Conturo Discontinued? - Merged Thread

correct it requires a special edge banding that has what they call a "functional" layer from my understanding it kind of injects the hot air.  The biggest benefits are a near invisible joint and a very high water/heat  resistance.
 
Here's some interesting information from Rehau, a manufacturer of zero joint edgebanding.

Two things caught my eye:
1. "Increased edgeband costs are easily offset by the upscale finished product to the market." Now that's marketing justification for you. [smile]
2. "Zero-joint edgebanding with hot-air or laser machines is the future. This technology will become the norm in this market; the amount of machines sold without hot air and laser edgebanding is already low."
https://www.rehau.com/us-en/zero-joint
 
they discontinue tools because the lack of sales. Same thing with the vac system. Great tool but expensive.

So my advice to the OP buy the conturo if you want it or need a edge bander.

It will avoid you coming here in the future complaining you need one and cant find one like so many do over other discontinued tools and whine about how people are selling theirs at a premium price
 
Yes the edge banding is more expensive too but you also no longer need any glue and since the conturo glue is not cheap, Im sure the Hot air banding is still more but the price tends to even out a little more.  enough that its not a issue for me if Im getting a better looking and more durable product. It can also save considerable time too.  When I did the outdoor kitchen I had to epoxy all the laminate on the edges since the EVA would never hold up in the Florida sun.  It was a vey tedious process and time consuming since you can only do do two sides at a time and then wait 24 hours trim then do the other two edges trim and then vacuum press the front and backs on. All with not getting any excess epoxy on any finished surface.  Had I had the mafell it would have cut the time from days to an hour or two, with no excess epoxy issues.  If I had anymore outdoor kitchens to do I would be all over that Mafell just because of that. 
 
afish said:
correct it requires a special edge banding that has what they call a "functional" layer from my understanding it kind of injects the hot air.  The biggest benefits are a near invisible joint and a very high water/heat  resistance.
There's a polypropylene strip on the back of the tape that gets melted by either a laser, high-pressure super hot air or an infra red heater instead of glue. Pretty cool technology but I get the impression that the choice of tapes is limited to PVC or ABS plastic from either Rehau or Doellken. Shop-made HPL strips, wood veneer tape or solid stock is still traditional EVA hot melt adhesive.
 
yes but solid stock isnt going to pass through a conturo anyways.  The "wood veneer" banding is a bummer and I havent seen any available in the hot air/laser banding but if Im wrong please let me know.  I dont do a lot of it anyways but it is a bummer either way.  As far as HPL this is also true but most laminate does have a matching edge banding available in pvc so it becomes less of an issue.

My conturo does a really good job on pvc and really the only thing that makes the joint stand out is if there is a slight color difference between the material and banding or the texture difference.  Since most melamine's laminates have a slight texture and once you trim the banding its smooth.  Im very happy with the look I get from the conturo

 
 

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Glad I got one then; thought I was crazy getting it but now that I do can't imagine not having it.

Is conturo the only one that does different color glues?

Also only other options is that one that a few places rebrand (virtuex, grizzly). But those seem to only do natural glue color
 
Maybe you could have done that with the Conturo. There is PUR or polyurethane glue for the Conturo, which should give you much more water- and heatproof gluing. I am not sure whether they sell it in the U.S. You have to buy both the glue and a special cleaning product.

PUR glue:https://www.festool.com/accessory/200056---pu-nat-4x-ka-65
Rinsing agent:https://www.festool.com/accessory/200062---pu-spm-4x-ka-65#Overview

I never saw how it works but I heart from people using it for cabinets around dishwashers etc.

afish said:
Yes the edge banding is more expensive too but you also no longer need any glue and since the conturo glue is not cheap, Im sure the Hot air banding is still more but the price tends to even out a little more.  enough that its not a issue for me if Im getting a better looking and more durable product. It can also save considerable time too.  When I did the outdoor kitchen I had to epoxy all the laminate on the edges since the EVA would never hold up in the Florida sun.  It was a vey tedious process and time consuming since you can only do do two sides at a time and then wait 24 hours trim then do the other two edges trim and then vacuum press the front and backs on. All with not getting any excess epoxy on any finished surface.  Had I had the mafell it would have cut the time from days to an hour or two, with no excess epoxy issues.  If I had anymore outdoor kitchens to do I would be all over that Mafell just because of that.
 
Yes there is PUR glue but its not easy to find here in the US. Plus Im worried. If you dont clean ALL the PUR out you will have a 3k brick.  PUR is very unforgiving and theres no second chances with the stuff
 
Yeah I'm not interested in PUR then haha.

Outdoor stuff will just be something else then
 
Hello All,

There has been some discussion recently about the Conturo being discontinued.  I have been advised that this is not the case, from a Festool official.

I am planning to buy one, and wanted to be sure the consumables would continue to be available. 

I hope this is of some benefit; however, I am sure there will be something official coming from Festool soon about this topic.

Brian
 
Unique? There are other edge-banding tools out there or no?

I thought Rockler made one. No idea how it compares to the
Festool Conturo, no doubt not the same level of quality or features
like handling curved surfaces but it might fit someone's need.
 
zachjowi said:
They are stating to put them in the new systainer.

This; the stuff discontinued they didn't bother with this (Except the older 1010 for a little bit)
 
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