Thread: Which ets sander

Hi Dave,
Depends on what you will be finishing, I guess. The difference between the two is that the /5 has a 5mm stroke and the /3 has a three mm stroke. If you're doing stuff like weather boards or rough furniture, then the 5 will be adequate for the task, but if you're finishing timber to a very smooth finish, then I'd go the /3 every time. No vibration to speak of, excellent control and discs all the way up to 4000g!
I've had mine (ETS150/3) for 6 years now and it hasn't missed a beat even though it gets about 2-4 hours work a day..

Here's an example of the finish it can give (with some oil to help!)

Regards,

Rob.

Dave take Rob's advice & You'll never look back, as stated depends on your intended usage .

Both are great to use and comfortable over long periods.

Cheers

Thanks both very much. Thats what i am aiming for getting a top finish on furniture, not stripping paint!
Dave

You're on a winnere, Dave.
Give Ideal Tools a ring, I think they are doing free delivery at the moment.

Regards,

Rob

Originally Posted by dave_c

Thanks both very much. Thats what i am aiming for getting a top finish on furniture, not stripping paint!
Dave

Good Morning Dave

I have had an ETS 150/3 for a couple of years and fully endorse the views of Rob et al above. However I would not get my knickers in a knot over the choice - all are brilliant, and you have not mentioned the ETS 150/7 for rugged work!

In retrospect, I probably should have bought the 150/5 as it is marginally faster on the preliminary sanding. As to fine sanding, IMHO it is very difficult to tell the difference

• ETS 150/3 with 300 grit white sandpaper, vs
• ETS 150/5 with 400 grit paper.

Suspect that many will disagree, but at my level of expertise, I essentially cannot tell the difference in finish.

A warning; Festool is an expensive addiction.

Fair Winds

Graeme

If you can only get one, I'd go the 150/3.....just about the ultimate for fine finishing, but still surprisingly aggressive with appropriate coarse papers.

Very happy with my 150/3, but recently bought the hard pad for it in place of the standard one that came with the sander. I'd recommend the harder pad for big flat surfaces, which is what I tend to use the sander for most.

5mm version for allrounder & go to a finer grade if you want to get a finer finish, 3mm version if its just fine finishing, if you try using a 3mm as an allrounder you will probably chew thru pads due to the heat generation melting the Velcro loops &/or bottom eccentric bearing which is pretty deer as its a special bearing

Originally Posted by VEK TOOLS

5mm version for allrounder & go to a finer grade if you want to get a finer finish, 3mm version if its just fine finishing, if you try using a 3mm as an allrounder you will probably chew thru pads due to the heat generation melting the Velcro loops &/or bottom eccentric bearing which is pretty deer as its a special bearing

I think that this is yet more good advice. Thanks VEK.

So far I have not chewed any pads, but I have noticed the heat build up in the 150/3. Just assumed that heat was undesirable, and intuitively backed off.

In any case, by going to finer sandpapers the quality of finish between a 150/3 and a 150/5 is virtually indistinguishable.

If VEK agrees with my initial recommendation, maybe I got something right?

Fair Winds

Graeme

I think everyone has covered the differences... 150/5 for general sanding and 150/3 for fine sanding. But I thought I would add, if the majority of sanding is anticipated to be P80 through to P400 and higher, erring on the side of the 150/3 give you the benefit of a beautiful sander to operate, it's such a pleasure because it's so well balanced in operation, you can literally direct the sander over the workpiece without holding the sander itself, but by holding the hose or lead. Obviously not how you would sand in practice, but an indication of how well balanced and vibrationless the 150/3 can be.

As for wearing out pads prematurely, lots of people extend their 150/3 to rougher grits than P80 and have no issues, but if really rough grits was going to be the sanders job as often as not, then look to the 150/5.

Originally Posted by nt900

I think everyone has covered the differences... 150/5 for general sanding and 150/3 for fine sanding. But I thought I would add, if the majority of sanding is anticipated to be P80 through to P400 and higher, erring on the side of the 150/3 give you the benefit of a beautiful sander to operate, it's such a pleasure because it's so well balanced in operation, you can literally direct the sander over the workpiece without holding the sander itself, but by holding the hose or lead. Obviously not how you would sand in practice, but an indication of how well balanced and vibrationless the 150/3 can be.

As for wearing out pads prematurely, lots of people extend their 150/3 to rougher grits than P80 and have no issues, but if really rough grits was going to be the sanders job as often as not, then look to the 150/5.

I routinely sand from 80g to 4000g on all my furniture, box and frame projects using a ETS 150/3 and have done for the last 6 years. In that time, I've replaced the pad once.
For really rough sanding, I have an RO150, but I have to tell you that even that sander when in RO mode will give a finish to die for.
I have great faith in the ETS150/3 for pretty much all my sanding needs relating to furniture and boxes.

Regards,

Rob

I know it's not strictly answering the question, but I'd have to say that the Mirka CEROS sander beats the Festools hands down.

Been using the ETS 150/5 at work for several years and thought is was the best there was, but i tried the Mirka at a trade show a couple of years back and was blown away. It's the size and weight of an air-powered ROS (half the Festool) which makes it feel like it's an extension of your hand - especially when sanding edges, vertical faces and curves - and has a DC motor that doesn't lose revs even if you pretty much sit on it - the Festools will slow down if you start applying pressure. It's also much quieter and has even less vibration than the already-negligible Festool.

They're about $70 dearer, but worth every cent.