Festool Rotex RO 90 DX Review

The Festool Rotex RO 90 DX is a versatile sander with 4 different attachments. This means that you only need one sander, but you can still use it for a wide array of tasks. Whether it be ripping through large areas with the rotary attachment, or getting into tight spots like between spindles with the detail attachment.

Not only does it have the different attachments, but there is also a variable speed, which helps when working over different substrates. It also gives you control over the power. So, you can rip paint off a gate if you like, or merely polish it and make it smooth.

You can make the Festool Rotex RO 90 DX dust free by attaching it to a vacuum, or an extraction unit. If you can’t afford one of those, you can pop a bag over the suction bit to catch a large portion of the dust you create.

My Festool Rotex RO 90 DX Review

I’m going to keep this simple and brutally honest. As a Professional Decorator I’ve been using dust free sanders for many years and there are generally 2 camps when it comes to high-end sanders: Mirka and Festool.

I don’t like Mirka! Not because I don’t like their equipment (the Mirka Deros in particular is a great bit of kit). I don’t like them because they’re industry bullies. They’d much rather threaten people with legal action for saying something negative about them than deal with the issue.

Anyway, I digress. Needless to say, I’m in the Festool camp. I borrowed a Festool Rotex RO 90 DX from a mate a couple of weeks ago and I’ve used it every day since. I have been blown away by its quality and performance.

It’s not all sunshine and roses. I’ll go through the negatives first. The Festool Rotex RO 90 DX is quite heavy and chunky. It’s a bit of a strange shape too; it’s elongated, and a lot of the weight feels like it’s at the back. No major issue really, but you’d expect a sander costing over £500 to feel balanced and comfortable to work with for prolonged periods.

That’s the only negative I can think of. Everything else about it is outstanding! I used it on a timber gate, and it absolutely ripped through old flaky paint in no time whatsoever. I then changed over to the detailed attachment and got right into each little corner of the timber. I could then smooth everything off by switching over to a higher grade pad and turning the speed down on the sander.

I’ve used it on all sorts since then, from internal doors and frames, spindles, skirting boards, even furniture. Turning the speed down on the Festool Rotex RO 90 DX makes it better on varnished wood. It doesn’t matter what you’re sanding really, it takes seconds to switch attachments, and then it’s like you have a whole new sander.

I can’t really comment on the longevity of the Festool Rotex RO 90 DX because I’ve only been using it for a couple of weeks, but it does come with a 3-year warranty, and Festool do have a great reputation for build quality.

Review Summary

FAQs

What is the use of Rotex 90?

The Festool Rotex RO 90 DX is a rotary sander with relatively small pads. It’s great for detail work. You can use a course pad, which is capable of stripping paint from a surface. The smoother pads are good for buffing.

What is special about Festool?

Festool make a lot of high-end, dust free tools. As a Painter and Decorator, I use a lot of the sanders. There are other high-end sanders on the market, but what sets Festool apart is their build quality. Festool equipment generally lasts long after the warranty has run out, even if you use it for prolonged periods every day.

Why is Festool called Festool?

Other than sounding very cool and very German, it’s actually the combination of two names, Gottlieb Stoll and Albert Fezer, (Fezer & Stoll). The company was created in 1925.

Final Thoughts

Would I recommend the Festool Rotex RO 90 DX? Yes!

Am I going to order my own, even though I already have a selection of dust free sanders? Also, yes!

The Festool Rotex RO 90 DX may be clunky, but it’s still an awesome bit of kit. If you can only afford one sander, but you want something that performs well on multiple surfaces, then the Festool Rotex RO 90 DX is perfect.

I’m going to buy mine because I’ve fallen in love with it, and I couldn’t imagine life without one in the van now.