Festool only shops

I was thinking about this thread while I was making some floor molding this afternoon. I needed to rip and bevel a piece about 3 7/8 wide and 42 inches long. I tried the bevel with the TS55 and that worked fine. Then for the I retreated to the table saw because I could quickly set the fence to the desired width and make the cut.

This is the one problem I have yet to solve with the MFT/Saw combination: quickly making a rip to a desired width. I know I can mark the piece and cut, but it does mean more set up than with the table saw. And, when I need to make rips of various widths, I can quickly do that on the table saw because of the fence.

I have seen a couple of posts about placing a tape on the MFT fence rail, but are there other ways to quickly make a rip that do not involve a mark and cut approach? This is one of the drawbacks for me of a Festool only shop: it takes more time to make the rip and crosscut setups.

Thanks
JR
 
I can understand the "madness" of wanting a Festool only shop as every time I "want" rather than "needs" something for a project I turn to Festool. Right now I need a miter saw to cut some molding for a remodel project and to rebuild a deck. With Kapex stuck in UL I'm jury rigging everything I can to avoid buying untill Kapex sees the light of day or escapes the Ellis island of tools. Luckily I don't have to put food on the table mucking around with my project and my parents are totally willing to let me "learn" on their house. Makita has a really nice 7 1/2" 4 pole saw that can do the job and more but knowing that Kapex is a maybe a couple of months out makes me reach for the junky Craftsman hand miter box. Yes, yes, its the human, not the tool that makes the craftsperson but I always seen buying tools as a long term investment. I guess what I'm trying to say is to "Celebrate Diversity" and "hire" the right tool for the job. While I love using all of my Festool investments, I find myself forcing the solution to fit Festool. Classic case is doing repetitive rips which the TS seems perfect for. Maybe Festool needs to do a 1:1 shootout for things like these typical operations the TS get kudos for. I think we all "get it" but just to gain more market and mindshare doing online video demos would be great for the US market.

I am one of those Festotalitarians that would buy a Mercedes Sprinter outfitted with a Festool shop if it was offered :-) !!!
 
I am not a professional like many of you guys, but as a hobbyist, there are some things that I can't do (rapidly) with my Festools.  Working rough-cut lumber tops the list.  Therefore, a planer and bandsaw are important.  If you're doing inlays, the Trion can't match a scrollsaw.  I also turn to my 12" SCMS when I want to cut stock to length because my MFT invariably has something gluing up or otherwise occupied.  I've tried making repeated rip cuts with my TS55, but I don't use a cutting table.  Working on foam on the floor means that I can't clamp the rails and the stock always moves too much to make acceptable cuts.  I admit this is probably something that technique and a different jig would fix.  However, since I have a table saw set up, why fight it?
 
Is anybody out there making tapered table legs with a MFT and circ saw from Festool?  That would be a biggie for a furniture maker, but I suppose a bandsaw could substitute.

I'm curious because there is a good chance I may be forced to give up a tablesaw in favor of a smaller collapsible shop which means Festool is looking more attractive for this conversion.
 
I'd love to have a Festool only shop but enjoy my hand planes and other hand tools too much.

Also really enjoy my Laguna bandsaw and Delta planer which I couldn't live with out.

Dan Clermont
 
There is still a possibility that I might purchase the SawStop Contractor saw when they become available as I like my fingers very much.
Click to expand...

Buy the Festools first.

You'll then find that you really don't need that $1,500 SawStop.

Ironically, I was talking with one of their designers at the AWFS show. He used to work for Festool and readily admitted that the plunge saws are "about as good as you can get" safety wise.

I was in the exact same boat as you. Literally, exactly the same situation and I will never regret the Festools!
 
I think a Festool only shop is possible, but you might be short changing yourself on some things.  Like th aforementioned planner, band saw etc.

As for the table saw, I have like my 10" old Makita in a table, with an out feed table.  It makes rips easy, fast and safe.  Make sure you use (a) a splitter (b) a push stick when the stock is narrower than your spread hand (about 6") (c) have an out feed table. 

I would avoid the massive cabinet saws based on cost and lack of flexibility. 

My 2 cents anyway.

tim
 
I don't think I want a Festool-only shop.  I want high-quality tools that are portable, store away quickly, leverage each other, and give me the results I want.  I eval the tools available. 

Festool comes out tops in many categories.  That's why I buy them.  The non-Festools that I like are (in no partiular order):
- Dewalt DW735 planer
- Dewalt D24000 tile saw. 
- Makita belt sander
- Makita Impact driver
- A bunch of Hitachi and Porter Cable nail guns
- Hitachi M12V router
- Thomas ST200 compressor

Each of them met my criteria to a greater or lesser extent - high-quality, portable, store away quickly, leverage each other, and give me the results I want. 

When I finish remodeling our master bath and build storage shelves in our crawl space, I'll going to attempt to turn our two-car garage into Euro shop.  It will hold two cars most of the time, but quickly turn into a shop when necessary.  I don't want a lot of big iron.  Maybe a band saw and a drill press.  Maybe build a router table.  But that's about it.  That's my goal anyway.  We'll see how it goes.

So I chose Festool because of how well they meet my goals, not because they were Festool.

Regards,

Dan.
 
 
  I agree with most replies here. I think a Festool only shop would be limiting, certainly not as efficient as having the "proper mix" of tools.
  My needs are somewhat unique in that my 2 car "shop" has to serve as a workshop, warehouse, shipping station and at times, a Festool demo area.
In addition to my Festools, I have an Agazzani band saw, Dewalt 735 planer, Delta 6" jointer, some planes and hand saws. All making woodworking easier and faster. A few years back, I sold my tablesaw and with my TS saws and band saw, have not missed it.

Bob
 
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