Sanding is one of those tasks that tend to be dull and boring for some, while therapeutic for others. Having used sanders across several classes, including cordless, I was curious what Festool had to offer with these smaller finish sanders over the course of the long day.
First Impressions
The first thing you’ll notice about the Festool DTS 400 EQ and RTS 400 EQ are that these are rather small and lightweight sanders. Like most sanders, both models feature a hook and loop closure to easily attach, secure, and remove your chosen sandpaper.
The Festool DTS 400 EQ has a Delta shape designed to work around corners and edges. It’s brother, the Festool RTS 400 EQ has a rectangular shape and is appropriate for larger flat surfaces. Aside from the shape of the business end, the two sanders are identical to each other.
Controls
Controls are fairly basic and you’ll find the power switch located on the front of the handle. It’s easy to operate with just your one hand in place on it. Moving around to the back, you’ll find a six speed dial to vary your sanding speed. While the dial has six marked settings on it, there are multiple micro settings between each one.
Festool veterans will not be surprised to see the locking Plug It system for the power cord. If you’re unfamiliar with it, Festool doesn’t use a permanently attached power cord. The Plug It system acts more like an extension cord that connects directly to each sander. It then twists to lock in place so that it is as secure as a permanently attached cord. At the same time, the ability to remove it reduces the chance of shorting at one of the most common points of cord damage and allows you to switch between tools quickly.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics are strong suit for the Festool DTS 400 EQ and Festool RTS 400 EQ. It starts with weight. At just 2.4 pounds each, the sanders are one of the lightest tools that a trim carpenter might use throughout the course of the day. Even if you’re a dedicated woodworker, you’ll appreciate the low weight.
The general shape of the sanders is very natural to my hands. First and foremost, it allows me to think about my sanding pattern and eliminate any swirls that might be left behind if I were focused on the lack of a comfortable grip instead.
The combination of weight and ergonomics means that the sanders are outstanding candidates for finish work on pieces that have already been installed. You can easily work vertically or overhead without fatiguing as quickly as you would with other sanders.
Performance
Vibration
As I worked on the materials on my list, several things stood out to me about the Festool DTS 400 EQ and Festool RTS 400 EQ. It started with the ergonomics under load. As I was working the sanders around, I was surprised how little vibration made it back to my hand. This became obvious when either sander would stick – we’ll talk about that in a moment – and all of the vibration moved into the handle.
Sanding
I was thrilled with how quickly the sanders removed the top layer of material and got down to the bare wood. Switching between several grits of sandpaper, I quickly made it to a nice smooth finish ready to be stained or painted. One thing I would point out is that these are designed to be finish sanders. If you have large workpieces with lots of rough material to remove, you’ll find a better solution within the Festool lineup.
Dust Extraction
Festool designs their tools around big picture, system-oriented thinking. That means that you’ll get the most from your Festool products when you combine their accessories with their tools and attach them to a Festool dust extractor. For that reason, I didn’t even bother trying dust collection with the bags and connected them straight to my Festool CTS SYS vacuum.
The results were outstanding. If there was any dust left during the sanding process, I couldn’t find it. Festool’s Turbo Dust Extraction design pulls debris through the sander and into the dust extractor incredibly effectively. Perhaps most impressive was that I got this level of dust collecting performance on a dust extractor that is only rated at 106 CFM, well below the 130 CFM of Festool’s larger dust extractors.
I mentioned sticking a moment ago. The CT SYS and Turbo Dust Extraction offers enough suction power for the sanders to stick as the service becomes finished. You’ll want to make sure you really control the sander’s speed and movement as your surface becomes more finely finished to avoid sticking and blemishing your work service.
The Bottom Line
The Festool DTS 400 EQ and Festool RTS 400 EQ offer true orbital sanding motion with a 5/64-inch stroke and speed up to 14,000 oscillations per minute to deliver excellent sanding performance. Combined with lightweight and outstanding ergonomics – both in the physical design and under load – it results in a sander that falls into the therapeutic side of what the job has to offer.
What’s more, when you attach either sander to a Festool dust extractor, you’ll leave very little mess to clean up after the sanding is done.
We can always ask for more – faster sanding, less vibration, better dust extraction (well, I don’t know that we can ask for better dust extraction this time) – but Festool has these two sanders dialed in as tools that are comfortable and enjoyable to use. Whether you’re a finish carpenter or a woodworker who simply desires a lighter weight, more ergonomic sanding option, I can say with confidence that you’ll be more than pleased with what Festool has to offer in the DTS 400 EQ and RTS 400 EQ.
Priced at $260 each, I would recommend grabbing both sanders to effectively cover the majority of workpieces you may have in front of you for finishing work.
Festool DTS 400 EQ Orbital Finish Sander Key Features
- All-Around Sander with a compact design and low weight for working overhead or on vertical surfaces
- True orbital sanding motion allows full pad contact and control to minimize swirl marks and produce smoother surfaces
- StickFix Hook and Loop design for fast and easy abrasive changes between grits or to re-use abrasives
- Delta Shaped Pad, Convex sides for sanding edges and rabbets, and a triangular point for accessing corners
- Vibration-Stop, balanced design delivers better finish results, smooth operation and greater comfort
- Ergonomic Grip, Conforms to your hand to help minimize fatigue during prolonged use
- Turbo Dust Extraction
- Variable Speed, step-less speed control allows you to adjust to the needs of the application
- Plug-It Power Cord, interchangeable cord design allows you to quickly switch between tools
Festool DTS 400 EQ Orbital Finish Sander Specifications
- Model: Festool 567871
- Power consumption: 200 Watts / 1.67 amps 120 v AC
- Sanding stroke: 5/64″ (2 mm)
- Speed: 6,000 – 14,000 OPM
- Pad size: 4″ x 6″ (100 x 150 mm)
- Filter bag and holder: Yes
- Plug-it power cord: Yes
- StickFix sanding pad: Yes
- Systainer: Yes
- Dust extraction port: (27 mm)
- Weight: 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg)
- Warranty: 3 years
- Price: $260
Festool RTS 400 EQ Orbital Finish Sander Key Features
- One-handed sander with a narrow rectangular pad (3-5/32″ x 5-1/4″) that allows for sanding on edges and frame members
- All-Around Sander with a compact design and low weight for working overhead or on vertical surfaces
- True orbital sanding motion allows full pad contact and control to minimize swirl marks and produce smoother surfaces
- StickFix Hook and Loop design for fast and easy abrasive changes between grits or to re-use abrasives
- Ergonomic Grip, conforms to your hand to help minimize fatigue during prolonged use
- Turbo Dust Extraction, integrated dust extraction system can be used with Turbo dust bag set or with CT dust extractors
- Orbital Sanding Motion, full pad contact with controlled and fine orbital sanding motion to minimize swirl marks and produce smoother surfaces
- Vibration Stop, balanced design delivers better finish results, smooth operation and greater comfort
- Variable Speed, step-less speed control allows you to adjust to the needs of the application
- Plug-It Power Cord, interchangeable cord design allows you to quickly switch between tools
Festool RTS 400 EQ Orbital Finish Sander Specifications
- Model Number: Festool 567863
- Power consumption: 200 watts / 1.67 amps 120 v AC
- Sanding stroke: 5/64″ (2 mm)
- Speed: 6,000 – 14,000 OPM
- Pad size: 3-5/32″ x 5-1/4″ (80 x 133 mm)
- Filter bag and holder: Yes
- Plug-it power cord: Yes
- StickFix sanding pad: Yes
- Systainer: Yes
- Dust extraction port: (27 mm)
- Weight: 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg)Warranty: 3 years
- Price: $260
