Elji,

No convex - just flat.

I have to admit that I didn't see this coming.

The intention of the video for sure wasn't to "pull a fast one" or doing a "typical company skewed presentation". It is very obvious that the board is
back beveled, you can see it in the video. It is back beveled because this is exactly what we would recommend for work like this.

"Pulling a fast one" might work for a company that sells a product for a short time and then disappears. Festool has a 30-day money back guarantee. That
means "pulling fast ones" would result in a high number of returns, which would be quite costly for us.

The videos are mainly done to answer concrete questions from customers.
There is no script. And there is no plan of doing skewed presentations.  It is Shane or me walking into Brian's training room with the camera, filming what he does, and then putting it on Youtube. You might notice that most of the videos are not edited.

Holzhacker, don't trust the video. Try the tool and see if it works for you. If not, return it.

Christian

"Holzhacker, don't trust the video. Try the tool and see if it works for you. If not, return it."


In addition to buying/trying, sign up for one of the training classes in Lebanon and get to know the people in the company before you pass judgement.

I am a "seasoned professional" that's been woodworking for over 40 years.  I spent two days with the folks in Lebanon and found them to be very genuine, caring people of highest integrity.  These folks care for each other like family and they consider us part of their family.  Other companies should aspire to the excellence Festool has achieved in genuine customer care.  Just my humble opinion . . . .

Now, back to the regular scheduled program . . . .

You guys are missing the larger detail.  That's one helluva a crooked wall he is trying to scribe to!  I'd probably refloat that!

So much for the limitations of UTUBE--everyone notices something different. This tool has been in the festo (festool) lineup for years.  In his book Making Heirloom Boxes (2001), Peter LLoyd has a nice big photo of this tool, which is an essential part of his woodworking. His medium is solid wood (of course) and the main free-hand shaping tools he uses are an unidentified small angle grinder fitted with an arbortech (coarse), the RAS (medium) and the Rotex (fine).

Of the three he waxes poetic about the angle grinder (!), but says that it tends to "fill up the workshop with dust very quickly (p.13)." We can see from Christian's video how magnificent the dust collection is, not to mention the control issue.

Sure got everyone agitated didn't I? I've been to Lebanon and met everyone down there. I agree they are a great group of people who consider themselves and the FOG, Family. Noting the idea of 'pulling a fast one' was in no way intended to reflect upon their individual character. I know everyone down there loves what they do and it shows. Someone may have just set up the video as they thought would be good or maybe they set it up per a corporate memo. In corporate marketing, almost anything goes. I don't know who decided the Spec's of the test video and frankly don't care.
The video shows the product being used in a very 'ideal' situation, i.e. sanding a back cut board. When a manufacturer shows their product performing great under an ideal scenario, that is too their advantage, not mine. It may be educational for me or it may be complete nonsense. As the consumer purchasing that product I have ask, 'Will that product also perform as portrayed in many less than ideal scenarios?' In my opinion, the video is average marketing and doesn't prove the worthiness of the tool. Like I said, it may convince a DIY, but not me as a contractor.
Luckily I am heavily invested in Festool and have known about the RAS since before I went to Lebanon. My comment is in no way an attempt to bash the RAS. I want one and will buy one when the right job comes along. My intent is to bash the fluff level of the video. I would expect a lesser tool manufacturer to 'make it easy' on the tool by back cutting, NOT Festool. I cranked the daylights out of the T15 when I was in Lebanon, it took the beating and asked for more. I have since bought one. I am already sold on the RAS. If I weren't I sure wouldn't buy one based on that video. I want to see that tool take some punishment, maybe that's just the German in me.
Markus

Markus, 

I concede that the scribing in the video "COULD" be described as ideal, citing the materials, backcutting, etc.  But, if the manufacturer is showing what the tool can and was intended to do, wouldn't it be proper to show the tool being used under accepted practices?  I believe that in the case of scribing trim, it is accepted practice to back cut most of the material away before doing the fine work.

Is seems to me that independant reviewers could test the tool in the more aggressive conditions you describe.  I also put a lot of stock in what independant reviewers here on FOG and elsewhere have to say about specific tools; I try to never rely on a single source prior to purchase.

Dan

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this before, but I also use my RAS to shape and polish stone and concrete. It does such a fine job that I havent picked up my water feed polisher in several years. Alpha makes backers and cups that will thread the RAS. I'm sure there are other manufacturers that will thread, but Ive had good luck with the Alpha line. I'm glad to see the RAS finally getting some recognition.

Videos are a great demonstration and learning tool. When you are producing them for an large audience as diverse as this one, your learn quickly that the script is critical. The perfect video in this case would show the project A to Z from all angles with how your measure your board, bevel it with the TS 55, how to sharpen you pencil before scribing etc... This takes time and money and would limit the number of videos coming out of Festool.

This video was a snap shot of what you can do with the RAS 115. The next logical step if you are interested is to go down to your festool dealer and try it out. I had a project where I had to remove 8 coats of latex paint from a fir T&G wall. I took a sample down to my dealer and tried out the different sanders. Walked out with the RAS 115. I love that tool. For those who don't have a dealer near by post, on this forum and you will find out quickly if this tools is not up to the job. My dealer always remind me of the 30 day money back guaranty if the tool doesn't perform to my expectation. 

For those who believe that Festool USA was trying to pull a quick one on you, stop and think. Is that the image they want or need for their brand! I appreciate these video and all of the other post and pictures on this site. I am a skeptic by training and nature but I learn to ask questions before jumping to conclusion. The first question in this case is to ask the producer of the video; is the Board back bevel and why.
That simple question would have change the tone of this debate and we could have discuss the different techniques for scribing a back board.

Festool keep the videos coming

Bruce

Thanks Jonny, that was just one side...

BTW everyone, I back-beveled it with a jigsaw prior to sanding to the scribe line.  Standard practice in my book. Whether with a jigsaw or table saw.

Dan

You may want to check out the thread RAS 115 as grinder? for talk of M14-threaded cup brushes supplied by Festool for the RAS115 outside North America.

Forrest

Dan,

I tried the arbor nut from my grinders on the RAS 115 and they are too big.

Sorry,

Peter

I removed the pad on my RAS 115 to test something out and look what I found:

A clog caused by large paint chips that the dust collection had captured - 1.5 years ago.  Maybe that is why the dust collection wasn't as good as in the video.



What was trapped:



The amount inside was equivalent to about one third of a shot glass.  I never thought about large chips getting caught.

So, if your RAS isn't capturing as much dust as you think it should - look here.

Peter

When it comes to angle grinders, it appears that the fixing that secures the grinding wheel or wire brush to the spindle of the grinder varies between Europe and the USA.

For example, here we have the Bosch 4-1/2" Angle Grinder, Model 1800



Specifications from the Bosch USA website are:

Amperage: 7.5 
Certifications: cULus 
Length: 11-1/4" 
Max. Motor HP: 1.1 
No Load RPM: 11,000 
Rating: 120 V AC/DC 
Spindle Thread: 5/8" - 11  
Weight (lbs.): 4.3 
Wheel Diameter: 4-1/2" 

And here we have the Bosch GWS 8-115 Professional, which is a grinder with very similar specifications from Europe:



Specifications from the Bosch UK website are:

Rated power input 800 W 
No-load speed 11.000 rpm 
Power output 500 W 
Grinding spindle thread M 14 
Disc diameter 115 mm 
Rubber sanding plate, diameter 115 mm 
Wire cup brush, diameter 70 mm 
Length 286 mm 
Height 106 mm 
Weight without cable (EPTA standard) 1,9 kg 

Notice how the spindle on the UK model has a M14 thread, whilst the model for the US market has a 5/8"-11 thread

The Festool RAS115 has an M14 thread, just like most other similar European angle grinders. It's therefore not possible to directly attach US cup brushes and other accessories with the 5/8"-11 thread, which is the standard in the USA. 5/8" is approx 16mm, which is why the thread on US attachments is too big for the M14 (Metric 14mm) spindle.

Also note that the speed of both of these angle grinders is 11,000rpm, compared to the RAS115 which is much slower at 1,500 - 4,000 rpm.

It's also interesting to see the different method of expressing the power of European and USA power tools. Bosch USA say their grinder is 1.1HP and 7.5A, whereas in Europe the power is expressed in Watts with no mention of Amps or Horsepower.

Forrest

My attempt at humor only revealed my ignorance.  I hadn't thought of scribing to a set of bricks or stone, so the wavy scribe line wasn't too far fetched.  So I learned at least 2 things from this thread - that if I am to scribe I need to back cut the filler strip, and that you can scribe up to stone and brick.  Thanks!