Festool buying spree

[anan_34567]

This is going to end in a disaster. 

Sell your house and buy a new one with everything you want already in it.  .

LOL... I have wondered about the disaster part as well.

 

[jzhu]

Unfortunately Marfell is a harder option for me.  I am in Canada and getting my hands on one is not easy (shipping from the US involves duties etc).  Lee Valley is just a 5min drive for me and much easier to get my hands on Festool items and would rather buy from Lee Valley and support them.

Well, Festool had 10% price increase starting in Jan, should have bought before the price increase. Festool product becomes very very expensive now, since Festool Canada gets the Festool products from Festool USA instead of Germany, the sinking Canadian dollar really drives the Festool price higher. Canadian dollar is perceived as an oil play in the market

Since you are in Canada, I would suggest you to buy Festool fromhttp://www.ultimatetools.ca/ to save you 8% tax unless you live in British Columbia. ultimatetools is the biggest Festool dealer in Canada.

 

[icecactus]

For dust extraction I think I will stay with my Shop Vac for now.. add a PVC ball value to the tube  so that I can adjust the suction power when sanding.  Perhaps add the dust deputy ( i was going to add this eventually even with a CT vacuum).  I have lived without the auto trigger until now.

For what its worth, I wouldn't do that. For starters, you get 10% off the vac when you buy it as a package with a tool. About 2 years ago when I first drank the koolaid, i really questioned the vac. I eventually decided that with the 10% off and the ability to have a boom arm that it was worth trying it out and if I didn't like it, i would use the 30 day return and send it back.

Its seriously one of my favorite tools. In fact I like it so much, that I just bought a 2nd CT vac about 3 weeks ago

The auto on feature is priceless. The anti static hoses are fantastic, especially here in Pheonix AZ. Its so dry here that static really builds up on my shop vac hose. So much that i swear there is more dust on the outside of the hose then in the vac. It has more suction then a shop vac. And it seems like it never clogs up. The shop vac, I was constantly cleaning filters.

Your ball valve is going to reduce the life of your shop vac too. It will also make it really loud. The CT vacs are variable speed, so your actually slowing down the motor. Not reducing flow through restriction.

I also much prefer the larger rear wheels on the CT vac to having all small casters. My shop vac constantly gets hung up on stuff. Not so with the CT.

I do realize you can addon stuff to a shop vac to replicate most of those features. But by the time you price everything out, and custom build a few things you could have just bought the CT and been done with it.

I hear that Fein vacs are real nice too and have most of the same features for less. I decided to stick with festool though.

 

[tiralie]

I hear that Fein vacs are real nice too and have most of the same features for less. I decided to stick with festool though.

I agree with [member=23330]icecactus[/member], you will have less dust floating around with either a festool or a Fein. I don't like the wheels (too small) on the Fein, but I am sure they work as well.
Tim

 

[Holmz]

You would be better off at IKEA, so do not tell her ladyship that you are saving money as you will lose any credibility... Just tell you want to do it.

It is not about getting the cheapest furniture, we want something custom build for the space.  I avoid IKEA furniture like the plague if I can.

More expensive option include the 32mm include the DD40, which makes sense if you consider dowels rather than Dominos. There ae biscuit options for sheets that also can make sense.

There is a wood pecker or Rockler 32-mm drill bushed guide bar that looks decent.

So there are multiple options to end up at the same result.
They have have goodness.

Unfortunately Marfell is a harder option for me.  I am in Canada and getting my hands on one is not easy (shipping from the US involves duties etc).  Lee Valley is just a 5min drive for me and much easier to get my hands on Festool items and would rather buy from Lee Valley and support them.

This is not about cost. It is about the right tool.
I have a Domino, and I just bought the Lamello. Maybe a Domino is good for sheet goods??? (I do not think so compared to the lamello. and I doubt I would consider gate doors using the Clampex)

The 32-mm holy rail is also "capable" of doing the 32-holes, but it is NOT a system like the DD40. Even the jig for drilling them seems like a better choice.

It is hard to spend $1500 for a tool and save money on building a 600$ IKEA piece.
You need to really look at what you building and get the tool to suit that work.

The Domino could work if it is glued, but to enable it to flatten down again you are in Lamello territory.

Then do you really need a saw?
I am going to drop off a cutting list to get the Melamine cut and edge banded, and pick up the sheets already preped. All I need to do is the joinery and the 32-mm shelf pins.

 

[Steve-Rice]

anan,

I totally agree with your decisions regarding the purchase of the Domino DF500 and the ETS EC 150/3.  You definitely won't regret either purchase and I'm betting you come to love both machines - I know I do.

If I may, I'd like to suggest you also consider the Festool 498899 Assorted Domino Beech Tenons and Cutters accessory kit (For DF 500).  This will give you all the cutters available for the Domino and a great assortment of dominos to handle virtually any joinery task.

You'll be happy to know that I leave my CT 26 on full suction when using the ETS EC 150/3 and the sander has absolutely no problem with that level of suction whatsoever, so you can forget the ball valve and just use your shop vac as is.  I would definitely suggest a HEPA filter for your shop vac as that's a minor expense and well worth the investment.  Your lungs will thank you.  If you stick with your shop vac, I can highly recommend Rockler's "Universal Small Port Hose Kit" - for $40 you'll have an easy and effective way to connect your new Festool machines to your shop vac.

As far as dust collection is concerned, I used a shop vac with a HEPA filter and a Dust Deputy cyclone for several years with very good results.  I did eventually purchase the CT 26 because I learned that a HEPA rated full unit retains more dust than a non-HEPA rated unit with just a HEPA filter.  I'm sort of OCD regarding dust collection, so I made the investment.  I do enjoy having the CT26 and I'm glad I made the leap, but you can definitely do a great job of dust collection with your existing shop vac.

Best of luck,
Steve