Which wall sander should you choose: Fouine, PLANEX or Flex?
To sand a wall, the Sept Tools Fouine XB165 and Petit Potam are brushless diamond concrete sanders, while the Festool PLANEX and Flex GE 5 R are finishing sanders for plasterboard and filler. The choice hinges on the material and on the material removal you need. This comparison places the machines side by side, criterion by criterion, on manufacturer data.
The wall sanders at a glance
| Criterion | Sept Tools Fouine XB165 / Petit Potam | Festool PLANEX LHS 2 225 EQI-Plus | Flex GE 5 R |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Diamond concrete wall grinding (Fouine: wall and ceiling) | Long-reach sander for drywall, walls and ceilings | Wall and ceiling giraffe for drywall |
| Target material | Concrete, intensive stripping, coatings | Plasterboard, filler | Plasterboard, filler |
| Motor power | 1600 W, constant torque | 400 W | 500 W input, 270 W output |
| Motor type | Brushless (no carbon brushes) | Not disclosed (manufacturer page) | Not disclosed (manufacturer page) |
| Machine weight | Fouine 7.6 kg / Petit Potam under 7 kg | 5.0 kg (without accessories) | 3.9 kg |
| Pad | Diamond 165 mm | 225 mm | 225 mm |
| Speed | Variable, constant torque | 5000 to 8500 rpm (orbital) | 1100 to 1650 rpm |
| Hand-arm vibration | 0.35 m/s² (reference machine benchmark) | 2.5 m/s² (Ah value) | Not disclosed (manufacturer page) |
| Noise level | 60 dB (operator position) | 73 dB(A) pressure, 81 dB(A) power | Not disclosed |
| Dust capture | Class H at source (IU33 Longopac extractor) | 36/27 mm connection (CT 36 E AC-PLANEX) | Hook-and-loop pad, extractor connection |
| Ingress protection | IP65 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Motor lifespan | Up to 20,000 h (brushless) | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Anti-strain ergonomics | Compatible with Mygale gantry and trolleys (Fouine) | Machine holds to the wall by suction | Head tilt 100 degrees, length 1520 mm |
| Warranty | 24 months | Not disclosed (product page) | Not disclosed (product page) |
| Country of manufacture | Roanne, France | Germany (Festool brand) | Germany (Flex brand) |
Competitor data from public manufacturer pages, consulted on 5 July 2026 (sources at the bottom of the page). Sept Tools data from product sheets. The 60 dB and 0.35 m/s² figures are positioning benchmarks measured on reference machines.
Concrete or plasterboard: two families of wall sanders?
Yes, and that is the starting point. The Festool PLANEX and Flex GE 5 R are finishing sanders for plasterboard and filler: they smooth, they do not strip concrete. The Fouine XB165 and Petit Potam (1600 W, constant torque, diamond pad) strip, remove laitance and prepare concrete. Choosing often comes down to one question: is my wall filler or concrete?
Weight and handling: what do the figures say?
The Flex GE 5 R (3.9 kg) is the lightest, ahead of the Festool PLANEX (5.0 kg). The Petit Potam weighs under 7 kg and the Fouine XB165 7.6 kg. These concrete machines are heavier because they are sized for more demanding material removal. To compensate, the Fouine mounts on the Mygale gantry, which removes the need to carry the machine on the wall.
Vibration and lifespan: what data is published?
Transparency varies. Festool publishes its vibration (2.5 m/s²). The Flex GE 5 R page publishes neither vibration, nor noise level, nor motor lifespan: those values are therefore marked not disclosed. Sept Tools states 0.35 m/s² as a benchmark, a brushless lifespan up to 20,000 h and an IP65 rating. The independent Distrimo study measured a 56 percent reduction in forearm vibration with Sept Tools tools.
How do you capture silica on a concrete wall?
Grinding concrete releases crystalline silica. Sept Tools pairs its wall sanders with a class H extractor (IU33 Longopac), with a UKAS laboratory measurement of 0.02 f/ml on an NHS hospital site. Festool connects the PLANEX to its CT 36 E AC-PLANEX. The Flex GE 5 R connects to an extractor via its hook-and-loop pad. In every case, the paired extractor makes the performance.
What Festool and Flex do very well
- +The Flex GE 5 R is very light (3.9 kg), with a 100-degree tilting head and a design Flex describes as practically vibration-free for sanding plasterboard at height.
- +The Festool PLANEX is quiet (73 dB(A) pressure) and part of a highly refined ecosystem of accessories and extractors for filler finishing.
- +On plasterboard and filler, both machines are lighter and perfectly in their element. For that job, they are a very good choice.
Why concrete professionals choose the Fouine and Petit Potam
- 1.Wall sanders built for concrete: 1600 W constant torque, diamond pad, intensive stripping where drywall sanders stop.
- 2.Mygale gantry for the Fouine: the wall gets sanded without carrying the machine, an anti-strain design validated by the Distrimo study (-56 percent forearm vibration).
- 3.Class H capture at source, 0.02 f/ml measured by a UKAS laboratory on an NHS hospital site.
- 4.Brushless up to 20,000 h, IP65, 24-month warranty, designed and assembled in Roanne, national service and parts in stock.
A concrete wall to strip or prepare?
Describe the substrate and the surface. We will propose the right Fouine, Petit Potam or gantry, with no obligation.
Sources
Competitor manufacturer data consulted on 5 July 2026. Sept Tools data from the catalogue product sheets.
- Festool PLANEX LHS 2 225 EQI-Plus, manufacturer specifications: festool.com (400 W, 5.0 kg, 73/81 dB(A), 2.5 m/s², 225 mm pad).
- Flex GE 5, manufacturer specifications: flex-tools.com (500 W input / 270 W output, 1100 to 1650 rpm, 225 mm pad, 3.9 kg, 1520 mm length, 100-degree head; vibration and noise not published).
- Sept Tools Fouine XB165, Petit Potam, Mygale gantry, IU33 Longopac: product sheets on sept-tools.com.