I don't see it on the Festool USA site and on one page it says discontinued! Did I happen to time it just right? I just bought one yesterday. Got the course head and I have the fine on order, should I order the undulating head since it seems it has been discontinued? What will the availability of these heads and blades be moving forward?
Festool HL850
- Thread starter Bertotti
- Start date
luvmytoolz
Member
It has been discontinued so far as I'm aware, for reasons I can't fathom as the HL850 is possibly the greatest planer ever made IMHO!
You will love using it, it's a beautifully designed machine.
You will still be able to buy parts for some time though, even my decades old RS2E sander I can still buy parts for.
You will love using it, it's a beautifully designed machine.
You will still be able to buy parts for some time though, even my decades old RS2E sander I can still buy parts for.
Chainring
Member
The HL 850 is still up on festool.com. It's not immediately seen on festoolusa.com, though it could probably be found by part number. Was it already in a Sys 3?
Cheese
Member
squall_line
Member
Cheese said:
To be fair, that's pretty much also what it said for the TS-75 while it was on limited/halted production and containers weren't coming state-side.
mino
Member
The new part# for a 230V version is 576253 and seems to be available in Europe but not in UK.bwehman said:
So it is possible Festool is either gradually discontinuing, OR they are dropping the 110V version /and the 230V along with it in the UK/.
I lean on the gradual discontinuing here. That the HL850 stand was discontinued a couple years back aligns with this.
The tool is a 20 year old design (well, 40 year old if you ignore the electronics update by Festool) without changes. Probably everyone who needed it already got it. So new sales can be pretty low as the tool has a 30+ year lifespan. Most sold in the 80s are likely still in full use ...
mino
Member
[member=101]Festool USA[/member]
I have a comment/proposal to pass along.
When there is a plan to discontinue a tool without replacement - like the RAS, or the LS130 - would it be possible to make a "last chance to get it program" where once the stock is sold and the tool is discontinued, there is "last manufacturing run" pre-order program where, for say 1 year, customer can place a pre-order at their dealer which will be collected and then manufactured, including all then-manufacturable accessories as upgrades ?
E.g. when a tool is discontinued (without replacement) with 2022 being the last year, instead of dropping from the catalog it will be moved to "Discontinued tools, last order by June 30 2023 with delivery in November 2023" section in the 2023 catalog. Same way there is a "new tools" section.
That way
- the manufacturing can plan
- the dealers can stock-up if they see the tool as sufficiently unique to command a profit
- the customers have a chance to react if they planned the purchase instead of being left dry
- the "last run" can become even a collector's item eventually e.g. with numbered run, etc. so can be priced say 5% above the normal cost etc. etc.
Would be a Win-Win-Win in my view.
I have a comment/proposal to pass along.
When there is a plan to discontinue a tool without replacement - like the RAS, or the LS130 - would it be possible to make a "last chance to get it program" where once the stock is sold and the tool is discontinued, there is "last manufacturing run" pre-order program where, for say 1 year, customer can place a pre-order at their dealer which will be collected and then manufactured, including all then-manufacturable accessories as upgrades ?
E.g. when a tool is discontinued (without replacement) with 2022 being the last year, instead of dropping from the catalog it will be moved to "Discontinued tools, last order by June 30 2023 with delivery in November 2023" section in the 2023 catalog. Same way there is a "new tools" section.
That way
- the manufacturing can plan
- the dealers can stock-up if they see the tool as sufficiently unique to command a profit
- the customers have a chance to react if they planned the purchase instead of being left dry
- the "last run" can become even a collector's item eventually e.g. with numbered run, etc. so can be priced say 5% above the normal cost etc. etc.
Would be a Win-Win-Win in my view.
[attachimg=1]Well, I doubt it is the sys 3 switch since mine is already in a sys3. Might be there will be a new version or they just dropped it, pick any current excuse companies use. I know at my store they on;y get them one at a time but they go out almost as fast as they come in. I'm just going to find and order the last couple of items and a set of blades for each and go on my merry way. Everyone seems in agreement it is the best of the best and the originals are most likely running to this day trouble-free. Even if it's gone forever I am not regretting the purchase but more so the loss of a great tool in the market.
But perhaps it is a manufacturing move? And once complete and up to their quality, it will come back?
But perhaps it is a manufacturing move? And once complete and up to their quality, it will come back?
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Michael Kellough
Member
mino said:
I haven’t not made a close comparison but the Arbortech Power Carving tool might be a good alternative to the missing RAS. 2000-11,000 rpm with soft start and dust collection.
mino
Member
That 11 k top speed means it is not even close on torque, basically a lower speed angle grinder. The RAS was geared about 3x slower so it had the torque even at 1500 rpm, not to mention at 3000.Michael Kellough said:
But that was not my point. The proposal was -from-the-view-of- Festool.
The current situation is complete crap - Festool does not make money (they could make), customers are pissed and dealers get the short end too. It is a classic Lose-Lose-Lose.
I understand why they do not announce end of sale - they do not want the product to be seen as "EOL" while there is stock to sell. Having the "discontinued" announcement AFTER all stock was sold will remove that concern and would generate some additional demand which would not happen otherwise => incremental sales that would nort otherwise happen as people will have the time to save up etc. etc.
Many brands do this with cars and other stuff that was somehow unique on the market. It would also align with the Apple-isation of Festool we are observing these days. So no conflict there either.
mino
Member
I did not want, as this is not a RAS thread. Nevermind:
Flex has a whole "RAS of 2020" product line:https://www.flex-tools.com/en/products/sanders/rotary-sanders/se-14-2-125-set
As said, that was not my point however. Alternatives availability comes into the original "shall we redo or discontinue" decision.
Addressing "end-of-life-without-(Festool)-replacement" scenario comes after the discontinue decision was made and is a completely separate thing.
One needs to think of it like Strategy (decide to leave a market) versus Tactics (not piss the customers while doing it and making some profit on top).
Flex has a whole "RAS of 2020" product line:https://www.flex-tools.com/en/products/sanders/rotary-sanders/se-14-2-125-set
As said, that was not my point however. Alternatives availability comes into the original "shall we redo or discontinue" decision.
Addressing "end-of-life-without-(Festool)-replacement" scenario comes after the discontinue decision was made and is a completely separate thing.
One needs to think of it like Strategy (decide to leave a market) versus Tactics (not piss the customers while doing it and making some profit on top).
I started the thread to let others know of its discontinuation, not really to discuss Festool's plans on such and how they go about it. Threads have a life of their own and the intention of the original post is generally not cast in stone. I understand what you're saying about how companies, not just Festool phase items out or drop them out of the blue. It happens. Is there a better way, well there are so many variables I would say every situation will demand a different approach. For instance, regarding parts availability you could preannounce the discontinuation but what good would it do they wouldn't be in a position to offer a final run sale. existing customers who have the items registered could receive a notice giving them the first chance to pick up whatever might be needed, perhaps.
As for the other items, heck, it's interesting to see what others might do for certain uses and their alternatives, perfectly in line with the discontinuation. I can see both Arbortech and the Kutzal working well for certain things the plane would have been used for plus other things it wouldn't be used for. Nevertheless, it covers something the poster thought relevant and I had forgotten about.
As for the other items, heck, it's interesting to see what others might do for certain uses and their alternatives, perfectly in line with the discontinuation. I can see both Arbortech and the Kutzal working well for certain things the plane would have been used for plus other things it wouldn't be used for. Nevertheless, it covers something the poster thought relevant and I had forgotten about.
Michael Kellough
Member
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