The curse of borrowing good tools

[durango dude]

I'm making a sofa back table - and really needed to sand some material, bad.

My cheap B&D sanders simply weren't cutting it - so I walked over and asked my tool freak neighbor if he had a good random orbit sander that I could borrow.

I have to tell you --- don't ever borrow nice tools ---- you never want to go back. He lent me a Ridgid R2600 ---- and it's like I died and went to heaven, compared to the B&D sander that I use & own.

So now -- I really want a R2600 sander..... Holy cow - how did I ever get along without it?

[jussi]

Well make sure you never borrow any Festool tools. You'll go broke. DAMHIK

[leehljp]

Well make sure you never borrow any Festool tools. You'll go broke. DAMHIK

AGREED! I have a Festool Rotex and it is absolutely powerful and quick. I am not used to that power and to handle it, I have to keep it dialed down to a slow level most of the time. I still have not got used to its cutting power, even with fine sand paper on it. I also have a Fein Turbo III vac that is so efficient and powerful . . . and relatively quiet that LOML has made me keep it in the house. When I get my shop set up, I will have a fight on my hands to get it out in the shop.

Shortly after getting the Fein back in December, LOML was going after cobwebs in a spare room. After turning it on and starting to reach up to the cobwebs, she asked me (as I was watching) to turn the power switch up. I told her it was going full speed. She said: "But it is not loud enough". I used the Fein last week in conjunction with a Dust Deputy. The vac grabbed a board that pulled to cover the hose inlet totally. The 5 gallon bucket below the Dust Deputy imploded instantly. It didn't break but it was like an aluminum can that has been smashed.

I can't afford all tools like this but on some tools that I use regularly, I try when I can. For some tools and personal needs, there is a huge difference in tool quality, power and ability to get the job done without reserve.

[BigguyZ]

Wow, I've usually cheaped out, but lately I've been going for the "buy it once" strategy. though for me that means buying the $130 Sonicrafter over (yet another) $30 HF multitool. Still not at the point of getting a $400 Fein though.

The Festool stuff does seem nice, but man, that's just waaaay too much for a sander...

[jussi]

Wow, I've usually cheaped out, but lately I've been going for the "buy it once" strategy. though for me that means buying the $130 Sonicrafter over (yet another) $30 HF multitool. Still not at the point of getting a $400 Fein though.

The Festool stuff does seem nice, but man, that's just waaaay too much for a sander...

Festool and Fein will never win the best value award prize but if you can swing it they are amazing tools. My hands used to go numb if I did an hour of sanding. Not a problem with ets150. Plus the dc is amazing. Great when you have to sand inside the house.

I got hooked when I used my neighbor's ets150

[BigguyZ]

Festool and Fein will never win the best value award prize but if you can swing it they are amazing tools. My hands used to go numb if I did an hour of sanding. Not a problem with ets150. Plus the dc is amazing. Great when you have to sand inside the house.

I got hooked when I used my neighbor's ets150

I'm sure, but I don't need to sand in the house, so I think for now I'll aim for the sweet spot when it comes to diminishing returns.

[leehljp]

I'm sure, but I don't need to sand in the house, so I think for now I'll aim for the sweet spot when it comes to diminishing returns.

I bought the Fein Multimaster @ about $180.00 for the kit 10+ years ago because my wife and my mom both said they wanted some work done and they did NOT want any dust in the house. I told them the ONLY way to keep the dust down was to get a tool that cost about twice its value. They both responded that it was cheaper than a few doctors visits from excess dust allergy.

AS to the $450.00 Fein Vac, yes it IS expensive as is the Festool Vac/DC. But a missed phone call for me at home can be a missed $500.00. So, $500 for a quiet vac that is still powerful lets me work and not worry about missing a phone call due to the NOISE! And believe me, I have missed phone calls when running a normal house vac AND shop vac. Phone calls are my livelyhood and I am not going to sit by a wait for them when I can make up the price from receiving one phone call.

Now, as to the Festool sander, that was a birthday present that LOML allowed me to get! I might be stupid sometimes, but I am not dumb enough to pass THAT up!

[jussi]

I forgot to mention to check craigslist. I've gotten 3/4 of my Festool tools from there. It's rare but they do pop up.

[BigguyZ]

Hank,

Totally understood. My comment on diminishing returns was more about my current needs/ resources.

I'm absolutely jealous of anyone who has even one festool tool, or either the DCs you mentioned. Clearly, they are superior tools.

Jussi- I'll have to look for festool in CL. Too many times, people want WAY too much for their used tools, so I don't check regularly.

[durango dude]

all I know is that just about anything beats my B&D Sandstorm sander!


I've used Dewalt & Porter/Cable, before - but this particular sander simply felt like it was made for me!

[pelligrini]

If you haven't returned the Ridgid you might drop your B&D off with a note: "I'm loaning you my sander for a while so you might develop a greater appreciation for the Ridgid R2600. I know I have. Thanks."