Which sander!!!

[DiscoStu]

I'm very confused. I am quite keen on getting a Festool sander but can't work out if I want / need a Rotex, a ETC or ETS!

I am. It keen on sanding so would like it to be quick and efficient. To me the Rotex seems to offer the best of both? But what about the ETC and ETS - any reason to buy these over the Rotex?

I am thinking 125mm as the size as that's why I have at the moment and I like that size.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[andy5405]

Start with any sander. You'll end up owning 5 anyway, it's just a case of which order you buy them.

 

[ear3]

Yeah, since the introduction of the EC things have gotten more confusing/varied.  Depends on the work you plan on doing.  Let me just share my sander buying experience to give some perspective:

My first Festool sander was the RO150, because I wanted a single, all around sander.  Rotex worked great for that.  Plus it's massive stripping capabilities.  But having become addicted to the dust collection of the RO150, I realized my quarter sheet Dewalt finish sander was no longer gonna cut it for the edge work I had to do.  So my next purchase was the RTS400 in order to do edges, quickly followed by the RO90 so I could do corners, face frame and a lot of contour sanding, which it excels at doing with the interface pad. (I'm neglecting to mention the LS130, which was actually my first for some moulding projects, but we'll leave that aside for the moment).  I'm basically covered at this point, but then I noticed that the RO150 was sometimes too aggressive on veneered surfaces (and I didn't have patience to use the RTS400 or the RO90 on it), and also wasn't giving me the kind of finish I was looking for at super high grits (800 and above) , so I ended up getting the ETS 150/3.

Now I'm really set.  But then Festool released the ETS-EC 150/5.  Picked it up, and realized that this was the sander I had been looking for all along -- very aggressive (even more so than the RO150 in random orbit mode) but easy to handle. 

Bottom line -- if I were to start from the top, the ETS 150/5 is definitely my most used sander, and the one I would part with last.  After that it's a toss-up, but from the perspective of filling the gaps, an orbital sander like the RTS or DTS400 might be most useful, since they handle edges and corners.

I would only go 125 if I were going to be doing a lot of vertical or overhead sanding.  It has 50% less surface area on the pad than the 150, plus a smaller stroke than the 5mm.

I'm very confused. I am quite keen on getting a Festool sander but can't work out if I want / need a Rotex, a ETC or ETS!

I am. It keen on sanding so would like it to be quick and efficient. To me the Rotex seems to offer the best of both? But what about the ETC and ETS - any reason to buy these over the Rotex?

I am thinking 125mm as the size as that's why I have at the moment and I like that size.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bobfog]

The Rotex 125 is a great all rounder. Can be used for very fine sanding in RO mode but also quick material removal in forced rotation mode. Whilst it is a great all rounder it is a bit of a jack of all trades and master of none. If you're an occasional user/hobbyist that'll be absolutely fine because you won't use it often enough that ultimate efficiency/comfort will ever be an issue vs. dedicated sanders for rough sanding or finishing. 

 

[waho6o9]

A Rotex 150 was my first choice and it's earned it's keep many times over.

The sandpaper lasts longer than usual  and that's an added benefit  as it keeps your expenses lower
in the long run. 

 

[SS Teach]

Andy 5405 is correct. It does not matter what order you buy them, you end up with 5 any way.

 

[kdzito]

Rotex 150 to start with and then the DTS 400 and if your are doing large flat surfaces the RS 2E.

 

[ear3]

[member=7659]waho6o9[/member] Curious about this comment about paper lasting longer on RO150? As com0ared to other 150mm sanders in the festool line? Or other sanders in general?

A Rotex 150 was my first choice and it's earned it's keep many times over.

The sandpaper lasts longer than usual  and that's an added benefit  as it keeps your expenses lower
in the long run.

 

[DiscoStu]

I've heard that comment elsewhere as well.

Thanks for the info guys. Probably heading towards the Rotex either 125 or 150. I am only a hobbyist so not looking to buy 5 - although I can foresee that I might!

So if it has to be just one sander then it sounds like the Rotex is the best option. 125 or 150? I'll probably handle both and see what I think but I suspect I'll go 125 as a compromise.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[waho6o9]

Or other sanders in general?

Correct,  other sanders in general. 

 

[blaszcsj]

Are you looking for an RO sander exclusively? Prior to getting my ETS ec 150/3 (now favorite sander) I used mainly my porter cable 330 and 505. Both are counterbalanced 1/4 and half sheet sanders. I really like them for fine finish flat work. No dust collection but fantastic finish work and they do not make your hand stiff after an hr of sanding.

 

[semenza]

    If you want to get the sanding done faster then go with a 150.  One note on the 125 size .... if you are serious about trying to stick with one sander then do not get the ETS125. It is pretty much a fine finish sander. While the just about any of the 150s  can be all around performers.

Seth

 

[Mort]

I've heard that comment elsewhere as well.

Thanks for the info guys. Probably heading towards the Rotex either 125 or 150. I am only a hobbyist so not looking to buy 5 - although I can foresee that I might!

So if it has to be just one sander then it sounds like the Rotex is the best option. 125 or 150? I'll probably handle both and see what I think but I suspect I'll go 125 as a compromise.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm a hobbyist and I just ordered my 5th sander.

The 125 is a good size. I have the ETS125 and its big enough for pretty much anything I can throw at it. It's not for aggressive removal so the Rotex would be a better one-size-fits-all solution.

 

[ear3]

I don't have personal experience on this, but I've heard it said on the forum that the RO150 is better balanced than the 125.

From a systems prespective (not to mention an efficiency one) I tend to think the 150 is a better choice, because if you ever decide to add additional sMders, like the ets or the ets-ec you can get the 150 models without having to buy a whole new round of abrasives, which are expensive (though last a long time, so are worth it in the end).

 

[rst]

I first bought the ETS 125 from a recon sale.  I loved it, already owned the Makita BO4900V and the Bosch 1250 DEVS and was pleased with their performance.  That being said I now own the RO 125 and 90, the RTS and DTS 400, the RAS, LS 130, and bought a used ETS 150/3 from E Bay.  I just finished refinishing my wife's Adirondack settee and used every one of the above excepting the Makita and Bosch.  I did however finally use my Fein Multimaster as a sander by cutting the outside corners off to make the triangle pad small enough to get at the back slats as the narrowed to the seat.  Now...damn Festool has come out with the ETS EC so I'll probably end up with the 150/5 version.

 

[McNally Family]

Rotex 150 to start with and then the DTS 400 and if your are doing large flat surfaces the RS 2E.

I can second the idea of the RS 2 E, 1/2 sheet sander.  I like the idea of using sheet sandpaper (from anywhere), and with the weight of the sander, it really does help flatten surfaces without any operator pressure.  It is also a pretty good edge sander, with it's extra width. 

I will add that when I went to the Festool Roadshow, and made the mistake of asking the Festool trainer which sander should I purchase, he corrected me by saying "which sander should I purchase first"!  Rookie mistake on my part....

Keep in mind that whatever sander you select, in your mind you need to also calculate the cost and quantity of sandpaper, in a series of grits.  Whenever I considered a sander, I also added in the consumable cost, which can add up fast (which is part of the reason I went with a 1/2 sheet sander).  I also like to "sand the sequence", so I have sandpaper in 80, 100. 120, 150, 180, 220 and 320 grit.

 

[andy5405]

Rotex 150 to start with and then the DTS 400 and if your are doing large flat surfaces the RS 2E.

I'm on 2 and looking at a 3rd fairly soon. I started with the RO150 and recently added the RTS400. Next purchase will be the RO90.

I thought for a long time that the TS55 was the biggest game changer but the sanders are up there too. There is something strangely addictive about turning what was once a laborious task into an enjoyable one. Hence my comment about getting 5, order not important. That said the RO150 is as good a starting point as any for an all rounder. I wouldn't get the RO125 as the pad is so much smaller and I have read a lot of comments on here about it's behavioural issues.

 

[kdzito]

I don't have personal experience on this, but I've heard it said on the forum that the RO150 is better balanced than the 125.

From a systems prespective (not to mention an efficiency one) I tend to think the 150 is a better choice, because if you ever decide to add additional sMders, like the ets or the ets-ec you can get the 150 models without having to buy a whole new round of abrasives, which are expensive (though last a long time, so are worth it in the end).

Ditto on the RO150 having better balance over the 125!

 

[MrToolJunkie]

I would go to a dealer or Festool event to try them out. What types of things do you envision sanding most? I just picked up one of the new ETS EC sanders in the small 125mm size because I was looking for something smaller than the 150 size that I also have. This new sander packs plenty of power and has some new features that I really like -- weight, balance, vibration control and the brake are just a few standouts. I have only started to use it and still evaluating things during the 30 day trial, but so far I am liking it. You might try one of this type of sanders first since it is versatile for so much finish work and can tackle some aggressive removal with lower grits. With that said I am a huge fan of the Rotex and the Rotex 150 and Rotex 90 have been invaluable to me on many occasion. I would replace them if something happened to them and not think twice. I also really like my DTS400 and think it is one of Festool's gems and the RS2E is also a favorite for furniture making -- nothing comes close to ensuring a smooth, flat surface than the RS2E and it too can tackle more aggressive work with lower grits. For shaping wood and stripping paint and other tasks the RAS115 is tough to beat. Over the last three months this has been my most used tool of my arsenal given the projects I have had to do.

But I think that everyone needs some kind of a finish sander and if you do not need rapid material removal, then one of the new and powerful ETS sanders is what I would recommend. I would supplement that with a delta sander (DTS or Rotex 90) for smaller areas and corner work and then add other sanders as you need them.

They all have a different feel to them and trying them out at a dealer is useful to see what feels right in your hands. You can take advantage of the 30 day trial to make sure you made the right choice, so that eliminates some of the risk. BUT, the 30 days only covers the machine and what was included in the Systainer -- it does not include any of the accessories or consumables you might buy with the tool. So, keep that in mind with a sander if you are not sure -- they sell smaller packs of paper to try out different grits and you will not have to invest too heavily. The initial cost of the paper can equal or outweigh the cost of the sander, especially if you add most of the grits. The good news is that the paper will last a long, long time and is really high quality.

 

[DiscoStu]

Thanks for all of the input. I decided on the Rotex 125. I think as an all rounder it will be good.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk