FESTO what is still running ?

[Mrpilfup]

Thought I would share a photo of my, never gives up  equivalent OF1010 FESTO.  Router. I bought it new in the mid 90's as a much younger and somewhat cocky Carpenter and Joiner. But it  still runs perfectly albeit with an upgraded base plate. The bandage is from a piece of hardwood kicked out by a table saw on the other side of a factory. I had just placed the router on the table and it exploded, that was over 22 years ago. [eek] But she is battle scarred but still a brilliant tool to work with. I just use her now for small detailing. I also have an orbital sander that's 23 years old and a Festo track  that I use with the router. The track is narrower than the shiny ones used today.
Would love to know if anyone else has got  veteran tools to showcase.

View attachment 1

 

[Paul_HKI]

Great idea for a thread.

Here's my own 23 year old OF900 router after a clean up and fitting a Plug-it cable conversion.

 

[Paul_HKI]

A similar vintage BF 1 E before a tidy-up and after, with replacement outer cases and a Plug-it conversion...

 

[Paul_HKI]

A 23 year old RS400 after a teardown, clean and rebuild.  Good as new.  Cost less than $60 to overhaul and convert with Plug-It etc.  The longer cable support has been refitted since the picture - had to wait for a parts order to come in.

 

[Paul_HKI]

And finally (for the old ones) is the Festo SR 151 E-AS vac.  A bloody great bit of kit.  Added a Plug-it cord and hose cover and use it with the OF900 and a couple of other oval ported tools with the old style rubber hose end for convenience.  The bags are offensively expensive these days but I have a plan for that during the summer.

 

[Cheese]

A similar vintage BF 1 E before a tidy-up and after, with replacement outer cases and a Plug-it conversion...

First off, nice job on the restorations...they all clean up pretty nice.  [smile]

The band file is my favorite item, it'd be nice to own a Festool BF with dust collection, although the DC probably isn't stellar.  [unsure]

That BF body looks similar to a RAS 115.

 

[AlexThePalex]

That BF body looks similar to a RAS 115.

Because it is the RAS. The BF-1 is just another loose head you can connect to the same body as the RAS.

Festool used to sell a combi kit of the RAS and BF-1 in a systainer. I once had the opportunity to buy that kit used for €300, but I didn't because I already had a RAS. I still bang my head against the wall sometimes for that. 2 or 3 years later my RAS broke and I had to move heaven and earth to find another one.

 

[Cheese]

Because it is the RAS. The BF-1 is just another loose head you can connect to the same body as the RAS.

That must have been another NAINA item.  [crying]

Alex, do you ever come across someone selling just the BF 1 head?

Is the RAS discontinued in Europe also?

 

[AlexThePalex]

No, I have never seen a BF-1 head on it's own, or I would have probably snatched it. The BF-1 is a rare tool now, I hardly see one comming around.

And yes, the RAS 115 is also discontinued here. Only the RAS 180 is still available.

 

[Bob D.]

I have seen belt file adapters which look very similar to the FESTO BF-1 for sale that are made to be used with various 4.5" angle grinders. They are all of questionable quality judging by their low price of under $40.

Is there something about the BF-1 other than being FESTO that sets it apart from the others. I have no first hand experience with these others or the BF-1, nor a need that I can see for myself in the future. Just curious why not use one of the other brands if the BF-1 is no longer made.

 

[rst]

I have Milwaukee and Makita bandfiles and Dynafile also makes an industrial version.  There are various iterations of the interchangeable arms for length, width and specialty.  There are also various air powered versions for the auto industry and pattern makers use them for foundry work.  As a commercial locksmith these are a godsend when retro fitting hardware that requires a square cornered hole.  I have an arm that will fit into a 1/2 x 1/2" hole and have used it quite often.  There are also dedicated belts for metal removal.

 

[Cheese]

I have the Milwaukee version and use it for deburring and grinding welds. It can also be used with a different arm on curved surfaces. Besides the normal abrasive belts Milwaukee also offers 3M ScotchBrite belts for blending in welds.

My interest in the Festool BF 1 was because it had Festool stenciled on it.  [tongue] [drooling] [tongue]

 

[AlexThePalex]

I'd doubt the Festool is any better than those of other respectable brands like Makita and Milwaukee.

I've never worked with a bandfile, what I always wonder about, with such a thin band running at high speed, does it stay on the rollers sturdily, or is it easy to de-rail?

 

[FestitaMakool]

They are very versatile Alex, from fine sanding in impossible to reach areas to coarse almost grinding and shaping in other areas. I agree that the Festool version would be nice to own, but there are probably much neater and better versions out there now. (Haven’t seen a single Festool one for sale here either..)

I’m drooling on the new Makita, it’s pricey though. I had a pneumatic version, and still going to buy a new one when I have some proper air compressor and plumbing to my future shop. The pneumatic ones can be found quite cheap.

 

[Cheese]

I'd doubt the Festool is any better than those of other respectable brands like Makita and Milwaukee.

I've never worked with a bandfile, what I always wonder about, with such a thin band running at high speed, does it stay on the rollers sturdily, or is it easy to de-rail?

With a lot of the older Milwaukee tools having "Made in Germany" on the S/N plate, I wouldn't be surprised that the Milwaukee & Festool band file adapters (the mechanical arm assembly that attaches to the motor) are manufactured by the same company. They sure do look the same and that's what got my attention. The ONLY difference I could see is that the Festool item has an oval dust collection port.

Alex, the belt tracks well and I've never had issues with it coming off. 

Having said that, the one issue is that the ScotchBrite belts tend to heat up easier/faster than the abrasive belts and will separate at their scarfed connection point. I've noticed this to be the case with all sizes/lengths of ScotchBrite belts. It's just tough to get a solid adhesive connection from a random woven web product.

 

[Bob D.]

This is interesting.

 

[mino]

I have seen belt file adapters which look very similar to the FESTO BF-1 for sale that are made to be used with various 4.5" angle grinders. They are all of questionable quality judging by their low price of under $40.

Is there something about the BF-1 other than being FESTO that sets it apart from the others. I have no first hand experience with these others or the BF-1, nor a need that I can see for myself in the future. Just curious why not use one of the other brands if the BF-1 is no longer made.

The attachment, if you look, is way more robust/stable and though-out compared to an angle grinder. It is also pretty close to the axis of the tool.

Then there is the RAS speed. It is way lower and can be regulated. That is a game changer for this type of an application.

Of course, this can be addressed by gearing in the attachment, but who does that properly and it would not cost  to do properly for sure. RAS speed eliminates this concern on the tool side.

Also, the BF-1 seems to be extremely narrow. Way thinner compared to other I saw around.

Per above, I can imagine a BF-1 style attachment for the TPC/TDC drills which do have both the speed and the torque. But that is unlikely as complete tools cost same as Festool could charge for an attachment.