I Sold Out: A Festool ETS EC 125/3 EQ Plus Review

[@Okun240]

Buy 3M cubitron paper… it’s the best and has no hole pattern, the entire sheet is vented with tiny holes.

[@truthserum9157]

Yes, I’ve seen a very comprehensive test on all sand paper they where the best paper tested.

[@AaronGeller]

Hobbyists don’t need to “justify it”. That’s the beautiful thing about woodworking as a hobby is that if you want it, see value in it, and can afford it, then you can just go and buy it. Many hobbyists have money to afford such tools.

[@huffraw]

You can find Diablo sandnet discs at Home Depot. They don’t require holes like traditional discs. They also last allot longer and don’t clog with material. Festool makes net discs as well.

[@ajsbrushworksllc8348]

Our company uses nothing but festool. I have the CT Midi, the triangular detail sander and now the ec125. Fantastic machines.

[@vociferonheraldofthewinter2284]

I'm a hobbyist, but I have a good reason to invest in this sander. I'm disabled. I physically CAN'T sand in long sessions like I used to do. Any tool that extends my work time is worth it. 100% Thank you for running me through the details. This has been a tough decision.

[@sebastianmuller1210]

Hi. If it is in fact an 125/3 it's the model with the shorter stroke. That's why she recommanded to use finer sand paper. The version for rougher jobs is the 125/5. The /3 or /5 is giving you the stroke distance in millimeter (mm). So you bought the sander for very fine sanding instead of the more universal used /5 version. While we are at it, the 150/5 is a bigger diameter, which gives you a much larger surface, which in turn helps to finish large surfaces much faster and save on sandpaper cost.

[@AaronGeller]

I don’t think there’s a 125/5, only a 150/5

[@stenmoeller]

Geller Woodworking is right. There is no 125/5, only the 150/5. That said, I agree with you, and I have also chosen the 150/5 in addition for the rough work with 40-120 grit.

[@AwesomeWoodThings]

No need to apologize... use the tools that work for you. If that's a Festool... so be it. Great review.

[@IdealGrain]

Awesome Wood Things Thanks Matt!

[@swordsinging1709]

Hey, great honest review. I have spent countless hours sanding exteriors. I started using gel padded bike gloves and it adds another level of comfort. Seriously though you can't compare the two as the Festoool is engeeered and performs at a higher level by design. Even the various paper options add to the refined system.

[@truthserum9157]

The sustainer is made of a very tuff plastic, like nylon, it’s thinner and lighter, I have lots of Milwaukee tool sustainers and I like the festool sustainer for festool tools only.

[@IdealGrain]

Tanos Systainers are made of very thin ABS with styrene liners. They are nice enough boxes but wouldn’t hold a candle to something like a packout box for durability. They were originally designed with the intent to be cheap and reusable shipping boxes.

[@724MX]

Great Review. I really appreciate your honest review, as a hobbyist I agree that the cost just is not justified. I am in the market for a new sander and have to decide how much disposable income I (don't) have. The cost difference is approximately the same cost as material for another project. Great video, keep up the good work.

[@rosevan5485]

Good luck and thank you !

[@okafka5446]

Very comprehensive review, thanks. Just a heads up - apparently you can also use a 150mm disc on this sander, if you're working on larger areas.

[@IdealGrain]

Good to know! They don't advertise that, probably because they want you to spend another $450 on a sander, but I will definitely give that a try.

[@ryanbailey112]

Great review I bought the same sander not to long ago. Would like to mention with some research you will find Klingspor makers the abrasive paper for Festool.

[@benedicttaylor3034]

Kingspor sandepaper is very very good low swerl marks great finish

[@Wood_Slice]

Bought the identical one a week ago and received today

[@swordsinging1709]

Follow up on the comparison of klingspore vs festool garnet paper would like to know if it's half as good longevity clogging and performance.

[@IdealGrain]

Klingspor Greentec is my current choice for 320+ grit applications. Otherwise I’ve been sticking with festool granat. The regular klingspor stearated discs are good for general purpose work and cheaper than the Granat, but less long lasting. Klingspor AZ Plus and the lower grit Greentec discs last forever but tends to leave some scoring if you aren’t really light on the pressure, where the Granat from festool is entirely foolproof.

[@lgbfjbsupporter5566]

Your salesman was clearly confused. Festool gives you a 120 with the sander... but sales guy says not for use under 400?

[@kaiserbailey]

I've used it down to 80 grit and it's a hog

[@Arational]

I don't have that particular model but in mine, the center hole supplies cool air under the pad and the surrounding holes extract the dust. This helps remove the friction heat and keeps the paper cooler so it clogs less and lasts longer. Also the pads change out easily from hard for flats, to soft for curved surfaces. The Rotex sanders can also use interface pads for polishing.

[@MrBAchompBAchomp]

You sound like Branden mayhew from breaking bad. Nice video

[@solorzano5810]

Have you tried the mesh sand paper to see if it works? I'm looking to get that sander also

[@IdealGrain]

I have not, but I have friends that are industry pros using abranet and equivalent happily.

[@shaynesabala]

Thanks for the video. I’m not hating but I have to say, you bought the wrong one for your situation. You should of bought the “5”, more aggressive with the same results. Also you should look into 3m Cubitron. Heck there are many options for paper. I guess it comes down to how long you want to be sanding. 50c a sheet is cheap considering this could not only cut sanding time down significantly, but quality sand paper last 3 times as long as the cheap stuff. Just something to consider.

[@IdealGrain]

The 125mm sander is only available in a 3mm throw.

[@foxwoodworking8759]

Nice review. I have several Festool sanders and only use Festool paper, usually Granat. Not sure why anyone would go with anything else and deal with pad protectors and etc. You cannot look at price per piece, you need to look at price per wood removed.

[@foxwoodworking8759]

My Festool paper lasts forever. I run my ETS down as low as P40 grit and it worked well however now I have Rotex so generally do not use below P80 with my ETS.

[@alansheedy3956]

Thanks. Very helpful.

[@olivepressdesign]

Great video review. (Especially Monty Python). Why didn’t buy the ETS 125 REQ instead? (It also has a shorter name). Thanks

[@WayneChurchill1967]

From what i've read the REQ doesn't have a brushless motor and is a third less powerful, but is much cheaper

[@stenmoeller]

@@WayneChurchill1967 The original ETS 125 did not have a brushless motor, but getting the brushless motor was the great thing about upgrading the model ETS 125 to ETS 125 REQ. The ETS 125 REQ with its 2 mm stroke is a fine tool for finishing, but takes forever and a day for fast removal. I wouldn't recommend it for anything below 220 grit.

[@phil.pinsky]

Nice review! Thanks for doing it

[@IdealGrain]

Thanks Phil! Appreciate it!

[@KevinWestwood9]

so you are saying that the klingsport sanding pads will leave swirls? the red ones?

[@IdealGrain]

Kevin Westwood The blue AZ klingspor paper did leave some swirling. It's a very sharp abrasive, but also that sander was problematic and didn't oscillate consistently.

[@KevinWestwood9]

The festool sander was problematic? Oh no, I was about to buy one tomorrow.

[@rickb167]

Just bought the same sander. Do you have a part # for the Klingspor paper. Checked there website and seems difficult to find. Also.. Great video!

[@IdealGrain]

Rick B Thanks! On woodworkingshop.com (their retail site) any of their 5", 9 hole paper will work. This was the stearate sandpaper. Their AZ-Plus paper comes in up to 220 grit too. You may get some swirling with it and will need to do a pass with stearate paper after, but that az plus paper lasts forever and removes material fast. I think they have a sale going on this week too.

[@rickb167]

@@IdealGrain Thanks Unfortunately I live in Canada and Klinhspor here is totally different. Will try to order from American site and hope for the best. If not... get to support Festool.

[@FC-cq4wr]

Why did you choose the 150/3 over the 150/5?

[@IdealGrain]

This is the 125/3, which is not offered in a 5mm stroke variant. For a heavier stroke - you're using that more for stock removal and less for material removal. Were I buying a 150mm unit, I would probably go with a rotex. That said - You can put a 150mm pad on the 125mm sander, but festool won't tell you that.

[@BarbaryStudio]

I was looking for a videos lile this. Amazing explanation. How is your experience now after some months. I’m some one who loves to have the best in market and most value for the money. And im thinking this is the best. One question why you don’t pickup the festool 150 the bigger brother of this one

[@wink4jesse]

Love the marble machine shirt

[@IdealGrain]

Martin is awesome! He's doing incredible work. Thanks!

[@davomontgomeryda3rd]

the Diablo brand of sanding discs (& saw blades) now offers 5inch “sanding nets”... woven net/ screen style sanding discs like the Abranet style discs, which makes the entire disc perforated for dust collection which I assume makes them work with any hole pattern on any 5in disc sander that accepts velcro style 5in sanding discs...? I’m considering purchasing an ETS EC 125 & I see Home Depot is now carrying the 5inch Diablo “Sanding Nets” in a variety of grits, curious if you may have tried them on your ETS EC?

[@IdealGrain]

The Clouds Have Eyes I haven't seen or used the diablo ones. Haven't had good luck with diablo abrasives in the past. I have heard good things about abranet though.

[@swordsinging1709]

@@IdealGrain Does using the mesh sanding pads make the velcro more prone to wear faster thN say a paper with holes only at the vents,

[@marlonmullon]

I tried that diablo mesh sanding on this festool sander and it clogged up the dust after few mins of using specially using on removing old finish on wood.

[@michaelmckay]

sweet seiko!!

[@IdealGrain]

The solar tuna is my go to anytime I’m going to be doing something that might damage my other watches. It’s basically indestructible:)

[@michaelmckay]

@@IdealGrain I love it on the nato!

[@chrisrichardson8315]

He said a tiny step up….

[@harrygirgin9093]

Good review. However bosch can't be compared to festool. The price point is just miles apart.

[@kennethholmes9315]

The break on your bosch is just wore out .

[@Jeff034]

False fake savings!! Granit outlasts ordinary sandpaper by a huge margin.

[@IdealGrain]

Klingspor azplus and greentec isn’t ordinary sandpaper:)

[@waynebooker498]

I think its funny how so many people that post Festool review videos always get into how they justify paying more for a Festool tool as if they have to seek a measure of forgiveness from the viewer. If you own your craft you don't explain your decisions to strangers. You have no apology for the tools you use and people that disagree with your choices just don't matter. If a tool works for you and you see value in it, you don't owe anyone an explanation. I own five Festool tools and if you somehow object to that, well then, it must suck to be you.

[@IdealGrain]

I explain the value and justification for the layman. The average person who either hasn’t heard of festool or doesn’t have the experience to know or feel the difference between a box store brand. It’s important to consider those justifications to determine value. If you do 2-3hrs of sanding a day a few times a week, the vibration reduction and ergonomics of the festool likely have far more value to you than somebody that needs to run the sander for 15 minutes once a month to make a birdhouse.

[@Eyehearttravels]

Festool is an over priced and over rated brand 👎🏾

[@Fictitious_Character]

It's all about personal requirements and an individual's situation. I own multiple Festool products but I don't have a need for everything they make. Also I expect them to make me money in terms of a selling feature in a customers home as well as efficiency and importantly reliability of long term use. I recently retired a heavily used Festool CT 26 extractor and it was a 10yr old unit and never was sent in for repair. It clearly paid for itself. I have burned up a older style ETS 150/5 before that was out of warranty. In that case it was replaced and I shelved it for a parts unit rather than throwing money at a repair bill. From a hobby perspective I could see them being a tough sale unless either the hobby guy has a good amount of disposable income, or is just the type that tries to only buy top shelf items. From a business perspective the details of prolonged efficiency and cost versus return play a big factor and from my experience once buying into the system you do easily see the return of investment. Either way though a key factor is dust extraction. You take a Festool sander run it with an attached bag without a good dust extractor like the older ETS 150 as example and yes it is a good sander. You pair that same sander to a quality dust extractor and it becomes a great sander. Do that same thing with the standard Dewalt sander and it starts out as an ok sander, and even with a good dust extractor it is still just in the ok category imo.

[@stenmoeller]

It's not. It's a matter of choice. It's expensive, but that's because it's made in Germany. The same thing about tools manufactured in the US. Woodpeckers' tools, e.g. If you can't afford it, OK, go sponsor China. As for over rated, again, it's a matter of how much you are prepared to invest in fine tools that are in addition also good for your own health.

[@benedicttaylor3034]

Kingspor sandepaper is very very good low swerl marks great finish