Festool Workplace Organisation and Storage Solutions - Videos

[bobfog]

Peter, given the statements made above, it does appear that your reviews have become a little more commercially driven and contrived. You used to have a mantra that your reviews were only for products you would recommend to your very best friend and you weren't on anyone's payroll. Additionally they seemed to once be more targeted at things you owned, but these days they seem to be predominantly about either donated or loaned products. Is it the case that you've diluted your recommendations away from that mantra?

I remember you gave a glowing review of the UJK router table only to never see it again in your workshop.

It's not a criticism, I am a fan of your products (I own Parf Dogs and the Parf Guide System) but I am interested to know if you are now compensated for your reviews?

 

[Stone Message]

Peter, given the statements made above, it does appear that your reviews have become a little more commercially driven and contrived. You used to have a mantra that your reviews were only for products you would recommend to your very best friend and you weren't on anyone's payroll. Additionally they seemed to once be more targeted at things you owned, but these days they seem to be predominantly about either donated or loaned products. Is it the case that you've diluted your recommendations away from that mantra?

I remember you gave a glowing review of the UJK router table only to never see it again in your workshop.

It's not a criticism, I am a fan of your products (I own Parf Dogs and the Parf Guide System) but I am interested to know if you are now compensated for your reviews?

Hi Bob

The "Golden Rule" is still there and has and never will be broken. If I cannot recommend a product or a process to my very best friend then there is no video.

In order to make this series of videos I have spent over £250, paying the full retail price (no favours at all). The items that are on loan will be returned when I finally complete the series.

If my work was commercially driven then you would see videos about rubbish stuff that appears on some of the large box shifters web sites (I am not talking about Festool at Screwfix !). I have, more than once, been offered a complete workshop full of power tools just to make a couple of videos. I now set a 3 month time limit on kit that gets sent to me which fails the Golden Rule and never gets collected. Some goes to recycling and some gets given away to chaps only too eager to give it a go.

I treat all of this as "Commercial in Confidence" otherwise my subjective view of what is good or bad would dominate the whole aim of The New Brit Workshop. I know several people who will be reading this now who have had kit rejected by me but I doubt whether they will be prepared to join this debate now.

Let me give you some very simple stats from the last financial year...

I have sent out over 1500 sets of plans, free of charge, to people wanting to make things that I have shown in my videos. I have answered every question placed on my YouTube channel and acknowledged every comment - that is over 25 messages or emails a day.

In order to make some of the things that you see I get some support. The two classic cases are Coldene Castors who have helped me with every nutty design that I have created for the "Mobile Workshop" concept. The other is Accuride who have also helped in that area. Without their support there would have been no videos in that series. My only income is from the advertising on YouTube and if anyone thinks that is generous then I challenge them to have a go and find out.

My Festool videos are made with kit that I have bought or borrowed. Festool UK have helped a lot but they do not invite me to do this or that. I suspect after this they will not bother answering any more of my emails. I badger them for whatever I think people want to see next. Look at the timing of the MFS video that I did. Festool did not give a stuff about that product but boy was there some interest from here on the FOG and tons more on YouTube. Look how much later my KS60 videos were compared to others.

The payroll bit next...

I have only been paid for one video. That video in not on my YouTube channel and has never been shown (to my knowledge) here on the FOG. The girls involved were very kind and promised to say nothing to anyone.

Next the UJK Router Table...

Space in my workshop is at a premium due mainly to the camera kit and the need to have a "studio" area for most of the filming. Somethings have had to go. The UJK Router table (better fence than the CMS-OF, very accurate but not so good dust collection) had to go. Next to go will be the X-Carve CNC which will be advertised for sale very soon.

Finally,

I work 7 days a week. I have spent many thousands on camera and sound equipment (again, no special deals and full prices paid). My aim now is to give something back - to help other people. If I spent the same amount of time pushing trollies at the local supermarket I would, by now, have made enough money to buy every bit of Festool kit that they make plus a car or two and have the extra time on my hands to enjoy it all.

Peter

 

[bobfog]

Peter, given the statements made above, it does appear that your reviews have become a little more commercially driven and contrived. You used to have a mantra that your reviews were only for products you would recommend to your very best friend and you weren't on anyone's payroll. Additionally they seemed to once be more targeted at things you owned, but these days they seem to be predominantly about either donated or loaned products. Is it the case that you've diluted your recommendations away from that mantra?

I remember you gave a glowing review of the UJK router table only to never see it again in your workshop.

It's not a criticism, I am a fan of your products (I own Parf Dogs and the Parf Guide System) but I am interested to know if you are now compensated for your reviews?

Hi Bob

The "Golden Rule" is still there and has and never will be broken. If I cannot recommend a product or a process to my very best friend then there is no video.

In order to make this series of videos I have spent over £250, paying the full retail price (no favours at all). The items that are on loan will be returned when I finally complete the series.

If my work was commercially driven then you would see videos about rubbish stuff that appears on some of the large box shifters web sites (I am not talking about Festool at Screwfix !). I have, more than once, been offered a complete workshop full of power tools just to make a couple of videos. I now set a 3 month time limit on kit that gets sent to me which fails the Golden Rule and never gets collected. Some goes to recycling and some gets given away to chaps only too eager to give it a go.

I treat all of this as "Commercial in Confidence" otherwise my subjective view of what is good or bad would dominate the whole aim of The New Brit Workshop. I know several people who will be reading this now who have had kit rejected by me but I doubt whether they will be prepared to join this debate now.

Let me give you some very simple stats from the last financial year...

I have sent out over 1500 sets of plans, free of charge, to people wanting to make things that I have shown in my videos. I have answered every question placed on my YouTube channel and acknowledged every comment - that is over 25 messages or emails a day.

In order to make some of the things that you see I get some support. The two classic cases are Coldene Castors who have helped me with every nutty design that I have created for the "Mobile Workshop" concept. The other is Accuride who have also helped in that area. Without their support there would have been no videos in that series. My only income is from the advertising on YouTube and if anyone thinks that is generous then I challenge them to have a go and find out.

My Festool videos are made with kit that I have bought or borrowed. Festool UK have helped a lot but they do not invite me to do this or that. I suspect after this they will not bother answering any more of my emails. I badger them for whatever I think people want to see next. Look at the timing of the MFS video that I did. Festool did not give a stuff about that product but boy was there some interest from here on the FOG and tons more on YouTube. Look how much later my KS60 videos were compared to others.

The payroll bit next...

I have only been paid for one video. That video in not on my YouTube channel and has never been shown (to my knowledge) here on the FOG. The girls involved were very kind and promised to say nothing to anyone.

Next the UJK Router Table...

Space in my workshop is at a premium due mainly to the camera kit and the need to have a "studio" area for most of the filming. Somethings have had to go. The UJK Router table (better fence than the CMS-OF, very accurate but not so good dust collection) had to go. Next to go will be the X-Carve CNC which will be advertised for sale very soon.

Finally,

I work 7 days a week. I have spent many thousands on camera and sound equipment (again, no special deals and full prices paid). My aim now is to give something back - to help other people. If I spent the same amount of time pushing trollies at the local supermarket I would, by now, have made enough money to buy every bit of Festool kit that they make plus a car or two and have the extra time on my hands to enjoy it all.

Peter

Thank you for the frank and transparent reply.

 

[Phil Beckley]

Hi
If Peter asks for a product to be sent out for him to review then it is on the condition it is returned - I arrange the delivery and the collection back to our stock and the video is totally under his editorial control what goes into the video and how it is presented. Peter does NOT receive payment in any form from Festool UK.
  The KS 60 Peter reviewed is now with another reviewer and will once finished with go on to another. The machine will finally arrive back to Festool once the round of reviews has been completed and go back into the training room. This process has been used many times and the items come back to Festool.
RG
Phil

.....on a separate point Peters outlook on helping others achieve more with there work as his driving force is one of the first things he said to me when I first met him some years ago and he should be congratulated on this holistic outlook that in a commercial area is rare.

 

[Bob D.]

".....on a separate point Peters outlook on helping others achieve more with there work as his driving force is one of the first things he said to me when I first met him some years ago and he should be congratulated on this holistic outlook that in a commercial area is rare."

Can't agree more on that Phil. I have owned a pair of Festool sanders, my CT-36, and the Domino XL for a few years and just recently started replacing lessor quality tools in my shop with Festool. I have found Peter's (and those of others) videos helpful in making full use and as quick introductions to using those tools and also to gain from their experience which often brings some trick or hidden feature to light not discussed in the manual. I have a good idea of how much time goes into producing every minute of video in the final cut as well as the equipment needed to create a quality video. To do all this out of pocket with no support or underwriting from a vendor or manufacturer says a lot about his commitment and willingness to help others and for that I applaud Peter for his work.

 

[antss]

" I  have only been paid for one video. That video in not on my YouTube channel and has never been shown (to my knowledge) here on the FOG. The girls involved were very kind and promised to say nothing to anyone. "

  [eek]

Are you saying you're an actor and having a laugh, or am I just being a cynical , dirty old man ?  I know we've had our differences on some issues, but I applaud you for making these videos.  No one is forced to watch them or use any of the info you present, so I fail to see a problem.

I do think it important that you tell, or remind, people that you're not "on the payroll".  It makes a big difference in how people perceive your message, given today's marketing landscape.

 

[#Tee]

many thanks for the reviews peter! i appreciate you

 

[rljatl]

Peter, I always look forward to your videos.  Thanks for taking the time to make them!

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Everyone

Many thanks for the kind words.

[member=727]antss[/member]  The video was for someone I know well and was for his business (quite legit and no girls). I received just enough to buy a hand held radio mic which I realised that I needed after interviewing people at one of the Festool roadshows using a lav mic attached to a long piece of wood.

Peter

 

[Vondawg]

Peter- I've enjoyed all your videos and helpful tips and do not care what you make, take or receive for them, I'm just glad to take in the collective info on tools, technic, and what's worked for you ( or anyone that offers as far as that goes) and appreciate your sharing them. I can decide if it's done for other reasons.
Thank you !

 

[glass1]

Sorry for being a bit "rash".

 

[Stone Message]

Sorry for being a bit "rash".

No problem at all. This post of yours demonstrates that you are a thoughtful and considerate person and you have the courage to come here and say this.

Many thanks.

Peter

 

[sancho57]

Hi
If Peter asks for a product to be sent out for him to review then it is on the condition it is returned - I arrange the delivery and the collection back to our stock and the video is totally under his editorial control what goes into the video and how it is presented. Peter does NOT receive payment in any form from Festool UK.
  The KS 60 Peter reviewed is now with another reviewer and will once finished with go on to another. The machine will finally arrive back to Festool once the round of reviews has been completed and go back into the training room. This process has been used many times and the items come back to Festool.
RG
Phil

.....on a separate point Peters outlook on helping others achieve more with there work as his driving force is one of the first things he said to me when I first met him some years ago and he should be congratulated on this holistic outlook that in a commercial area is rare.

Festool UK has a training Room?

 

[Stone Message]

....... The machine will finally arrive back to Festool once the round of reviews has been completed and go back into the training room. This process has been used many times and the items come back to Festool.
RG
Phil

Festool UK has a training Room?

Hi Ron

I am told that Phil works out every day but I could have this wrong - it may be that Phil works out where the Roadshow goes next every day.

Peter

 

[sancho57]

I wish that you'd work out that Sys MFT video ya promised... sheesh what does a a guy got to do to get some free instruction around here

 

[Stone Message]

I wish that you'd work out that Sys MFT video ya promised... sheesh what does a a guy got to do to get some free instruction around here

Hi Ron

I know that you need this and just for you I have been doing the rest of the filming over the last couple of days. I have done some of the editing already and so give me 24 hours and I should be able to get it on YouTube.

How is the packing going?

Peter

Update: Just finished the editing and will do titling early tomorrow - might be up by lunchtime UK time.

 

[sancho57]

Thanks buddy.
1st shipment went out yesterday. That's stuff that's a express shipment things we need to get along until the main shipment arrives.
Main shipment is 2 weeks.

Waiting to get back to the states until Sancho returns and jobsworth is a memory

 

[Stone Message]

Hi soon to be Sancho

Don't work too hard and take plenty of breaks. I think we moved either 19 or 21 times (I know it is an odd number) and so I do not envy you for one minute.

The 3rd and final video in the series is now on YouTube:


Peter

 

[sancho57]

Thanks Peter.

What I did with mines  , was remove the top of the sys mft and put it on a sys 3 so I can load it with even more stuff.

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Ron

That is an excellent idea. I assume that you swapped the lids.

I wonder whether it would make sense to do this and put the top on a Sys Combi ? That way you would have a drawer for fixings and small odds and ends and also a compartment for the tools like those that I showed in the video.

Maybe Festool should take note and offer a choice of systainer under the MFT top.

Peter