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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    36

    Default What type of Sandpaper for a Rotex?

    Hi,

    Just joined the Festool club with a Rotex 150 (and a Kapex 120, 1400w Router and a TS55 for good measure).

    But now I need to stock up on sandpaper for the Rotex and got a bit of a surprise at just how many types of sandpaper there are - Rubin, Saphir, Cristal, Brilliant 2, Granat and Titan 2.

    I am just a DIYer and I primarily want to sand wood (hard and soft).

    Can anyone give me some guidance on what the difference between them is - they all seem to come in a wide range of grits?

    Cheers

    John

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Gold Coast
    Age
    49
    Posts
    591

    Default

    hi john, you know, for a DIYer, thats quite a collection you got there!
    you must be on a first name basis with mr. claus!

    with regards to sandpaper options.
    stick with briliant 2 for general wood sanding.

    try not to skip grits. for instance if you have a piece of timber such as a table that requires sanding, if its in good condition, i normally start with 120 grit, 240, 320, 400.

    400 grit is a very nice finish if you are applying oil, stain or poly your e thin!

    i have a few extra pads that get up to 4000 grit. i must admit, most of the time, 4000 grit is overkill, but it always impresses people when they can see the light shining off the finished timber.

    i also highly recommend joining the fog. festoolownersgroup.com

    there is a wealth of information on the fog website which will be perfect for you and your new toys.

    regards, justin.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Pittsburgh, PA, USA
    Posts
    106

    Default

    Hello, welcome to the world of Festool. Yes, all of the options for Festool abrasives can be confusing at first. I'll give you a quick rundown on each type of abrasive.

    • Rubin: Its made for sanding bare wood. It has a mid-weight paper backing so durability is fairly good. Since it is made for specifically for bare wood the highest grit available is 180. In use this is the weakest abrasive in Festool's lineup. Rubin cuts very but for a short period before it dulls. However, it will last a very long time in a half dulled state.
    • Brilliant 2: Technically made for sanding paint, primers, fillers and other finishes since it has a special coating to help prevent loading. But it will also work well on bare wood. In lower grits it has a mid-weight backing and a light-weight in the finer grits. The low grits are reasonably durable but from 120 and up the paper is pretty thin and won't withstand harsh use. Brilliant is Festool's best all purpose abrasive.
    • Cristal: Its made for fast stock removal for wood, paint or other finishes. The grit particles are spaced far apart to help prevent loading or clogging of the paper. Mid to heavy-weight paper backing. This is a nice abrasive for really going at it on tough sanding jobs. But be aware that it is very aggressive and will leave a deep scratch pattern with coarse grits.
    • Saphir: Made for the toughest sanding jobs. Wood, paint, finishes, Festool claims it can even be used on concrete. Cloth reinforced backing makes it very durable.
    • Platin 2: For super fine finishing for solid surface counter tops, paint, body fillers and in the polishing process for other finishes. It can also be used bare wood to bring it to a polish. Platin is an unusual abrasive, it has a form backing with a very fine mesh for the abrasive surface. There aren't the usual holes for dust extraction. Grits 400-4000.
    • Titan 2: Made for sanding finishes like automotive paint, primers, body fillers and other finishes. It has a stearated coating so it is not for use on bare wood.
    • Vlies: Is like the 3M "Scotch-Brite" mesh abrasive. Made for cleaning, scuffing between coats of finish or cleaning rust. It can also be used to make a matte finish on a surface or finish. There are a number of different grits.


    • Granat: New to the Festool lineup and not available in the in the States (where I'm located) so I don't know much about it. I believe it is much like Brilliant 2 but made specifically for water based and other low VOC finishes.

    I'd recommend Rubin and/or Brilliant 2 for general, everyday use. The other abrasives are more for specialty applications. I might be a good idea to buy small quantities at first to see how you like each abrasive type. Good luck, and let us know if you have more specific questions.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    36

    Default

    Thanks guys for the responses,

    Looks like a range of Brilliant 2 is the way to go as a start and maybe one or two packs of Cristal for the heavy jobs.

    Not sure about Mr Claus but Mr Visa and I have become pretty close

    Will definitely join the FOG.

    I am about to go on two weeks leave and have to build the benches for my workshop, some cupboards, a mantle piece and a few other things so will post again soon on how I found the Festool gear compared to my old batch of tools (Bosch SCMS, Bosch sander, triton routers and saw tables etc).

    Cheers

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    92

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by justinmcf View Post

    i also highly recommend joining the fog. festoolownersgroup.com

    .
    In particular, this is a good reading about Festool sand papers

    Festool Abrasives Details

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Western Australia
    Age
    77
    Posts
    3,679

    Default

    I think a note of thanks to Brice is warranted in elaborating the various applications on Festool sanding papers.

    Cheers
    Johnno

    Everyone has a photographic memory, some just don't have film.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Pittsburgh, PA, USA
    Posts
    106

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by John Saxton View Post
    I think a note of thanks to Brice is warranted in elaborating the various applications on Festool sanding papers.

    Cheers
    I'm glad to help out.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    708

    Default

    I have been experimenting with finer grades from 800 to 3000 and am very impressed with the speed at which a super smooth surface can be achieved with the Rotex - something that i would have previously laboured with using wet & dry.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Pittsburgh, PA, USA
    Posts
    106

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TP1 View Post
    I have been experimenting with finer grades from 800 to 3000 and am very impressed with the speed at which a super smooth surface can be achieved with the Rotex - something that i would have previously laboured with using wet & dry.
    What material did you sand and what abrasive did you use?

  11. #10
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    708

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Brice Burrell View Post
    What material did you sand and what abrasive did you use?
    I have been sanding two Jarrah coffee table tops after having filled the pores one with sanding sealer and the other with Shellac ( which unfortunately gums up on the sandpaper).

    I have used Titan 2 - 500, 800 and 1500; Platin 2 - 1000, 2000 and 4000.

    I have also used these before on a Sheoak table that I first finished with a gloss wipe on poly. The finished surface was then polished with carnauba wax which gave a deep lustrous shine. ( which I preferred to the straight poly look)

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Pittsburgh, PA, USA
    Posts
    106

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Brice Burrell View Post
    • Granat: New to the Festool lineup and not available in the in the States (where I'm located) so I don't know much about it. I believe it is much like Brilliant 2 but made specifically for water based and other low VOC finishes.

    I was wrong about the new Granat abrasive. I had it backwards, Granat is made for solvent based VOC finishes and other hard finishes.

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