First and favourite?

[The Woodentop]

Ok, some fun? What was your first Festool. And which is your favourite?

 

[Michael Kellough]

Ok, some fun? What was your first Festool. And which is your favourite?

At the risk of being accused of circular logic,

1. the circular saw, 2. the circular saw.

 

[Bob Childress]

First: RO150 (old version)

Favourite: Domino, at the moment, followed closely by the TS55, but wait, then there's the OF 1010 which is great and my new ES150 which hasn't been given a fair chance yet, and the DX93 and . . . I guess my favourite is the one that is helping me do a job right at any given phase of a project.  ;D ;D

 

[woodshopdemos]

The guide rail. The guide rail.

And plunge saw, of course, but I list guide rail because it was a System I was being introduced to. And what a System it is. To think that you do not need a table saw, jointer, chop saw... heresy. I have been in the System for 3 years and now have those three items for sale...can you believe that.

 

[Dan Clark]

I bought my TS55, CT22, and MFT1080 at the same time.  My favorites?  The CT22 and MFT!  I use them constantly for all manner of tasks.  IMO, the CTs and the MFTs are the core of the system. 

The MFT is MASSIVELY flexible.  It's a "table saw" one minute and an assembly table the next.  I've used the top and all sides for different tasks.  Yesterday, I used a home made MFT "vise" (see test pic below) in combo with a Ridgid FlipTop outfeed support to clamp a 7' 2X4 for planing with my 850 planer.

The CT22 makes on-site work not only feasible but relatively pleasant.  It attaches to my Festools and non-Festools to remove all of the dust one minute and then turns into a nice shop-vac a minute later.  With the ClearVue CV06 cyclone that I just got, I believe it will do a credible job at sucking dust particles from my DW735 lunch box planer.

Do I like and value my TS55?  Absolutely!  The TS55 is a great saw, but it really excels when combined with the with the CT and MFT!  But that can be said of many Festool Tools.

IMO, a CT and an MFT should be your first Festools.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Greg in Memphis]

I purchased the TS 75 saw and the MFT 800 as a package first. Followed soon after by the CT-22.
I've gotten a Festool product or two since, but nothing really compares to my TS 75.
Don't get me wrong. I am crazy about all my Festools, but that TS 75 is just too tough to beat.
Maybe when I get around to purchasing the Domino, I might feel a little different.

Greg

 

[Michael Kellough]

The guide rail. The guide rail.

And plunge saw, of course, but I list guide rail because it was a System I was being introduced to....

You're absolutely right, it's the System. And don't forget that absolutely critical rubber strip.

 

[jonny round boy]

My first was the TS55, along with 800 & 1400mm guide rails.

I realise that it's not really a 'tool' as such, but my favourite, and the thing that's made my life easier than anything else, is the systainer system. Around 75% of my non-festool tools now live in them as well, and the roll-boards are a godsend.

If I had to pick an actual tool, I'd say it's a tie between the TS55 and the Kapex.... :-\

 

[eweber]

First TS55
Favorite Domino

 

[Mickey]

At the moment I just can't get my hands off the Kapex.... Its so bad that I need to by another vac dedicated to the Kapex, its a real pain to keep swaping cables.....

 

[henry1224]

Gee, I'll bet that there are a lot of Festoolian's on this side of the pond that would just like to get our hands on the kapex!

 

[Ned]

First, LS 130 Duplex.

Favorite, CT 22/HEPA and what it does together with all the other Festools.

Ned

 

[Brian Livingstone]

First the Domino.  Followed by the TS55 and CT22.  Followed by the MFT. 

Favorite the Domino.  My only woodworking for the past four months has been building cabinets.  The Domino makes cabinet construction so easy and so much faster than any of my other methods.  So my favorite has to be the Domino. 

 

[jo041326]

First: TS55, RO150, CTL22 and MFT1080
Favourite: MFT1080. But with TS55. Together with CTL22. And Domino. Shortly, the whole system.

 

[Wim]

My first was the TS55 combined with the CMS table.
My favorite is still the TS55, even after it got me disappointed after a year. But when I ralized that even a Festool sawblade can get dull and with a new blade made cuts as before, I took back all negative thoughts and reinstated the saw at numero uno.

 

[Brent b]

The TS75 was my gateway drug.  Picking a favorite is like choosing your favorite child.  One's good at sports, one's bookish, one just plays video games but they all are sweet little punks to me.

 

[Llap Goch]

My first Festool was a 150/3 sanding pad which I ate when himself wasn't looking. It was delishus but the centre washer and bolt did cause a modicum of discomfort about 2 hours later.

My favourite is the Kapex which the deluded one says is mine but we all know is owned by a chap called Visa Platinum.

Simou

 

[Dave Ronyak]

My first Festool was the RO 125, purchased to grind out plaster cracks in the ceiling of my house, and refinishing doors and wood trim.  When coupled to my Fein vacuum, what a revelation for this nasty job.  The fine dust got sucked into the vacuum and the coarse particles simply fell to the floor.  Instead of having to dress like an astronaut to protect myself and construct a cage of plastic sheeting to try to control the dust, I needed only to wear eye and ear protection and spread a drop cloth on the floor.  Much faster, much more comfortable and much less dust throughout the work area and rest of the house.  That led to purchase of a 1400 router [I've got 3 other routers], then TS 55 and 1080 MFT.  Since most of my work to date has been refinishing, the RO 125 and secondarily the Deltex 93 are my favorites.  The RO 125 has also helped make my cars the shiniest on the street.  I could generalize and say whatever Festool fits the work needed becomes my favorite at that time.  I expect the TS 55 and MFT to compete for top honors as I get into making furniture.

Dave R.

 

[Amateur]

The TS75 was my gateway drug.  Picking a favorite is like choosing your favorite child.  One's good at sports, one's bookish, one just plays video games but they all are sweet little punks to me.

I agree w/Brent.
My TS55/CT22 got me into this mess. I have been constantly reaching for my C12, while readying/rearranging the basement for my wife's new toy, an APQS quilting machine, but they are all nice tools.

 

[The Woodentop]

Well, as a newbie with a definite interest in 'heading down the Festool trail', it looks like my first move should be towards the TS55 if you guys are anything to go by. I am rather pleased that a good majority of you seem more than well pleased with this particular tool as it's the one I've been eyeing up!

OK, next question is, where do I buy from? Is mail order the best bet? Who does the discounts? I've heard it said that discounts don't happen.....believe that and you'll believe anything. So, guys, where's the best outlet in the UK?