Looks like it is well made.

[Jim Hager]

I got home from work yesterday to find on my front porch 2 big boxes full of new toys er toolshttp://sawmillcreek.org/images/smilies/biggrin.gif I had ordered these on Sunday from our old buddy Bob Marino way up nort of good ole Arkansas. That is some speedy delivery. Not sure who to thank either Bob or UPS.http://sawmillcreek.org/images/smilies/tongue.gif
http://a1.cpimg.com/image/ED/7B/52222701-6c17-02000180-.jpg

Everything was very well packed and arrived without any damage whatsoever. I did notice a few scuffs on the sander housing from riding around in it's sustainer. I opened it all up of course right there in the living room and gave it the once over before taking it down to the shop.

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Once I got it all assembled me and "Penny" the vicious shop dog and I went down to the shop to see if it worked as advertised. Yep!!! What a sander!!!! and the dust collection is amazing. I sized it up beside my old Dewalt random orbit sander and showed SWMBO how much difference there was in the amount of dust in the air and believe it or not she was very pleased to know I won't be breathing so much dust in the future.

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The only thing I'm not too wild about is that I have to use these disposable dust bags. I'm sort of a person who likes to reuse stuff. Maybe I'll see if I can figure out a way to empty the bags a few times before tossing them out.http://sawmillcreek.org/images/smilies/confused.gif

Thanks for the speedy delivery Bob. I'm planning on giving this thing a real workout this weekend and I'll let everyone know some more about the performance. So far I'm really impressed. The 3/16 orbit of the 150/5 seems to have just about the right amount of "agressiveness" that I wanted to work out drum sander scratches on raised panel doors. We'll have to see how it works as a sander for getting furniture and cabinets ready for finishing.

My first impression on the dust collection is good but I don't care too much for having to wag around the collection hose. It tends to hang a little on the edge of the workbench impeding my movements somewhat. Probably gonna just have to get used to it I guess.

Photos by SWMBW

[Mark Singer]

Jim,

Congradulations! The sanders from Festool are really great and the hose is not that bad to deal with once you start working. I think you will really enjoy using them!

[John Miliunas]

Jim, I have several of the Festool sanders but, it seems that the 150/5 is typically my "go to" sander. Great for taking off a fair amount of material, yet does a splendid job for readying a surface for finish. Kind of a a "do-it-all" model, IMHO. Congrats and enjoy!!!:) :cool:

[Byron Trantham]

Jim, nice haul and you will enjoy the Festool stuff. I have a few tools and want more! :D

[Jim Becker]

Very good, Jim! As to the "hose wagging"....I just put it and the cord over my shoulder to keep things from hanging up on and damaging edges. ;)

[Frank Pellow]

...
The only thing I'm not too wild about is that I have to use these disposable dust bags. I'm sort of a person who likes to reuse stuff. Maybe I'll see if I can figure out a way to empty the bags a few times before tossing them out.


Jim, maybe Festool's long-life bag would work for you. I don't have one but, in spite of the very high price, I am considering getting one.

Here is a link: http://www.festoolusa.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProdID=456737&ID=6

[Mike Vermeil]

My first impression on the dust collection is good but I don't care too much for having to wag around the collection hose. It tends to hang a little on the edge of the workbench impeding my movements somewhat. Probably gonna just have to get used to it I guess.

Photos by SWMBW

I don't have a Festool sander, but on my PC RAS I strapped the power cord to the vac hose with these little velcro thingies from HD, and it made managing the whole set-up a lot easier. Often times I hold the hose/cord a few inches from the sander as if it were a handle.

[John Lucas]

As to the vacuum bag. Forget it, there is no way to reuse. The vacuum does such a great job that when it is full, it is full. There is not a square centi (whatever the metric would be) free. And that is the good part also. You will find that bags last a long time. Notice that Festool has built into the bag a very good pastic plug to keep the dust from getting away from you when you are lifting it out and into the garbage.
Enjoy your new stuff. It is a great start.

[Dan Larson]

I do what Jim does, and drape the cord and hose over my shoulder. Works well for me.

Agreed on the Festool sanders. I have the ES 125. Great dust collection, smooth running, and very easy to control for finer work.

Dan

[Bob Marino]

Jim, maybe Festool's long-life bag would work for you. I don't have one but, in spite of the very high price, I am considering getting one.

Here is a link: http://www.festoolusa.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProdID=456737&ID=6

Frank,

The Longlife filter bag is available for the CT 22 and 33, not the MINI.

Bob

[Frank Pellow]

Frank,

The Longlife filter bag is available for the CT 22 and 33, not the MINI.

Bob
I knew that but, silly me :o , I missed the fact that Jim's vacuum is a mini.

[Lee DeRaud]

Hope your Corgi gets along better with vacuum cleaners than mine did.:p

[Jim Hager]

Hope your Corgi gets along better with vacuum cleaners than mine did.http://sawmillcreek.org/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Ole Penny gets a little excited from time to time. She's a mess for sure!!

Sorta funny how she acts in the shop. When I'm working she sleeps as sound as can be but as soon as I sit down she brings the "fartin clown" to me for a game of fetch. It is a rubber toy with a bad squeeker that sounds like... well you knowhttp://sawmillcreek.org/images/smilies/cool.gif .

She keeps us entertained around the house, don't go to the shop that much except in the winter when the doors are closed. She might get out in the highway if she went to the shop during the summer when the doors are open.