Dream Shop - Help Me Spend My Money and Design My Shop

[Kejmjjjlm]

I have always said that I want to be a contractor when I grow up.  I am finally at the point in my life that I can buy good tools and have time to use them.  I just built my MAN CAVE (30x38 with a center wall, so 15x38 twice with overhead garage doors), and for Christmas, my wife bought me my first Festool…a Domino.  The only other major tool I have is a MiniMax Sliding Table Saw with scoring blade.  I am rebuilding it (replacing all the bearings, repaint, etc.).

There are so many tool I “need”, and since most of you are professional tool users, I thought I would ask your opinion of what to buy and why???  On my list are things like:  Router Table with Lift, Jointer, Planer, Dust Collection, Kapex, MFT/3, Drum/Brush Sander, etc.

Tools are expensive, so please keep your suggestions realistic.  This is for a non-commercial home shop.  On the other hand, I would rather spend more and have nice equipment rather than save a few bucks and have junk.  Accuracy and repeatability and ease of use are very important. 

So help me spend my money, FOG Members. 

WoodDoctor

 

[mouppe]

You're fortunate that you have found Festool before you start buying tools. FOGgers can all tell you that they wasted money on cheaper tools before discovering Festool- at least I did.

Without knowing what you want to build, I would suggest you get a CT dust extractor, an OF1400 router, a TS55 saw, an MFT/3 table, and a Rotex sander. With the domino you already own, this will make a great start. Don't forget the accessories can amount to more than the tools, such as router bits. If you buy them together, there are package discounts available. There is also an impending price increase set for March 1st.

Next, I would check out the Woodpecker site for some excellent marking and measuring tools. Lee Valley as well.

I would also have my stock milled at the lumber yard so you can postpone your need for a jointer and planer until you have a better idea of exactly what you require.

Richard.

 

[ScotF]

Welcome to the FOG!

It would help if you could describe the type of projects you intend to build -- is it more cabinetry or furniture or a combination of the two?

Thanks!

Scot

 

[woodguy7]

Welcome

Power tools = Festool
Machinery = Felder/Hammer
Hand tool = too many to list  [big grin]

Pics of your shop as it grows always welcome  ;D

Woodguy.

 

[GreenGA]

Of course!

Without pics, he probably has nothing more than a few 'Tainers. [poke]

Pics of your shop as it grows always welcome  ;D

Woodguy.

 

[Rembo]

the most important thing you have - it's Domino!
everything else there is an alternative!
ask for a gift XL  [big grin]

 

[Wood_Junkie]

You're fortunate that you have found Festool before you start buying tools. FOGgers can all tell you that they wasted money on cheaper tools before discovering Festool- at least I did.

Such a true statement.  And unfortunately the latter was true for me (for several years).

The core of the Festool system is the dust collectors and MFT.  Both of those work with any other type of tool and for projects (i.e. assembly) and should be among your first purchases (in combos where you can).

You've got a huge variety of WW machines you listed there...  You'll get a 1000 opinions.

You didn't mention having a drill/driver.  If you're in the market for one, the CXS is just outstanding.  I use it 5x more than my C12 and TDK12 combined.  The only caveat is to get a full-size Centroc chuck for it.  The stock CXS chuck is only 3/8".  I wonder if dealers can do an upgrade/exchange in that... ??

 

[Kejmjjjlm]

Sorry for the lack of information.  My "Honey Do List" consists of (at the moment):  1. Walk-In Closet Organizer complete with drawers, hanging, laundry, etc., 2. Craft Room Cabinets (cherry  face frames) and Craft Table 3. Desk Top with bull nose edge and T&G Cherry Wood (matches floors in house) 4. Secret Room Hinged Book Shelf 5.  Entertainment Center  6. Mud Room Lockers and Coat Hooks  7.  Another set of Lockers and Coat Hooks.  That is just my starter list.  Thanks

 

[Kev]

Festool LR 32 would feature high with all that built in work. OF 1010 to match it.

Trip to Europe to pick up CMS ?? Then OF 2200 - otherwise you could have a lot of local options.

There's a couple of MFT/3's in there.

Dust collection and sanding - this would depend of where most of your finishing will happen - but CT 26/36, ROTEX RO 90,150 ETS150/3,5 ... DTS400 (collect the set).

Sounds like you don't mind renovating gear - edge bander? planer?  If you can pick up solid old gear tats worth the effort ...

(wish I had the physical space for that ... And 3 phase power)

Whatever you do, take your time and enjoy it - lifes's the journey .. not the destination.

 

[UncleJoe]

Not sure what your current skill level is. Festool will improve your work to some extent but there are skill that need to be developed and honed and no amount of money can replace time spend crafting something. Without knowing your skill set and since you have stated that you are not a pro, neither am I, so I will make the following suggestions.

Start with basic case work. Cabinets, Painted white with some trim. Make them for you shop, the mud room and closets. Take your time and be prepared to scrap a piece if/when it is not right. I learned a lot making my first "Good" cabinets. Follow established designs, avoid the temptation to just throw something together. Use Dominos, Pocket holes, dado and the 32 mm system. Try all these techniques  on your early projects like shop cabinets or mudroom.  

Build a real nice router table and use this project to perfect your skills and don't forget finishing, that is an art in itself.

I am in a similar situation where the kids are gone the house is paid off and I make more money now than I ever have. I have been buying a lot of festools after years of Craftsman and Dewalt. When I look at a new tool now I focus on extreme accuracy, dust collection and quality. That goes for machines as well as power tools. Safety is also extremely important. I am self employed and 2 years ago a guy in a truck hit me while I was riding my motorcycle. It is hard to make money from the hospital. I learned a lot from that experience and shop safety is really a major focus of any purchase for me. When I get ready to purchase a new table saw and ditch my old craftsman, which should happen soon, there is no other saw than a SawStop for me. I know of people that have spend months out of work due to shop accidents and even with insurance that is a problem. As a self employed Network Engineer if I can not work for months my customers will have to get someone else to take care of them and I have yet to find an insurance policy that will replace that income.

Don't overlook the health risks of sawdust. When I started getting back into serious woodworking I stumbled across a few articles of people with very serious health problems because of sawdust and poor dust collection. Dust collection is about a lot more than keeping the shop clean.

Good luck and enjoy the shop

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

What is your electrical situation?

 

[ScotF]

I think that I would start with the MFT/3 and either a TS55 or TS75 saw -- this would allow you  to get some savings buying the combo and will be a center of your shop -- cutting sheet goods down to size, even before processing on a slider and cross-cutting, etc... is a breeze.  The other benefit is that this combo would allow you to take the tools to the work - if you are making built-ins, having a capable set-up in your work area is a real time saver -- no more running back and forth to the shop.  As others have said, a CT for dust collection is another must-have.  I would opt for a couple of different rail lengths to accomodate cutting long stock too.  

The LR32 would be great for all your cabinetry and the rails with holes can be used with the saws/routers too.  I would also pick up a router or two -- the OF1010 for LR32 work and any other edge-forming tasks for a lighter weight router is needed.  I would then buy the larger OF2200 for all the big stuff -- making raised panels, larger profiles, etc...

For sanders, well there are a lot of them to choose from and they all have their purpose.  Tastes may vary a bit, but you cannot go wrong with one of the ETS RO sanders and one of the Rotex sanders.  Try to stay within the 5 inch or 6 inch for each and you can use the same paper.  Having the RO90 or a DTS400 allows you to get into corners to finish sand -- refinishing things or fixing dings, etc... of finished panels are just two examples where a Delta shaped head really shines.  I make mostly solid wood pieces and I have lots of wide panels that I need to ensure are as flat as possible -- for me, the RS2E is one of the best sanders out there and a must-have for the type of work I do.  If you need to do any remodeling work (stripping paint, etc...) or if you are making any scultped pieces (or need to scribe cabinets to walls, etc...) then a RAS115 is just the ticket.

The drills Festool offers are phenomenal -- lightweight, ergonomic, powerful and the batteries last forever.  Choose a T style of C style along with the accessory chucks.  The CXS is a nice, compact unit that is great for assmebly and getting into really tight places.  

Someone mentioned accessories -- this is one of the things that really sets Festool a part from other brands...so many different accessories are available to really help you get even more out of your tools...these add up quickly and every tool Festool carries has various ones to add.  These can often be application specific and up to personal preference, but at a minimum I would add Clamping Elements and Quick Clamps to the MFT; QWAS dogs for the MFT (non-Festool item, but extremely useful); cross-members for the MFT/3 - makes it even more stable;hard sanding pads for the ETS and Rotex sanders; extra edge guide(s) for each router you buy and if the OF2200, get the accessory kit; Workshop Cleaning Set for the CT (or one of the other available cleaning sets that comes with the larger 36mm hose -- to use with the Kapex).  Get a Boom Arm for the CT -- some of the best money spent and worth the price not having to deal with cords and hoses all over the floor and on your work.  Of course, then there is storage and organization for all the accessories -- Systainers, Sortainers, carts, Sysports...it really depends on how organized you like to be and if you have a system to store fasteners and accessories, but Festool's offerings are great.

For non-Festool tools, I would get a good dust collections system to handle your machines - a Cyclone would be great here.

Also, I would buy a nice Jointer/Planer combination -- flat, square stock is essential to woodworking.  There are some great combination machines out there that do not take up a ton of room, but give phenomenal results in a larger size -- 12 inch or 16 inch machines are ideal for solid wood processing.  

A large bandsaw -- this to me is the most important stationary tool you can have for solid wood processing.  A large BS will allow you to make all manner of straight and curved cuts and resaw thicker pieces (i.e. book-matched panels).

Now is a great time to buy -- and if you can get in before March 1 you will avoid paying the price increase that is going to go into effect on many items and if you plan on buying a lot, this could add up to hundreds of dollars quickly.

Good luck and I am sure others will weigh in with their thoughts.

Scot

 

[john ferri]

I second the jointer/planer combo: absolutely critical because square materials will simplify your woodworking and make your Festools work better since they are designed to work mostly with square materials.

When purchasing tooling consider Whiteside 1/2 inch router bits--an excellent value and made in the USA. I favor Festool's 8mm when working with the OF1010.

Also slick is the Plano Wall Vise. If you ever have to glue up solid wood panels (for a table or blanket chest), this is a good option because it keeps
panels flat and stores them out of the way as the glue dries.

JF   

 

[JeromeM]

Your next tools should be the TS55 with a CTL vac either 26 or 36 and swap the standard 1400 rail for the 1400/LR 32 rail. I bought the  OF1400 but I had an Elu MOF96, even so I would recommend that you get that router. Also the Kreg pocket hole jig set and the mini pocket hole block and bit should be high on the list. As should be the parts of the LR32 system.

Several people have recommended you start building shop furniture first and I strongly agree. It is a great way to develop your skills and find out what you enjoy making. For me it's boxes (so that includes cabinets and draws) and tables and I will be making a bed for us as my next major project.

The recommendations to have an MFT I would hold back on. The reason is that RMW has just developed an add-on for the rails that looks as if you will have most of the function with much greater flexibility(Quas already has product that does work but in a different slower way). If you have to move your work table to the job then the MFT wins but if not and you have time then making a more stable work bench with the MFT pattern holes is a viable option. I have done just that and would do it again.

For sanding I've gone down the Festool route but there some better sanders around.

For finish spray guns are hard to beat and shop furniture is a perfect testing ground.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I highly don't recommend a combo planer/jointer.

 

[GPowers]

For the case work you listed you all ready have the Domino. So, to start, you need:

1. MFT/3
2. TS55
3. Festool dust collection
4. 3000 guide rail
5. Woodpecker square #1281
6. OF1400

 

[waho6o9]

Welcome to Festool!
I would get a Dust Deputy to save on bags and get the longest rails possible.  The adjustable shelf kit, LR32? and the rails with holes is something to consider.
Have fun WoodDoctor.

 

[jacko9]

After a table saw, I would invest in a good quality 8 inch long bed joiner.

 

[sancho57]

Sorry for the lack of information.  My "Honey Do List" consists of (at the moment):  1. Walk-In Closet Organizer complete with drawers, hanging, laundry, etc., 2. Craft Room Cabinets (cherry  face frames) and Craft Table 3. Desk Top with bull nose edge and T&G Cherry Wood (matches floors in house) 4. Secret Room Hinged Book Shelf 5.  Entertainment Center  6. Mud Room Lockers and Coat Hooks  7.  Another set of Lockers and Coat Hooks.  That is just my starter list.  Thanks

OK here ya go:
table saw,

TS 55 & guide rails either 2 1400's with connectors or the 110" rail,

,2 MFT 3's, W/ Connectors

Kapex,

Kapex MFT,

LR 32 system,

OF 1010 w/ edge guide (sold separately)

, CT 26 or larger,

RO 90,

ETS 150

Various grits of sand paper,

blue pad for the RO 90,  

The small festool drill, assorted bits,

Impact gun,

Assorted festool clamps,

Connectors for the MFTS,

Pinacle 12" square for setting up the MFT rail,

Edge banding / trimming attachment for the OF 1010 or just get the MFK 700 router and Various router bits,

Stabilia 2' 4' 8' level,

Systainer to hold screws.

HVLP spray gun,

Domino , systainer for the dominos or buy the kit,

Air compressor,

Pin nailer, 18 ga nailer, 15 ga nailer,

Kreg jig w/ screws.

F/F clamps

miscl hand tools,

jointer (can buy the big festool planer with edge jointer attachment)

Thats about all I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[ShawnRussell]

I woud say hold off on buying any equipment.  Depending on how much time you have, I would go take a few of the Festool classes and a general foundation class at Mark Adams or any other school that has a very extensive selection of tools.

From there, go to a wood show or two, if you are willing to wait, wait for both WIA and AWF.  You will see the best setup of handtools at WIA and AWF will give you the big machinery with Hammer having a presence there. If you have not already, go do some shop tours, the more the better.

From there, I would then list all the projects you have/want/need to do and then list the tools needed to complete them. Look where tools overlap and then see if you can get some combo deals.

Lastly, pick a dealer and get to know them. They will also have some great advice for you as well.