Does Festool make you money???
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Ken Nagrod
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erock said:
This post stood out to me the most. I agree with Eric "erock" that it's a combination of your skills and the tools that bring the end product(s) to a higher level. Sure you can probably get better results from putting a Festool product in the hands of a novice with some basic instruction than another, lesser product, in general, and yes there are highly skilled and talented craftsman that use the crappiest of tools, producing beautiful work, but you can't beat really good tools in really good hands.
Timtool
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i think the question also implies if your festools make you more money than other brand tools.
it's obvious that when you start with nothing, and then suddenly buy a festool sander instead of sanding by hand, that it's gonna make you win alot of time and money.
but who in here had the financial means to start his business with festool tools only? i sure didn't, i started with the cheap tools i had and some new Bosch tools because that was already expensive enough for me.
it's my cheaper tools that allowed me to earn money quickly, and now i can afford festool.
not all of them make me earn more money, for some i's just the comfort of use that make them worth.
i think my festool sanders are a money pit compared to other brands, expensive to buy, expensive abrasives and accesories. but in the end it's the comfort that wins.
some tools like the domino is in all ways a profitable purchase, verry expensive but it pays for itself withing a couple of months.
it's obvious that when you start with nothing, and then suddenly buy a festool sander instead of sanding by hand, that it's gonna make you win alot of time and money.
but who in here had the financial means to start his business with festool tools only? i sure didn't, i started with the cheap tools i had and some new Bosch tools because that was already expensive enough for me.
it's my cheaper tools that allowed me to earn money quickly, and now i can afford festool.
not all of them make me earn more money, for some i's just the comfort of use that make them worth.
i think my festool sanders are a money pit compared to other brands, expensive to buy, expensive abrasives and accesories. but in the end it's the comfort that wins.
some tools like the domino is in all ways a profitable purchase, verry expensive but it pays for itself withing a couple of months.
Gobbs and Gobbs more. I just had to cut quarter inch finished panels to install under some wall cabinets to cover wiring and to recess some outlets. It only took me an hour tops. If I didn't have my TS55 it would have taken double the time, and the end result would not have been nearly as nice. I'm a full time cabinet installer and I get paid by the piece, time is money. Cutting finished end panels, extended stiles on cabinets, tall panels, wood countertops, etc. I literally have a huge smile on my face because I'm now so much faster at doing each of these tasks, making me much, much more money.
Jon
Jon
Jesse Cloud
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Not being in the business, I can't add any data. But you might be interested in a study Harvard did on computer programming tools. They watched hundreds of programmers at various skill and career levels, some using complex but powerful programming tools and others just hacking out code. The findings were that if you give a skilled worker a powerful but complex tool, he will increase productivity dramatically. If you give the same tools to a less skilled worker, he probably won't be any more productive and may be even less productive.
In my career as a programmer, then an analyst, then an architect, then a manager, I found this to be true over and over again. I suspect it holds true outside the computer world as well.
In my career as a programmer, then an analyst, then an architect, then a manager, I found this to be true over and over again. I suspect it holds true outside the computer world as well.
YES... When I first saw festools I was shocked by the prices. When I started getting into more trim work I figured I would try festool. They make work much more enjoyable, way faster and much cleaner. So I feel they make me money in speed and you really can't put a price on the joy I get when using them.
Chris Hughes
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Well I am biases, so I asked the guy I work for. Today is the first day that we used the ras. We are installing several layers of various sizes of crown. Dave is partial to the Makita 4" grinder but we are in a very high end basement and using a normal grinder would mean going outside to cope the joint. I hooked up the ras and a ct and let Dave go. No dust, no going up the stairs and outside for the cut.
My guess is that we picked up a couple of hours today by staying inside and on track. Not to mention the deminished need for claenup at the end of the day.
My guess is that we picked up a couple of hours today by staying inside and on track. Not to mention the deminished need for claenup at the end of the day.
Electric Trim
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Jonhilgen said:
Never thought of the TS55 benefiting me on cabinet installs, but I use it on almost all my fillers because so many times they need to be cut on a taper which would have to be free handed on a table saw and cleaned up (by hand) with a hand or power planer. It's so much faster clamping on a guiderail and making a 1-3 degree backcut and having a perfect cut.
Thanks for all the replies, I knew I'd done the right thing investing in more Festool gear and each day I use it I find more uses for the tools. The TS55 continues to amaze me with it's accuracy and versatility and the ergonomics of the planer are so good.
I must stop watching Festool Video reviews though. I so want an MFT/3 after watching Paul Marcel's review. I'm also considering the work centre. The funny thing is that I considered both items to be over priced until recently and then you suddenly get to a point where you want them and the price doesn't seem so important anymore. I spent way more than was sensible on my last Festool shopping trip and cashflow is bad right now but once I have resolved that I will be able to enjoy the gear even more. I will have to learn to exercise restraint in the future but another thing I get now I have indulged further in the Festool experience is an apt description on a UK forum that I read quite a few years ago. It simpy said "Festool - crack cocaine for chippies".
I must stop watching Festool Video reviews though. I so want an MFT/3 after watching Paul Marcel's review. I'm also considering the work centre. The funny thing is that I considered both items to be over priced until recently and then you suddenly get to a point where you want them and the price doesn't seem so important anymore. I spent way more than was sensible on my last Festool shopping trip and cashflow is bad right now but once I have resolved that I will be able to enjoy the gear even more. I will have to learn to exercise restraint in the future but another thing I get now I have indulged further in the Festool experience is an apt description on a UK forum that I read quite a few years ago. It simpy said "Festool - crack cocaine for chippies".
As a hobbyist, I'd have to agree on the time aspect, and if you're in business, time is money.
I've recently been making some beehives - nothing fancy, just 18mm ply for summer use when controlling swarms.
The old way was: get 8x4 sheet of ply, hack it up roughly with a jig saw so that I could fit the bits on the table saw (my garage is too small...), re-cut it accurately, then rout out the various bits on the table.
New way: process the 8x4 sheet with a TS75, FA-PA fence and guide rail. In about 15 minutes, I get a stack of parts, all perfectly accurate and square.
Incidentally, the domino with a 10 mm bit makes really neat entrances to small (nucleus) beehives....
I've recently been making some beehives - nothing fancy, just 18mm ply for summer use when controlling swarms.
The old way was: get 8x4 sheet of ply, hack it up roughly with a jig saw so that I could fit the bits on the table saw (my garage is too small...), re-cut it accurately, then rout out the various bits on the table.
New way: process the 8x4 sheet with a TS75, FA-PA fence and guide rail. In about 15 minutes, I get a stack of parts, all perfectly accurate and square.
Incidentally, the domino with a 10 mm bit makes really neat entrances to small (nucleus) beehives....
I would guess that any contractor, cabinet maker, etc. that use tools to earn money would answer "yes". Any of those same type that don't think Festools earn them money probably aren't hanging around this forum to read the question. [unsure]
I also think most amateurs/hobbyists (my category) would say that Festools cost them lots of money but make the hobby much more enjoyable.
I also think most amateurs/hobbyists (my category) would say that Festools cost them lots of money but make the hobby much more enjoyable.
Electric Trim
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Dan1210 said:
Not sure what you mean by the handsaw
Ken Nagrod
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[tongue]
Ken Nagrod
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lazer guides hand saw [eek]
http://www.gardeners-world.net/product/Spear-and-Jackson-Predator-Laser-Saw-5797?ref=froogle
http://www.gardeners-world.net/product/Spear-and-Jackson-Predator-Laser-Saw-5797?ref=froogle
