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 Post subject: Festool
PostPosted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:30 am 
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What makes these machines stand out above the rest ?


I am up to my seventh 5 " orbital sander.. The bearings become loose and then the orbital auction stops working ,making the machine less aggressive

The little black drive belt stretches out also...

Maybe I am up for a Festool


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PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 5:53 pm 
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You didn't say what brand you have. I have a Dewalt 5" , 3 yrs old, still works fine.

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 Post subject: Re: Festool
PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 6:27 pm 
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little bear wrote:
What makes these machines stand out above the rest ?


I am up to my seventh 5 " orbital sander.. The bearings become loose and then the orbital auction stops working ,making the machine less aggressive

The little black drive belt stretches out also...

Maybe I am up for a Festool


Better engineering, materials, manufacturing, etc. The same things that make them cost more.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 9:16 pm 
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I don't have one of their sanders, but I do have a saw. The best one I have ever owned. Design and engineering, ease of use, dust collection, track, smooth cut, sharp edges, no (as in ZERO) splintering. It's for woodworking and not framing.

I have used a demo of one of their sanders and I was amaized. Stock removal and dust collection.

I use a shop vac with a hose adapter.


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PostPosted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:19 am 
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Yes they are great machines, but you have t buy their sanding disks.

That's why I didn't buy their sander.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:56 am 
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Jeff Fox wrote:
Yes they are great machines, but you have t buy their sanding disks.

That's why I didn't buy their sander.


How come ??


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:58 am 
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[quote="yank"]You didn't say what bave. I have a Dewalt 5" , 3 yrs old, still works fine.


Porter cable 5"


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PostPosted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 10:35 am 
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I bought into the Festool mystique some time ago with one of their cordless drill drivers. I'm on my third battery now after about 10 years and it's about ready to go as well. I have a much less expensive drill driver I bought on sale at the local hardware store. The battery has held up far better than the Festool. While I like the balance and design of the Festool better than most others I've used or held, I'm less than convinced that they're worth the added cost. But that's based on owning just one of their product line which I'll admit is far from an exhaustive bit of research.

Just sayin' ....

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:54 pm 
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little bear wrote:
Jeff Fox wrote:
Yes they are great machines, but you have t buy their sanding disks.

That's why I didn't buy their sander.


How come ??


You buy a Festool sander you have to buy Festool sanding disks, because the hole pattern is different.

http://www.woodcraft.com/product/200617 ... -pack.aspx

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Always remove the zero clearance insert before you tilt the blade DAMHIKT


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PostPosted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:43 pm 
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There is a place in Frisco Texas, not far from here, that does all kinds of sand paper products. you could email them and see if they are tooled to make Festool disks.

https://www.econabrasives.com


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:52 pm 
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If you really want to know the benefit of festool sanders and more importantly the sand paper, watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ipAnLixcDA


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 7:35 am 
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vidkid26 wrote:
If you really want to know the benefit of festool sanders and more importantly the sand paper, watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ipAnLixcDA


That is impressive. I used one of their sanders once and was amazed how smooth it was to operate. A lot less fatigue on the hands and I really wanted to buy one, but I just didn’t want to be stuck with having to buy their sand paper. I wanted to be able to run down to Home Depot on a Sunday afternoon and pick up what I need.

Ralph, with you being in the sticks on-line ordering is probably your best choice anyway. I’d say get the festool.

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If man made it, I can fix it.
If God made it we can pray for it.

Lessons I have learned:
NEVER MAKE ANYTHING OUT OF TEAK
Always remove the zero clearance insert before you tilt the blade DAMHIKT


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:35 am 
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Thanks for that link John T.

A quick check of their pricing seems to show they are highly competitve to the rest of the market.

How well does their sand paper last?

Skyrider

John T wrote:

There is a place in Frisco Texas, not far from here, that does all kinds of sand paper products. you could email them and see if they are tooled to make Festool disks.

https://www.econabrasives.com [/i]


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 11:58 am 
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Quote:
I am up to my seventh 5 " orbital sander.. The bearings become loose and then the orbital auction stops working ,making the machine less aggressive

The little black drive belt stretches out also...


Maybe you need to change the way you are using the sander.
Or one with a different shaped disc.

Are you using it flat?
Or are you tipping the sander to grind with the edge of the disc (ala New Yankee Workshop)?

Constant tipping will cause the issues you are experiencing as it wears against the bearings unnaturally.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 12:11 pm 
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DMoening wrote:
Quote:
I am up to my seventh 5 " orbital sander.. The bearings become loose and then the orbital auction stops working ,making the machine less aggressive

The little black drive belt stretches out also...


Maybe you need to change the way you are using the sander.
Or one with a different shaped disc.

Are you using it flat?
Or are you tipping the sander to grind with the edge of the disc (ala New Yankee Workshop)?

Constant tipping will cause the issues you are experiencing as it wears against the bearings unnaturally.[/quote


Why I am tipping it to grind.. :roll:


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 2:10 pm 
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Hey Ralph,

I bought my first Festool sander to finish the top of my teak dining room table. I have since bought two more. They really are that much better. The bearings are bigger, the vibration is less, and the variety of backing pads etc. is greater than any other manufacturer. One note on grinding vs. sanding. If you are shaping with the sander, ie. grinding, you would be well served to look at the Rotex line of right angle sanders that Festool sells. They are made for shaping as well as finishing.

As far as their sandpaper goes, I have been a long time fan of Abranet™ sandpaper, which will work on any sander, because it is a mesh and the hole pattern doesn't matter. However, I have compared the Abranet product with the Festool, and even though Festool sandpaper is more expensive, it lasts so much longer than the Abranet, that is actually cheaper to use.

My first Festool was my router. I bought it back when there were no good dust collection options for Porter Cable routers, and I wanted better dust collection. What I found out was that while most routers have two bearings, the Festool has three, and they are larger. The addition of the third bearing improves the strength tremendously. It also requires a great deal more precision in manufacturing, which is evident throughout the tool. In my opinion, Festool is worth the price.

My 2¢,
Tom

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:48 pm 
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Ridgid, Home Depot, lifetime guarantee

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 8:25 pm 
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I'm with Tom. If your can hack the price, you won't ever go back. It is a rather slippery slope when you start to enjoy festal. DAMHIKT.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 12:11 pm 
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I work part-time in a buddies cabinet shop.
All of his powered hand tools are Festool.
In the 5 years I have worked with him we have not had to replace any of them.
Only issues we have had is that one of the removable cords act up, and the rubber strip on the bottom of the saw tracks come loose.

These tools are used every day, hard. in a production shop.

Great tools.
If replacing I'd buy them for myself.
---Nailer---

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:49 am 
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I'm with Tom. I bought the ets 150/3 as my first festool sander or tool for that matter. Since then I have bought the Rotex 150 and an ets 125 sander along with the ct e 26 dust extractor and the boom arm for it too. Once you use these sanders you will NEVER go back to another brand of sander. There is no vibration at all. They are built better with better parts and better technology too. The price is worth it in my opinion. Once you use one you will find out. There are some places out there that offer sanding discs so you don't just have to buy the festool discs. I use the Festool discs myself. To me they just last longer. I have used the Abranet too. They are ok but i prefer the festool paper.


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