Which sander to buy first! - First Post in the Forum

[bertv]

Hello everyone. Based on all of this discussion, today I purchased the ETS EC 125/3 and a 150 hard pad. I am looking forward to using this sander in either the 5” and 6” mode as needed. However, I cannot loosen the bolt to remove the installed 125 pad. Hopefully it won’t need Festool service. Comments? Help?

That's great Michael, at least one of us listened to the good advice here!  I'm pretty sure I'm going to do the same.

I ordered the same end of November. Delivery has been set back to end of January… : ( But I took delivery of a DTS400 and the 150 pad(s) for the 125.

 

[rj_mccall]

I'd just like to add that you can use any vac with your sander, you don't need to have a Festool vac if you don't want to spend money on that. Before I had my first Festool vac I used my home vac for years.

I’d advise against going down this path OP. Using “any vac” with your sander will create problems with your finished product. Attaching something like a shop vac to your sander creates too much suction leading to swirl marks and a poor finish. Having the ability to adjust the suction level to the tools need is beneficial. With the 125 you purchased you want the suction turned down low. Even adjusting the settings and experimenting on a scrap piece will show you the difference. Anyway, do not just use any vacuum, do some research and make an informed decision! Good luck!

 

[AlexThePalex]

I'd just like to add that you can use any vac with your sander, you don't need to have a Festool vac if you don't want to spend money on that. Before I had my first Festool vac I used my home vac for years.

I’d advise against going down this path OP. Using “any vac” with your sander will create problems with your finished product. Attaching something like a shop vac to your sander creates too much suction leading to swirl marks and a poor finish. Having the ability to adjust the suction level to the tools need is beneficial. With the 125 you purchased you want the suction turned down low. Even adjusting the settings and experimenting on a scrap piece will show you the difference. Anyway, do not just use any vacuum, do some research and make an informed decision! Good luck!

Oh blimey, I forgot I was living in a place where ALL vacs have variable suction. My bad. But OP could make a bleeder valve to lower suction without having to spend another $1000 as you guys are all so adamant about.

 

[hammy]

Late breaking news..... the Festool ETS EC 125/3 EQ-Plus is now ordered along with the CT Mini I HEPA!!!

Delivery will be 3 to 4 weeks.

Total $CAN is $1,558.

Let the fun begin!  Thanks for all the awesome feedback everyone.

 

[Imemiter]

Sorry to hear you've abandoned the brotherhood of Bosch.  [big grin]
But good call. You're going to love both of those tools.

 

[hammy]

And for next Christmas... a Rotex HA!

 

[mkasdin]

Look at the ct-15 dust extractor.  For the price it’s a good buy. Festool wants new buyers dipping their toes into the green (swamp) water... you’ll save some Festool Cash to get you half way into a track saw ts-55, a router, down payment on a domino.

 

[hammy]

Look at the ct-15 dust extractor.  For the price it’s a good buy. Festool wants new buyers dipping their toes into the green (swamp) water... you’ll save some Festool Cash to get you half way into a track saw ts-55, a router, down payment on a domino.

Thanks, I didn’t look very closely at the ct 15 but it is over $300 cheaper!  I could live without the Bluetooth and stacking for sure.  It also holds a bit more than the mini, maybe I’ll just switch and get the ct 15. Id be losing the better hose but $300 can get me lots of sandpaper and a 6” pad.

 

[hammy]

Look at the ct-15 dust extractor.  For the price it’s a good buy. Festool wants new buyers dipping their toes into the green (swamp) water... you’ll save some Festool Cash to get you half way into a track saw ts-55, a router, down payment on a domino.

Thanks, I didn’t look very closely at the ct 15 but it is over $300 cheaper!  I could live without the Bluetooth and stacking for sure.  It also holds a bit more than the mini, maybe I’ll just switch and get the ct 15. Id be losing the better hose but $300 can get me lots of sandpaper and a 6” pad.

Just because I like to complicate matters I went the other way and changed my order to a CT 26.  I recently bought a Bosch Glide Mitre Saw that I will also use with the new vac. 

 

[mkasdin]

Look at the ct-15 dust extractor.  For the price it’s a good buy. Festool wants new buyers dipping their toes into the green (swamp) water... you’ll save some Festool Cash to get you half way into a track saw ts-55, a router, down payment on a domino.

Thanks, I didn’t look very closely at the ct 15 but it is over $300 cheaper!  I could live without the Bluetooth and stacking for sure.  It also holds a bit more than the mini, maybe I’ll just switch and get the ct 15. Id be losing the better hose but $300 can get me lots of sandpaper and a 6” pad.

yep and if you want you could probably sell the ct-15 in a year or two and not loose too much. It would still have some warranty remaining. By then the midi will see another upgrade ?

 

[mino]

Just because I like to complicate matters I went the other way and changed my order to a CT 26.  I recently bought a Bosch Glide Mitre Saw that I will also use with the new vac.

I would advise to get the Bluetooth control module + remote for it if budget allows for the CT26.

You will only realize how useful and indispensable that little thing is once you have used it ...

CT15 is great value, but with no Bluetooth, no stand, no Systainer stacking and not manual filter clean, etc. it is geared more to the "dedicated static vac for a Mittresaw/worktable/etc." where those features would be wasted. It is a good value as a secondary semi-static vac. But would not go for it for a "do-it-all" main vac role.

 

[hammy]

It's worse than waiting for Santa to arrive .....  Come on ETS EC 125 and CT 26!

 

[mkasdin]

Just because I like to complicate matters I went the other way and changed my order to a CT 26.  I recently bought a Bosch Glide Mitre Saw that I will also use with the new vac.

I would advise to get the Bluetooth control module + remote for it if budget allows for the CT26.

You will only realize how useful and indispensable that little thing is once you have used it ...

CT15 is great value, but with no Bluetooth, no stand, no Systainer stacking and not manual filter clean, etc. it is geared more to the "dedicated static vac for a Mittresaw/worktable/etc." where those features would be wasted. It is a good value as a secondary semi-static vac. But would not go for it for a "do-it-all" main vac role.

I use that ct-15 vac 95% of the time. The midi is the show horse and lives in a closet. I do remodeling and such so  the brunt of abuse goes to the cheaper vacuum. I would go with the cheaper 15 and putting the $400 savings into a Festool tool. I think it’s money well spent and should serve you well for the next 3-5 years. I basically wanted two vacuums I don’t have to cart vacuums around to two job sites.

 

[hammy]

It's a happy day today at my house!!!

 

[ender]

I am glad to have read this thread. I am pondering my first foray into festool too and am leaning towards the ETS EC 125/3 myself with the 6" adapter

 

[Bob D.]

Congrats [member=74584]hammy[/member] on your purchase.

The CT36 and the RO-125 were what got me started with Festool over 10 years ago.

I came for the sander and stuck around once I saw the value of the rest of their great lineup of tools.

 

[Steve1]

I am glad to have read this thread. I am pondering my first foray into festool too and am leaning towards the ETS EC 125/3 myself with the 6" adapter

That would be a pretty good general purpose sander.  I have the ETS EC125/3.
More of a finish sander than for doing serious material removal. 
Excellent surface finish results.

 

[Steve1]

I am glad to have read this thread. I am pondering my first foray into festool too and am leaning towards the ETS EC 125/3 myself with the 6" adapter

That would be a pretty good general purpose sander.  I have the ETS EC125/3.
More of a finish sander than for doing serious material removal. 
Excellent surface finish results.  But I hope you have a dust extractor to attach to it --- I think that is one of the prime reasons for the nice finish -- the efficient clearing of the dust.

 

[ChuckM]

Snip. I use that ct-15 vac 95% of the time. The midi is the show horse and lives in a closet. I do remodeling and such so  the brunt of abuse goes to the cheaper vacuum. I would go with the cheaper 15 and putting the $400 savings into a Festool tool. I think it’s money well spent and should serve you well for the next 3-5 years. I basically wanted two vacuums I don’t have to cart vacuums around to two job sites.

$400 difference? I'm glad I got the CT 15 (for my Pro5Ltd sanders, DF500 and general uses, such as cleaning the bench top). I don't need the anti-static hose or the BT (the auto switch is what matters). I was a previous CT 26 (old model) owner, and find the CT 15 (by my workbench so its control is an arm away) a good complement to 4 other shop vacs (with HEPA filters/ dust deputy for 2 of them) in my shop.

 

[hammy]

Just as an update after over a year of use I love the Festool sander and dust collection.  The dust collection also works with my Bosche mitre saw as well and since I am only using it for sanding and the mitre saw so I am not using many bags.  The dust collection is great and the sander is awesome.  Even on some messy wood it has worked well. I managed to flatten a very large uneven (due to my not great glue up) walnut end grain cutting board, it took a while but I got it perfectly flat. I really don't feel like I need to buy any more sanders, the ETS EC 125 does it all for me!