The finish produced was excellent as long as I followed standard recommendations for progressing from lower to higher grits, with no visible scratches noticed. Every foot of ductwork adds friction to the airflow, creating resistance, as do changes in duct direction. The Festool 125 sander is lightweight and can be held and controlled using one hand. The first step in setting up an effective whole-shop system involves selecting the dust-collector location and from there, laying out duct runs to each tool, providing the air a path with the least resistance possible. I used the sander with 80, 100, 120, and 180 grit Granat discs and was totally pleased with the results. It’s a testament to the quality of those sanding discs as well as to the quality of the Festool 125 sander. I would say on average that I used one Festool sanding disc for every 3-4 used with the other manufacturers’ sanders. However after using the Festool sanding discs on several projects, I was totally impressed by how much longer they lasted in comparison to ones used with the other manufacturers’ sanders. Again, the comparably higher cost of such discs contributed to my reticence to invest in these Festool products. There is almost no discernible dust coming from my work pieces.Īlthough I had read about the longer life provided by Festool Sanding Discs, I was skeptical. The two work well in tandem when the sander is plugged directly to the extractor it has the advantage of starting up the dust extractor a second or so afterward and shuts the extractor down automatically when turned off. The biggest advantage is the reduction of sawdust filling the air and my lungs. After purchasing and using the sander and extractor I can strongly recommend them – they were definitely worth the cost when considering their advantages. My reticence in purchasing the Festool sander and dust extractor was primarily due to cost.

Best dust extractor for small workshop