Jay said:
All,
I appreciate the warm greetings and salutations.
Looks like I'll be ordering the Kapex w/ the CT22. Little unsure about the MFT though. Seems chintzy. I'm a guy more concerned with quality and less with portability. That's the whole reason I gravitated towards FESTOOL to begin with. Is there a more robust substitute for this table? I already have on order:
1) The Workbench Book: A Craftsman's Guide from the Publishers of Fine Woodworking
2) Workbenches: From Design And Theory To Construction And Use
3) The Workbench: A Complete Guide to Creating Your Perfect Bench
Also, is there a significant difference in functionality when comparing the TS55 vs. TS75? All recommended the former, but doesn't the TS75 do all the TS55 does, and more? Same for the routers. If I can afford the OF2200, would I be better off with it or is there inherent benefits to the smaller, less powerful models? Similar scenario for the sanders. Do I spend $500 on the versatile RO150 (which says it does it all) or should I plan to purchase a combination of two others, like Dan suggested with the ETS150/3 compliment. If so, I can see how this adventure will soon add up, monetarily that is. Perhaps I just need to educate myself more thoroughly on the functionality of each tool.
Before I place my orders, are there any suggestions on websites or should I stick to my local retailers and pay CA sales tax? - stupid question, I guess.
Thanks again.
-Jay
Jay,
The tools should fit your needs and constraints. Since you have the available space in your garage, it seems like you could build a nice, fixed workshop to while away the hours doing wood shop kinds of things.
Think about my phraseology. Sounds a bit strange doesn't it? It's intentional. A key question to answer is whether you want to "while away the hours" or are you focused on the end results?
From your original post, it looks like the latter. Here's your original list of projects:
1) Trim work, crown molding, casings, etc.
2) Smaller work such as picture frames
3) Built-ins such as book cases & entertainment niches
4) Wood flooring, coffered ceiling, etc.
5) Furniture (as experience is gained)
6) Outdoor woodworking projects
So, while you could set up a very traditional shop and while it sounds nice... IMO, your project list suggests something else. Breaking down your list by project, here are the tools I think you would need and
where you would need them:
1) Trim work, crown molding, casings, etc. - WORK SITE: Kapex, pneumatic nailers (15g, 18g, 23g), block planes, chisels, rasps. MFT and clamps would be useful. Domino with 4 and 5mm Dominos.
2) Smaller work such as picture frames - SHOP: Kapex, MFT or Kreg Klamp table, Domino with 4mm Dominos, router table.
3) Built-ins such as book cases & entertainment niches - SHOP and WORK SITE (installs): TS55, MFT, LR32, Kapex, OF1010 or OF1400 router, pneumatic nailers (15g, 18g, 23g), block planes, chisels, rasps. (Here's Eiji Fuller's website:
http://www.fullerbuilt.com/ . Eiji is a professional finish carpenter and furniture maker. He's a heavy Festool user and he is GOOD.)
4a) Wood flooring - WORK SITE: Kapex, pneumatic nailer, block planes, chisels, rasps.
4b) Coffered ceiling, etc. - SHOP and WORK SITE (installs): Kapex, TS55, MFT, pneumatic nailers (15g, 18g), block planes, chisels, rasps.
The last two are a bit more difficult because it's not clear what you mean by "Furniture" and "Outdoor woodworking projects". For furniture, it all depends on what you want to make. If it involves a lot of intricate carving and hand work, a heavy traditional workbench would probably be better. For more modern furniture, perhaps not. It all depends. For the most part, this is probably SHOP work.
Check out Poto's post in this thread:
http://www.talkfestool.com/vb/festool-tools/3618-festool-hobbyist.html. He included links to several of his furniture projects. He's a heavy Festool user.
"Outdoor woodworking projects" is a toughie too because that covers a wide range of things. If you're building retaining walls, you probably need heavy construction tools. Festool tools probably won't help much for that. OTOH, if you mean building a deck, then a Kapex for cutting 2X and 5/4 decks boards is the ticket. And MFT can be useful if it's kept under cover. While I'm not sure, I think this is WORK SITE also.
One point in this post is that it looks like a lot of your projects involve building or installing at the work site. Traditional workshops and workbenches don't work too well if you have to run back and forth to the workshop to do your work. Here's a pic to illustrate. I'm remodeling my master bath. When I installed the tub-deck, I found that I mis-measured and cut it too wide. Instead of dragging it down to a garage shop to cut it, I simply slid it off to the side, cut with a rail, and slid it back. WAY faster and easier:
The other point in this post is that the Festool system is not merely a nice set of tools. It's a paradigm shift. It's a different approach. The Festool system's focus is not on individual tools. It is on how you can quickly combine them to efficiently achieve and end-result. For example, the CT22 and MFT are not merely a vac and work table. They allow you to work inside at the work site - to set up quickly, cut or rout with little or no dust, and break down when finished.
The problem for all of us is that most woodworkers are bound to an older, different paradigm. And that includes most books on the subject. Anything wrong with that? No.
IF, that is, you enjoy that paradigm. And
IF it works well for your projects. The issue is...
With the exception of furniture making, it looks like most of your projects would benefit from the newer, more flexible, Festool system paradigm. While a large, heavy, fixed workbench will help with planing and carving, it won't help install wood flooring or a coffered ceiling. While you could drag a deck ledger board to your workshop, it would probably faster and easier to cut it on a Kapex at the work site. Trim work? With the exception of hand-cutting corbels and moldings in the shop, it's all done at the work site.
Finally, much of the discussion surrounding the older paradigm is about building the workshop (the process). A while back, I came to the startling conclusion that I was more interested in the end result. And, like many people, my end results differed greatly and the tasks involved for each differed greatly. How could a traditional, fixed workshop meet my needs? Answer... It could NOT! That's when I started looking for a better approach.
My concern for you is that it looks like you have a mix of goals and needs. The wish to have a nice wood shop for relaxation (the process) may conflict with your target projects (the end results). For example, a nice, heavy workbench would be wonderful, but will it help you achieve your goals better than an MFT?
IMO, finding the answer to which paradigm fits
you is more important than the exact list of tools.
Regards,
Dan.
p.s., there are several good online Festool dealer -
Bob Marino and
Festool Junkie are two of them. While saving taxes is nice, a key criteria is dealer knowledge and experience. One way to determine this is to just go talk to your local dealer. Can they answer your DETAILED questions immediately. Or will they "have to check it out and get back to you"? Local dealers are good for me when I need something quickly. Otherwise, it's online dealers for me.
