Festool Rotex 150 - Demonstration and Review

The Festool Rotex 150 is the largest of the Rotex range with a disk size of 150 mm. It operates in both rotary and eccentric modes. The electronically controlled motor ensures constant speed, even under load, and the machine will happily perform all day without a break. This sander is a must for the serious woodworker but also has a home in the automotive industry where it is capable of polishing to a hologram free finish.

[@AdDiCtEdToWiNd]

Another term for the very beautiful leopard wood is also pearlwood or lacewood. Thank you for your presentation!!!

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Thank you too!

[@cali_weejock]

Took delivery of mine a few days ago and I must say it's a beast :-) Thanks to David Stanton and your thorough demonstrations this was always going to be part of my arsenal. Anyone whose old school ex military I'm sure you've played with an electric bumper (Rotary Floor Cleaning Machine) The Festool rotex 150 reminds me so much of this. Being able to easily switch between modes and grits (papers) has made light work which traditionally has been a chore. The dust collection is also a huge plus. Many thanks for your time. John :-) PS I've posted this same message to David Stanton too.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi John, When I bought a caravan many years ago a friend of mine gave me the best advice ever - if the caravan starts snaking do not try to correct the movement by turning the steering wheel. The same concept is true for the Rotex sanders. I think that the worst wobbles happen when one tries to correct the eccentric movement at the beginning and it just gets worse. Try and relax and let the sander settle down on the work piece. I am glad that you are happy with your purchase. Take care. Peter

[@bjorker40]

Thanks so much again...just ordered mine tonight which made me hunt out this fantastic review from you!

[@NewBritWorkshop]

+Grimm Day Enjoy ! Peter

[@kentneil7100]

Just bought one of these is the sale and I'm very impressed so far apart from it did not come with a sanding disk.....

[@jamesopell]

Peter, Great video on the Festool Rotex 150....I bought one and extremely happy with this sander. I believe the first wood used in your demonstrated is something we call "lace wood" in America, although I'm not sure that's the name used in Britain. I've had great success of holding the extractor hose connection in one hand and guiding the Sander with the other hand...Works Well.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Jim Pell Hi Jim, Yes, Lacewood it is. I have heard that one or two people find it difficult to get the right technique with these sanders but it all boils down to practice and common sense. Holding the hose is a tip I received years ago and it makes a huge difference. Many thanks for the kind words. Peter

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Festool tools have really changed the way that I approach my woodwork - I just wish that I had discovered them a few years earlier. Peter

[@AlanW]

Nice review. The mystery wood looks a lot like Lacewood.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Many thanks for the tip - I will try it soon. Peter

[@mick.Walker]

I bought this exact same model last week, it was second hand had a few scuffs and scrapes and didn't have a systaner, but it works fantastic and for the absolute bargain of the century price of £30

[@HewAndAwe]

Hi Peter, I have recently purchased the RO 125, I've never known a sander to be so hard to control it often acts like a turned on dropped router, scratches the hell out of what I'm sanding on! I've been told to put the hose over my shoulder to help lift the back of the disk but that doesn't help much. Any ideas as to what I can do? ...It's going back otherwise or may keep it just for polishing which I haven't tried that out yet...

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Ben Random orbit sanders can be tricky but my experience with the RO150 and RO90 is that they behave well. First use one hand to support the tool where the hose is connected. Second, remember that it is like putting a spinning bicycle wheel down onto a surface - whenever the rim touches it wants to spin off. So the trick is to practice getting it flat and not at an angle. It is really quite easy. Peter

[@HewAndAwe]

Thank you Peter, It's just odd as I have never had such a problem with lesser sanders (Dewalt)

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Gosh, well done. Peter

[@NewBritWorkshop]

For Christschool: In the UK 240v is the normal household supply voltage. Peter

[@emilsebastianovergaard2837]

Great video - What are your experience with the granate sanding paper for wood?

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Emil, I now only buy Granat and use it for wood (of course), it is super and lasts a long time. Peter

[@emilsebastianovergaard2837]

Thank you for an answer on that - Just ordered a Festool Rotex 150 after watching your great demonstration of it.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Emil, I have just put mine in the back of the car, with my CT26, for an away day tomorrow doing an old balcony. Good luck. Peter

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Just got back and managed the whole job in 3.5 hours. Now its time for a cup of tea. Peter

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Wera are really good but having already bought the tools that I was going to review their marketing people in the UK let me down - a pity really. Even so, I really recommend them, particularly the Kraftform series. Peter

[@babyuniversaloffical]

Thank you for the professional video. I can see the Kapex in the background. Did you mount an additional suction hose there? Now you made me curious... 😄

[@NewBritWorkshop]

I have a central Dust Hub which has 3 blast gates which I can open or close as required. One 50 mm hose is dedicated to the Kapex. here is the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqSVnn9nrMiZptk Peter

[@ma894]

Thanks for the review, very informative. I think your video sounds would be helped though with a better sound recorder,

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Yes, that was an issue back then. I have since bought a semi-professional video camera and a professional wireless sound system made by Sony. Cheers. Peter

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Voidref, I have had several people tell me that but some also think that it might be Leopard Wood or even Fishtail Oak. Thanks. Peter

[@Cameron2874]

Hi. I was wondering if you could please do a video on the speeds and best uses for different applications. Ie varnish removal slower speeds to help heating up etc? Again the abrasives are going to make a difference. Different timber species and different speeds etc would be your opinion. Hope this question made sense. There are plenty of vids out there on how good machine is and how versatile it is but just looking on a bit more fine tuning and right applications especially on speed setting please.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Cameron, I have no slots for new videos now for about 5 months so will help you now. I am moving over to all Granat for all of my sanders. For information on other sanding sheets you will need to look at the Festool web site. If you are happy with the UK site then try this link: www.festool.co.uk/company/segments/wood Download the 2018 catalogue via the link on that page. Then look from Page 150 onwards for advice on the different sanding sheets and which will be best for your particular tasks. I hope that this helps. Peter

[@johnwatson8192]

@@NewBritWorkshop Top tip Peter, it will come in useful as I've just taken delivery of my Festool DTS400 REQ along with various Granat and Granat net pads. Will be using these plus my Mirka Deros in the next week to prepare the bedroom cabinets for painting - yew is so yesterday apparently!

[@bigdogmn73]

Hey Peter - would you say this tool is up in the range of the domino xl from a rating level?

[@NewBritWorkshop]

The answer will vary according to the type of work the user does most and so having said that I will give you my view. There are 3 main Festool machines which I have used and personally judge to be in the top league of their designs. They are the Domino (both machines), the OF 2200 router and the Conturo. I do not own (could never justify owning) the Conturo but it is an amazing machine which I used once for my video and it worked perfectly despite not a single practice go first. The Rotex family are very impressive as they, at the very least, give you two machines in one package - a coarse rotary setting and a random orbit setting. The RO90 also has the Delta mode making it 3 machines in one package. I have made oak benches (which I am very proud of) and if I were doing that all day every day then the RO150 would be one of my main machines. I do a lot of finer work and so the ETS EC 150/3 is now my "go to" sander. Having recently looked at the 3 new compact sanders I would probably use the RTS 400 as my go to sander if I owned one. The machines that I use most and could not manage without are the Kapex (brilliant), the Domino DF500 (superb), ETS EC 150/3, TS55 (with rails and using Parf Dogs) and the OF1010 router. I also could not manage without the CMS system and in particular the CMS-OF router table and the CMS-TS table saw. I have invested a lot of time and money into these tools and I am rewarded every time I use them. Peter

[@bigdogmn73]

Thanks Peter for that detailed reply. I also own a Kapex and I agree with you 100%. Some say the price is too much, but I had a Bosch Glide saw before this and I HATED IT. Dust every where and the cuts outside of 90 weren't right on and to get everything adjusted was a pain. I also use it with the fastcap fence system which locks in very nicely. It's a dream combo set. I'm debating between the Rotex 150 and the ets 150 (s). Dream would be to have the Rotex 125 and etc tc 150 /3...thanks again for your time!!

[@NewBritWorkshop]

If you are going to get two sanders with round bases then get them with the same diameter as you will save a lot of money on sanding sheets. I have the RO 150 and the ETS EC 150/3 and the sanding sheets are the same. Peter

[@bigdogmn73]

Good point!

[@roberthiday3342]

thanks.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Robert, Cheers. Peter

[@mouppe]

30 quid? That is unbelievable! Drinks are on you, mate!

[@mhadler]

I have a piece in my shop and it looks exactly the same.

[@Psychlist1972]

I have the 125 (5") version of this, and for the life of me, I can't keep it from jumping around. I was sanding a butcher block countertop the other day and it was jumping all over the place, and hard to control.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Pete, I have never had any difficulty with any of the Rotex sanders. Try supporting the hose with one hand and holding the top grip of the machine with the other. Keep a firm but flexible grip. Peter

[@herbb8412]

Be sure the vacuum is set on low. Otherwise, It needs to go to the repair shop. Mine is in for the second time. Very over rated tool.

[@steve24822]

Sorry for my reaction. The story sounded almost identical to something I stumbled across recently and I did jump to the wrong conclusion. Sorry, and well done. Cheers Steve

[@welshnutterz]

I think the wood in question is London plane?

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Elwyn, I think it may be Lacewood - the London Plane does resemble Lacewood. Cheers. Peter

[@welshnutterz]

New Brit Workshop thanks, you could be right there, it's hard to tell

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Elwyn, I agree it is a difficult call - it could be either. Peter

[@gb4816]

I also think it's lacewood.

[@mhadler]

I believe the species of wood is Leapardwood.

[@mick.Walker]

she advertised it on a local facebook selling site, i contacted her, got her address went there, tested it and parted with my £30, very happy with it saved £100s of pounds, thank you for your concern but this was a genuine bargain from a scorned wife lol, shame he didnt have more lol.

[@steve24822]

Sorry to sound sceptical here, but this sounds like a scam that is about at the moment, did you have to buy a voucher to pay on delivery? Did she that she would deliver it to you but then get rushed away with work? Please do not part with any money with a voucher if you have not already.

[@lukez8760]

Leopard wood

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Cheers. Peter

[@rosshutchison6893]

Your audio mate

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Ross, That video was made before I spent £1,500 on sound equipment. Peter

[@herbb8412]

My 125 is going in for it’s 2nd repair in less than two years. Overpriced junk in my humble opinion.

[@mick.Walker]

yes i know what a bargain, i guess thats what happens when you leave your wife for another woman and leave your tools at home lol, a woman scorned....