Festool Quality. In a League by Themselves?

[peter halle]

Those of us here who have purchased Festool products are well aware of their quality.  But as woodworkers, contractors, and tool users we can't just use Festools.

So my question is :  What other tool manufacturers - either power or hand - do you feel place the same emphasis on quality as Festool?  And why do you feel that way?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Peter

 

[score0matic]

HILTI,  Big Red is as good as it gets when it comes to harduse tools and have a warrenty service structure to back it.

Wap/Attix  Some of the best Vacs .....Supplies Festool with their "highend"  (NAINA) vac's

FLEX  Grinders, pollishers  actually they also make contract tools (NAINA) for Festool 

Leigh dovetail jigs

Incra Fences

Northfield  Table and bandsaws  http://www.northfieldwoodworking.com/tablesaws/4saw.htm 

The one thing they all have in common is the price point [eek]

 

[BMH]

Panasonic drills

Stihl

Makita

They all make great quality tools and nearly all lack proper documentation for their tools

Bruce

 

[sw1211]

Micro Fence, Lie Nielsen, Carter, Incra, Fein, come to mind.

 

[Frank Pellow]

Veritas, Leigh, Lie Neilson, Incra, Fein, O.M.S. Tool (makers of Dowelmax) right off the cuff.  The main reason is high quality.

(I will probably come back later and add about another 5)

OK, restricting myself to personal experience, I will add 3:  Starret, Kreg, Oneida.

 

[rnt80]

Akeda.  Their tool selection is limited to their dovetail jig but it is solidly built and intuitive to use.  Their customer service is top notch.  I had an issue with mine when I first bought it abour four years ago.  The president of the company, Kevan Lear, called me and spent 45 minutes on the phone trying to fix the problem.  Additionally, he ended up sending me some new bushings and bits.  Great product, better service.

 

[alanz]

Grex pin nailers

 

[EcoFurniture]

When ever I use something else then high end tools, like festool, I'm being let down. They just don't work as well and most of the time it's the small details that "set me off", like a only 3' long power cord, noise and weight.
To some degree I like Bosch and Fein. Everything else I like, is not available here.

Anyhow, were I can cut corners, is on hand tools. As my tools have to generate money, I don't have the luxury to buy high end hand planes and such. Therefore a $50 version from Lee Valley will do to. Same with hammers and pliers.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Don't have much to add to the powertool brands already mentioned above like Hilti, Stihl, Fein, Flex, except for Rupes. Their sanders, vacs and air systems are the number one in Europe's automotive sector. And then there's Mafell.

Oh, and Starmix for vacuums. They make almost all vacs for other brands like Metabo, Bosch, AEG and the like, but also have their own line.

For hand tools brands like Gedore, Stahlwille, Snap-On and Nooitgedagt come to mind.    

And certainly lets not forget Wera. They make the BEST screw bits available. Period. Superstrong and with diamond coating for the best grip. Now that I have a T15 I'm looking heavily into Festool's centrotec stuff, well, I haven't seen a Festool bit yet that can rival Wera's bits. Festool should consider striking a licensing deal with Wera to bring out a Wera centrotec bit set.

 

[peter halle]

I'll add Bridge City Tool Works to the list.

EDIT:  Although they are part of the Festool family, they also sell independently so - Tanos.

 

[Five Star]

I try to stay in the name brand tools, when i buy something! That being said,i mostly replaced every thing i own to Makita, and festool! love the festool sanders(ets 150/5) Vacs!
But to my surprise after selling off my dewalt miter saws on craigslist, I was about to but a kapex and decided to try the Ls1016 Makita and WOW i truely feel that this saw is direct competitor (if not better)to the kapex! it has alot of the great features !

 

[Brice Burrell]

......And certainly lets not forget Wera. They make the BEST screw bits available. Period. Superstrong and with diamond coating for the best grip. Now that I have a T15 I'm looking heavily into Festool's centrotec stuff, well, I haven't seen a Festool bit yet that can rival Wera's bits. Festool should consider striking a licensing deal with Wera to bring out a Wera centrotec bit set.

I read once, and I can't remember where, that Wera does make some of Festool's Centrotec bits. I have no idea if it's true or not but it wouldn't surprise me if it was.

 

[peter halle]

I read once, and I can't remember where, that Wera does make some of Festool's Centrotec bits. I have no idea if it's true or not but it wouldn't surprise me if it was.

I believe you're right about this Brice in that it has been posted here before.  Someone in that post even provided some sort of proof.  I remember something about machining and the best bits...  Similar to a post about saw blades from a leading European manufacturer and then they turned out to be the one who make some if not all of Festool blades.

Peter

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Ohhhhh, Mafell, nice, very nice.  I really dig their one rail that curls up and fits in the systainer.

I have been buying Wera's stuff for the last couple years, I love it.

Veto Pro Pacs are super nice.

Max makes great nail guns, and I love my 23 ga. Grex.

GRK screws are also the best screws that are made, I don't care how much they cost VS. the knock-offs!!

Yes, Wera makes a centotec shaft availiable on some of their stuff.  I have a big cataloge and I will see if I can find what one it is and post a link or a picture.

 

[Forrest Anderson]

I read once, and I can't remember where, that Wera does make some of Festool's Centrotec bits. I have no idea if it's true or not but it wouldn't surprise me if it was.

I believe you're right about this Brice in that it has been posted here before.  Someone in that post even provided some sort of proof.  I remember something about machining and the best bits...  

There certainly seems to be a link between Wiha and Festool...

I mentioned the similarity between the CENTROTEC-DRIVE (Order No 495228) and a Wiha driver back in March 2008, and compared the Festool "Toolie" with the Wiha PocketStar in November 2008.

Forrest

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I think Wiha does as well.

Are Wiha and Wera somehow connected?

 

[peter halle]

Maybe sister's names?  This is not meant to be a joke.  Relative's names do get used in the tool industry.  Maybe even at Festool?

Peter

 

[sw1211]

If anyone wants to look through the Wera Catalog, here's an on-line version

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

If anyone wants to look through the Wera Catalog, here's an on-line version

Thanks for the serious case of fastener porn, I love their bit tips, the KraftForm Kompact is sweet, their screw drivers are quite comfortable.

Oh by the way, I do believe that the 00 series starting on page 170ish are the what we should be looking for.

Maybe the Wera Series 3 on page 198.

 

[Dan Clermont]

I like my Lie Nielsen planes and my Hammer combo machines

--- Let's not forget my coveted Erik Anton Berg Swedish made chisels!!!

Dan Clermont