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Thread: Best Finish Sander

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Fort Collins, CO
    Posts
    946

    Best Finish Sander

    So, I've been using some of the Festool Rotex sanders for years, but they are no good for fine finish work even with high grit papers. The stroke is just too big at 5mm. So, I've been using some other other sanders with a shorter stroke, but they don't fit easily with my vacuum setup. Festool makes one with a 2mm stroke that I am really interested in, but I wanted to see if others have had good luck with it.

    The Festool RTS 400 REQ is the model I am interested in. Has anyone used this or another sander with a super short stroke?

    What is your best finish sander recommendation? I need to beat the sanding swirls!!

    Thanks in advanced!!
    Man advances just in proportion that he mingles thought with his labor. - Ingersoll

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,685
    95% of the time, I use my 150/3. I rarely use the Rotex (because it's a two-hand tool) but when it's the right tool for the job, I pull it out with a smile.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    South Carolina
    Posts
    121
    I love my ETS 125. I tried my Rotex 125 for finishing since I had it out but quickly went back to the ETS. I would love to have a DTS 400Delta one day.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Toronto Ontario
    Posts
    11,247
    Hi, I have the 125 Festool, works great as a finish sander.............Regards, Rod.

  5. #5
    Jon, I don't have an answer to your question, but another thought: what do you define as "high grit"? I used to have a heck of a time with swirl marks (especially on darker woods like walnut), but found that they totally disappeared once I worked up to 320. I actually don't even own a finish sander, any longer - I use the Rotex (in rotary mode, no less) to go from 120-150-180-220-320 in rapid succession. 320 is like an "eraser" that makes remaining swirl marks just totally disappear. Night-and-day difference from 220.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Dickinson, Texas
    Posts
    7,655
    Blog Entries
    1
    I bought a sander from the borg and it has been bullet proof. I actually have disk and sheet sanders.

  7. #7
    Mirka Deros.

    One of the few tools I think superior to festool

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Princeton, NJ
    Posts
    7,254
    Blog Entries
    7
    I never get swirls if I turn the vacuum down when using my 150/3.
    Bumbling forward into the unknown.

  9. #9
    The brushless festool sanders are very nice.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Tampa Bay, FL
    Posts
    3,895
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Becker View Post
    95% of the time, I use my 150/3. I rarely use the Rotex (because it's a two-hand tool) but when it's the right tool for the job, I pull it out with a smile.
    Exactly what I do.
    - After I ask a stranger if I can pet their dog and they say yes, I like to respond, "I'll keep that in mind" and walk off
    - It's above my pay grade. Mongo only pawn in game of life.

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