Thread: Cristal love

Mr Bush - nice work. The Abrasives Systainer holds enough abrasives for most people, and nicely organised and protected. Thanks for dropping into the store.

ssgt - It's one of the downsides to product improvement, things change. I can't speak for Festool, but I assume they make a call over maintaining production of a whole range of old design abrasive, or provide a pad upgrade for existing owners to move to the new and improved range of abrasives. Unforunately it's bad timing for some who have old style abrasves and their matching sanding pad gives out before they use them all up.

I can understand your frustration, but ultimately you get a better product.

Yeah, perhaps that was it. It was a small packet of 5 sheets I thought I'd try before getting larger set/s (I'm only a hobbyist so $ first). Maybe it was old stock as I'd assume most people (trades etc) would get the larger packs, therefore quicker stock turnover.
Just thought I'd mention it in case anyone else comes across it, apart from that I'm very happy with all my Festool gear so far.

Originally Posted by HotChips

Just thought I'd mention it in case anyone else comes across it, apart from that I'm very happy with all my Festool gear so far.

It's definitely worth mentioning. Good heads up for both old and new sander owners.

HotChips - at least Festool products last long enough to have design changes (well) down the track cause problems like this !

Not too many other brands could say the same.......

Also very happy with all the Festool items I have purchased so far. Significantly, in almost every case, I wasted money on a cheaper product first only to replace it with a Festool item later. I'm a slow learner........

I too have been victim to my own ineptitude in buying crap tools for years, eventually finding that good tools can be a pleasure to use, rather than a curse! so slowly upgrading & replacing them as I go.

Question for anyone who has ever used one of the Festool 'Test Set of Abrasives'.....

Is there more than one different kit available, or do they all contain the same mix of papers?

Just received my ETS150/3 (which to me is a finishing sander), only to find that the Test Kit supplied basically contains only 60 grit (!), 80 grit, 120 grit and 180 grit papers. I was expecting to be able to try the 320 and 400 grit Brilliant2 (for example), but it looks as though I'll have to go out and buy just about every paper I'd consider using with this sander

The 180 grit is usable, but 60 grit paper on a 3mm orbit finishing sander?????

In the interests of fair play, a follow up to my last post on this thread......

Moments after my post, a PM arrived from Anthony offering to supply a more suitable set of sample papers for the ETS150/3. He agreed that 60 and 80 grit weren't really the first choice for a finishing sander. A couple of days later I had a selection of Brilliant2 in my hot little hands, allowing me to get to P800 and beyond.

Having now finished evaluating these on a Brushbox table project, I'll just say that I wish I'd bought the ETS150/3 long ago instead of thrashing around with my clunky Hitachi ROS for so long. The lack of vibration from the Festool was kind of expected, but I was surprised at how this translates into better control. Almost complete lack of dust when hooked up to my Festool midi - I'd never use a sander without vacuum again. Unfortunately my Hitachi ROS has a weird and proprietary dust outlet suitable only for the cloth bag supplied, so it'll be on eBay shortly.

Finish from the Brilliant2 P400 was better than I need......and when I got to P800 I could actually see my ugly mug reflected in the surface of the timber. Haven't tried the P1200 sample yet......too scary.

So......hats off to Ideal Tools for excellent service above and beyond the call. For anyone still dithering over buying an ETS150/3, Just Do It (as Mr Nike says...).