Festool (or other) must haves

[jimmy986]

I am a hobbyist and work on small furniture pieces, occasional tables, bookshelves, etc. I'm at the point where I can add to my shop.
My current Festools: DX 93, Rotex 125, MFT/3, TS55, Domino 500. CXS drill, CT midi.

Other tools of note: Craftman fixed/plunge combo router with cheap benchtop table because of space issues, craftsman table saw, jointer, Craftsman planer, Dewalt 18v drill.

Those are my main tools. I have played with getting a festool router. I could keep the craftman in the table and use the festool for hand held routing. I got the LR-32 rail with my tracksaw. I've also looked at the RS-2 sander. Since I do table tops and larger bookshelf sides and shelves the large size seems nice. I know an ETS would be a better all around sander than the rs 2 or my rotex but since my rotex does have both modes I feel like the rs 2 would add more to my shop. But maybe not. I've never used a half sheet sander.

I don't think I need a jigsaw. I have a cheap one and have only used it a little bit so far. I have projects in mind that will use it more but probably a little further in the future.

And maybe rather than Festool there are some other tools or accessories for my festools that would be better spent.

 

[Kev]

Depending on the furniture you plan to make .. a modest bandsaw could be a useful addition.

 

[jimmy986]

I was actually thinking about a bandsaw not long ago. It would be nice for resawing and cutting shapes in aprons and such. Not sure why I didn't think of it now.

 

[bdiemer]

I agree with the band saw. It seems you have an some kind of account with craftsman. Craftsman actually sells an inexpensive line of band saws that are made by Rikon and are very good. They're easy to pick out by comparing their photos to the Rikon counterpart.

 

[jimmy986]

I don't have anything with Craftsman other than their tools seemed like good deals when I started out. Since I'm a hobbyist I could wait until they ran sales and pick and choose what I bought. I've been looking into the Grizzly bandsaws but since it isn't a tool I've used a lot before I need to do some research. I thing Fine Woodworking did an article on bandsaws and compared models. I'll have to see if I have that issue.

 

[Holmz]

I have a DX 93 too. Nice little unit.
I also have a 1/2 sheet (uva115e). The FT 1/2 sheet doesn't get as much love as I would have thought it should, but any do not appreciate a 1/2 sheet. They are pretty ideal for finish work IMO. If you have a chance to try it then it seems like a good idea. The Mirka sheets may fit on the FT version... If they do, that may be worth trying.
The UVA115 does 20k RPM and is smooth, but there is no 30 day deal, and I am not sure if they come in 120v, so the FT is 'safer' from a try it and see perspective.
Either way the 1/2 sheet is good.

 

[Kev]

A bandsaw is easy to spend a lot of money on if you view it with unlimited potentials. Finding one that can be used for both precise intricate work and resawing of large timbers tends to put you in an expensive class of machine.

A good scrollsaw is also a another tool that can't be sneezed at .. but you're not going to shape a leg on it as quickly as you would a bandsaw!

 

[jimmy986]

I do make tapered legs for some of my tables and the taper jig I have for my table saw sometimes requires that flip the leg over because of thickness. That means that sometimes I might be off a hair and have to sand or plane it down a little more to even it out. That's another use for a bandsaw that I didn't really think about since I have been doing it with the table saw.

 

[Mort]

Craftsman used to be great, I've got some of their older stuff (and mechanics tools), but anymore they're like Harbor Freight where you really have to be careful with them.

By the accounts I've read, that Rikon-clone bandsaw is pretty good and a decent deal if you get it on sale.

 

[ear3]

If you want to stick with Festool, I would say OF1400.

 

[SS Teach]

I agree, OF 1400 with a few accessories, say an LR 32 system to start, you got the rail. If a guy wants to accessorize Festool is the company to accessorize with. 

 

[thedude306]

DC.  I think it's always something we over look and now consider it a must have in the shop.  Something big +1000 cfm with a pleated filter down to a micron or better.

Last thing I bought, first thing I should have and now is a must have. 

Same goes for a regular old vac.  I like my bosch but the Festool is cool too.  Even an old rigid gets the job done.

 

 

[jimmy986]

I agree, OF 1400 with a few accessories, say an LR 32 system to start, you got the rail. If a guy wants to accessorize Festool is the company to accessorize with.

Is this the system you're talking about? http://festoolusa.com/power-tool-ac...m/lr-32-hole-drilling-set-in-systainer-584100

If so, other than for cup hinges and shelf pin holes what else does it do? For $500 it seems like a lot. I know it can be used for making replacement mft tops. I don't currently build cabinets so I don't know if it is worth that much. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[jimmy986]

Does the guide it come with the same guide I would use for making dados with the mft and guide rail on there?

 

[Holmz]

I agree, OF 1400 with a few accessories, say an LR 32 system to start, you got the rail. If a guy wants to accessorize Festool is the company to accessorize with.

Is this the system you're talking about? http://festoolusa.com/power-tool-ac...m/lr-32-hole-drilling-set-in-systainer-584100

If so, other than for cup hinges and shelf pin holes what else does it do? For $500 it seems like a lot. I know it can be used for making replacement mft tops. I don't currently build cabinets so I don't know if it is worth that much. Maybe I'm wrong.

You are not wrong.

The DD40 seems worth a look for sheet goods, but that deviates from 'fine-wood-furniture'. But for 32-mm holes an dowels it look unbeatable - and more money, but you replace a Domino, which may also not be useful to you.

There are always card scrapers, chisels, etc that can be useful and can be a huge spend up if one really tries hard.  [wink]

I recently got a Lamello Zeta (which is also not for "fine wood work"), but I had a need, and now have more.
So I would say wait for the need to present itself, then get the tool... Do not get the tool and do a job to justify it... Unless it is a bandsaw.

 

[jimmy986]

I do have a domino so the dowels aren't extremely appealing. The LR-32 was switched out when I bought the MFT for no upcharge in case I wanted the system one day so it wasn't anything extra I bought. But the OF 1400 has been something I've been looking at for quite a while. Is there an accessory pack geared towards furniture? Maybe having the guide for the guide rails and some other accessories? I'm not sure what else is available that is geared towards furniture.

 

[Holmz]

... But the OF 1400 has been something I've been looking at for quite a while. Is there an accessory pack geared towards furniture?
...

Probably a jig saw and some MDF for a template.

 

[Zebt]

Not a power tool but I love my Japanese pull saw. I sometimes just cut stuff up because I like to use it!

 

[OttawaP]

The best bang for your woodworking buck is a Kreg pocket hole jig. Combine it with a domino and great things can happen.

 

[yetihunter]

Don't buy diddly until you come across a task you don't have the tool for.