Bought the Wrong Tool?? Bit of help please...

[Aragorn]

Hi
My Bosch Random Orbital Sander broke down this morning (very sad - love that tool!) so popped out to the tool shop for a new sander.
Being a recent Festool convert, I didn't hesitate much to buy a festool sander, but I think I have bought the wrong one.

I bought the Rotex 3 in 1 which I've been using this afternoon. I find it heavy, difficult to control and just too aggressive for wood. I am having to put a lot of downward pressure on the thing to keep it steady, and it's knackering my arm!
Apart from all that - it's excellent just as you'd expect from Festool. Must be wonderful for polishing and fast stock removal.

I think, looking at the catalogue, that I should have bought the ES 150.

Where do I stand on this? Presumably I can't take back a used sander and say, "Ooops, wrong one". Or can I?

Help!

 

[tim]

I am absolutely no expert but I think you do have some form of cooling off period and I think it may also depend on the retailer. Certainly I returned the Metabo 135 jigsaw to Axminster because I didn't like the way it handled and bought the Bosch one instead. I think most retailers are reasonable esp if they know that you are going to buy another tool instead. You could say that you don't think its suitable for the purpose you bought it for but I've found that having an open conversation with the retailer is the best answer. After all they are expecting you to shell out good money on a tool that you aren't allowed to try - if they didn't have a demo model available then what option do you have.

Hope it helps but as i said I'm not sure of the legal position.

Cheers

Tim

 

[cambournepete]

Hi
My Bosch Random Orbital Sander broke down this morning (very sad - love that tool!) ...

Mine (PEX400 - green) did on Sunday - lost power and just stopped, just as I was starting to sand large areas of plywood.
Opened it up and found that the neutral wire had burnt through for no apparent reason, so cut it back, stripped and refitted it, cleaned the internals of the sander and put it back together and hey presto - it works
Saves shelling out on a Metabo...

Might be worth looking inside your Bosch to see if it's the same problem?

Cheers,

Pete

 

[ike]

Where do I stand on this? Presumably I can't take back a used sander and say, "Ooops, wrong one". Or can I?

Cheaper 'stuff' from national retailers - almost always no problem.

But I expect this is bought from a specialist tool supplier. I think any such supplier worth their salt and selling this type of kit should happily accept your real reason as you mentioned. After all, anyone who buys Festool should (and most likely would) be taken seriously in the event of returning the tool. The obvious etc is to try as far as possible, to make the thing look like it hasn't been used.

As it's essentially your mistake (please, I'm not being critical), be pragmatic about it and if all else fails, if requested, maybe swallow a return charge in exchange for the supplier being left to either resell secondhand goods or return to manufacturer for possible refurbishing.

Otherwise, perhaps someone here on the forum would take off you for a fair price?

Ike

 

[Chris Knight]

Aragorn,

Got to be worth a try I would have thought. Good chance for the retailer to earn your undying loyalty! :lol:

 

[Aragorn]

Well thanks for your replies folks.
I did take it back this afternoon after reading a few of these posts, and just gave them the honest story.
The guy in the shop couldn't quite make out how I could have these complaints about the tool. In the end, he said "In random orbit mode, you should just be able to hold it still with one finger on the top" I said "No way - you'd be chasing it all round the workshop" to which he said maybe there was a fault with it.
All the same, they happily exchanged it for the other model, which I've tried out now and it is perfect. Exactly what I was expecting and everything you'd expect from Festool.
Amazingly, there is no discernable dust escaping into the workshop. That's pretty efficient dust extraction!

Thanks again

 

[tim]

Glad its all sorted and well done to the shop

T

 

[Neil]

Glad it all worked out

they happily exchanged it for the other model

Was that the 150/3?

NeilCFD

 

[Aragorn]

Was that the 150/3?

Yes indeed.
Very light, reasonably quiet and superb dust extraction.

 

[Adam]

Good for you. Perhaps you can PM me the name of your supplier who were so obliging?

Nice to see you have a avatar finally!

Adam

 

[Aragorn]

Supplier was Power Tool Supplies along the seafront towards Portslade.
Didn't know they stocked Festool - kinda wish I still didn't

Coming up to 1000 posts, I thought it was about time I sorted out an avatar!

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi Aragorn

Coming up to 1000 posts, I thought it was about time I sorted out an avatar!

The Leigh FMT, say no more. :wink:

Cheers
Neil

PS Which way is the shelter?

 

[Aragorn]

:lol: Naturally! Er, I meant to say, FMT?? No, no. You must be mistaken. This tenon was cut by hand using nothing but chopsticks. Very quick and accurate technique.

 

[ike]

Good result!. Its the 5mm orbit of the Rotex that makes it a bit of an animal. Most roughing sanders with that size of orbit are - like my Makita 9046. Loosen your grip and they'll vibrate all over the shop. Interseting to note that Festool do both 3mm and 5mm versions of the 150.

Ike