Best way to buy new tools?

[Naildrivingman]

I buy on the internet if I’m relatively certain that I won’t need service.  Life is too busy for me to be packing up tools to be returned for service. I’d rather just carry them in to my vendor, set them on the counter and walk away.  If I don’t expect to need service, I will buy from the most convenient expeditious service.  I am fortunate to live within 30 miles of several major tool vendors, so my needs for support are bountiful.  It would be much more difficult for me if I were extremely rural.  I’m sure my buying model would be radically different.

 

[SoonerFan]

[member=66741]josephny[/member] when you get the new kit check out "The Poplar Shop" on Youtube if you have not already.  Eric has many good videos about Festool equipment.  Many of us around here have found him to be a terrific source when we started down the Festool path.

With that order you are planning it will be a Merry Christmas for sure.

 

[Birdhunter]

I hope you will not be disappointed re the glue up ready TS cuts. I have the TS55 and always use a jointer to finish the cut. I use both Festool and Fein dust collectors. Never tried a Big Box dust collector. They tend to be shrill and loud.

Both Halfinchshy and New Brit Workshop have excellent videos on the Domino units. There is a lot of technique involved in getting good Domino results. The videos plus practice on scrap are helpful. Grip, stance, feed rate, etc all come into play.

I have both Domino units. The 500 gets most of the work. The kits with all the cutters and an assortment of tenons are a good buy. I have the Seneca adaptors but have never used them.

You are on a slippery slope buying into Festool. Very addictive. Wait until you start buying the drills.

Enjoy.

 

[ChuckS]

LeeValley.com has started carrying Festool for the US market and they have an impeccable reputation.

Lee Valley now offers free shipping in the US (only) for Festool orders over $40.

 

[krudawg]

http://www.bobmarinosbesttools.com

^ One of the Best

Totally agree

 

[rst]

Bob Marino and Toolnut...only real dif is that Toolnut carries most other brands that contractors use.  I buy from both regularly.

 

[RKA]

Do yourself a favor and take a pass on Amazon. Festool doesn’t package these tools to handle the abuse shipping companies put them through.  Bob, Toolnut and some others will add packing materials inside and outside the systainer and use an appropriate cardboard box.  You know how amazon packs their orders.  At least amazon’s return/exchange process is simple, because you will need it.  I am a long time Amazon fan, but not when it comes to Festool tools.

 

[Runhard]

As others have said, Bob Marino and ToolNut are in a class of their own. I usually alternate my orders with both of them but I do buy more Festool through Bob and most of my non-Festool with ToolNut. I usually use Amazon for things like Wera, Wiha, and other quality hand tools.

 

[Michael1960]

I'm extremely happy that there are laws in my country that forbid manufacturers setting (or influencing) retail prices.

I’m very unhappy that Festool prices are fixed in Australia.  No other retailer / supplier is allowed to fix prices.  Not one

 

[McNally Family]

I think you will find there are many considerations for where you purchase your tools.  Certain items I want the same day (mostly consumables), come from my local WoodCraft.  While there, I will have the opportunity to "touch and feel" items I would otherwise only see in pictures, or You Tube videos.  I also enjoy the human interaction with certain knowledgeable employees. 

As for Internet sales, my main consideration has become the shipping company used.  My personal preference is Fed Ex for multiple reasons (those guys hustle like they own stock options in the company), but primarily because they tend to deliver earlier in the day than UPS (This is based on my location).

  Business location is also another consideration.  My most recent purchase came from Beaver Industrial Supply, located in St. Louis.  Not only do they use Fed Ex, but I ordered early one day, and the package arrived the next (I am in Middle Tennessee).  Can't beat that delivery time.

And finally, sometimes my purchase decision is based on who has the product I want.  My Festool OF1400 Router purchase led me to a dealer in California, because it was the only dealer that I could find that still had the metric version of the router still in stock.

I guess there is no one perfect answer for where to purchase your tools.  Over time, you will develop a comfort level with various outlets that will be specific to your needs.     

 

[Cheese]

My Festool OF1400 Router purchase led me to a dealer in California, because it was the only dealer that I could find that still had the metric version of the router still in stock. 

Metric version...why in the world would you want that when a new Imperial version is now the law of the land?  [poke]

I had to go through the same exercise for the same router.  [sad]  [sad]  I finally located the last metric version at the local Woodcraft.  [tongue]

 

[ChuckS]

I guess there is no one perfect answer for where to purchase your tools.  Over time, you will develop a comfort level with various outlets that will be specific to your needs.   

Agreed. It is the vendors that you are dealing with for the first time that require more serious research/background checks. Incidentally, eBay has become a very reliable place to shop for minor tools from strangers (esp. if you use Paypal as the method of payment, which almost guarantees no chance of you as the consumer of getting burned).

 

[Cjgiombi]

Not sure if you have any interest in used, but I have a Domino XL that I’ve decided to part with. Sent you a PM. I really should have gotten the smaller machine the first time around with the work that I do.

 

[jarbroen]

What about a dust extractor?  Or did I miss a comment about that?
If you're getting the Domino and TS75 you should check out the dust extractors.
You'll get 10% off the extractor if you purchase it with other tools.

Cutting a straight edge in thick stock is one of the reasons I upgraded from the TS55 to the TS75.  I have several projects(home hobbyist) lined up that involve 12/4 or bigger materials.
I just bought it a couple weeks ago and haven't tested whether it's a glue ready edge on hardwood.  It does work well on stacks of plywood cut at once.  Does not bog down.  The 55 would struggle a bit when I tried cutting 18mm ply x 2.
I noticed the 36T blade splinters the edge of the plywood a bit.  Might need to invest in the higher tooth plywood blade.
But the 36T should leave a clean edge for hardwoods.

Either way you go, it's a slippery slope... lol
I started at the beginning of this year buying a dust extractor which came home with a TS55.
Then I just had to have the CXS to replace my M12 driver with bad batteries.
Couldn't pass up the $99 Ltd Pro sander(and one for my dad).
Then I strongly hinted to my wife that a router would be awesome... in comes the 1400.
Now I 'needed' a TS75 so I ordered that.  Bonus was that I sold the TS55 really quick and for a great price.

You've been warned.

 

[Shane Holland]

I appreciate the votes of confidence for the Tool Nut team from many of you. Feels good to know that we have earned the accolades of the members here for our customer service, stocking levels and attention to detail with shipping.  [thumbs up]

So, just a genuine thank you.

JosephNY did contact me.

Shane

 

[ben_r_]

Yep, FestoolProducts/ToolNut is where I have bought pretty much all my Festool products. Never had a problem.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

My Festool OF1400 Router purchase led me to a dealer in California, because it was the only dealer that I could find that still had the metric version of the router still in stock. 

Metric version...why in the world would you want that when a new Imperial version is now the law of the land?  [poke]

I had to go through the same exercise for the same router.  [sad]  [sad]  I finally located the last metric version at the local Woodcraft.  [tongue]

I hear you on this...I'm actually glad that I bought most of my Festool gear before this became a factor since I'm actively in process of converting to building pretty much everything using metric now. My most recent purchase is the Domino 700 XL and fortunately, that's still metric. It would be nice in HA buyers could have a choice on this...but I also understand that there are so many folks who refuse to even consider metric as an option and that's likely hurt sales for companies like Festool.

 

[ChuckS]

The two systems don't make any difference in my work. In fact, I am now used to the metric scale with my DF500 that even though an after-market conversation kit is available, I don't want to switch mine to the imperial scale. Same for the TS75. Many things are metric already (60km/hr e.g.).

 

[Twoodman66]

I suggest buying local,relationships in business are priceless, when my my Domino went down recently I immediately called my local tool vender to schedule a drop off. His reply was to come on down and borrow the floor model!! This was huge for me, in the middle of an install  three days before Christmas. Really bailed me out of a jam.THank you James from Ace tool in Wantagh

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I suggest buying local,relationships in business are priceless, when my my Domino went down recently I immediately called my local tool vender to schedule a drop off. His reply was to come on down and borrow the floor model!! This was huge for me, in the middle of an install  three days before Christmas. Really bailed me out of a jam.THank you James from Ace tool in Wantagh

This is generally good advise, but a large percentage of us don't have a local source for Festool...other than some of the sanders at Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams paint stores. But the folks we do buy from generally still go out of their way, within logistical reason, to assist when there's a problem. From what I can see, most folks and firms who take on selling Festool, do so with a pretty good commitment to the end-customer already as part of their culture.