoying as it is on say a TS saw where the 2 don't live so well together when making a cut.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Also the benefit with the 125 is you can get sand paper anyplace in a pinch verses have to order it online or find a specialty store like a Festool dealer.

Does that paper have the proper 8+1 hole pattern?

 

[FestitaMakool]

Hi,
I think you have gotten a lot of good insight here.
Things that comes to my mind is:
It’s not that necessarily you are weak, most girls have stamina, often more than “strong” men.
So this will be up to you to decide. But, Rotex machines are heavier, mostly two hand operation, which limits shifting hands less. One handed sanders means you can shift hands often.
150mm machines are heavy beasts, 125 more manageable, abrasives commonly available (though as said, not always with Festool’s hole pattern) I have a Rotex 90 for aggressive, and finer detail work, and find it to be an invaluable machine. It is way lighter and easier to control, even with one hand (not in forced rotation mode)
I agree with getting the new CT midi/mini with Bluetooth. A cyclone on top are more items to carry, but in separate pieces, not one big clumsy heavy lump. That way you can have best of both worlds.
I have also tried out (shelled out..) the 5 meter sleeved Festool hose for planing, routing and sanding, I’m glad I did.. it eases operation, and if you get a 5m or longer hose you might hang it from the roof, with a bungee string 3 point attached with two Velcro’s on the middle of the hose,  works perfect. That said, you would have to have the opportunity to screw in a small hook or similar in the roof, or a line between two points on the walls, buy a snatch roller or something (boat shops have them) to attach the hose to the line, and it will easily follow. If done before moulding, it can be done this way. For large areas I would suggest a 7,5m or 10m hose.

 

[DeformedTree]

Also the benefit with the 125 is you can get sand paper anyplace in a pinch verses have to order it online or find a specialty store like a Festool dealer.

Does that paper have the proper 8+1 hole pattern?

Probably not, though I have used stuff from HD on my sanders, I think some of the holes lined up, can always punch a couple holes in.

I had a big package of cheap 40 grit I was using to remove a lot of material, far as I remember dust collection worked fine, I didn't add any holes.

The random non-name brand stuff tends to just have a lot of different hole patterns on it, so something lines up.

 

[Girl_w_Style]

I’m curious: I see people recommend the ETS-EC 125 a lot, but not the ETSC. Is that simply because of the cost difference, or does the 3mm vs. 2mm stroke difference factor into it as well? Or is there another reason that has simply escaped me?

I currently have an RO150 and was thinking of picking up one of the ETS sanders to replace my little brushed Milwaukee cordless eccentric.

*deleted previous reply...I stupidly thought u were referring to the older brushed version vs newer brushless (not cordless) [emoji23]