Festool Rotex - Anyone tried it?

[Totoland Mach]

Bulla2000: you'll enjoy the Festool. I use mine several times per week detailing BMW's at a shop, so it gets used often. One of the best uses is polishing BMW headlight lenses in rotary mode. I sand the lenses with 3000 grit and polish them back to as new condition.

Totoland Mach

[Bulla2000]

Thanks for reply. I´m sure I´ll be very satiesfied with this high quality machine from my country (germany). But of course a PC would be very nice too.

[Totoland Mach]

Bulla2000: I don't see the need for a pc any longer. The Festool is a random orbit and a rotary, so it is 2 tools-in-1. I use a DeWalt rotary for large surface areas and the Festool for areas the rotary would be too cumbersome or too near plastic parts (BMW lower rocker panels, bumpers, mirror housings, etc).

I haven't used my Porter-Cable unit for 4 months and will probably keep it as a backup unit or to apply sealants.

Totoland Mach

[Totoland Mach]

Originally Posted by ZoranC

Totoland Mach, do you ever with Rotex feel a need for different backing plate (whether smaller or flexible)?

Yes. The Rotex comes equipped with a sanding backing plate that has soft backing material so it "gives". This is a good plate for compound curves or applying wax. I purchased their Polishing plate that is rigid and smaller in diameter and use it for most of my work.

Toto

[Bulla2000]

I also have the extra polishing plate from Festool. Its a little bit smaller (only a few millimeters). But I dont need that in front of having the sanding plate. Its also good.

[Reddwarf]

It sure comes in a fancy box! I guess to go with the fancy price. Sounds like it is a really good tool. I like the looks.

[Truls]

What do you guys do with the holes in the backinplate?

I used a Bosch RO before, and that became packed with polish dust behind the backing plate after some months. Its designed to suck air/dust trough those holes in the backing plate, and also used to cool the engine, so closing them isnt a good option is it?

[Totoland Mach]

Reddwarf: Yep, it does come with a very nice storage/carry case. The Festool is ergonomically so much easier to handle and control. Like I said, it's the Mercedes of the sanders that have been used for auto detailing.

Truls: Only the sanding plate has the holes. They are used with the sanding pads on wood and will suck dust into the holes and route that to an optional vacuum attachment. I had a demo of that at the distributor and he sanded a block of wood with zero dust!

The polishing plate is a solid one with a velcro backing. The motor is a sealed unit, so the holes perform no cooling function.

All-in-all, it's one of the best purchases I've made for a detailing tool.

Toto

[Truls]

Its where i did it wrong then, i used the backingplate with holes for polishing, and that was a bad idea.

[Gary Sword]

Originally Posted by Totoland Mach

You're right about not cheap! But, I've got a neighbor that's interested in buying my pc and some product for around $100. So, with that in mind and the fact that the Rotex has rotary capability...it might be the ticket.

If I get it, I'll be sure to post some opinions and pics.

Toto

So Toto do you think it's worth the extra money. The cheapest I have seen it is $430.00 including shipping without the polishing plate and pads. My Dewalt rotary is so load if I use it for a couple of hours my ears ring for another couple of hours. I have some furniture I also want to refinish and was thinking about getting a new sander.