Festool made me buy a stepvan!

[willywonka]

Hello All.

I have a ton of tools from all the big boys. About a month ago I found Festool and went into a spending frenzy trying to complete my Festool collection. I am now so infatuated with this brand that I went out a bought a step van just so I could build a mobile shop for these things. Well that is not entirely true - a Porsche only has so much room and I want to bring all my entire collection to the renos (Festool only) (sorry dewalt - you can hang out with the garbage!)

Anyways - back to the step van. I am building but have to stop because I have too many ideas and not enough. Anyone have a mobile work shop or ideas? One minute I am thinking maple the next I am thinking of just using MDF. For the draws, design it so each looks like a systainer with green latches! Too many ideas to list. Brain is churning like a dynamo and causing a few restless nights. Need help - ideas and/or pictures. Help me build a new home for my new family! Actually I am not getting much work done either at the job sites because I just brainstorm most of the time.

Note: I might even change the colour from black to Festool green after I take off the SWAT stickers. Bought it from a movie company...

 

[Steve Jones]

uh, first maybe try cutting down on the coffee a bit.

mobile workshop, (got one working in another city, so I can't take pictures at the moment) but MDF is too prone to damage from movement (joints popping, screws backing, layers delaminating, etc) I went with good quality ply (1/2 maple).

 

[butzla]

Painting your van Festool green says to me : "Free Festools in this truck".  I'd paint it a low key color if it were me.  My .02.

 

[Cannuck]

willy,
I have a similar affliction.  I am going to buy a 16 foot WellsCargo tandem trailer , with a drop-gate to build a portable shop espressly for my Festools and portable contractor planer, table saw, SCMS (no Kapex yet) and compressor.

I haven't put the design to paper yet, but in my mind, I have a galley design.

On the left side, I am going to build a work bench.  I will build the work bench out from the wall, with about 10 in. storage space behind to store portable scaffolding.  I will build a false wall in front of that space to hang a couple of small wall cabinets at the ceiling level, to store sortainers for screws etc, and safety equipment and consumables. 

The work bench itself I would like to make from MFT replacement tops, so that I can clamp and eventually have my Kapex there (when I get one).  If they come out with the MFT/3 long rail, I will use that as well.  I will leave a 12 in. space under the bench, as free space to access clamps etc...  Below that, I will build a custom-locking SYS-PORT.  This will probably be 4 units wide, to store my systainers for all my festools.  I will also leave a spot to store my compressor, dust extractor, planer and table saw.

On the right side of the trailer, I would like to source 2 Walko portable benches.  I will mount them to the wall using the wall anchors, such that I basically have a panel saw on site.  The great thing about the Walko is that I can use it as a panel saw frame with the Guide Rails, or I can take them off the wall anchors and use them as saw horses, benches, etc...

I have to draw it all up in a CAD program to make it all fit right.  Once I get it right, I'll post my design.

Cheers and have fun with your step van.

Rob