DeanJackson Posted April 3, 2012 Report Share Posted April 3, 2012 I bought a Festool tracksaw, and dang, I'm impressed. My sander died on me, and I'm looking to replace it with one or two new ones. Since the tracksaw was done well, I'm considering Festool here. But they sell a *lot* of sanders. For woodworking/cabinetry/furniture, which sanders should I be looking at here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulMarcel Posted April 3, 2012 Report Share Posted April 3, 2012 What are you looking for in a sander? Fine finishing? Agressive stock removal? Both? Round head? Square pad for corners? The Festool line is pretty large for sanders; narrowing it down to what you want will make it easier to talk about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morton Posted April 3, 2012 Report Share Posted April 3, 2012 As Paul mentioned - Festool has a sander for each type of use - so it really depends. But I'd generally look at the 5" and 6" random orbital sanders for furniture and woodworking. The ROTEX have very aggressive modes, but don't handle quite as smoothly IMO (due to weight distribution). So I'd start with the ETS125 or ETS150/3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted April 3, 2012 Report Share Posted April 3, 2012 ==> I'd start with the ETS125 or ETS150/3 +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 For 5" or 6" id skip the fes and get a Mirka. Id at least go try one before making a decision. Hands down the nicest ro sander ive used. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcustoms Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 For 5" or 6" id skip the fes and get a Mirka. Id at least go try one before making a decision. Hands down the nicest ro sander ive used. Don I second Don the Mirka's are so nice. They are like having a really good dynabrade with out hhaving a big compressor running all the time. That DC motor is so strong you could stand on the damn thing while it was runnning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fransikaner Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 How's the dust collection of the electric Mirka? Festool is darn near flawless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 How's the dust collection of the electric Mirka? Festool is darn near flawless. As good or better than festool, abranet last twice as long also. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Slack Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 I got the Rotex 5" and then I felt like it would be better to have the 6". The reason the 6" is better is because you cover more real estate faster. The reason for getting the 5" was to get in tight corners. The Rotex Rocks! Is amazing! Welcome to the club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fransikaner Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 As good or better than festool, abranet last twice as long also. Don Thanks again Don. You are hitting on all cylinders today (this and the conical depression pix). Now I've got to find some scratch for a 6" somewhere...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williaty Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 About 2 months ago, I was in the same situation that you were. I was pretty impressed with my first Festool purchases and I needed a new sander. I was also overwhelmed with the options. I chose an ETS 150/5 because I needed an "all around" basic sander for 90% of the sanding one typically does in a wood shop. Coulpled with the hard pad (which is manditory, really), it works quite well doing just about everything I need to do, is quiet, and is nearly dustless. With that, it didn't seem justifiable to spend the extra money (nearly twice as much) to buy a Rotex sander. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeGauss Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 The ETS125 was my first Festool Sander and has remaind my go to sander for several years now. I also have a ROTEX/125 (I only stock one size of abrasive) for more aggressive shaping/stock removal. Both are great sanders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davestanton Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 Dean. If you can spring the extra for the rotex 150 then buy it. When used with the correct heads it will do all of your larger sanding AND polishing projects with ease. Festools jetstream is a great invention. The rotex comes with it as standard (as do the two ETS machines) The rotex has a couple of drive settings, geared and eccentric. Geared for agresive and 5mm eccentric for fine work. It is easy to dissengage the jetstream and suction if you want to use it for polishing. It really is top of the heap in Festool's range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 Dean. If you can spring the extra for the rotex 150 then buy it. When used with the correct heads it will do all of your larger sanding AND polishing projects with ease. Festools jetstream is a great invention. The rotex comes with it as standard (as do the two ETS machines) The rotex has a couple of drive settings, geared and eccentric. Geared for agresive and 5mm eccentric for fine work. It is easy to dissengage the jetstream and suction if you want to use it for polishing. It really is top of the heap in Festool's range. Spoken like a true tool salesman. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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