Heads up - RAS 115 and Sysports Discontinued (US)

[Shane Holland]

Just a friendly heads up. If you want a RAS 115 sander or Sysport, get them now. Festool USA has announced these are now discontinued.

Also, the HSK sanding blocks are now discontinued.

All discontinued products are available while supplies last.

This may or may not affect other countries, check with your local dealer.

Shane

 

[PeterJJames13]

Lol figures - was going to email Doug today about the RAS. Looks like that shot up on my short list now!

 

[ear3]

Huh?  The RAS is the bomb, a secret weapon in the Festool arsenal.  Great for dealing with epoxy, stripping, and unconventional tasks like shaping/sculpting.  Maybe it's a low sales issue?

On the bright side, I'm looking forward to getting some discounted RAS paper.  That stuff lasts forever, so one spare box of each grit will almost certainly constitute a lifetime supply.

EDIT: Hey [member=101]Festool USA[/member] .  How about adding a new tool for every discontinued tool?  Updated CT's don't count. 

 

[Shane Holland]

On the bright side, I'm looking forward to getting some discounted RAS paper.  That stuff lasts forever, so one spare box of each grit will almost certainly constitute a lifetime supply.

[member=37411]ear3[/member], Festool USA has not discontinued the abrasives for the RAS 115. It's customary to support a discontinued tool with accessories and consumables.

 

[grbmds]

Is this sanding block being discontinued also - Festool 496962 Hand Sanding Block 80mm X 130mm?

 

[Shane Holland]

Is this sanding block being discontinued also - Festool 496962 Hand Sanding Block 80mm X 130mm?

[member=19734]grbmds[/member] no mention of this product so presumably it's staying.

 

[ScotF]

Bummer...this is an awesome tool and one of my favorites. I suppose it is inevitable. 

 

[Cheese]

Bummer...this is an awesome tool and one of my favorites. I suppose it is inevitable. 

[member=6605]ScotF[/member] ,I don’t see why it’s inevitable, if it’s a solid tool...it’s a solid solution...think shovel, not a particularly sexy item but after 2000 years they’ve failed to come up with an alternative, unless it’s hydraulically driven.

I just purchased the last RAS from the local Woodcraft today... so I’m good to go.

 

[ScotF]

Bummer...this is an awesome tool and one of my favorites. I suppose it is inevitable. 

[member=6605]ScotF[/member] ,I don’t see why it’s inevitable, if it’s a solid tool...it’s a solid solution...think shovel, not a particularly sexy item but after 2000 years they’ve failed to come up with an alternative, unless it’s hydraulically driven.

I just purchased the last RAS from the local Woodcraft today... so I’m good to go.

Since it was discontinued in Europe earlier. Wish it were not the case. might buy a spare...

 

[Bob D.]

Like [member=3513]PaulMarcel[/member] said: "just get it so the day you need it you have it".
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tool-reviews/video-review-of-festool-ras-115/

 

[Bob D.]

When I tried to go to the Festool USA site to find out more about the RAS 115 I get a server error. It's like they pulled the page already and no more information is on the site.

Well, let's see what the Festool UK site has. Oh, wait, they have a promotion that will get you £100 back. Sweet, where's our (US) promotion, and everyone else for that matter.https://www.festool.co.uk/campaigns/cashback

Thanks Shane for posting about this. I'll be getting an order in with you in a few minutes, just wanted to see if there was a kit that came with some accessories I might want/need. Dumb question you always _need_ that stuff.  [eek]

 

[Cheese]

Just a thought...maybe the RAS wasn’t the juggernaut we all assumed it was.

I recently purchased the last RAS from the local Woodcraft and the build date was December 2016.  [eek]    [eek]    [eek]

Tough to keep the lights on with that rate of turn-over.

 

[AndrewG]

When I got my RAS 115 a few years ago here in Australia it was being discontinued. It’s one of my favourite Festool tools that I own, I’ve used it for probably 20 plus hours over the past few weeks doing a refinishing job and it’s brilliant. The abrasives are 30% off at the moment so I might stock up.

What’s the go long term though? I know the US is different, but how long do they typically stock abrasives for a discontinued tool?

Cheers

 

[Shane Holland]

What’s the go long term though? I know the US is different, but how long do they typically stock abrasives for a discontinued tool?

This is one tool where using Festool abrasives isn't necessary because of a hole pattern. Any 5" abrasive will do. Festool's policy on spare parts for a discontinued tool is 10 years, but that doesn't include consumables like abrasives.

 

[morts10n]

I use my RAS 115 more than any other tool except drills. As a cabinet installer, it works wonders for all the scribing I have to do. I might have to grab another just to have a back up.

 

[Alanbach]

I don’t have an immediate use for an RAS but since I don’t think there is anything really like it out there on the market I am considering picking one up as an investment in the future. It is probably silly as I am a hobbyist, my home is stucco, I already own an RO 125 but yet I still struggle with this decision. Please help me out with some opinions from FOG nation.

 

[The Wizard]

Perhaps it's being discontinued because a new and improved model is on it's way?

 

[mrboult]

I've never even seen the RAS 115 before! Not available in 220v/240v though!?  Just watched a video on it. I'd really like one!

 

[Rollin22Petes]

I'm not really concerned about sandpaper, but what about backing pads. Are they considered consumables if not how long will they be available. Would really suck to buy the sander and need a pad a year later and find out there not available.

 

[Shane Holland]

I'm not really concerned about sandpaper, but what about backing pads. Are they considered consumables if not how long will they be available. Would really suck to buy the sander and need a pad a year later and find out there not available.

Let's get the official word from [member=101]Festool USA[/member]