Happy New Year from Festool! What Will You Build This Year?

[Administrator_JSVN]

Happy New Year, FOG friends!

We're very excited about everything coming up in 2018! Thank you to everyone who contributed to the FOG in 2017 — whether creating posts, answering questions, adding your opinions, or anything else. We look forward to another great year here.

All of us at Festool and myself (Tyler) specifically would like to thank our moderators, [member=1674]Peter Halle[/member] and [member=1619]SRSemenza[/member], who dedicate so much time to leading this community. It's a big time commitment, and they don't get enough credit for their tireless work. THANK YOU!  [not worthy]

We can't give too many details yet about what's coming down the pike in 2018, but here's what you can look forward to from Festool this year:

• New products - Europe already has some new products launching this week. Fairly soon we'll be announcing the next round of tools coming to North America.
• A bigger and better Festool Roadshow - The Festool Roadshow will be hitting the road in the US and Canada for the third year! We're working on ways to keep things fresh and exciting! If you've seen the Roadshow before, it should be a new experience this year!
• Events, events, events! - In addition to the Festool Roadshow, we have big plans for other events. The best way to experience Festool is to see, feel, and use it in person. From Festool Connect to tradeshows to dealer events, we'll spend 2018 meeting with woodworkers and craftsmen in person.
• Website updates - Last year updated many of our technology systems. This is a good long-term move, but it created some short-term hiccups. We'll have new features and improvements to our website and other digital properties this year.

I'm looking forward to seeing the FOG continue to grow this year as a passionate, positive, and helpful community of craftsmen.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN. Two questions for you:
1. What woodworking/ projects do you have planned for 2018?
2. What are you looking forward to in 2018? (It doesn't necessarily have to be related to Festool.)

Thanks!

(Tyler & the rest of the Festool USA team)

 

[McNally Family]

For me, December purchases turned 2017 into the year of the sander.  I have accumulated many refinishing projects that I now have the tools to tackle.  Of course, just having the correct finishing sander is only a part of the process.  I will now be spending most of my time researching the actual finish techniques required (the after sanding work).

 

[TylerC]

So I'll go ahead and answer my own questions.

1. My dream project for the year is built-in cabinets in my living room. Honestly, it seems like a bit of a stretch right now, but I have access to great woodworkers who can keep me on the right track.
2. The big thing I'm looking forward to is the birth of my first child in about a month. My wife and I waited a good while to have kids, and we're incredibly excited for him to get here. (And don't be surprised when I disappear from the FOG for a week or two in February.)

 

[Wooden Skye]

So I'll go ahead and answer my own questions.

1. My dream project for the year is built-in cabinets in my living room. Honestly, it seems like a bit of a stretch right now, but I have access to great woodworkers who can keep me on the right track.
2. The big thing I'm looking forward to is the birth of my first child in about a month. My wife and I waited a good while to have kids, and we're incredibly excited for him to get here. (And don't be surprised when I disappear from the FOG for a week or two in February.)

[member=57769]TylerC[/member] congrats on the impending arrival. 

My goal is to get back out in the shop a lot more, the last couple of years have been tough.  Some of that was getting some shop improvements, lighting and heat.

I am just hoping that 2018 is better than the last 2 or 3.

 

[live4ever]

[member=57769]TylerC[/member] Oh boy, ain't you in for it.  Nobody tells you how it's really going to be.  Congratulations!  [big grin]

 

[jpmeunier]

I think I'm building a new house this year. So that pretty much answers both of them.

Also congrats!

 

[TylerC]

I think I'm building a new house this year. So that pretty much answers both of them.

Daaaang. You're setting the bar high. Keep us updated on your progress if you do it!

 

[peter halle]

Congratulations [member=57769]TylerC[/member] .  I suspect that if you search here you will find some baby crib threads  [poke] if one someone at Festool USA isn't already secretly working on one for you.

If you decide to ask about built-ins here I hope that you are ready for the onslought of ideas and help.

For me, well, I anticipate that 2018 will be the beginning of a change in what I do and how.  I was blessed to be gifted a tool (non-Festool) that should / will / might arrive sometime in 2018 (yes, one of those things) that could cause me to start another company and work towards woodworking of the type that would take away the physical pounding on my older bod and allow me to have greater satisfaction.

Until then, status quo and hopefully some projects around the house to keep me out of the spousal doghouse.

Peter

 

[HarveyWildes]

1. What woodworking/ projects do you have planned for 2018?

* The big one is doing whatever it takes to finish our basement - mostly the trim and cabinets, but perhaps also some built-ins, painting, some tile, etc.
* Finish my new workbench.
* Refurbish (to a high standard of the word refurbish) a metal and wood garden bench for a 3 year-old granddaughter.  I'm having the metal pieces, which were in good shape structurally, sandblasted and powder coated as I write.  I'm replacing all of the original wood, which was some lightweight softwood that's falling apart.
* Build a doll-house and furniture building kit for a 9 year-old granddaughter who likes woodworking.  The idea is to create a kit that a 9 year-old can use to make stuff that she will actually play with - or perhaps give to her 3 year-old cousins.
* If I can get past the basement, I'm sure there will be other stuff as well.

2. What are you looking forward to in 2018? (It doesn't necessarily have to be related to Festool.)

* Easy - retiring toward the end of the year or very early in 2019.  Woodworking figures prominently in my retirement plans.

 

[GoingMyWay]

Sort of the polar opposite of Festool and power tools in general, but I hope to make some hand cut dovetails joints with the help of Rob Cosman's DVD and some of his hand tools.

 

[peter halle]

Sort of the polar opposite of Festool and power tools in general, but I hope to make some hand cut dovetails joints with the help of Rob Cosman's DVD and some of his hand tools.

I would love to read about and see your efforts!

Peter

 

[GoingMyWay]

Sort of the polar opposite of Festool and power tools in general, but I hope to make some hand cut dovetails joints with the help of Rob Cosman's DVD and some of his hand tools.

I would love to read about and see your efforts!

Peter

I may not want to share depending how how badly I botch it!  Rob Cosman makes it look so easy (especially the sharpening) - like even a dummy like me can do it.  I like to watch masters make things look so easy on YouTube and then I literally think - "hold my beer, I can do that, watch this."  My end grain cutting board project from the end of 2017 is still a work in progress.  I thought buying a few Festools would make that process easy!  I'd say I botched that pretty badly,  my only hope is that I can use a hand plane to straighten out the mess I made.  I'm not holding my breath on that one!

 

[peter halle]

Every single "master" screwed up a dovetail or two or...  mistakes is how we learn.  My wife compares it to beating your head against a wall. 

Peter

 

[pixelated]

I have a few built-in cabinetry projects in the short term queue, one of which is in progress. Plus, wife wants a new partition wall with built-in book cases for its whole length, might get to that one sometime in the fall, it will be a fairly extensive remodel of the upstairs space to do it the way we'd like.

Some interior and exterior trim

And any projects that will help justify the purchase of an MFT.

 

[nclemmons]

I have two kids married with new homes.  And their lists are long - from small project remodels to built-ins and new furniture.  And a new 18 month old granddaughter.  So the list will keep me and my Festools busy when I can find the time.

Congrats Tyler on the pending baby. 

neil

 

[mike_aa]

[member=57769]TylerC[/member]  Congratulations on the birth of your first child!  My son and daughter-in-law are having their first baby about the same time so we feel your excitement!  I can't wait to introduce him to woodworking!

Mike A.

 

[BarneyD]

Congratulations [member=57769]TylerC[/member] .  A while back I started working on new kitchen cabinets for our upcoming remodel.  But I had to take a break from them because my oldest son and his wife are expecting a baby boy in early Feb.  So grandpa's been busy building a crib for the little guy. Hopefully I'll have that done tonight after work. Never a shortage of projects.

Cheers,
Barney

 

[rondon]

Am planning on building my 24x32 workshop this year.  Was planning it for last year, but ended up in the hospital for five weeks as well as the emergency room a couple of times.  If any of you have good ideas for a good shop layout please sent them to me.

 

[dltflt]

So I'll go ahead and answer my own questions.

1. My dream project for the year is built-in cabinets in my living room. Honestly, it seems like a bit of a stretch right now, but I have access to great woodworkers who can keep me on the right track.
2. The big thing I'm looking forward to is the birth of my first child in about a month. My wife and I waited a good while to have kids, and we're incredibly excited for him to get here. (And don't be surprised when I disappear from the FOG for a week or two in February.)

Congratulations on your first child. No sleep in the future for you.

I am planning on making a baby bed for my niece. I’m sure there will be many house projects since we are closing on a new to us house in 8 days.

 

[SoonerFan]

[member=57769]TylerC[/member] terrific news about the coming addition to your family.  Kids are a blessing in so many ways.  Congratulations!

My recent projects have been a built in used as a pantry in a small kitchen and some large floating shelves.  In 2018 I'm hoping my first project will be a new Kapex station/sysports on the back wall of my garage.  I have the Kapex on a cart I made with casters now.  Might keep that but change to an MFT type top to cut down sheet goods if I can make it all fit with the cars.  Another project I have planned is some adjustable shelving for the storage room.  If I get real ambitious I will build a fire pit in the back yard to help would help justify an HKC 55 [big grin].

My Festool wish is to improve my routing skills and better leverage my OF1400.  I got some additional bases and am planning to get the edge guide to flush cut edge banding on the Kapex stand/sysport project.

My non-Festool wish is for do more projects around the house for my wife.  With the first being to re-trim a leaky window I fixed last weekend. 

Happy New Year to all!