Festool ETS EC 125 vs DeWalt DWE6423K: Is the $549 Sander Worth It?
The Short Answer
I own both. The DeWalt DWE6423K has six years on it, beat up and still completely functioning. The Festool ETS EC 125/3 gets used every week for woodworking, speargun builds and the fiberglass on my son’s FRS14 skiff.
The difference is how often you sand. The DeWalt is about $80 and it lasts. The Festool is about $549, and it’s worth it if a sander is in your hands weekly, especially hooked to a dust extractor.
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Festool ETS EC 125/3
4.7 / 5 | Check current price
Best for: A sander that is in your hands every week, fine finish work and fiberglass with a dust extractor.
DeWalt DWE6423K
4.6 / 5 | Check current price
Best for: Regular sanding on a budget. Six years in and still running.
Head-to-Head Specs
| Festool ETS EC 125 | DeWalt DWE6423K | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (approx.) | About $549 | About $80 |
| Motor | Brushless EC-TEC, 400 W | 3 amp, brushed |
| Speed | 6,000-10,000 RPM | 8,000-12,000 OPM |
| Pad | 5" StickFix | 5" hook and loop, 8-hole |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs | 2.9 lbs |
| Cord | 13 ft detachable Plug-it | 8 ft attached |
| Dust collection | 27 mm port for an extractor | Locking dust bag, vacuum adapter |
| Case | Systainer SYS3 M 187 | Tool bag |
| Our rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Recommended for | Handyman and Contractor | DIY, Handyman, and Contractor |
Orange = the edge on that spec. Prices change; check the current price before you buy.
Where the Festool Wins
- Finish. The 3 mm stroke leaves a fine finish.
- Dust. Hooked to my CT 36 HEPA extractor, it pulls the dust at the source and the extractor turns on with the sander. That matters most on fiberglass.
- Built for daily use. Brushless motor, lighter, and a long detachable cord.
Where the DeWalt Wins
- Price. About $80 vs. about $549. You can buy six of these for one Festool.
- Proven. Six years of use, beat up and still completely functioning.
- Ready out of the box. The dust bag works without a vac, and the speed dial and switch are right where your thumb is.
How I Use Them
Festool ETS EC 125/3: I use it every week for woodworking, building spearguns, and sanding the fiberglass on my son’s FRS14 skiff we just finished. It runs off my CT 36 so the dust goes into the extractor, not the shop.
DeWalt DWE6423K: Six years in. It’s beat up, but it still works the way it did in 2020.
Which One Should You Buy?
Get the DeWalt DWE6423K if you sand a few times a month, do home projects, or want a sander you don’t have to baby. For the price, nothing we’ve used beats it.
Get the Festool ETS EC 125/3 if a sander is in your hands weekly, you care about finish, or you sand fiberglass and have (or plan to buy) a dust extractor. The sander alone is only half the system.
Recommended for: DeWalt: DIY, Handyman, and Contractor. Festool: Handyman and Contractor.