Thread: Best fit sander

Why do you need an all-in-one sander. The rotex is good but tiring on the operating arm. If price is not a big issue why not buy dedicated sanders for specific job types. I much prefer a tool to do one great job rather than one to that does various good jobs.

We have 2 of the Festool ETS 150/5 at work and I'm a fan.

Its size and weight make it a lot easier on the arms/wrists than the Rotex, especially when used one-handed on non-flat surfaces. The 5mm orbit is a good balance for multi-purpose use too; aggressive enough to do some serious work with a 60/80 grit disc but still capable of finish sanding with 240 and higher. Variable speed is nice too but I don't use it much.

They also take a lot of abuse; over 4 years of industrial use including countless falls onto a concrete floor and still going (just had a new switch and pad bearing put in one as well as the normal brush changes).

I'd call it $500 well spent

BTW, if you're in Melbourne on a Sunday and want to give it a test run, drop me a line.

My posted question was not a very solid one but it shows my indecision despite my research; expecting too much from one sander alone. Thanks, elanjacobs, if the time comes, I might say gday.

Hi dakotax3,

Arguably one sander can do it all, but with caveats). For example, an ETS 150/5 can be an excellent finishing sander and an excellent course sander, but... you might need to use finer abrasives to compensate for the larger 5mm eccentric orbit (compared to an ETS 150/3 with 3mm orbit), and you might have to sand for longer when you are course sanding, compared to using a ROTEX with its ROTARY/ECCENTRIC gear mode. But and ETS 150/5 is an excellent all-rounder, and is a pleasure to use - having excellent dust extraction capability, and being stable and smooth in the hand with minimal vibration and user discomfort.

A ROTEX will speed up the course sanding dramatically, and although has a 5mm stroke, I find in the geared mode, is a great finishing sander - and fast. But it is ergonomically less satisfying.

So both sanders could arguably do the same job, and the finished projects will probably appear identical, but your process and time used will differ.

Hope that helped more than complicated things.

Originally Posted by nt900

So both sanders could arguably do the same job, and the finished projects will probably appear identical, but your process and time used will differ.

Hope that helped more than complicated things.

ROTEX is $300 more expensive too

Managed to pick up a ETS150/3 for $385 from the trade show. Can't wait to try it out.

hi dakotax3.

i meet painters on construction sites all the time who swear by the rotex 125 and 150.

very rarely do i find the need for sanding back old varnish or paint because thats the painters job!

anthonys post is bang on.

i have sanded tassie oak boards for 11 hours solid with the ets 150/5.
i would not want to be hanging on to the rotex for that length of time.
the ets 150 sanders are fantastic for long durations.

i use the festool ras 180 when i am sanding structural hardwood beams and posts.
i use the festool ls130 for sanding curves on handrails and right angles in internal corners.

i am not a fan of all in one sanders.
i prefer to have a specific tool for a specific job.

if i were in your boots, i would buy the ets 150/5.

regards, justin

Now we're getting somewhere, thanks guys.