Festool Surfix System - Video Review

[Stone Message]

Hello Everyone

I have just completed a short review of the Surfix system. I have managed to do this is just over 3 days - a bit of a rush as we are in the final preparation phase for our daughter's wedding. I will try to respond to questions and comments but  please forgive me if there are some delays.

The Surfix system is an easy to transport, self contained and clean way to apply oil for both indoor and outdoor projects. Although the applicator appears to be designed for spreading oil quickly on large flat surfaces, remember that one can always use a brush or a cloth (as I illustrate) if demanded by the particular task.

When judging Surfix remember that it is not only the oils but it is also the application method, the way that it fits into the Festool scheme of things and the fact that you can just grab the systainer and go to work. It will not suit everyone but the kitchen fitter, built-in installer and stair makers will benefit from what it has to offer.

Festool Surfix System

Peter

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Nice video as usual, Peter. [thumbs up]

Scott over at Topcoat did a video testing the finish against stains as well. I suspect he meant to post it here but unless I missed it, he forgot to. My Google Alerts picked it up, so here it is.

PS - Congrats to you and your daughter on her marriage.

Durability Test on Festool Surfix Oil: 6 Stains x 4 hrs

 

[Scott B.]

You are correct, Shane, I uploaded that the other day and havent been into the fog to post it...good thing for google alerts! If anyone has any questions on my torture test, feel free to ask here.

Peter, nice job with the video, I enjoy your enthusiasm and information.

Hope everyone is beating this awful heat...

 

[woodguy7]

So Peter, not to put you on the spot, Surfix or Osmo oils ?  For get the applicator.

 

[sancho57]

Peter,

Didnt I see you on late night TV selling some miricle glue?

You know I have to raz ya buddy

great video, clear concise and informative as always.

 

[Stone Message]

So Peter, not to put you on the spot, Surfix or Osmo oils ?  For get the applicator.

Hi Woodguy

This needs to be tackled straight away but I would not want this thread to be dominated by everyone's experiences one way or the other.

Festool make tools - they are, for me, the very best. They do not claim to be the very best in the oil finish business and offer just the 3 finishes with the Surfix kit.

Osmo make oil finishes - they are extremely good and many would use nothing else. If Osmo made just 3 power tools they could not claim to be the tops in that sector.

What makes Surfix stand out, and this does beg your question, is that it is a System and an easy to use, self contained and clean way for carpenters and joiners to get pretty good and durable results quickly.

It might help if you looked at my Osmo video again but remember - with Surfix you do have to judge the whole package.

Peter

 

[woodguy7]

Thanks Peter.  I think reading between the lines that the answer is Osmo.  That's what I have been using & probably will continue to use.  If I ever have a need to oil large flat areas then I may pick up the Surfix kit.

 

[sancho57]

Its all personal preference when it comes to finishes. I dont do a lot of oil finishes. I use primarily water base spray finishes.

Would I buy the suffix kit?

I dont think so.

 

[Stone Message]

It may not suit everyone but, for the busy carpenter, it is still a handy way of getting the job done - especially for large flat surfaces like kitchen work tops, wardrobe doors and shelving. Remember, Festool are in the business of making it easier for tradesmen to do high quality work in a sensible length of time.

Everyone must weigh up the merits of Surfix and Osmo based on their individual experience, requirements and skill level.

Peter

 

[Kev]

Hi Peter,

Apologies for asking this question without yet viewing this video ...

If it was Osmo oil in the SURFIX bottles, would it then be the best of both worlds?

Kev.

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Peter,

Apologies for asking this question without yet viewing this video ...

If it was Osmo oil in the SURFIX bottles, would it then be the best of both worlds?

Kev.

Hi Kev

To be honest I do not think so. Osmo are experts at oil and I would just use a bristle brush for their stuff. I know that some like to use the Surfix applicator. You can buy a pack of bristle brushes for next to nothing from Rutland in UK and that is a far better way than buying Festool sponge pads.

BUT, for the busy tradesman who is not a professional finisher the Surfix system as a whole is ideal.

Gosh, I am having a tough time tonight - take a look at the other stuff that I am dealing with!

Peter

 

[Kev]

Hi Peter,

Apologies for asking this question without yet viewing this video ...

If it was Osmo oil in the SURFIX bottles, would it then be the best of both worlds?

Kev.

Hi Kev

To be honest I do not think so. Osmo are experts at oil and I would just use a bristle brush for their stuff. I know that some like to use the Surfix applicator. You can buy a pack of bristle brushes for next to nothing from Rutland in UK and that is a far better way than buying Festool sponge pads.

BUT, for the busy tradesman who is not a professional finisher the Surfix system as a whole is ideal.

Gosh, I am having a tough time tonight - take a look at the other stuff that I am dealing with!

Peter

I've seen - next you're going to have a TV crew on your door step asking if you're a shareholder in Osmo and Wera  [big grin]

I actually grabbed two SURFIX kits when they were released as the value of the Systainer and the sanding material made the oils and applicators nearly free relative to the launch promo price here [smile]

I'd only ever had experience of brushing oils previously (I did try rolling once ... that was a disaster) - I even remember my father's workshop with just about every noggin on the bare internal frames holding jars with used brushes in turps!

Kev

 

[Stone Message]

Of course the Surfix kit is good value, Festool are not daft.

I have just phoned my broker - I have decided to sell my Euro 30m  of Wera shares and am looking for options on the Osmo factory that I bought last year...
Perhaps, I will use it to buy the last few million shares to give me a controlling interest in Festool - then I can get my C15.

Dream on, Parfitt, dream on!

Thanks for the top cover my friend.

Peter

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Everyone

The Surfix written review has now been published in the August edition of 'The Woodworker'. Someone asked a while ago if they can subscribe to it from outside the UK - yes, you can. You can either pay the full amount and receive a paper copy in the post and have on-line access to an electronic archive as well or you can just subscribe to the on-line version which is less expensive.

Peter

 

[green fever]

hi peter, another fine video review , did you have any problems with the pads drying up after using them or are you cleaning as you finish with them ? i know from experience of cleaning brushes or replacing them it's time and as we all know time is money, i understand you have more important things going on at this moment in time so i am not expecting a lightning response , all the best , green.

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Green,

It is kind of you to think of me - the wedding went really well and I am just looking through the photographs.

Back to reality...

The pads do dry out and if time did not matter then one could consider cleaning them in white spirit. I do not think that it is worth the effort and one should consider just throwing them away at the end of a job. If you have just done a kitchen installation then a £3 (about $5 I assume) pad is nothing to worry about. I need to be getting at least £30 an hour (for woodwork) and so I cannot see how I could clean one of those pads in 6 minutes. As you say, time is money.

Peter

 

[green fever]

many thanks peter, i guess you are right with the £3.00. cost of a pad , v labour to clean up, just a thought with your request for a factory visit , i was talking with someone at tts today and they do watch your reviews, so watch out you could be in line for a visit to nedlingen in the not to distant future, all the best green.

 

[Stone Message]

Dear Green

I would absolutely love to visit Festool in Germany. I always do a lot of market research before buying anything. When I needed to replace my old radial arm saw I spent 6 weeks looking at all of the options. I joined the FOG and read what people were saying about the various tools and then I bought my Kapex 120, my first bit of Festool kit.

I was so impressed that I did more research and with the help of the FOG I lined up some more Festool items to buy. Every Festool machine that I own is brilliant, not because I am a blind Festool devotee, but because I checked them all out first. I am sure that the designers, engineers and technology guys at Festool HQ really know their stuff.

We go to Germany on holiday at least once every year sometimes twice. The cycling and walking are marvellous and I also take in the thermal baths which give me great help with my arthritis.

So, fingers crossed, perhaps I will get an invite. If it happens I will let everyone on the FOG know all about it.

Peter

 

[woodguy7]

Well Peter, if you don't get invited now you never will 

Have you never had to send anything back ?  I have a rather substantial collection of Festools but I would say around half of them have been sent back for one type of repair or another.  Not trying to knock them but they are far from perfect.

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Woodguy,

I have never sent anything back for repair although I have done some 'adjustments' that some might not feel comfortable doing. I have an engineering background and I am not easily put off - certainly not by security screws or warning labels!

The one thing that I thought that I would regret was putting a longer lead on my CMS unit. When I got into the heart of the switch unit I discovered that I did not have any of the female spade terminals of the right size and could not find any on the Internet. So, in the end I had to modify the last few that I had in stock. Everything is fine and quite safe.

I have not yet had the courage to tackle the trenching stop on my Kapex. My only criticism of the tool is the difficulty producing consistent trenches and I am sure that it could be improved. Maybe I should discus this with Festool in Germany when I visit!!!!!!

Peter