Welcome to the FOG!

The RO can be very aggressive in the aggressive mode and can be also used as a finish sander or even a polisher.  It doesn't have the form factor as the ETS nor the more polite manners.  I went for my RO150 first and then added the ETS150 and then the ETS125.

I have used my RO150 to strip off poly and also to level the seams in table tops prior to switching over to one of the ETS.

If you choose an RO that uses the same paper size as what you already own, you can get a small pack of coarser paper and then take it out for a spin and see if it works for you.  Your situation is exactly what Festool had in mind when they started the "use it in your workflow for 30 days..."

Peter

Hi, I own the 125 ets and I am thinking about also getting the RO. I refinish a lot of tables, around 75-100 per year. I am changing out the head on the 125 twice a year. I am also reaching for my belt sander (80 grit) to get the first layer of poly off these tables. Would the RO eat through? or would it act like a belt sander? Thanks for any input!

Hi,

   Welcome to the forum! 

            Rotex can definitely do the stripping job. Very aggressive but not as much as a belt sander. However it offers more control of the stripping than a belt sander.  If you are doing that many tables, you need a Rotex in your sander arsenal. Go with the RO150 not the RO125. More power, more surface area. You don't need to worry about the sanders sharing the same size abrasive especially with the amount you must be going through. I have used the Rotex 150 for some serious large countertop poly removal. Choosing the right abrasive is important too. Most likely Granat for the stripping.

Seth

Yet another vote for a Rotex, but a different view on size. The 150 is generally favored when you're doing things like table tops...large, flat and relatively uncomplicated. It may be the perfect choice for you, but try it out before you buy it. Of course, you have the test period, so my caution may be unnecessary, but I find the 150 just too big and heavy. On the other hand, I'm old and arthritic. Maybe you're not.

So I'll put my own twist on this discussion.

When I was 40 I purchased a Milwaukee 4" belt sander made by AEG.
When I became 60 I purchased a Festool RO 150.
When I became 70 I purchased a Festool RO 125.

Remember, unless you swap these tools out on a yearly basis, you own them for life...which means you have to deal with them for life unless you sell them to another unsuspecting soul.

Bottom line...that 650HP rat motor you owned in the 70's may not be quite as desireable as the 500HP mouse motor you now own.

The RO125 is very versatile and can do all the ETS can and more. The RO125 has the Rotex mode, great for aggressive sanding, not as fast as a belt sander, but great dust collection and you can get to the same result as a belt sander. For example I'm able to sand down epoxy with 40/60 grit Granit. I also use the hard blue pad for straight surfaces, so it doesn't dig in too much. Additional, with Rotex mode you can also turn the RO125 into a polisher.

The benefit of the ETS is its easier and lighter in the hand to use, and a combi of both is best if you do allot of sanding you can use the ETS for finishing. Maybe look into the RO150 if you would sand mostly larger flat surfaces.

You seem like a prime candidate for a RO just pick the size you want and bust out the credit card. Might as well pick up a CT while you're at it. 

Quote from: Cheese on March 08, 2023, 10:39 PM

So I'll put my own twist on this discussion.

When I was 40 I purchased a Milwaukee 4" belt sander made by AEG.
When I became 60 I purchased a Festool RO 150.
When I became 70 I purchased a Festool RO 125.

Remember, unless you swap these tools out on a yearly basis, you own them for life...which means you have to deal with them for life unless you sell them to another unsuspecting soul.

Bottom line...that 650HP rat motor you owned in the 70's may not be quite as desireable as the 500HP mouse motor you now own.

Cheese is about 6 years tougher than I am. 

As a couple others have mentioned, my affinity for the Rotex (all 3 of them) stems from their ability to make a surface FLAT. If you use a hard pad and make an effort not to tip the sander, they will do an amazing job for a hand-held tool. Obviously, bigger is better for that application, but you have to balance in other factors unless you have the luxury of being able to have them all.

I am a Swiss Army Knife kind of guy, so the RO-90 with it's detail pad was a no-brainer.

Agreed 100%, my beginning with RO sanders was with the 90, for exactly that reason. The versatility is great. It became my blending tool of choice. The RO125 came along later when the bigger size became necessary too.
I have access to an RO150, if I feel the need. The company I work for has 2 of them. The installers use them to finish solid surface field seams and the other one is in the solid surface area.