Sanding and Dust Collection
Well its about time! This has been a topic for…just about too long. Here’s the deal (from Festool): RRP Full Unit Certified HEPA Vacuums Only a Full Unit Certified HEPA dust extractor meets the EPA RRP regulation guidelines, protecting you from expensive fines! All current Festool CT Dust Extractor models have been independently tested and […]
The most effective measure of an abrasive technology is how the wood takes finish. On paint grade, it’s more about adhesion, while on stain grade its that but with a deeper visual aesthetic. The abrasive can’t take all of the credit. The dust extraction system is exerting significant influence in the rich, crisp look of […]
Rotex Comfort Zones In working with different types of tools, I have a constant interest in exploring comfort zones. Mine, and the tool’s. A 6″ RO150 Rotex sander with a 5mm (3/16″) stroke is a bit of a step up in size and potential aggressive tendencies compared to the standard 5″ orbitals that we have […]
Festool Granat Abrasives Can. No kidding. In mid 2011, we began testing Festool Granat abrasives, which are designed for paint removal and finish sanding. In one of our early tests of Granat, I started with a piece of 1×8 sapele that was primed solid with exterior oil primer. Using an RO150 sander, I stripped the […]
Festool ETS 125 Random Orbital Sander Orbital sanding…post chemical strip and pre stain application. Holy ergonomics. I don’t know about you, but when I am in defurring mode after a chem strip, doing final cleanup just before stain, I need an orbital that is light and fast. One handed operation all day long, left and […]
The devil is in the details… Or used to be, anyways. Our colleagues over at Maximum Painting have referred to sanding as a production killer, in the context of hand sanding on interior work. We could not agree more, and we see the problem as a global one across interior and exterior painting. This week, […]
Festool Systems for Organization One of the most stressful aspects of managing multiple paint projects simultaneously is that empty feeling when you arrive on a job and realize that you have forgotten something. There is always something. But we are gaining on it. Giving every system a little scrubdown, or in some cases a major […]
Update: Read our Festool System Review from APC January ’12 issue. In mid 2011, we began initial setup and testing of Festool sanders and dust collection tools. Our intentions in researching upgrades for these critical systems: Improve jobsite conditions for ourselves and our customers Improve efficiency of our labor intensive prep processes Improve quality of finished […]
Not About Tools, but How Work is Done… So, what do you do with sanders and vacuums that are disappointing you in the field? Well, tools are to be assessed on performance. I’ve been somewhat vocal about the fact that our current sanders and vacuums are showing signs of not
Our review of the Full Circle International sanding system appears on pages 8 and 9 of the May 2011 issue of American Painting Contractor magazine in the column “From the Field”, by Scott Burt. FCI is one of the sponsors of our Contractor Blog Post Contest, generously contributing their products to go to one contest […]
Kathy Pelly
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