First purchase, CT26 and?

[Kevin Stricker]

There is no one sander that does it all, just guys who like to use square pegs for everything.  Although the RO 150 is a great sander you will be sorry if you get it to sand drywall, it would be like pulling a 12 foot pop-up trailer with a semi.  I like using the ETS 125 for drywall as it is nice and light and I tend to spend at least half of my time working above my head.  Light with a small stroke are the keys for me.

As a contractor I assume you like to find value.  I have bought all of my current Festool sanders (5) lightly used for 75% retail or less.  There is not much that can go wrong with them, they are built like a tank.  You will want more than one.  If you decide to buy one as a package I would get the most expensive you can see yourself using just to maximize the combo savings.

The TS55 is really a game changer when it comes to how I build things.  Site built shelving, scribing fillers, breaking down sheetgoods, fitting doors, and any tapered cuts see the TS55.  I would not be as interested in buying a TS saw used, although I might be convinced if I saw it first hand.  If you do decide on the saw, see if your dealer will exchange the rail for the LR32 rail or buy your second rail with the holes.  You might want one eventually, and they are lighter... [smile]

 

[Steve R]

Wow....you ask a question as tough to answer as picking your favorite kid.... [big grin]

Just know once you buy one Festool..... you will soon NEED MORE...AND MORE!  Others you live with will say "you just want them, you don't NEED them".... DON'T LISTEN TO THEM they are non believers...... [scared]

The ETS 150/3 was part of my first purchase. I have to say I now have 2 of them and they are the second most used Festool tools I own. It will come as no surprise that the number one used item are my two CT22 Extractors.

The 150/3 is a wonderful sheet rock sander. And if you do more than just sheet rock...the 150/3 really fits the bill.

My next sander will be the RO 90 as it will get into tighter spots and the Delta head is of great value.

That said, the attraction of Festool is it is a well thought out system that works so well together.  First Festool purchase was, CT 22, TS 55, ETS 150, MFT/3, sanding systainer and big boxes of all the grits I could foresee, 1400/2, 1900/2, two Gecko Suction Handle Sets.

Within weeks, I added a Second CT22, TS75, second ETS 150/3, Kapex, with Kapex MFT, 36mm  hose, Systainer Cart and, and,

What shocks me is none of the major truck or trailer manufactures offer Festool Green as a  color option.  You might remember when Ford did an Eddie Bauer edition...... YEA... Think about it.... a Festool edition Truck.... that comes in a Systainer Garage..... the sides of the box are systainer friendly....   OKAY maybe a bit too much Caffeine this morning [eek]...LOL

Cheers,
Steve

 

[pjcoop]

First of all thanks for the response, this is great. From everything written I think I am going to stick with the CT26, and the TS55. But it looks like I will add the ETS150 for now. By the way I am from Canada near Vancouver, just across the US border, so I can do some shopping down there. For information FESTOOL stuff is duty free, so if it is purchased in the States over the web and shipped to a US mailbox I might have to pay HST 12%. It is very hit or miss at the border lately with collecting taxes. Even paying HST I save about $200 on just the CT26 and TS55 package.
Again Thanks
Peter

 

[BruceB]

I just bought the TS55 and CT36. I went with the CT36 because it holds 37% more while being the same width and length,  only 2.25" taller, and 1 lb heavier. The self cleaning bags are less than 1 US$ apiece over those for the CT26. Something to think about. Can't go wrong either way though.

Cheers,
Bruce

 

[Wonderwino]

Before you buy the saw with the CT26, the only way to get a package deal on an MFT/3 is when you buy it with a saw.  They package deal the vacs with almost everything else.  So maybe you need the ETS150/3 with the vac and throw in an MFT/3 with the TS55.  It'll only add about $535US  to your bill instead of $595 later.  [thumbs up]