Basic equipment list

Zebt

Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2015
Messages
54
Hi,

Newbie here.
Looking to carry out a project of making cabinetry for my campervan, so basic kitchen cabinet style board.
I have various options, ie. buy complete cabinets custom made etc or DIY, if I DIY and spend around $4k on tools I can do it for the same money. And end up with a load of awesome festool gear which I love.

Question is what basic tools?
I am thinking.
TS55 basic kit with extractor and guide rail product no. 270000
QF1010 plunge router no. 574337
MFT3 with CMS extension no. 290315 (can the router fit in the CMS?)
Router holder module.

Many thanks and love this forum!

 
First - Welcome to the FOG!!

The router can be table mounted. You need a CMS-OF part #570251 but you can only use max 8mm shank cutters (not very common) in the OF1010, a better option would be an OF1400 if you want to try to get away with a single router.

Not sure what you mean by router holder module but there is a huge range of accessories to fit all of the routers.

With the MFT you will get a 1080mm long rail but that is not long enough, when joined to the 1400mm rail that you get in the 27000 kit, to cut 2440 sheets because you need overhang on each end to start and finish your cut.

I purchased the FS 1400/2-LR 32, product #496939 rail as well when I started. This enables you to later expand to doing LR32 hole drilling for shelves and door hinges and with a pair of rail joiners rip full sized sheets and cross cut them on the MFT without having to change and recalibrate you settings.

If you get the TS 55R Plunge Saw CMS Module you will be able to mount the TS55 and use it as a table saw.

A set of 20mm dogs will also come in very handy.
 
Great, thanks for the info. Yes, will look at the 1400 router, seems to be the all rounder, and the additional guide rail to cope with 2.4m sheets.

My main concern is the precision needed to make well fitting cabinetry so there won't be much room for error and the finish is critical as it will be so visible. Of course the temptation will be to try and cut costs on the machinery but the finish will suffer and I will always regret it. As I've seen posted on here 'you don't see second hand festool gear for sale often, if you do it's probably stolen, people don't sell it, they keep it!".

Cheers
 
[size=13pt]Welcome to the Aussie FOG community.
[size=12pt]
The TR55 will certainly provide accuracy when cutting; especially with sheet goods.

What sander(s) are you considering? Do not forget a Festool Dust Extractor/Vac. They are a significant element of the Festool System.

[member=54871]Zebt[/member]
 
Not sure on a sander, trying to keep a lid on the spend, the missus is already wondering if i've lost the plot!
 
If you are buying a basic set of equipment, I would guess that you might be a beginner woodworker.

Even for an experienced woodworker, custom cabinets that have to exactly fit tight spaces and have to look good are a challenge.

If my assumptions are correct, I would suggest you get involved with a woodworking guild and get some experience before buying tools. Also, DYI cost estimates are usually somewhat "rosy".

If my assumption are wrong and you are experienced, the selection should include (if you already do not own one) a really good shop vac and a really good sander. Festool makes both. I agree with the 1400 instead of the 1010. I suggest you consider adding a Domino 500 set to the list. A Domino will make the cabinet build a much easier project.

Good luck.
 
Zebt said:
Not sure on a sander, trying to keep a lid on the spend, the missus is already wondering if i've lost the plot!

I know what you mean.

Which area are you at?
 
Zebt said:
Not sure on a sander, trying to keep a lid on the spend, the missus is already wondering if i've lost the plot!

Festools are from Mars, women??

You're not going to get a tool windfall from your first job, but that IS what you should tell your wife [wink]
 
This would be my list.

TS55 is a must. If you're buying locally ask if they would swap out the rail it comes with for the LR32 one. That gives you the option to do shelf pins in the future, and you wouldn't havery to buy the rail then.

OF1400. Best all around router in my opinion.

I would pass on the MFT3 for now. With the LR32 rail and a router, it's pretty easy to make your own MFT3 style work bench. Instead I would put the money twards the Domino 500.

If you're mostly going to be working with sheet goods for this project, I would look at getting the ETS 125.

Dust extractor. Either the CT MIDI or the CT 26 should do fine.

 
Birdhunter said:
If you are buying a basic set of equipment, I would guess that you might be a beginner woodworker.

Even for an experienced woodworker, custom cabinets that have to exactly fit tight spaces and have to look good are a challenge.

If my assumptions are correct, I would suggest you get involved with a woodworking guild and get some experience before buying tools. Also, DYI cost estimates are usually somewhat "rosy".

If my assumption are wrong and you are experienced, the selection should include (if you already do not own one) a really good shop vac and a really good sander. Festool makes both. I agree with the 1400 instead of the 1010. I suggest you consider adding a Domino 500 set to the list. A Domino will make the cabinet build a much easier project.

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice, I would say I am beginner to intermediate, have worked with wood on and off for years, I'm an electrical/electronic engineer by trade, although fly a desk mostly these days which is also why I want to get busy with my hands. I've been building drones and hand held camera gimbal stabilizers for a few years but feel the need to do something different. I have a couple of mates who build wooden surfboards and spearguns and just like the idea of creating. My ultimate dream is to fit out a large motorhome like a Toyota Coaster van for semi retirement use around Australia (not for about 20 years!)

I built a complete kitchen about 15 years ago in my house in London, gutted it back to bare brick, bought basic cabinet carcasses and made the rest, my brother was a Festool supplier at the time so was introduced to how amazing the stuff is (but didn't have to buy any of it!). With the internet and sites like this and youtube it makes such a difference when solving problems and learning new techniques.

There is a RTS 400 sander and a TS55 EBQ with a 1400 rail for sale second hand here in Australia, what should I look out for if buying festool second hand?

Cheers
Zeb
 
Hi Zeb,
            The main thing I would look out for when buying second hand Festool in Aus is price, a lot of used Festools on Gumtree are advertised for very near new prices and when you look closely certain accessories that should come as standard are missing, which when purchased seperately can push the what seemed bargain tool price over the new cost, you also don't know how these tools have been looked after.
A good quality drill should take some abuse over the years but a saw like the TS55 needs to be looked after and not dropped.
I would weigh up the new tool cost with a 3 year warranty very closely before buying secondhand unless you know the seller of course.
 
DB10 said:
Hi Zeb,
            The main thing I would look out for when buying second hand Festool in Aus is price, a lot of used Festools on Gumtree are advertised for very near new prices and when you look closely certain accessories that should come as standard are missing, which when purchased seperately can push the what seemed bargain tool price over the new cost, you also don't know how these tools have been looked after.
A good quality drill should take some abuse over the years but a saw like the TS55 needs to be looked after and not dropped.
I would weigh up the new tool cost with a 3 year warranty very closely before buying secondhand unless you know the seller of course.

Good points, thanks for the info. I normally steer clear of used but with the list growing towards $6k it's getting scary!  It seems that there isn't just a few items that will 'get you going' it seems you will immediately need a 'basic list' to do the job right.

 
[size=8pt]
Zebt said:
Birdhunter said:
If you . . .
the rest,    my brother was a Festool supplier at the time so was introduced to how amazing the stuff is (but didn't have to buy any of it!).
[size=13pt]
Good news (if you have been regularly reading the FOG); your 'new' brother also lives on the Northern Beaches!  [big grin]

--------
Re reply #13
As others have said on the FOG many times, purchase as you really need them, not as you wish you need them.

Naturally, I have never followed this good advice!  [eek]
 
Untidy Shop said:
[size=8pt]
Zebt said:
Birdhunter said:
If you . . .
the rest,    my brother was a Festool supplier at the time so was introduced to how amazing the stuff is (but didn't have to buy any of it!).
[size=13pt]
Good news (if you have been regularly reading the FOG); your 'new' brother also lives on the Northern Beaches!  [big grin]

--------
Re reply #13
As others have said on the FOG many times, purchase as you really need them, not as you wish you need them.

Naturally, I have never followed this good advice!  [eek]

Haha,  [big grin] Ok, that's great, nothing like local knowledge. I work just around the corner from Northern Abrasives and regularly buy tools for work (not usually Festool unfortunately).
So before I go and indulge my crazed fantasy of buying a truck load of tools and becoming this high output master craftsman  [wink] we should meet up and you can bring me back to earth?
 
[size=13pt]
Sorry Zebt, did not wish to imply it was me, I live way south of you. Hopefully your FOG neighbour (and fellow customer) will take up your offer.
[size=8pt][member=54871]Zebt[/member]
 
Untidy Shop said:
[size=13pt]
Sorry Zebt, did not wish to imply it was me, I live way south of you. Hopefully your FOG neighbour (and fellow customer) will take up your offer.
[size=8pt][member=54871]Zebt[/member]

Ahaa, now i get it. Must be Monday morningitis, sitting on the sofa with a filthy cold drooling over Festool stuff!
 
Brother Kev here ... [wink] [big grin]

I haven't made a recent pilgrimage to the Festool shrine at Northern Abrasives due to a crazy work load (IT related unfortunately).

There's also Brother Locky of the Holy Habitual Festool Buying Order who's a member of our diocese.

Rod has saved me a lot of money by not getting his online website functional !!

I have a couple of surfboard and SUP designs kicking about in my head that I'm trying to find time (and space) to execute. I started a simple little ply dinghy project a couple of years ago and never got any further than cutting the pattern pieces [embarassed] [sad]

 
 
Hi Kev,

Too many projects, not enough time!
Another thing I want to do is frame up a load of paintings that my dad did, never made a picture frame but don't suppose it's that hard!
My mate in Dee Why built himself a home made cnc table, full size (takes a 2.4m sheet), it's a hell of a contraption. He knocks out a surfboard in about 5 days, all wood. He loves doing stuff on the cheap so not into (addicted to) Festool.

I spend too much time in Rod's shop, hovering around drooling and muttering about what I might want/need..... it's literally 2 mins walk from my desk! Dangerous. [eek]

I've decided that I'm going to live with the campervan with the new roof (to be fitted this month) on a few trips, then decide what I want regarding cabinets etc. The conversion company is asking $4k for a basic cupboard set up down one side with a sink unit. It's quality stuff they import from the UK, so I reckon if I spend $500 on materials I can spend $3.5 on tools!?? [big grin]
 
Hello!

I, too, would pause at the MFT. I love mine, but bought it before researching the options. If you wanted to economise a little bit, and unless portability was essential to you, I would go for something like the MFT spare top and put it on your own home-made base (Search "DIY sysport"). If you got the "MFT Slab" CNC'd and got some dogs (QWAS/Precision/Parf), and rail dogs, you will do just as well.

 
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