a few good sugestions

[glass1]

someone who posts I love my festools but as a real user I got a few ideas and the thread goes out of control and gets shut down. Why because some ridiculous festool owners defend the brand to the death like its perfect.  Look many of the tools are good but most need improvement: yes I use my ts75 to break down sheet goods and doors and whatever. Yes the newer clear sacrificial plastic strip on the guide rails SUCKS. Listen the tools ain't perfect. Please festool listen to the users and copy the mafel rail connector and make the saws have more power. Abandon the stupid safety system on the kapex. Get back to quality and fix the jig saws. dump the ti15 impact and standardize the 18 volt. Come on you make some good stuff just push a little harder or you are just a vacuum cleaner company selling tools to get people to buy the attachments(tools)

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

This forum has always been operated in a way that there is full transparency (hence our forum member moderators that are not Festool employees) and in a way that allows members to express their thoughts and opinions, even if negative. You can read many posts here where there are complaints or negative opinions. This place is not meant to be a big circle of members singing the praises of Festool all the time.

However, that thread had turned into a series of personal attacks between members. THAT is against our forum rules and is why Peter elected to lock the thread. It was his choice to do so and not an attempt to prevent anyone from expressing their opinions, even the harshest criticisms. *

* As long as it's done in a way that's compliant with our forum guidelines.

No company in the world creates a product that's considered perfect by everyone. Period. I can tell you that my colleagues in Germany frequent the forum and do read your comments. They are aware of your "wish lists", your dislikes, and your other opinions. That said, product changes must be engineered, tested, etc. and that takes time. I'd like to think we are significantly ahead of the curve with our products, but, of course there are ways they can be improved.

Don't feel like you're carefully crafted complaints or grievances are ignored and go into an internet abyss. We hear ya. [wink]

Now, feel free to continue the discussion of what you don't like, but please do it in a way that's constructive and doesn't call members from other countries ignorant, as an example.

Thanks,
Shane

 

[Kev]

someone who posts I love my festools but as a real user I got a few ideas and the thread goes out of control and gets shut down. Why because some ridiculous festool owners defend the brand to the death like its perfect.  Look many of the tools are good but most need improvement: yes I use my ts75 to break down sheet goods and doors and whatever. Yes the newer clear sacrificial plastic strip on the guide rails SUCKS. Listen the tools ain't perfect. Please festool listen to the users and copy the mafel rail connector and make the saws have more power. Abandon the stupid safety system on the kapex. Get back to quality and fix the jig saws. dump the ti15 impact and standardize the 18 volt. Come on you make some good stuff just push a little harder or you are just a vacuum cleaner company selling tools to get people to buy the attachments(tools)

Can you explain what you think is a "stupid safety system" on the KAPEX please? I've used mine a lot, I must be missing something.

Also, there's no need to "dump" the Ti15, it partners well with the C15 .. which is arguably their nicest drill/driver. I am happy if they bring out a heavy duty 18V impact - which they surely will.

You may also want to explain what needs to be fixed on the jigsaws. It's hard to fix something without knowing what is "broken". I love mine.

Most humble apologies if this comes across as a "ridiculous festool owner defending the brand", but you're criticisms don't have the context I need to understand your specific issues.

I will agree on the plastic strips for the rails - they at least need to do something about the glue being used, it's always loosing adhesion if not laying flat (i.e. the FS1080/2 hanging off either side of the MFT/3).

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

One more thing... (There's always one more thing, right?)

Let's not turn this into "those who are supposedly blindly in love with Festool" against "those who see things that could be better". Respect each others' positions and opinions, even if you don't agree with them.

Realize that some things, like the stupid Kapex safety mechanism, may be required due to international safety regulations.

What I might love about a tool, you might hate. That's why I said there's no product in the world that everyone thinks is perfect.

It's ok if someone says the jigsaws suck. Just don't say the other guy responding to you sucks.

Now, I'd like to enjoy one last day of vacation please. Be nice. Thanks.  [smile]

 

[RJNeal]

I agree with the guide rail strip. I know lots of user want a clear strip so they could see there mark. I never really got the change since you still can't see though the strip anyway. I just make sure to lay it flat and have masking tape on the ends.

Rick

 

[bkharman]

I have had the black and clear strips. Either are fine with me.

A good "trick" is to take a marking knife or razor blade and hold it where the edge should be and slide the splinter guard against it. Flawless every time.

 

[Kev]

I have had the black and clear strips. Either are fine with me.

A good "trick" is to take a marking knife or razor blade and hold it where the edge should be and slide the splinter guard against it. Flawless every time.

Good tip! [thumbs up]

 

[tjbnwi]

The "stupid safety" is to meet UL standards, not UL testing. That is why some saws have the additional safety and some do not but both have a UL label. I have an older Bosch that has a "stupid safety" and a newer Milwaukee thats does not have a "stupid safety"

At one level the saw is tested by UL to meet the guidelines the manufacture presents. A higher standard the saw must meet the guidelines UL presents.

Look at UL labels, you will see there are different labels that indicate the different levels of testing.

UL's website has the labels displayed with an explanation of what level of testing each label represents.

I find the Kapex "stupid safety" to be much easier to use than the Bosch "stupid safety".

Tom

 

[semenza]

I would just like to note that the thread being referred to, was not locked because people were criticizing Festool and or its products. It was locked because it was degenerating into an increasingly unpleasant and disruptive bickering match. It should be noted that it was allowed to run with many postings as opposed to being immediately shut down or out right deleted. The latter is what would happen on a company forum that was squashing potentially negative comments, not just locking or warnings.

Seth

FOG Moderator

 

[Paul.C]

I have had the black and clear strips. Either are fine with me.

A good "trick" is to take a marking knife or razor blade and hold it where the edge should be and slide the splinter guard against it. Flawless every time.

Could you tell me more about this 'trick' please. What are peoples gripes with the splinter guard?

 

[bkharman]

I have had the black and clear strips. Either are fine with me.

A good "trick" is to take a marking knife or razor blade and hold it where the edge should be and slide the splinter guard against it. Flawless every time.

Could you tell me more about this 'trick' please. What are peoples gripes with the splinter guard?

Sure thing!  Basically, you would mark your workpiece to be cut and either use a pencil or marking knife.  Now normally after that, people would just line up the edge of the splinerguard with that mark and cut away... and that is perfectly fine.

If the cut is of the upmost importance, I will use the mark but instead of just eyeballing it against the edge of the splinter guard, I will actually put the pen knife blade on the pencil mark (or in the cut if i used a marking knife) and then whilst holding it there, slide the splinter guard against it.  this ensures that the mark and my cutline will be one in the same.  You obviously can't use a wide blade, but if it is .5mm, it is generally the same as a pencil mark.

cheers.  Bryan

 

[rst]

An old cabinet makers trick for alignment is to place a V with the point at the line being cut, use a fine point. the V lets you know where sneak up to the line.

 

[bkharman]

My pops taught me the v, but instead of sneaking to it, I use the v to determine the off it side. Now that I think of it, it is more like a 7 and a V had a baby...

 

[shed9]

I have had the black and clear strips. Either are fine with me.

A good "trick" is to take a marking knife or razor blade and hold it where the edge should be and slide the splinter guard against it. Flawless every time.

Good tip! [thumbs up]

+1, why on earth didn't I think of that.

 

[wow]

I have had the black and clear strips. Either are fine with me.

A good "trick" is to take a marking knife or razor blade and hold it where the edge should be and slide the splinter guard against it. Flawless every time.

Good tip! [thumbs up]

+1, why on earth didn't I think of that.

Excellent tip! Simple, quick, and accurate - what more could you want?

Well, other than to be the guy who was smart enough to think of it in the first place...

[embarassed]

 

[Jeremiah9675]

I have had the black and clear strips. Either are fine with me.

A good "trick" is to take a marking knife or razor blade and hold it where the edge should be and slide the splinter guard against it. Flawless every time.

Brilliant! I made about ten cuts today, and I could have used that little trick! Very nice!

 

[bkharman]

I most definitely didn't invent that. I am very happy I passed it on though!  Glad to help!

Bryan.