Thread: FWW evaluation of the RO150

I had the same reaction to the review, though I might agree with him if he had used it without turning it on.

I used to use a BO6030 and the RO150 was a massive step up.

It surprised me as well. I did wonder if the reviewers comment "noisy and rough sounding" was a result of not him being familiar with Festools use of MMC electronics. To the uninitiated most Festool tools can sound like a bearing has gone bung, this is not the case of course. It is the sound of the electronics managing the motor speed through a 'pulsing' action rather than just lowering the voltage to the motor like non-electronic controls do. The MMC management maintains constant speed and high torque even if a low speed is dialed in.

This is only my suspicion as to what is behind the reviewers comments. And I guess if he was having trouble with 'handling' he had the speed down low to compensate. And it is when the speed is low that you hear the characteristic sound the Festools with MMC electronics make. Funnily enough, when Festools are running at higher speeds and doing harder work they sound smoother to most people.

Edit: I just had another look at the review and can't quite reconcile some of the figures in the table. The reviewer praises the ETS 150/3 as 'Best Overall' and rates it at 20 grams of wood removed. But only rates the ROTEX at 13 grams of wood removed in so called 'fine' mode. Those who know the ROTEX know that mode is a typical eccentric motion just like the ETS. But, with a 5mm orbit rather then the smaller 3mm orbit of the ETS 150/3. I don't doubt the ETS performed very well, but the theory and my practical experience of the ROTEX says it would remove even more grams.

I think this just confirms that one needs to critically evaluate what they read. This reviewer has no idea at all.

Originally Posted by routermaniac

I think this just confirms that one needs to critically evaluate what they read. This reviewer has no idea at all.

Yep.

I wonder if he had the side handle fitted during the test? Personally I never have it fitted because it is much smoother and easier to manage without it. Using one hand on the body and one hand over the head (above the disc) is easy in both modes. Even when polishing or using fine abrasives on a large flat surface just having one hand over the disc is possible even in ROTEX mode at full speed. So I am still grasping with the fact theat the reviewer could not hand this sander with two hands.

Back to the side handle: I would like to hear from ROTEX users if they bother to fit the side handle. I used to on the earlier model ROTEX, but this new model is much better balanced (even with the much higher wattage motor) than the old model that I never fit it.

Just because it is in the magazines, it doesn't mean it is right. I don't agree with a lot of stuff they said, FWW and others.

Originally Posted by nt900

Back to the side handle: I would like to hear from ROTEX users if they bother to fit the side handle. I used to on the earlier model ROTEX, but this new model is much better balanced (even with the much higher wattage motor) than the old model that I never fit it.

It has a side handle? Really? Well, there you go

Hi Anthony,
I bought the side handle when I bought the RO150, used it once and found it to be less than useless. Just use one hand on the body and one on top of the head and works juuust fine.

Upon initial release the RO 150 FEQ (current model) did not even include a side handle because of the usability improvements from the previous model. But, lots of people asked for it and Festool started to include one after a while. But I suspect most people never use it.

So far we have 3 votes out of 3 for not using the included side handle.

Originally Posted by nt900

So far we have 3 votes out of 3 for not using the included side handle.

Well, I have the previous model RO150 and use the side handle whenever it is in "rotary" mode, to prevent it from galloping away!

The side handle does make it much easier to use the rotex on a vertical surface, but I do use it occasionally otherwise. It isn't useless, but I could live without it if I had to.

I've found the rotex to definitely have a learning curve. Once I used it for a while, I had no problem handling it. I didn't read the review, but it sounds like the guy's a noob. Especially if he's complaining about noise.


ps- Festool, if you're reading this, put a threaded screw hole on the front of the machine, so you can mount the handle opposite the body in a 'buffer' configuration. Please.

Eli, they do have a frontmounted handle that clips on in the same manner as the edge protector: it's at the bottom here

I haven't used my rotex much yet, mostly for drywall sanding, only very briefly tried the handle, liked it better without it.

Yes, I have one at the moment. It's okay, unless you put too much weight on it. DAMHIKT

I dont use the side handle for timber work but it may come in handy (for polishing a car for example)

Marios

Tried mine on the weekend for the first time without the handle, definatley better to controller without it..... No more handle for me, thanks for the tip!

For some reason the velcro on the sanding pad started to come off though and its only about 4 weeks old


joez