Discontinued Festools that you wish Festool would bring back?

S

ScotF

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I have been using Festool for several years now and have a pretty good collection. I have been lucky enough to have some tools that are now discontinued (at least in North America) and some that are discontinued worldwide. I still find value in these tools and so I thought it would be interesting to see if there are tools others would like to see brought back with maybe slight improvements.

For me, the MFS is up there and router bits. However, I think my most recent tool purchase would be the one I would like to see updated and back on store shelves. I just acquired a Deltex sander that was a store demo - it was in pretty good condition overall with just a few minor dings and it had the old-style Systainer. After using it for several hours today, wow - what a great sander! Now, I also have the RO90 and like it for many things, but I am in the middle of building 4 dining chairs (Maloof inspired) and there were many sections of these chairs where the RO90 was not fitting, even with the extended plate. But, the DX sander fit the bill and got into all the tight spots with ease. I managed to sand the problem areas in a matter of minutes what would have taken me several hours by hand. So, I wish FT would bring this one back, but with a Plug-it cord, please. I can see why people liked this so much - I thought it was easier to control and more refined than my DTS and I think it is going to be one of my top 3 sanders that I use.

So, what about the rest of you? Any older tools you would like to see brought back?
 
DX93E, RO150E, RS1C:  for the reasons stated above, the "plain, normal, standard" pad mounting on the middle one, & the absence of those frustrating plug-it cords on them all.

 
Definitely the MFS. I did get luck to pick up the last set of rails the 1000, ( thanks Bob) a little while back. But I would like to see them available so I wouldn’t have tore buy them.
Oh well Festool knows best.
Rick.
 
Alex said:
RAS 115. Incredibly useful tool, I can't believe they quietly retired this.
Click to expand...

Wow - just noticed that on the International site - it is still available in North America. That is a shame if that goes by the wayside - that is a extremely awesome tool - as you state.
 
This isn’t a plea for me but rather a plea offered for others. Luckily, I’ve been fortunate in hearing about the anticipated Festool tool retirements early on and have therefore reacted accordingly and purchased said items before they became extinct.

Some of my personal favorites are:
The DX 93
The MFS in all of its configurations
The router sled 🛷
The various installer sets
The metal cutting blades for the Kapex and the track saws
The Kapex because it is rapidly becoming an endangered specie
The spark trap
Many of the router bits
The original metric based tools marketed in the US as opposed to the current gelded “imperial” versions
The original vacuum hose end connection, the one without the depressions which only traps sawdust and then politely dispenses it on the floor or black rug
The various router trimming attachments for the OF 1010
Some of the 25mm long driver bits

That’s a pretty good start.

 
Yes, the hose ends, good mention.

Bought up a couple of the old ones, I'm set for the next 10 years.

Who would have thunk that when something fits tightly, and you take some chunks out, it doesn't fit tightly anymore?  [blink]
 
Even I have a dx93 and some of the router bits...
Too bad about the RAS, as it was in my vision...
(But I scored a BS105)
 
I did find out a few weeks back that the RAS115 is discontinued. That was a bit shocking for me as it is one of the tools I will want to have for the rest of my working life as a carpenter and would keep after retiring as well.

I did find a place that has a few in stock so I will probably snag one as a back up - though I am not keen on spending more on gear that isn't due for replacement.  But, I would kick myself if the RAS got stolen on site or if I was wearing mine out (eventually) and could not replace it. I am looking at selling of a few surplus items at the end of the year and I might as well put that money into a RAS before they are out of stock.
 
I used my DX93 extensively during the restoration of a 150 year old house. Over a three year period of all my Festools used this one certainly earned its keep particularly when restoring window frames, doors and architrave.  A dealer demo of the RO90 with delta pad did not cut it when compared to the smooth operation of the DX.
 
The old hose end all the way, and the MFS.

I was going to add the edging plate for the 1010/1400, but apparently that is no longer discontinued in the states?

The RAS being discontinued abroad is weird.  Are they bringing out a replacement?

Alex said:
Yes, the hose ends, good mention.

Bought up a couple of the old ones, I'm set for the next 10 years.

Who would have thunk that when something fits tightly, and you take some chunks out, it doesn't fit tightly anymore?  [blink]
Click to expand...
 
What does the RAS115 do that can't be done with the RO125 or RO150.

For occasional use can't I accomplish most if not all of what the ROS115
can do with a RO125. Maybe not as powerful or efficient but for home or
light use won't it work.

The RAS115 looks more like a 4-1/2" angle grinder than a sander, can it
use flap discs and other consumables that have a 7/8" arbor hole and are
made for use with other brand angle grinders?

Paul answered all my questions in his video.
 
Bob D. said:
What does the RAS115 do that can't be done with the RO125 or RO150.

For occasional use can't I accomplish most if not all of what the ROS115
can do with a RO125. Maybe not as powerful or efficient but for home or
light use won't it work.

The RAS115 looks more like a 4-1/2" angle grinder than a sander, can it
use flap discs and other consumables that have a 7/8" arbor hole and are
made for use with other brand angle grinders?

Paul answered all my questions in his video.
Click to expand...


[member=60461]Bob D.[/member] Thank you for posting that video.  I thought that I had watched very one of Paul Marcel's videos but I missed this one and will have to visit his youtube channel again.  I have had the RAS for over 9 years.  It was the only tool that I bought that I had a thought in the back of my mind that I might return it during the grace period.  I didn't and have been glad of that decision every since.

Peter
 
Now with the Rotex sanders there's a bit of overlap with the RAS for sure, but the RAS is just 4 to 5 times faster which might make a difference in a production environment, time is money.

The MFS and router bits are still available in Europe, so for the enterprising American it should not be a big problem to get those, though it might cost a bit more.
 
+1 for the MFS.

I sincerely hope Festool either bring it back, or have a new improved version on the way.

Andrew
 
I agree on metric option for tools. I also like the Bench unit for the planer.
 
Y'know...and this is unrelated to the topic at hand...

But looking back over the last 5-7 years, Paul Marcel sure sold me on a lot of Festools lol.
 
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