Festool Usage Changes Over Time

[SoonerFan]

Recently I was thinking about usage of my Festool tools as I was cleaning my shop and moving sustainers around. How often certain Festools get used has changed over time as I completed the build out of my shop and as my projects have changed. The biggest change in how often I use one of my Festools is likely the Carvex. It was an early Festool purchase for me and I have had it over a decade. It has served me well. I used it lots when I got it and then less when I got a bandsaw saw. Then I got a CNC and the usage went down again. Now I only use it occasionally but still won’t sell it.

Do y’all have Festools where your usage has changed a bunch (use it why more or way less) over time as your needs have changed and as the tools you have available changed? If so, what is the Festool where your usage has changed and why?

 

[luvmytoolz]

It's funny you mention declining jigsaw usage after getting a bandsaw and CNC, I too have a bandsaw and a CNC but I'm now thinking of splurging for the Mafell jigsaw, as my Makita cordless wanders too much in use, and I like to use it a lot for roughing out templates.

Probably my least used Festool now is my BS105 sander since I got the 25/50 drum sander, but the times I need it it's definitely invaluable. Before the drum sander it was heavily used for large glue-ups, doors, etc. As with your Carvex I would never consider selling it despite not using it much now.

 

[Cheese]

This is interesting...personally I feel a bandsaw is one of the most underrated tools in the shop. When I first set up my shop, the first two purchases I made were a band saw and a drill press. Over the years with those 2 tools I managed to do metal working as well as wood working and house remodeling. It was only 15 years later that I decided to finally purchase a table saw and with my current use of track saws, I'm not fully sure that I really need the table saw. It's a large piece of equipment that takes up a lot of space...kind of like the radial arm saw that also takes up a lot of space and gets used very seldom.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I'm using a greater variety of my Festool tools these days in my projects and having everything organized for easy access. They compliment my larger tools.

 

[mcfal12]

It's funny you mention declining jigsaw usage after getting a bandsaw and CNC, I too have a bandsaw and a CNC but I'm now thinking of splurging for the Mafell jigsaw, as my Makita cordless wanders too much in use, and I like to use it a lot for roughing out templates.

Probably my least used Festool now is my BS105 sander since I got the 25/50 drum sander, but the times I need it it's definitely invaluable. Before the drum sander it was heavily used for large glue-ups, doors, etc. As with your Carvex I would never consider selling it despite not using it much now.

If you get the Mafell, I’d love to hear firsthand account on it. I have had my eye on it for years; just haven’t been able to pull the trigger with so many other fantastic tools out there. The standout feature for me is the blade design…. I can’t see how it wouldn’t be a massive improvement over the traditional design

 

[woodferret]

My RTS400 needs some love. I've been doing more prefab and TFL work, so haven't had the need to use it. One day, I'll get to remodelling/finishing work again. I do use my carvex often though, mostly as a means of breaking up stuff so other tools can handle it.

 

[Coen]

I have used some Festools only a few times. And some accessories I have owned for years before the first use.

bandsaw

The bandsaw, quite unique in the world of powertools... is the one that scares me.

 

[luvmytoolz]

The bandsaw, quite unique in the world of powertools... is the one that scares me.

After a fairly nasty spindle moulder accident, and having seen blades bind and snap at the timber mill, the idea of owning a bandsaw didn't appeal in the least for many years, until I could no longer work without one.

Now it's definitely in my top 5 used and best ROI tools.

 

[smorgasbord]

Well, not specific to Festool, but I'm old enough to have seen previous "gotta have" tools go by the wayside:

1) Half sheet sanders. Now it's all random-orbit.
2) Pad sanders. Now it's all random-orbit.
3) Radial Arm saws. Now it's all sliding miter saws. Except for me - I still want to replace my SCMS with a real RAS. Kind of pricey to get a good one, and used ones aren't normally available in my area (NorCal).
4) Hollow-chisel mortiser. OK, some people still use these and if you have a heavy-duty enough one they're actually pretty good, but most shops and DIYers have moved on to dominos and/or biscuits.
5) Tenons. Yeah, people still use tablesaw jigs, bandsaws, even routers with templates or pantorouters to cut tenons on the ends of stock, but I think a lot of people just get a DF700 or make do with a DF500.
6) Overhead pin routers - yeah, never really popular, but now CNCs killed those.
7) Pipe Clamps - Even if you're not using parallel clamps you're probably using those aluminum jobbies.
8) Panel saws - Yeah, some shops still have and use them, but I suspect most use track saws now.
9) Fancy router-based dovetail jigs. Yeah, CNCs and even pantorouters.

I could probably come up with another half dozen....