When you’re doing drywall work, dust happens; it’s part of the process. Nobody likes the dust, and other subs dread sanding day. It’s important to be professional and try to reduce the amount of airborne dust by capturing as much of it as possible and then thoroughly cleaning the jobsite when you’re done. That also needs to happen quickly for the job to progress. Using a power sander to help speed up the sanding process and capture the dust as you go can help, but the tool must be easy to use. If it’s cumbersome, heavy, hard to use, or too aggressive, or it leaves too rough of a finish, it will cause more problems than it solves.
When I received the Planex sander (LHS 2-M 225 EG) and the CleanTec vacuum (CT36 E AC) from Festool, I was hoping for something with significant improvements, as I’ve been using the Festool sanders for years. I have been happy with those sanders, but I was hoping for a chance to report on an even better one. So, I was pleased with this new version. The dust extraction was exceptional, and I found myself sanding without even wearing a dusk mask—although I still recommend wearing one. I also liked that it’s lightweight and that the weight is even reduced because of the superior suction to the wall (the suction is adjustable).
If I were to compare power sanders with pole sanders, I might be concerned with the additional weight of a power sander. But that isn’t an issue, because all I’m doing is moving the tool from one place to the next—the tool is doing the sanding work. When using a traditional pole sander, you must apply continuous pressure as you’re moving it along the surface, which I have always considered good exercise, but enough is enough and time is money. I found using power sanders is as much as 30% faster than pole sanding.
This new sander design has a lot more holes in the sanding head, so you can’t use the old papers on the sander, or, at least, you shouldn’t—so that it works at its best. Those numerous and smaller holes help collect more dust compared with older models. Another feature of this model is that instead of using just a rotating head, it has a random orbit sanding motion, which helps reduce any scratches that you might cause with a typical power sander. One thing to keep in mind is most of us are using lightweight compounds for the final coat, so be sure you’re not using too coarse of a sanding grit. I usually go with a 220-grit sandpaper.
At first, I wasn’t too sure what I thought of the handle having a T-grip on the end, but it turned out to be handy. It is necessary to use the attachment that holds the hose and power cord away from your hand. I didn’t attach this at first, and it seemed like the hose and cord were always getting wrapped around my arm, so that’s a feature you’re going to want to take advantage of.
The number one concern I have when using any power sander is how much dust control it has and, here, the Planex exceeded my expectations. Also, I used the unit with a Cleantec dust extractor vacuum, which does an excellent job. It has an auto-clean system that cleans the filter as you work to maintain suction. This was the first time I used the plastic bags that fit inside the Cleantec to capture dust; all you need to do is unhook the bag and throw it out when it’s full. While I think it’s good feature, when I run out of the bags, I probably won’t replace them. I just dump the dust into the garbage from the vacuum. You have your sanding tool, you have your dust extractor, and then you can use the cleaning kit for the vacuum to clean the floors, electrical boxes, and around windows and door cutouts. I liked using the complete system.
If I’m going to have a complaint, the hose and cord for the sander are too short for my taste. I always attach an extra cord, and I buy an extra hose and connect it to the one that comes with the tool so I have twice the length. I don’t want to be dragging the dust extractor along with me; I want to put it in the center or corner of the room and sand that whole room without having to pull it along. I believe Festool makes an attachment sleeve for attaching two hoses together. I didn’t have one of those, so I just taped the hoses together—that has worked fine over the years for me.
Another concern is whether the new Planex with the smaller holes will work for popcorn ceiling removal, like my older sanders do. That I will have to test; for now, I will be using this new sander just for drywall sanding.
The Planex is high-quality tool with an overall length of 55 inches, which is fine for me reaching an 8-foot ceiling. I know if I’m sanding a 9-foot ceiling, I might not be happy with the reach. So, I may end up getting on my stilts when I’m working the higher ceilings.
Sanding day is typically the last day of the drywall job, which makes the sanding a little more rewarding because hopefully the following day, we’re going to be starting a fresh job. I used to say that drywall dust is like money in my pocket, and I guess I meant that we’re finishing up the job, and it’s time to get paid. Nobody likes the dust, dust in the air, dust on everything … this tool helps make managing it a lot easier.
As an afterthought, I want to add that I like the lighter duty electrical cord on the Cleantech. On my older units, the cord is too heavy.
The Planex LHS 2-M 225 EQ sander sells for $1,000; the Cleantec CT36 E AC dust extractor, $990. festool.com
