Festool European Tour in Yeovil, England VIDEO

[Stone Message]

Hi Everyone

I had to drive down to the west of England (dropped wife off with her mother) and found the Festool European tour in Yeovil. They were parked up outside Miles Tool and Machinery Centre on one of the industrial estates.

The Festool truck is huge and much bigger than I expected - it even has a kitchen where I found Michael ( the German driver and rig manager) making a very fruity looking milk shake. The truck is very clever as it expands outwards to create the demo area which you will see in the video.

Phil Beckley was very kind and did a few pieces to camera which made it worthwhile making this video. Keep you eye open for the new HK 85 EB cutting trenches and rebates. Also, make sure you watch the very end where Phil manages to speak a bit of German!

Festool had no idea I was going to do this and I have not received anything for my efforts - not even a T shirt (I doubt if they have any in my size).

Here is the link:



Peter

 

[Tinker]

Peter, as per usual, that is a great vid. I am very impressed/excited about the new FS short rail and the rabbet blade.  I have not looked, but I am guessing they are both NAINA.

Long before I met up with FESTOY, I saw adds in my various woodworking mags about the strange looking circular saws with the clumsy rail.  i always thought the rail was attached to the saw and thought what a clumsy tool to carry around from site to site.  I looked no further than the adds.  Even tho I was no longer involved in construction, I was still thinking like a contractor.  I was doing a few jobs on site for my son, and since I still had one of my tractor/loader/backhoe, i was loading my RAS onto the back of my truck to do those on site projects.  I finally availed myself of a table saw, eventually a SCMS and the RAS was out the door. I since have regretted that loss.

One day, i had found (in an add) a very heavy straight edge that came in several lengths, each heavier than the other. I could use it as a guide for my circular saw AND as a guide for my router.  I took a ride to my Norwalk toystore (Woodcraft) in hopes to find, or maybe order, one of those rails.  I was deep into back problems, so I was not interested in the 96" model, but one of the shorter mods I felt could be quite useful and would not bother my spine.  As I walked in the door, there was this Swiss cheese type of table with one of those strange looking circular saws sitting on a clumsy rail.  I took a look out of curiosity.  John, the owner came over and showed me how the whole thing worked and I was on a new adventure with no chance for escape..  I don't even remember the name of the rail I was looking for that day.  I now have, between the old style rails and the newer style, over 20 feet of rails, and have made very straight cuts along 16 feet of 2x8 lumber.  Only once, but I know it can be done.

With the advent of my ATF 55 (since upgraded to TS 55 REQ), my table saw went out the door and my SCMS gets very little use.  The only times I miss my table saw is when I want rip very narrow pieces from not so very narrow pieces.  Also, I miss using the table saw for doing dados and rabbets.  I can do them using the nibbling method with my TS55 and setting stops so I can move the rail forth and back.  A PITA, but doable with accuracy.  For two or three dados or rabbets it is still quicker than setting up a router.  It is even quicker than setting up my router table for short cuts.  The weakness of having to slide the wood under the rail for making such nibble cuts has led me to thinking i should reorganize my crowded shop to make room for a job site type table saw. 

the only use I really miss the table saw is to make rabbets and dados.  My SCMS takes way too much space and I am thinking of deep sixing the slider.  with patience, I can do anything with my TS55 and MFT that I can do on the slider.  With the ripping ability, i can do a whole lot more. I seldom do more than one offs with any project, so for my dado and rabbet cuts, there seems to be NO shortcut.  So, I have been budgeting for a site type table saw (DeWalt line).  Thanks to your above vid, I am no longer thinking about a table saw. (I only just came across a half hour ago) The two items, the short rail with the angle adjustment gives the TS as much versatility as my SCMS without taking up any space.  The new dado blade setup would eliminate any need for a table saw of any kind.  I don't real need a table saw now, but, you know, "he who dies with the most tools wins."  I would be a loser with those two items you showed above : 8)

Thanks. 
Tinker

 

[Corwin]

Ich kann es nicht glauben!  [eek]

[drooling]

 

[joiner1970]

That rebate attachment is very good. Surprisingly it's not that loud either.

 

[Tinker]

Ich kann es nicht glauben!  [eek]

[drooling]

@ Corwin  Ich werde verblüfft

 

[Stone Message]

When I put the video together with the clips in order but with no editing the whole lot was 45 minutes long. I had to make a few cuts to keep it moving along and hopefully generate enough interest to get people to stay the full distance and the rather nice clip of Michael and Phil.

BTW if ever I am short of money I will sell the offcuts of their conversation back to Phil ! They are both great guys and good fun to be with.

Nice post (the long one) Tinker - I too got rid of my big table saw and do not regret it. I got fed up with handling the big sheets carefully on the table saw and find my cutting station (trestles and TS with rails) so much easier and more accurate.

Peter

 

[teocaf]

great little video Peter--thanks for posting!

anyone know when and if festool will be doing a similar tour in the US--we're almost running out of anniversary year!

as a funny aside, every time I'm watching all this stuff available elsewhere but not here reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite films-- "these are the glengarry leads...and you DON'T get them..."  Different context, but still... 

Alec Baldwin says it better starting at 6:12 in this clip

 

[Phil Beckley]

Hi
Thanks for coming over and the video gives a good idea of what the Festool Roadshow is about. Planning is underway for next year so hopefully we can visit other locations.
  It was great to meet the known and not so known forum members - I was surprised at how many use the Owners group to 'savvy up' before making a purchase so the forum is used very well and mentioned often.
  The truck moves over to Belgium for the next leg so for those across the channel, take some time out to make a visit.
The driver is a really cool guy and makes the difference on the longer days...... [cool]
rg
Phil

 

[Corwin]

WOW! Did you feel it? Yeah, that moment when the dado head came to life. Seemed like the earth moved, I know. But, it was probably just thousands of male Guide-Rail Splinter Guards -- and what manly Splinter Guards they are -- simultaneously crossing their legs.  [eek] [scared] [blink] [big grin] [wink] 

 

[Wuffles]

MTMC came through on a missing part from a 2 year old Festool item that Festool UK had basically told me to go and take a hike on. That gave them a plus point in my book.

Bought a bunch of Mafell stuff from them and they did me a deal too.

In terms of stuff (ie. brands and items) on display, they kick the pants off anyone and anywhere I have visited in the south west. The shop was like a picture out of a brochure when I visited.

Only problem is, they appear not to have a toilet for customer use, no matter how desperate they are when on a trip back from the South coast. Was a little disappointed at that [blink]

 

[Phil Beckley]

WOW! Did you feel it? Yeah, that moment when the dado head came to life. Seemed like the earth moved, I know. But, it was probably just thousands of male Guide-Rail Splinter Guards -- and what manly Splinter Guards they are -- simultaneously crossing their legs.  [eek] [scared] [blink] [big grin] [wink]

Coming to life is a good way to put it - Simple to set and use also
rg
Phil

 

[Tinker]

Is the dado head adjustable for width of cut?
Tinker

 

[Stone Message]

Is the dado head adjustable for width of cut?
Tinker

Yes it is and Phil does mention this - there is a lot more about the HK that I edited out to keep the video shorter. I am going to take the whole HK footage and bring it together as one entity. I am not sure if it would be right for me to publish it or whether I should give it to Festool UK to publish. I favour the latter as it is Phil's efforts not mine.

Peter

 

[Stone Message]

WOW! Did you feel it? Yeah, that moment when the dado head came to life. Seemed like the earth moved, I know. But, it was probably just thousands of male Guide-Rail Splinter Guards -- and what manly Splinter Guards they are -- simultaneously crossing their legs.  [eek] [scared] [blink] [big grin] [wink]

Coming to life is a good way to put it - Simple to set and use also
rg
Phil

Phil,

I have had a query on YouTube from Michael Tricker asking if the Dado head would make a good job in MDF - I think for kitchen cabinet construction. Could you reply to his comment on YouTube or tell me what he needs to know. I think that the FOGgers would be interested too.

Cheers.

Peter

 

[Tinker]

Peter, That dado head is the most interesting item you showed on the vid.  Like the Domino, I think it will be a gamer for a lot of woodworkers.  Not so much for stopped dado/rabbets, but for any joint that goes full length of board or full width. I also do a lot of half lap joinery.  I still have my old ATF.  For some projects, it would be very handy to have one saw set up with regular blade and other with the dado head.  Will that head be usable with the ATF 55? If so, I wood probably have the head installed quite permanently on the ATF. 
Tinker

 

[joiner1970]

Is the dado head adjustable for width of cut?
Tinker

Yes 16mm to 25mm if I remember rightly.

 

[Stone Message]

Peter, That dado head is the most interesting item you showed on the vid.  Like the Domino, I think it will be a gamer for a lot of woodworkers.  Not so much for stopped dado/rabbets, but for any joint that goes full length of board or full width. I also do a lot of half lap joinery.  I still have my old ATF.  For some projects, it would be very handy to have one saw set up with regular blade and other with the dado head.  Will that head be usable with the ATF 55? If so, I wood probably have the head installed quite permanently on the ATF. 
Tinker

That Dado head is a very special item and I suspect it is HK only. My only question is will it fit on the HK 55?

Peter

 

[Roseland]

I’m gutted!

I went to MMTC nearly five years ago, and they were a small shop in a residential area.  They were really helpful (I was after a spare part for a garden shredder) but their Festool display was only perhaps 3m wide.

Two weeks ago I went to the Axminster Tools Festool day and had a wonderful time seeing the new tools.  And it was really good to meet Phil Beckley, with whom I’d had an email exchange a year ago.

If I’d known MMTC had moved and now had such a brilliant display, and that Peter Parfitt would also be there I’d have done the 300 miles round trip without a blink.

I guess there’s always next year…

Andrew

 

[Kev]

Thanks [member=11196]Peter Parfitt[/member]

Once again you've served to confirm my desperate need for a tool that I only recently found out existed, but now desperately need [embarassed]

My gut would estimate the HK85 and related accessories will be some time in the new year for Oz ... just as well, Felder Australia have an Oktoberfest open day here in two weeks (for once they'll be open on a Saturday and I'll get to visit them). Interestingly Felder are providing sausages on the day, but I believe they're to eat rather than sacrifice at the table saw altar. I've been meaning to give some of my money to Mr Felder for a while [wink]

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Andrew

The Festool roadshow was an eye opener for me. It is very much the same as the display that you will see at a woodworking show but it is more intimate. I went early on when it was a little quieter and it was clear that every visitor had the opportunity to discuss their needs or address their questions. The Festool team were excellent and a credit to the company. The tools were, of course, excellent.

If you like long train journeys you could go up to Kempton Park for the D&M show - the railway station is a very short walk away (I assume trains stop there all the time). I hope to be there on Saturday morning but I am not filming as it gets too crowded. I want to look to see if Bessey have anything new and I always enjoy the Wera stand. I will say hello to Phil but try not to get in his way as the Festool stand tends to be very popular.

Peter