Quick answer: Dynamic Painting uses a coordinated Festool preparation system rather than one general-purpose sander. Our RTS rectangular orbital sander, DTS delta sander, ETS random orbital sander and PLANEX wall-and-ceiling sander handle different surfaces. They connect to CT HEPA dust extraction, with a CT CYCLONE pre-separator for high-volume dust, while Systainers keep the tools and abrasives protected, organized and ready for the job.
This is not a list of expensive tools for its own sake. It is a field guide to how our Calgary and Airdrie crews match Festool equipment to broad walls, corners, profiles, repairs and occupied homes—and what that changes for the client. It supports our complete professional painting preparation guide without duplicating our specialist guides to sanding walls before painting or primer selection.
The tool is only as good as the decision behind it
A premium machine cannot diagnose moisture, choose a compatible primer or decide how much repair a surface needs. We begin with the substrate, its condition, the coating specification and the environment. Then we select the equipment. That sequence prevents a brand name from becoming a substitute for workmanship.
| System | Where we use it | Homeowner benefit |
|---|---|---|
| RTS 400 rectangular orbital sander | Flat, narrow and vertical surfaces | Controlled fine sanding where a round pad would be awkward |
| DTS 400 delta sander | Corners, angles and detailed profiles | Reaches tight geometry without sanding indiscriminately around it |
| ETS random orbital sander | Broad flat surfaces, doors, trim and woodwork | Efficient, controlled refinement with a fine random-orbit pattern |
| PLANEX LHS 2 225 drywall sander | Broad walls and ceilings | Consistent reach, built-in raking light and source extraction across large surfaces |
| CT HEPA dust extractor | Connected directly to compatible sanders | Captures a substantial amount of dust where it is generated |
| CT CYCLONE CT-VA-20 pre-separator | High-volume sanding and preparation | Collects much of the dust before it loads the extractor’s bag and main filter |
| Systainer³ storage system | Transporting tools, abrasives and accessories | A complete, protected setup arrives organized instead of loose in bins |
Four Festool sanders, four different jobs
Calling every machine “a sander” hides the important part: pad shape, sanding motion, reach and extraction determine where it works well. Our system gives us a controlled option for broad walls, flat woodwork, narrow sections and tight corners instead of forcing one machine onto every surface.
RTS 400 REQ-Plus: the rectangular orbital sander
The Festool RTS 400 REQ-Plus uses a rectangular pad for flat, narrow, vertical and overhead surfaces. We use the square-edged format where a round pad cannot work closely and predictably along a straight edge. Its compact body and fine orbital action make it useful for controlled preparation rather than aggressive, indiscriminate removal.
DTS 400 REQ-Plus: the triangular delta sander
The Festool DTS 400 is the triangular—or delta—sander in the system. Its pointed pad reaches corners, angles, railing details and other geometry a round sander cannot access properly. That means we can prepare the difficult areas instead of leaving glossy or rough sections simply because the main sander does not fit. Festool describes its delta sanders as tools for corners and intricate spaces.
ETS EC: the random orbital finish sander
Our Festool ETS random orbital sander is the broad-surface finish tool. The round pad and random-orbit motion suit doors, trim, woodwork and other flat surfaces where we want efficient refinement with a controlled finish pattern. The ETS EC 150/3 EQ-Plus uses a fine 3 mm stroke, a low-profile body and integrated extraction features. Abrasive choice and pressure still change with the coating and substrate.
PLANEX LHS 2 225: the wall-and-ceiling system
The Festool PLANEX LHS 2 225 is designed for broad walls and ceilings. Its 225 mm head covers area efficiently, its random-orbit motion refines the surface, and its all-around LED light ring throws raking light across the work to reveal unevenness while we sand. Adjustable suction helps support the machine against the surface, while its variable length improves reach.
The PLANEX does not replace inspection, filling or spot work with the RTS, DTS or hand tools. It gives us consistency across the broad field; the smaller tools address edges, details and localized repairs. The full wall method is covered in why professional painters sand walls before painting.
CT HEPA extraction: capturing dust at the source
Compatible Festool sanders connect directly to a CT mobile dust extractor. Suction pulls sanding debris through the pad and hose as it is created; the HEPA filtration stage captures fine material inside the extractor. Festool states that its HEPA-equipped mobile extractors filter 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns. That filtration rating does not mean the entire room or task is 99.97% dust-free, so protection, residual cleanup and honest expectations still matter.
Festool Canada’s CT dust-extractor information explains the filtration and tool-integration system. The homeowner benefit is practical: less dust becomes airborne or migrates through an occupied home, and less loose dust remains on the prepared surface before coating.
Why we add the CT CYCLONE CT-VA-20 pre-separator
For dust-heavy preparation, we place the Festool CT CYCLONE CT-VA-20 between the sander and the CT extractor. The pre-separator uses cyclone action to collect much of the debris before it reaches the extractor’s filter bag and HEPA filter. Festool reports that it can catch up to 95% of dust before the extractor in suitable high-volume applications.
This is the “prefilter box” clients may see stacked on our extractor. It is not a replacement for HEPA filtration. It is an upstream stage that reduces the load on the main filter, helps maintain suction and reduces interruptions for bag changes. That matters on broad wall and ceiling sanding where a small loss of extraction performance can affect both cleanliness and sanding efficiency. See the manufacturer’s CT CYCLONE CT-VA-20 technical explanation.
Systainer³: an organized mobile preparation system
Festool calls its modular cases Systainers. Our sanders, abrasives and accessories travel in linked Systainer cases rather than being thrown loose into general bins. The cases stack and lock together, protect calibrated tools and keep different abrasives and components easy to find.
That organization is not cosmetic. It reduces missing-tool delays, protects sanding pads from damage and helps prevent the wrong abrasive from being grabbed simply because the correct one is buried somewhere in the van. Festool’s Systainer³ system is designed to connect workshop, vehicle and jobsite storage. For a client, an orderly arrival is also an early sign that the preparation process has been planned rather than improvised.
Repair tools and inspection lighting
Filling knives, sanding blocks, caulking tools and task lighting are less dramatic than a power tool, but they often determine whether repairs disappear. Side lighting reveals shadows at patch edges, pinholes and old drips. We repair first, refine the repair, inspect it and then determine whether spot or full priming is required.
Our interior preparation guide explains the full occupied-home sequence. Profiles and harder existing finishes need their own approach, described in our trim and door preparation guide.
Exterior scraping and sanding equipment
Exterior preparation is condition-led. Loose or failing material must be removed without damaging the sound substrate, edges are feathered where appropriate, and exposed areas are evaluated for primer. Access equipment, weather and containment change with the building and surface.
Moisture meters for decks and exterior wood
Wood can look dry at the surface while still holding moisture. A moisture meter adds an objective check before coating; the acceptable reading still depends on the product specification and substrate. It is one input alongside weather, exposure, previous coating and wood condition.
Why this is more than owning premium equipment
The system still depends on the operator. We select the pad shape, abrasive, speed, pressure and extraction level for the existing coating and substrate. The RTS, DTS, ETS and PLANEX complement one another; none is the automatic answer everywhere. Owning the system matters less than understanding where each part begins and ends.
Masking, containment and property protection
Professional preparation includes floor coverings, plastic or paper masking, tape selected for the surface, equipment organization and controlled cleanup. Exterior spray work may require broader masking and close attention to wind. Interior work must account for furniture, fixtures, ventilation, pets and household access. See our exterior preparation and interior preparation standards for surface-specific details.
What professional tools cannot fix
No sander, sprayer or moisture meter can compensate for an unstable substrate, active leak, incompatible coating or rushed cure time. Equipment helps us measure and control the work; it does not remove the need for diagnosis. Unknown older coatings also require caution: Health Canada warns that sanding lead-based paint can create hazardous dust.
Questions to ask a painter about equipment and preparation
- Which preparation steps are included in the written scope?
- How will sanding dust and overspray be controlled?
- How will you determine whether exterior wood is dry enough?
- When will you brush, roll or spray—and why?
- Which repairs and primer applications are included?
- How will floors, furniture, landscaping and adjacent finishes be protected?
A clear answer should connect equipment to your actual surfaces. Compare the rest of the scope with our guide to comparing Calgary painting quotes, and view more real work in our painting project gallery.
Professional painting tools: common questions
Which Festool sanders does Dynamic Painting use?
Our system includes the RTS rectangular orbital sander for flat and narrow surfaces, the DTS triangular delta sander for corners and details, an ETS random orbital sander for broader finish sanding, and the PLANEX LHS 2 225 for broad walls and ceilings.
Why does Dynamic Painting use Festool equipment?
We use Festool sanding equipment with connected HEPA extraction because the coordinated system provides controlled abrasion and captures a substantial amount of dust at its source. Protection and cleanup remain necessary.
What is the Festool CT CYCLONE box for?
The CT CYCLONE CT-VA-20 is a pre-separator placed before the CT HEPA extractor during high-volume dust work. It captures much of the debris upstream, reducing the load on the filter bag and main filter while helping the extractor maintain suction.
What is a Festool Systainer?
A Systainer is a stackable, locking storage and transport case. We use the system to protect our sanders and organize abrasives and accessories so the correct preparation setup arrives together and ready to use.
Why check deck moisture before staining?
A moisture reading helps determine whether wood is dry enough for the specified coating. Coating damp wood can interfere with penetration or adhesion, so the reading must be considered with the product directions and weather.
Do professional tools guarantee a better paint job?
No tool guarantees workmanship. Better results come from diagnosis, a clear scope, appropriate preparation, correct product use and skilled operation. Equipment helps a painter execute those decisions consistently.
The right system makes the workmanship visible
Tools matter because they support repeatable decisions: inspect, protect, repair, prepare, verify and apply. This guide was written by Marc Sharkey of Dynamic Painting Inc. from our painting work in Calgary, Airdrie and nearby communities. To discuss the surfaces in your home, request a free painting estimate.