First time purchase!

[SittingElf]

Thanks for all the advice chaps, much appreciated.
Wuffles I'm in Northants which is east mids. My local dealer (MTS Northampton) is way off price online but I'm going to pop in and do a face to face today. I'll post up the result!

The two Festool stand outs are the domino and the MFT.
If you are building you own benchtop, then the MFT becomes less of a deal.

I have not used the TS-55, but I believe it is one of the better ones. The thing that lets down the TS-55 is the track. It is fine if you have a long enought track, but once you decide to join then you see why the Bosch track is way better. If you have a Bosch then the TS-55 won't fit on there... But some saws that fit the Bosch track for the Festool track.

I have their CT-26 vac.
If you do NOT need HEPA then your idea of the 40 GBP one seems like a good start.
Probably with a "dust deputy" to grab the big stuff, and there may be a way to use that sort of device with vacuums with filters, but Festool voids the warranty if you use one.
There are also many good vacuums.
If dust is the major driver then, the vacuum makes sense (and any vacuum is an upgrade).

Then one can descend into drills and sanders.
There are also many great sanders by other manufacturers. Some cost enemy more than Festool.

The really great news is that there are more very good choices these days then even just a couple of years ago, so if you do not require all the tools to match, then you have some very interesting gear to choose from.

Holmz,

I get somewhat confused by your posts and intentions. The OP didn't ask for opinions on various Festool tools. He asked about DEALERS...and yet you found it important to make some comments about other company's offerings. This is not the first time you are trying to steer people to other products without any reasonable comparison to Festool's.

I also find it completely specious that you state you have never used a TS-55, but  you "believe" it is one of the better ones. And then you go on about how the track is not any good if you need more than one to join, though if you haven't used the TS-55, it is very unlikely you have used a Festool track or have experience with it. There are multiple options to insure a perfectly straight joining of tracks. The best in my opinion is the Betterley system that can also be used as a very accurate straight edge.

"If you don't need HEPA"...???

ALL tools kick up fine dust...not just chips, whether you want to believe that or not. A HEPA filter is a lung-saver for use with ANY tool.  Is it absolutely required? No...but the OP is clearly interested in a number of Festools, and he definitely would benefit by using a HEPA filtered DC unit.

I would ask you to READ the intent of posts before you continue to go off on how this or that product is better than Festool, or cheaper, or whatever.  He wasn't looking for "choices" of tools as your last line alludes. He was looking for info on Festool Dealers.

Frank

 

[carlb40]

[welcome]

As you have found out MTS are nowhere near the cheapest dealer. Axminster at the moment are not too bad, but a lot of it is out of stock. Plus i was told last year by the manager of the nuneaton branch, they can no longer price match etc and that was when the prices were high.

My 2 preferred dealers ( online)  are FFX and N&B.

http://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/b/Festool

http://www.powertool-supplies.co.uk/

I have the TS55 and midi and would recommend that over a wickes vacuum. It's powerful, compact plus you can store the TS55 systainer on top for ease of access.

I'm not sure what your work involves?  If it is purely domestic at the moment, but you are considering site work?  You might want to look at the 110v versions.

But you may already do that if you do any form of site work now.  [smile]

 

[Holmz]

...
Holmz,

I get somewhat confused by your posts and intentions. The OP didn't ask for opinions on various Festool tools. He asked about DEALERS...and yet you found it important to make some comments about other company's offerings. This is not the first time you are trying to steer people to other products without any reasonable comparison to Festool's.

I also find it completely specious that you state you have never used a TS-55, but  you "believe" it is one of the better ones. And then you go on about how the track is not any good if you need more than one to join, though if you haven't used the TS-55, it is very unlikely you have used a Festool track or have experience with it. There are multiple options to insure a perfectly straight joining of tracks. The best in my opinion is the Betterley system that can also be used as a very accurate straight edge.

"If you don't need HEPA"...???

ALL tools kick up fine dust...not just chips, whether you want to believe that or not. A HEPA filter is a lung-saver for use with ANY tool.  Is it absolutely required? No...but the OP is clearly interested in a number of Festools, and he definitely would benefit by using a HEPA filtered DC unit.

I would ask you to READ the intent of posts before you continue to go off on how this or that product is better than Festool, or cheaper, or whatever.  He wasn't looking for "choices" of tools as your last line alludes. He was looking for info on Festool Dealers.

Frank

OK

 

[cliffp]

I can't say I've tried a cheaper solution for dust extraction than Festool's products (I have a CT Midi and a CT26) but I think they are excellent and well worth the money. I prefer the CT26 because of its compatibility with the boom arm which I have found very useful (not exactly portable but good for the home workshop).

I recommend FFX and Nuts and Bolts. Both of these dealers have been faultless (and I must have spent £10,000 to £15,000 worth of Festool between them). The other thing is that Festool Uk are very good so if you do have any issues you can phone them direct and they sort it out very efficiently.

 

[3liftwonder]

All advice has been greatly appreciated chaps. As recommended by Carl and Cliff N and B and FFX are so much cheaper than anyone in the UK. I actually popped in to my local dealer to have a look and mentioned the prices to him, he was not impressed and mentioned putting in a complaint to Festool regarding aggressive discounting.

I thanked him for his time and left it at that....better get my order in before the price rise!

 

[SS Teach]

I agree that a local dealer would be best. But, and it's a big one for me, my local dealer is 150 miles away. Also Festool is one small part of their product line. So for me it's going on line.

 

[stevefitzgerald]

I live within 15 miles of local dealer (axminster)
recently purchased £3000 on festool
when i looked at all the deals i think it cost me about an extra £20 than ffx

but the £38 worth of free router bits i blagged levelled that out

my main point is that I can have a short drive...
ask questions and get a demo
return an item easily

buy more stuff  ;D

Steve

 

[sancho57]

In the U.S. Things are different, prices are fixed, dealers have a lot in stock, and they are all over the place.

I've seen Festool life in the U.S. And UK.

Here in the UK the dealers all have different prices and most things have to be ordered, except for a few of them. The UK dealers for the most part can get your order to you in a week or sooner.

I go to where I get the best price.  If you have a problem with a tool, for the most part the deal has to go thigh Festool and contact them.
This go I haven't had any real issues with returning festools I have had to return a couple of accessory items .
I went directly to Festool first got it sorted then contacted the dealer. Got it sorted.
I could of just as easily gone straight to Festool and got the same result.

Since they all have the same warranty it doesn't really matter where you get them. I go for the price.