Disappointed with Festool Systainers

[jmbfestool]

I own a few systainers hoping to own some fogtainers soon aswell.  Protool festool and Tanos and t-loc. Protool festool tanos are all all the same with just some differences colour for one and handles are different but I have not broken any of them yet.

And I'm careful with my tools but not with my systainers I use them for steps and benches. You clearly are to rough with your systainers.  I have broken loads of Bosch paslode and many other brands . Okay I don't break the cases as they are often soft plastic so you end up with dents in the corners you can't get back out but what always break on other brands are the clips which hold the cases shut or the hinges break or both the you might as well throw the case away.

Jmb

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

You guys are worried about them fading too?

Come one, they are cases for tools.

These are tools not trophies.

Yes but they look proper sh@t when they go yellow looks like they are on 40 a day

Yeah but, I really don't care what my tool cases look like on the outside.

I have all sorts of stains on mine and some are discolored and a few have some cigarette burns grease stains you name it.

Just tool boxes for tools, that I can carry more then one of in each hand.

 

[ajones]

Warner

Its all good  [cool]

 

[mouppe]

Isn't the main purpose of the systainers to protect the tools inside? I consider it a bonus and good design that they lock on to each other, have the same size footprint, are lightweight and strong.

I stand on mine, use them as sawhorses, my kids draw all over them, rest the workpiece on them when I am applying a finish, etc.

After a couple of years, none have cracked or been dented. I think if they are breaking, you are asking more of them than they were designed for.

 

[PeterK]

I will have to somewhat agree with Mark.

Several of my Systainers have cracks where he mentioned on the open columns although I have to look for them. Mine never leave the shop and are never abused or dropped. The cracks don't hurt anything. Guess it is from repeated stacking. Not really a big deal to me as the cracks aren't in the top or side panels where it would affect usage.

Now my electricians beat the crud out of ther Systainers and although they look nasty dirty stained faded, they still function fine.

 

[jonny round boy]

The blow-moulded cases are more impact resistant, but as JMB pointed out the latches always seem to fail prematurely, and then it's pretty much useless.

As for UV resistance & the systainers yellowing, I live in Yorkshire so the problem has never come up....

 

[grobin]

Overall I have been pleased with the durability of the systainers.  Yes they have some stains and a couple chips but that's all.  However I do have a complaint.  The systainer that comes with the PS300 could easly have been built to take blades and accessories but it wasn't and I am afraid to try to mod the cheep brittle plastic.  Likewise the systainer for the TS55 could have storage for blades.  Not big deals just annoying.

BTW the systainer is water proof to at least 2' a big surprise!

I live at 9500' (2900m) and have a couple cases that have been exposed to direct sunlight for around 2 years off and on.  No yellowing.

 

[jonny round boy]

Likewise the systainer for the TS55 could have storage for blades.

The TS55 insert does have storage for blades - there's a round recess with a centre peg directly under the TS55 baseplate. Room enough to store 2-3 blades (though they do need edge protection, either split tubing or the strange oily brown stuff they come back from the sharpeners with - what is that?).

 

[Ken Nagrod]

the strange oily brown stuff they come back from the sharpeners with - what is that?).

Forrest Blade Co. who does my sharpening dips the edge of the blades (cutting surfaces) in liquid rubber that has that kind of color.  I still wouldn't trust that to be transport or long-term protection between stacked blades.

 

[peter halle]

I have purchased systainers and sortainers to store other tools.  I do not baby them.  No baby wipes and tears when they get scratched.  Have I broken a corner - yes.  When I put my other brand of tools in them, do I need to worry about coiling a cord one particular way and holding my mouth right to make sure that they close - NO.

I stopped using all those other types of cases years ago because nothing was standardized and it really screwed up storage in my trailer.

If you are in the US and want to sell your systainers, send me a PM.

Peter

 

[nickao]

The kids love your pup with the Christmas hat!  

Our Golden got a Red Christmas sweater and a Red Hoodie for Christmas, but he will not keep the Santa hat on! He also got a lambs wool winter coat! Not that he needs it , he plays in the snow when it is 20 below and it does not bother him at all. He would make a great sled dog.

 

[grobin]

Likewise the systainer for the TS55 could have storage for blades.

The TS55 insert does have storage for blades - there's a round recess with a centre peg directly under the TS55 baseplate. Room enough to store 2-3 blades (though they do need edge protection, either split tubing or the strange oily brown stuff they come back from the sharpeners with - what is that?).

The brown stuff is cosmoline or a newer gunk.  Yess I know about the limited and frankly silly blade storage supplied but with relaively minor changes you could store 6 or more blades beside the TS55 and provide sacrifical plastic blade rest at the bottom.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I keep 3 Festool blades stored in their original cardboard sleeves in the sys vertically with the TS55.

 

[grobin]

Basically that's what I do.  But there could be storage for 6 blades that would be more convenient.

 

[jmbfestool]

I have purchased systainers and sortainers to store other tools.  I do not baby them.  No baby wipes and tears when they get scratched.  Have I broken a corner - yes.  When I put my other brand of tools in them, do I need to worry about coiling a cord one particular way and holding my mouth right to make sure that they close - NO.

I stopped using all those other types of cases years ago because nothing was standardized and it really screwed up storage in my trailer.

If you are in the US and want to sell your systainers, send me a PM.

Peter

+1     Same reason y I love them!  You can just put the tool or tools into the systainers with out the need to make sure every little thing is dead on in the correct place! Also what you said about storing all the same size so you can put them any where in your van.    Apart from the T+15 you do have to make sure its all perfect as the lid wont close which kinda sucks really they havent aloud for enough space for the charger and its plug and lead I think. I know they have brought out a new type of layout for the T15 but I bought mine when it was first released in the UK so I have the old layout.

JMB

 

[Texastutt]

I have purchased systainers and sortainers to store other tools.  I do not baby them.  No baby wipes and tears when they get scratched.  Have I broken a corner - yes.  When I put my other brand of tools in them, do I need to worry about coiling a cord one particular way and holding my mouth right to make sure that they close - NO.

I stopped using all those other types of cases years ago because nothing was standardized and it really screwed up storage in my trailer.

That was my point, mine have been abused (and the one abused me!)... not on purpose but to get to the job and back, and not to hit stupid people cutting me off (that was just last week, and that case that dumped were my finish nails $$).

Mine are not pretty but considering that I'm organized (give me your unwanted Systainers Canadians), sorted and even weather proof the things are a asset to me making money.

 

[wubears71]

I'm 275 lbs and have 'occasionally' used my systainers as make-shift step stools.  I beat the crap out of them and outside of a couple being covered in grime that I need a sandblaster to remove, they've held up great.  In regards to storage, I cannot find anything more convenient to organize and transport.  It does suck when I need a tool in the middle of a 8 high systainer stack, but the organization it provides more than offsets the inconvenience.

Sorry to hear that you are disappointed with them.

 

[score0matic]

Wow, It has been a while.... systainers are a Tool....If you are un happy with them I would be happy to purchase them.  I have Several that are Cracked none have been rendered unserviceable.  several have been shifted to house a rarely used tool as they no longer give my new clients the Awesome first impression they did when they were newer.

 

[Wonderwino]

My systainers all still function and latch and only one has a corner cracked and I think that happened when it was shipped to me.  I can't complain.

I do have several DeWalt and Senco soft plastic cases with the molded-on "latches" that have broken off after several years of use.  You can't buy a replacement for those; the only solution is a tarp strap all the way around the case or screwing on a "suitcase latch" if the material will hold a screw.

 

[Tim Sproul]

I love the concept.  I love the organization.  However the quality of these boxes do not represent Festool quality.  ...... Very disappointing.

I gotta agree with you.  I want Tanos to make the systainers out of a tougher plastic.  The plastic they currently use is a bit brittle.  One thing the blow mold cases that more common tools come in is that those blow molded cases are TOUGH.

But they are in a bind now.  The dimensions of the systainers are set....if they thicken the walls of the systainers, you'd lose space inside.

My guess is that the Tanos systainers were the best choice when Festool decided to start selling their tools in a storage system.  Not the perfect choice, but the best choice of what was available/feasible at the time of the decision.