Have a chance to demo a Festool RO 150

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frosty

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I've seen a few threads asking about this machine and I have a friend who is a sales rep. I called him tonight to ask about this machine and if I could demo one. As luck has it, he actually owns one and indicated he'd let me borrow it.

I own a Flex 3401 & Flex 3403 and access to a new PC XP I sold my neighbor. I also have a red fender off a newer model mustang.

Anyway, I can keep it a couple of days. If anybody has anything they'd like to know about it or see it do, post and I'll do what I can and post what I find.
 
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In the spirit of full disclosure, I am an employee of Festool USA and happened to come across your thread. I just wanted to share some quick information that may be useful to you and other members of the forum. I hope my post is within the guidelines of the forum.

Drew Pancroft, proprietor of Zenith Detail (Home Page), recently did a review of the Rotex. You can find several post he made on the Festool Owners Group forum at the following URL.

Do you Festool your car??

Drew used the Rotex on many of his recent detailing jobs, including a Ferrari F430. I'm sure he would be happy to swing by here and offer any additional feedback if members have questions. He also tested the Festool Shinex which is not currently available in the United States.

While he was not paid for his review, he was provided the tools for the purposes of testing them and providing feedback as we evaluate the possibility of becoming more involved in the automotive industry in the United States. Festool is a German-based company and in Europe our tools are very widely used in the automotive industry.

Frosty, I look forward to your commentary on the Rotex. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of assistance or answer question.

Thank you.
Shane
 
Let's see some video on how the rotex works and spins.
 
Let me start by saying I have absolutely no expertise when it comes to auto detailing and hopefully that doesn't ruin my credibility. Festool has begun in the US market by focusing on the woodworking industry although we have a proficiency in automotive in other parts of the world. My background is personally in woodworking.

Here are some videos that should help demonstrate the Rotex in action in automotive applications. The Rotex is available in a 125mm and 150mm (5" and 6") version. While dust extraction is a huge benefit in the woodworking industry, it's not a necessity in automotive. For that reason, the dust extraction port is removable from the Rotex when being used in automotive application where dust extraction isn't a concern. There is a protective guard that can be used with the Rotex 150 to prevent incidental contact with adjacent surfaces.

The Rotex 125 and 150 both feature dual-mode capabilities. One mode is the random orbital mode, the other is a gear-driven mode that is more aggressive. There is a full assortment of polishing pads and accessories available for the Rotex.

Please note these videos are in German and hosted on our German website which means they may not stream smoothly. Please note that while in other countries Festool offers a range of automotive polishes, we do not currently offer them in the U.S. However, I'm sure that each of you have preferred products that will be suitable for use with any auto detailing power tool.

Video-Player

Video-Player

I've sent Drew an email to ask if he happens to have any video to accompany the photos that he took of his work witht the Rotex. I'll update the thread if I receive anything from him.

Thanks, Shane.
 
Nothing is showing in the video. Or maybe it's just my computer.
 
Sorry, guys. Can I direct you to go to our German Automotive website instead since those links aren't working? Scroll down, on on the right you will see there are two links (although in German) that are clearly for automotive videos.

Getriebe-Exzenterschleifer ROTEX RO 150 - RO 150 FEQ-Plus

Please accept my apologies for the links not working.

I look forward to Frosty's first hand account of his experiences with the tool.
 
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So it is just like the flex 3401 w/a forced rotation? Not really like a rotary? Then, the switch changes it from the forced rotation to the DA jiggle mode?
 
There is a switch that is used to select between the two modes of rotation. In the gear-driven mode, it would act like a rotary. In the random orbit mode, it would act like what you are describing as a jiggle.

I received an email back from Drew this morning. He is going to shoot some video of a car he is detailing tomorrow using the Rotex. Hopefully the video will help answer some of the questions.
 
frosty said:
I've seen a few threads asking about this machine and I have a friend who is a sales rep. I called him tonight to ask about this machine and if I could demo one. As luck has it, he actually owns one and indicated he'd let me borrow it.

I own a Flex 3401 & Flex 3403 and access to a new PC XP I sold my neighbor. I also have a red fender off a newer model mustang.

Anyway, I can keep it a couple of days. If anybody has anything they'd like to know about it or see it do, post and I'll do what I can and post what I find.
Click to expand...

I would certainly like to know more about this machine,Specs....(Speed, AMPS, Pricing and so forth)and how it compares to the Flex and the Makita....as I am looking to make a purchase on a new machine....The PC has its place in the detailing world, but I am wanting to up my game several notches on detailing and paint correction.
 
Thanks for the interest, Wendell.

Festool is a premium brand and offers products known for their quality, ergonomics, ease of use and high ROI. While we've only been in the U.S. for about 10 years now, Festool was founded in the 1920s and has been a major innovator in power tools. In Europe in particular, Festool is the brand of choice and holds the largest market share among power tool manufacturers. The Rotex was invented and introduced in 1984 and a proven track record of durability. The newest models of the Rotex were introduced around 2005.

You can view more information about the RO 125 FEQ (5") and the RO 150 FEQ (6") on our website along with specifications and pricing. Our tools offer a 3-year limited warranty and a 30-day no-questions-asked money back guarantee. So, you have a risk-free way to try out the products and return them if you're not satisfied.

RO 125 FEQ Rotex Sander - SANDERS - Festool

Power consumption500 watts / 4.2 amps 120 v ACSanding stroke9/64" (3.6 mm)Speed eccentric motion3,000 - 6,000 opmSpeed rotary motion300 - 600 rpmWeight4.4 lbs. (2 kg)

RO 150 FEQ Rotex Sander - SANDERS - Festool

Power consumption720 watts / 6 amps 120 v ACSanding stroke3/16" (5 mm)Speed eccentric motion3300 - 6800 opmSpeed rotary motion320 - 660 rpmWeight5 lbs. (2.3 kg)
 
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