The Best Festool Sander (Full Comparison)
The best Festool sander to buy depends on your specific needs. This article compares all the Festool sanders, with each having a specific purpose. Festool offers different sizes and various models including their unique Rotex line of sanders. By the end of this article you will know which type of sander is best for you and your woodworking shop.
Best Sanders:
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Festool Rotex Sanders
Festool offers a unique line of sanders with dual-mode sanding that includes a powerful gear-driven mode as well as a a traditional random orbital mode. The gear driven mode is used for aggressive stock removal and will get you down to bare wood fast and is the equivalent of using a grinder. I personally see the Rotex models as a combination of a belt sander with a random orbit sander. The Rotex sanders are a perfect all around sander that can be used for coarse sanding when refinishing projects or flattening workpieces to fine sanding in preparation of applying finishes. Festool has three different versions of the Rotex sander, the RO 90 DX, RO 125 and the RO 150, each with its own specific purpose.
Each of the Festool Rotex sanders come with a specifically designed systainer for easy transporting safe storage. The sanders also comes with a soft sanding pad which can be swapped out with a number of other options available. The sanders also come with an edge protector that quickly clicks on so you don't damage your sanding pad when sanding close to walls, vertical corners or edges. All three models of the Rotex sanders have an integrated variable speed control to dial. All the sanders come with the universal Festool Plug-It power cord which can be used for other Festool Tools. One feature the Rotex sanders lack is an external dust bag or filter, therefore requiring you to use a Festool dust extractor.
Festool Rotex Ro 90 DX
The Festool Rotex RO 90 DX is the perfect detail sander for hard to reach corners as well as being able to sand flat surfaces. The RO 90 DX comes with both a 3.5 inch or 90 mm circular sanding disk as well as a triangular delta shaped sanding pad. The sander can easily switch between the circular pad and triangular pad in seconds making it a versatile sander. If you are looking for the best detail sander on the market, you can't go wrong with the RO 90 DX. The only downside with the RO 90 DX is the circular sanding disk is only 3.5 inches in diameter limiting your ability to sand larger surfaces. So if your looking to buy only one sander this isn't the one, but if you are in need of a great detail sander the RO 90 DX is the best.
Festool Rotex Ro 125
The Festool Rotex RO 125 is arguably the best all around sander especially for a woodworker. The RO 125 has a 5 inch or 125 mm sanding disk and only weights 4.4 pounds. The 5 inch sanding pad size is ideal for any project, whether its small pieces or large projects the RO 125 is a great option. Even though its the same size as a standard random orbital sander you also get the gear driven Rotex feature to quickly sand faster with extra power and superb dust collection. The RO 125 has a compact design and a lower center of gravity making it a very ergonomic sander to use. If your looking for a sander that can double as a high powered sander yet provide a smoother finish than typical sanders the RO 125 is the perfect tool.
Festool Rotex RO 150
Festool also has the Rotex RO 150 that has a few unique features designed for polishing, and larger work areas. The RO 150 has a larger 6 inch or 150mm sanding disk that increases your sanding ability by 20%. Due to the larger sanding disk the RO 150 has unique dust extraction with additional holes in the sanding pad. This will require you to buy specific sandpaper where as the RO 125 can use traditional sandpaper disks. The RO 150 also has the ability to easily transform into a great tool for polishing. The dust extraction channel can easily removed to better position the sander for polishing. The RO 150 also has an attachable side grip handle to make polishing easier.
Festool ETS Sanders
Festool's entry level sander is the ETS models, yet they still have the same high quality you would expect from Festool products. All the ETS models use either a 5 or 6 inch or in metrics 125 mm or 150 mm soft sanding pad which can be swapped out for a hard pad if desired. The ETS is available in four models each with a specific purpose. The Festool ETS 125 is the base model with corded power and the option of using an attachable dust bag or dust extractor. The Festool ETSC 125 is the cordless version with the option of using a dust extractor or the attachable dust bag. The Festool ETS 150/3 and ETS 150/5 are larger versions of the ETS 125 with larger sanding strokes for a more aggressive sander for hard surfaces yet still being able to be a finish sander with great results.
Festool ETS 125 & ETSC 125
The Festool ETS 125 sander is an ideal choice to get into the Festool brand at a low cost as it offers superior performance, enhanced ergonomics, and a variety of features that make it worth the money. The ETS 125 is a 5 inch or 125 mm sander that has a 2 mm stroke that is ideal for a finish sander. The sander also had been designed to balance out the vibration with their vibration stop technology, producing better finished results and allowing you to work for longer periods of time without your hands becoming tired or numb. While the ETS 125 is considered their entry level sander it offers unparalleled dust collection compared to other palm sanders. I use the ETS 125 with a Festool vac and in combination it collects almost all sanding dust. If your just looking for a finish sander the Festool ETS 125 is a great choice but if your looking for mor of an aggressive sander the Rotex 125 may be the better option. The ETS 125 was my first Festool sander and I have not regretted the purchase at all, if your interested in reading more and want a full review of the Festool ETS 125 you can click here.
Festool ETS 150/3 & ETS 150/5
The Festool EST 150/3 and 150/5 are larger more aggressive versions of the ETS 125. Both models have a 6 inch or 150 mm sanding pad increasing the amount of sanding capabilities and reducing your time sanding. In addition to the increased sanding pad size the 150/3 and 150/5 have increased sanding stroke lengths. The larger the sanding stroke length is, the more aggressive the sanding will be. The ETS 150 comes in 2 version with the ETS 150/3 having a 3 mm sanding stroke and the ETS 150/5 using a 5 mm sanding stroke in comparison to the standard ETS 125 with a 2 mm sanding stroke. The ETS 150/3 and 150/5 are perfect if you need to sand large projects or work surfaces at high speeds and not requiring the new Rotex features.
Festool ETS EC Sanders
The Festool ETS EC models are an upgraded version of the base ETS model that is designed for industry professionals looking for a more production level tool. The EC sanders have a more powerful motor, longer stroke length and dedicated system for dust extractors. The motors in the ETS EC use a EC-TEC Brushless Motor that delivers more power, less vibrations and a longer lifespan. The Festool ETS EC sanders also have a dedicated Jetstream dust collection channel that allows more air to be circulated through the sanding pad collecting more sawdust.
Festool ETS EC 125/3
The Festool ETS EC 125/3 sander comes with a 5 inch or 125 mm soft sanding disk similar to the regular ETS 125. The ETS EC 125/3 also has an increased sanding stroke of 1mm with a total of 3mm compared to the regular ETS 125 that has 2mm. The longer sanding stroke offers quicker material removal and feed rate of the sander allowing you to get more sanding done faster. The ETS EC 125/3 was designed to be more comfortable to use and have better dust collection for a commercial environment while still being a great sander for hobby woodworkers.
Festool ETS EC 150/3 & 150/5
The Festool ETS EC 150 comes in two different versions, the 150/3 with a 3 mm sanding stroke, and the 150/5 with a 5 mm sanding stroke. Both versions have a 6 inch or 150 mm sanding pad that comes equipped with a soft sanding pad and can be replaced with a hard pad if desired. The increased sanding stroke of 3 or 5mm will make a big difference in the speed it takes to remove material. Also, with the increased size of the sanding disk you will be able to cover more surface area faster. If your looking for a professional level sander that has low vibrations, great dust collection and will save you time the ETS EC 150 is the right tool.
Festool RTS Sanders
Festool RTS 400 & RTSC 400
The Festool RTS come in two models the RTS 400 which requires a power cord, and the RTSC 400 as a cordless option. Both RTS models come with a rectangular sanding pad and an attachable dust bag with the option to hook up to dust collection. The main selling point of the RTS 400 is that it only weighs 2.4 lbs and is great for a jobsite that requires a lot of overhead or vertical work. The RTSC 400 allows the option to have a cordless sander with the same level of performance for 30 minutes of run time at full power. The batteries are recharged in only 30 minutes allowing you to get back to work pretty quick. The RTS 400 is designed for processionals that need a lightweight but efficient sander.
Festool DTS Sanders
Festool DTS 400 & DTSC 400
The Festool DTS come in two different versions with the DTS 400 requiring a power cord and the DTSC 400 being a cordless option. The Festool DTS 400 is a detail sander that has a triangular sanding pad that does a great job sanding in tight spaces and corners. The sander has a 2 mm sanding stroke which provides a super-fine finished surface. The DTS 400 and DTSC 400 come with an attachable dust bag as well as being able to attach to a dust extractor. The sander is also very lightweight and only weighs 2.4 lbs which makes it great for overhead work or sanding vertical surfaces.
Festool Dust Extractors
To utilize the full capabilities of the Festool random orbital sanders and Festool's line of Rotex sanders I would highly recommend buying a Festool dust extractor. There are quite a few different models which is why I wrote a full comparison of all the Festool dust extractors to help you find the best one for your needs. While some of the sanders a dust collector isn't needed, it does make a massive difference and will eliminate nearly all the saw dust produced. The Festool sanders are engineered and designed to be used with a dust extractor for best performance. By pairing a dust extractor to a Festool sander you will minimize the risk of serious health conditions related to airborne sawdust. Also if you're a contractor or professional working at a job site you will eliminate nearly all clean up work due sawdust and save yourself a ton of time. The initial cost of a dust extractor may seem high but the benefits will pay off for years to come and they can also be used for other power tools. If you're interested in my personal experience with a Festool sander and dust extractor you can check out this article here.
Which Festool Sander Should You Choose?
The best Festool sander really depends on your specific needs and your projects. Hopefully this article helped you compare all the Festool sanders but to sum things up here are my top recommendations. If you are looking for a budget option into the Festool system the ETS 125 is a great sander that is worth the extra cost. The best sander to speed up your sanding in a professional workshop is the ETS EC 150/5 which is designed for long term use and aggressive sanding. If you are searching for one sander with dual purposes that combines a belt sander and random orbital sander the Rotex 125 is arguably the most versatile sander available. If you are in need of a detail sander that you can also use as a random orbital sander the Rotex 90 offers both a triangular and circular pad with the legendary Rotex feature. Whichever Festool sander you choose you will not be disappointed with the performance and quality.
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