Festool is (partially) moving to imperial in North America

I also think this is a massive mistake. Offering imperial versions, as an option - yes; Removing the metric versions completely - ridiculous.

I realise that this doesn't affect me in any way, being in the UK, but that doesn't stop me having an opinion [big grin]
 
jonny round boy said:
I also think this is a massive mistake. Offering imperial versions, as an option - yes; Removing the metric versions completely - ridiculous.

I realise that this doesn't affect me in any way, being in the UK, but that doesn't stop me having an opinion [big grin]

I'm the same being in the UK. But still this is a forum so all opinions should be equal. I just can't understand the logic of cutting your stock with a tracksaw in imperial then having to switch to metric for the dominos, for example.

Sounds to me that not offering both imperial/metric or at the very least converting all tools to imperial is a half baked job and makes me question the financial stability of Festool USA for settling on such a poor decision that only makes sense if sales are sub-par; but don't have the money to do the necessary work/tooling for changes to be belt and braces and include all the tools in the change.
 
jumpinthefire said:
  I almost bought a TS55 last week.

  I much rather have the imperial version. I wonder how long it will take for the average festool retailer to sell all current saws and start selling the new versions.

They include, or once included,  an imperial sticker to go over the metric one that indicates cut depth. All you need to do is peel and stick.

Did something else change that is making you wait? Are the detent depth stops also changing to better align with imperial?
 
Sounds like a decision you'd make after way to long smoking crack cocaine. Stupid to the point of hilarious. I'm so glad I live in Australia.

If this story isn't a joke, Festool US management certainly is a joke.
 
TylerC said:
Tim Raleigh said:
[member=57769]TylerC[/member], will those tools or any new tools also be available in metric?
Tim

No. These tools will move to imperial only.

Thanks for your response Tyler.
I appreciate it.
While I understand the reasons, it's an unfortunate decision.

I am glad I bought my tools when I did.
Not that it matters to Festool, but any future purchases I make if not available locally in metric will be imported from Europe.
Tim
 
Canadian Wood-Frame House Construction
provides both metric (SI) and imperial units. The National Building Code of Canada
uses metric units and these govern whenever strict interpretations of Code requirements are required. Imperial units of measure
(feet and inches) are still commonly used for wood-framing materials and house construction technology.

Imperial sizes for lumber are nominal sizes (the rough sawn sizes before planing and dimensional changes resulting from drying). For example, a wood member with a nominal size of 2 × 4 in. has a finished size of about
11⁄2 × 31⁄2 in. The metric dimensions for lumber are actual sizes (for example, 38 × 89 mm).
Every reasonable effort has been made to provide accurate conversions of metric dimensions to imperial equivalents; however, it remains the responsibility of designers
and builders to comply with building code requirements.

As an example of the national building code, here is a excerpt from the code.

To agree with the National Building Code,
the metric spacing of wood framing members
is expressed as ‘soft’ conversions from the actual imperial dimensions. For example, spacing of
12, 16 and 24 inches on centre are converted
to 300, 400 and 600 mm on centre, respectively. In order to suit the imperial sizes of common 1220 × 2440 mm (4 × 8 ft.) panel products, such as gypsum board, OSB and plywood, the actual spacing of framing members has been adjusted
to approximately 305, 406 and 610 mm on centre, respectively.

Canada is metric. All stength testing and certification of lumber fabricated and sold in Canada is done using metric units. Try to find a 3/4" thick of plywood made in Canada. Impossible. They are fabricated using metric sizes.

I think Festool is making a big mistake.

Canadian Wood Council

I remember when I did my thesis for my Structural Engineering degree, 25+ years ago, that all lumber, trusses, gusset plates etc, were metric and all findings were published in metric.

I could go on for ever on this topic but I wouldn't. Festool please re-think your decision for Canada. We are not the US.

My 2 cents worth.
Cheers
JC
 
jumpinthefire said:
And all construction stuff is still imperial : ex : 2 by 4 studs 4' by 8' plywood, 54'' by 12' drywall sheets etc..

Not quite true. Many sheet goods are metric sizes but are marketed as imperial. \
Tim
 
My LR32 system arrived last week and my parallel guides (both guides) arrive at the end of week. I was working with my Hultafors Talmeter and Swiss measuring rule just last night. I now have 25.4 committed to memory and now......

It is obvious the LR32 system can't be adapted but it does provide the best argument for moving to metric overall which I have essentially done.  Now if I just find 355.6 mm on my Hultafors... and my new parallel guides.

I know I can just shoot my new parallel guides back for a full refund but I have made the decision to move to metric. End of story.

I would like to know if metric will still be available in NA.
 
Kev said:
Sounds like a decision you'd make after way to long smoking crack cocaine. Stupid to the point of hilarious. I'm so glad I live in Australia.

If this story isn't a joke, Festool US management certainly is a joke.

Be civil. You're on the line.
 
Kev said:
...  If this story isn't a joke, Festool US management certainly is a joke.

It's not about doing the smart thing, it's about marketing.  You must know from how effective Festool is at enforcing pricing policies that they are geniuses at marketing.  They are not selling to some theoretical population that loves metric, at least in the US.  It's not -just- marketing, but they have the marketing part down pat.  They are selling what the market will buy.

But if Festool management are geniuses, of course that begs the question - to whom/what does the joke moniker apply?
 
TylerC said:
Kev said:
Sounds like a decision you'd make after way to long smoking crack cocaine. Stupid to the point of hilarious. I'm so glad I live in Australia.

If this story isn't a joke, Festool US management certainly is a joke.

Be civil. You're on the line.

@Tyler OK then, I'll apologise for my crack.

So you're obviously on side with this master plan Tyler .. please explain how it's a good thing for your countrymen that have embraced Festool and the wider system that is based on the metric system. How does it make it easy when only the "volume core" of the product range is converted to imperial .. and shed some light on why both options are not to be offered .. or a dual scale is not possible.
 
jamanjeval said:
jumpinthefire said:
  I almost bought a TS55 last week.

  I much rather have the imperial version. I wonder how long it will take for the average festool retailer to sell all current saws and start selling the new versions.

They include, or once included,  an imperial sticker to go over the metric one that indicates cut depth. All you need to do is peel and stick.

Did something else change that is making you wait? Are the detent depth stops also changing to better align with imperial?

the blog says In the case of the TS saws (TSC, TS 55, TS 75) and HL 850, these require extensive teardown to replace the scales.

makes me think they changed more than the markings on the front. If I can just add a sticker to go imperial, I will get the metric one.
 
I thought this was a great idea, until I got to the part that metric would no longer be offered.  Festool products have pushed me to convert to metric- although not entirely yet (as someone mentioned in another post, I think imperial, then measure in metric)- and now I don't want to go back.  Yes- offer the imperial option, but please don't take the metric option away.

I'm hoping that, by the time I have the funds to fork out for a 850 planer, that there's still some metric ones around.

Regards,
Gerald
 
[member=57769]TylerC[/member] Will there be ways to retrofit with imperial measurements those tools that are switching over from metric, like what is available, for example, on the track saw?
 
Don't the guys who want imperial markings have stickers to place over the metric scale?

A simple sticker provided with the new tool could make everyone happy.

Eric
 
Edward A Reno III said:
[member=57769]TylerC[/member] Will there be ways to retrofit with imperial measurements those tools that are switching over from metric, like what is available, for example, on the track saw?

Yes (assuming that I understand your question correctly). We will have options for you to retrofit your metric tools to imperial. Details on that will be coming in the near future.
 
Who cares its just marks on a stick, never use them away. Nothing on the actual tool will change just the scale, like most conversions of this type. Its just marketing to a perceived group.

John
 
And do we get to start calling the TS55 the TS2.16535?  And maybe some day, instead of the Rotex 150, I can show off my Rotex 5.90551 to my friends and colleagues?

I think overall it's a good move, particularly for the routers and the parallel guides.  As far as expanding the customer base -- Although I don't have any specific knowledge, it's hard for me to believe that there would be too many people of the sort who would be attracted to Festool in the first place (professionals, serious hobbyists, tool fetishists), who would go out of their way to seek out a dealer or do research online, and then, who would then, at the moment of making a decision, say to themselves, "ewwwww!  metric!" and opt for something else.
 
When I was in business school and we were studying the underlying causes for the success and failure of different firms, one of my professors said, "Some companies continue to make money despite themselves."

Personally, I think these tools should still be available with metric scales in the North American market but I'm sure Festool will be fine.

 
I don't think trying to convince blue collar workers into using metric because it's what the rest of world uses is a very logical argument.  Go to a typical job site in the states and ask these guys to switch to metric.  This is a no brainer if festool wants to sell more tools.  The world will use metric and America always will use imperial so get used to it.  I'm happy they are doing this and so is anyone else who never uses metric at work or on the jobsite
 
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