I resisted spending the money for a Festool sander for years. I just couldn't believe they could be worth the money. Boy was I wrong! I received my sander last week and have been giving it a good workout on 4 cherry and walnut tool chests I am building. I am using a Dewalt shop vac type dust collector with the sander. I used a Rockler small tool adapter to connect the vac and sander. I can hardly believe the difference in dust collection between this sander and the Dewalt, Makita and Craftsman sanders I have used with the same vac in the past. I cannot find any dust that has escaped from this sander. There is virtually no clean up required. So it gets very high marks for dust collection.
The sander is almost vibration-free. It is hard to believe how much nicer it is to use this tool than any of the ones I used previously. The soft start makes it very easy to control on start up and when it is switched off the sanding pad stops almost immediately, which makes it much quicker to move the project or start on another. The near absence of vibration makes the sander a delight to use. after spending almost an hour straight sanding, my hands were not tired and my fingers were not tingling.
In addition to the excellent dust collection and ease of use, the sander produces excellent results. I make small boxes and other items that are intended to be handled and touched. I am very picky about the finish I put on my work and this sander leaves the wood as smooth as a baby's butt. There are no traces of sanding lines or circles and I couldn't be happier with the results.
Festool dealers should set these up for customers to test - they would sell themselves. This is a very clear example of getting what you pay for. I only wish I had not waited so long to make the purchase. If you need a new sander, buy this one.
| Brand | Festool |
|---|---|
| Grit Type | Fine |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| AC Adapter Current | 3 Amps |
| Grit Number | 80 |
| Item Weight | 1 Pounds |
| Manufacturer | Tooltechnic Systems LLC |
| Part Number | 571897 |
| Item Weight | 1 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 15.55 x 11.61 x 6.5 inches |
| Item model number | 571897 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
