Went there on Friday, glad I did. Anyone else go?
Was impressed with the Festool stand, spent ages there, learnt loads.
Things I liked:
-staff really know their stuff and were very happy to demonstrate anything I asked about. Friendly, professional, you've got a good UK team there. They even had me getting involved with a LR32 demo.
-LR32 system. Others have been using this for years I'm sure, but I was on the fence about buying and am now sold after a demo. The ability to cut hinge holes was a clincher, didn't know it could do that before. Shelf pins, hinges, custom MFT tops. I like.
-Sys-combi systainers. Really liked these, they havn't been in any of my local shops so was good to check them out. Really like just the one main drawer and then insert dividers. Simple and what I was looking for. Sold. Well done Festool.
Things I wasn't so mad about:
-The new MW1000. It's too heavy for how I imagined using it (in and out of residential customer's homes). It is surprisingly stout. I am halfway through building an MFTC from plans and was cussing myself when I saw the MW1000 has just come out, but now I am ok with it, as the MFTC will be lighter I think. And if it too is too heavy, oh well I built something that I will just use in the workshop. For the price of the MW1000, it had to be right, and I wasn't sold. Others it may be great for, maybe if you are doing large installs and are going to be on a secure site for quite a while. Me, I am just there for a couple of days and working in UK homes is always a tight space affair, and awkward getting in and out. Younger guys may also have no problems.
Other Tools I checked out:
-Mafell Duodoweller, got to see up close and demoed. Was very impressed with this, especially the new version that has a lot more flexibility and improvements. The ability to space dowels at different distances was very clever solution to the drawback of the old one. Also the base is now flat. I'm gonna stick with my Domino for now, as I got it at a great price but if I get really busy/cashed up, I will definitely give one a try. It was very precise without being crazy tight on the joins. The tool oozed quality and I have to say is better made than the domino. The guy has got this thing right now.
-Sealey, PVC and rubber blend air hose:
not a big purchase but I bought one and love it. Way better than the two hoses I have in the shop now. Easy to roll up, easy to unroll for use/stays pretty flat.
Was impressed with the Festool stand, spent ages there, learnt loads.
Things I liked:
-staff really know their stuff and were very happy to demonstrate anything I asked about. Friendly, professional, you've got a good UK team there. They even had me getting involved with a LR32 demo.
-LR32 system. Others have been using this for years I'm sure, but I was on the fence about buying and am now sold after a demo. The ability to cut hinge holes was a clincher, didn't know it could do that before. Shelf pins, hinges, custom MFT tops. I like.
-Sys-combi systainers. Really liked these, they havn't been in any of my local shops so was good to check them out. Really like just the one main drawer and then insert dividers. Simple and what I was looking for. Sold. Well done Festool.
Things I wasn't so mad about:
-The new MW1000. It's too heavy for how I imagined using it (in and out of residential customer's homes). It is surprisingly stout. I am halfway through building an MFTC from plans and was cussing myself when I saw the MW1000 has just come out, but now I am ok with it, as the MFTC will be lighter I think. And if it too is too heavy, oh well I built something that I will just use in the workshop. For the price of the MW1000, it had to be right, and I wasn't sold. Others it may be great for, maybe if you are doing large installs and are going to be on a secure site for quite a while. Me, I am just there for a couple of days and working in UK homes is always a tight space affair, and awkward getting in and out. Younger guys may also have no problems.
Other Tools I checked out:
-Mafell Duodoweller, got to see up close and demoed. Was very impressed with this, especially the new version that has a lot more flexibility and improvements. The ability to space dowels at different distances was very clever solution to the drawback of the old one. Also the base is now flat. I'm gonna stick with my Domino for now, as I got it at a great price but if I get really busy/cashed up, I will definitely give one a try. It was very precise without being crazy tight on the joins. The tool oozed quality and I have to say is better made than the domino. The guy has got this thing right now.
-Sealey, PVC and rubber blend air hose:
not a big purchase but I bought one and love it. Way better than the two hoses I have in the shop now. Easy to roll up, easy to unroll for use/stays pretty flat.
