Health factors

[DR T]

I am not posting review of the tools so much as a review of reviews I have read in this forum, where the dust collection system is mentioned in passing, as it relates to the physical surroundings - but I value my health and longevity more than my house or workshop, which are replaceable, and I can certainly afford $ 10K or so for some tools.

In the local Lee Valley Tools, a store where I expect both quality and good value, I was recently given a half-hour personal tour of the Festool line-up. I saw lots of reasons to switch to these tools. Since then, I have been reading reviews in this forum of specific tools, and all to often, the relative high price of the tools is mentioned, but without considering what I think that high cost relates to, which is health. I am in the midst of spending $ 10K on my teeth (dental work never comes cheap, there is no choice in the matter), so I think $ 10K invested in a set of tools with a proper dust collection system to protect my lungs is not out of line. That is, what convinces me most to consider Festool is the health aspect and here is where I'd like some feedback from you owners.

Is the state of one's lungs a factor for any Festool owners?

 

[tjbnwi]

I smoked for about 40 years so........To add to that habit, I spent over 30 years in the automotive field, back when you just blew the brake dust off the backing plates. Good thing the cigarettes had filters on them to keep that out of my lungs.

I never looked at it from your point of view, but that is a side benifit from not having to clean up the work area. Last week I installed 37 sheets of LP Smartpanel as garage liner. I change the bag on my CT 22 twice. 44 liters of dust not in the building, or my lungs. (I made a temple and routed the 50+ openings for the electrical outlets and any other openings contained in a sheet.)

Tom

Welcome to the forum by the way.

 

[peter halle]

First Dr T,  [welcome] to the FOG!

Dust collection and the resulting non negative health aspects is extremely important to Festool.  Heck, in Europe they even offer hand sanding blocks that have dust collection.  As a contractor with almost 30 years under my belt, dust collection and health is more important than 30 years ago.  In addition to whatever bad personal habits I have, I have inhaled enough stuff on construction sites to run a real risk of long term issues.

For me spending additional money to get the benefit of the Festool EFFECTIVE dust collection system is a small price to pay for the hope that my profession and hobby isn't the reason that my wife has to take care of my dogs by herself.

Peter

 

[fatroman]

Welcome to the forum!

For me, it's a primary reason why I got started buying Festool. Maybe the primary reason.

It's great having to clean up less than you normally might have to, but all that stuff that didn't go into my lungs and affect my run/bike/swim training was what really motivated me. Also seemed like pretty cheap insurance on being healthier in the future.

 

[jacko9]

Welcome to the FOG and while I purchased Festool products for their engineering superiority, the dust collection has become one of those wow factors that you might not have appreciated.

I always disliked the cloud of wood chips and dust coming from my planer, jointer, table saw, and shaper but, sanding dust was so irritating to me that I took up hand planing and card scraping to avoid that fine dust.

Festool has saved me a lot of time by incorporating the dust extractors with their tools and now, I can quickly sand a finished surface without the irritation.

Jack 

 

[Wooden Skye]

Welcome, it is becoming a huge factor in my decision to change over to Festool.  I recently started to swap my sanders and buy the CT26.  A lot of time I work outside and didn't use dust collection and noticed all the dust around and also in my nose when finished.  I bought my first festool 3 months ago, and so far I think performance and knowing all the dust isn't going in my body are the best parts of Festool.  Down the road, I am sure I won't give a second thought about the cost.

 

[DR T]

I smoked for about 40 years so........  Last week 44 liters of dust not in the building, or my lungs.

Tom

Welcome to the forum by the way.

My wife has smoked for about that long, too, but she started long before I met her, and so we won't go into that...
I will quote you on that 44 litres of dust, yowza.   As I alluded I do not own any Festools, but I have a budget to buy them, and feedback like yours helps me decide.

 

[DR T]

Welcome, it is becoming a huge factor in my decision to change over to Festool.  I recently started to swap my sanders and buy the CT26.  A lot of time I work outside and didn't use dust collection and noticed all the dust around and also in my nose when finished.  I bought my first festool 3 months ago, and so far I think performance and knowing all the dust isn't going in my body are the best parts of Festool.  Down the road, I am sure I won't give a second thought about the cost.

Thanks, my wife does the sanding in our household (and the smoking, alas).  I think your endorsement will help us to buy a few Festool sanders.
I am not yet familiar with all the models - I had tentatively identified the RO 125 FEQ 5" Dual-Mode Sander and Deltex DX 93 E Detail Sander as ones to buy for her use.

I have an outdoor area, outside my workshop, but I can only use it in the dry season, which is usually June-August in these parts, but has not started yet this year...

 

[Scott B.]

Hi Dr T

You raise a very good point.

I am a paint contractor with employees who have families. And we work inside and outside peoples homes, who also have families.

The sanders, abrasives and extractors are our primary interest in Festool, and we all (myself, employees and customers) have appreciated not having dust covered painters going around the house blowing dust through bad sander bags with no vacs. I am embarrassed to say how many years we did it that way.

It really sucks to sand all day with a bad sander, get in your car all covered with dust and take it home to your family. All set with that.

I write alot about what I call the "sensory" experience of Festool, and it does start to impact general well being in other ways, both blatant and innocuous.

For instance, none of us (myself and my employees) can use our old sanders (bosch and dewalt orbitals and palm buzzers) anymore. It is like getting pelted with shrapnel. Also, since we often sand for many hours at a time on a daily basis, better designed tools result in less user fatigue, which in turn points to a gain in safety.

Also, we have been blown away at the effect that proper extraction has on the quality of stained and clear oil finish by not heating up the wood surface and grinding wood dust particulate into the grain. Finishes become more crisp and rich.

There are many advantages to the system. Its all backed with above average customer service and a league leading warranty.

The fundamental question is: would you pay more for a better experience?

And that is the very same question that my company poses to its own customers.

Welcome to the forum, and thanks for raising such an important topic right out of the gate.

 

[erock]

For myself the dust collection was the one reason I looked into Festool.   After watching some video's on youtube,  the engineering, and the system as a

whole pushed me to make my first purchase.  A  TS55, ct Midi and MFT/3.

I am 35 years old.   I built my first built-in entertainment center when I was 23 using craftsman tools and cutting MDF.   Turned out okay.  With only reading

a couple books and watching some videos, I thought it turned out good.  But I wanted to do better.

And cutting the MDF was a nightmare with out proper dust collection.  Which I knew nothing about when I was 23 years old.  Every cut had to be done

outside.  Sanding MDf was nasty!  But being young, owning a house and wanting to make things for the house, MDF was a good cheap route.  

When we sold that house and moved to a bigger house,  I wanted to really improve my woodworking skills and knowledge.   I did more research

and reading.  I found a guy by the name of Joe Fusco on youtube.   After watching him and a couple other videos on the internet I went to my local

woodcraft to check out the Festool line of tools.  Put off a little by the price,  I waited a while before making that first purchase.  After using my TS55 with

the CT midi for a week,  I was soon looking at replacing ALL my tools with a Festool tool.  My biggest dust generator in the garage was the miter saw.

I  hated using my miter saw. I used my TS55 for all my cuts that I would have done on the miter saw.  Now with a Kapex, life is good and I no longer

have a dust machine in the shop.  I am a bit of a neat freak.  So for me, the dust collection ranks first followed by the Festool engineering.

Eric

 

[semenza]

Hi DR T,

Welcome to the FOG!  [smile]

The dust collection was definetly one of the top reasons I started buying Festool.

On that sander selection..... you may already have done so, but you should consider the RO90 over the DX93.  Better ergonomics and much more useful overall while still maintaining the detail triangular pad.

Seth

 

[tjbier]

Like Eric said, once you cut MDF and see all the "dust" floating around without DC on makes ya wonder what all is in that stuff. I know some guy who will wear dust masks while using MDF cuz they get bloody noses from it. (they have no DC).
Also, walnut makes me sneeze like crazy, well did, having most of it taken out of the air is great for when I work with it.

 

[GhostFist]

Funny how the uninitiated scoff at my spending on Festool and similar products. Their eyes pop out of their head though when I use a router on MDF dust free. On the show I'm working on now, the production office asked me to modify a few things in their office but were extremely paranoid about dust. I just had a big grin on my face and told them not to worry about it. The "oooo's and ahh's" were a plenty thanks to my midi. My drills create more dust than my saws or routers funny enough.

Needless to say, using those tools in the office, while they were working, dust free, in front of producers and the money men and women on this show, earned me some respect for certain.

Now if I could quit smoking once and for good.....

 

[tjbnwi]

Now if I could quit smoking once and for good.....

I quit because my youngest daughter (she was 21 then) asked me to. She was the first one to ask me to, not tell me to. I told her I would and have not had cigaret since. I quit right then and there.  Once I gave her my word, I could never violate that trust.

Tom 

 

[Kev]

Today I had an outside job I was trying to sneak in between rain bursts ... I didn't want to get the EST150/5 and CT-Mini out, so I thought I'll just grab the old Makita half sheet and it's collection bag.

How quickly you forget. All I had to do was sand a couple of filled joints and the filler in some countersunk screws in an area approximately five square metres.

For the first ten minutes I couldn't understand why it was barely working with a 60 grit on the thing ... then I realised I needed to put my weight into it ... there you go, that's working and there's the associated clouds of dusk  [embarassed]

Dust everywhere and all over my clothes - I'd forgotten about that too. Also blowing my nose ... where does this dust come from???

To anyone that's getting a little less than super enthusiastic about their Festool sanders - go and pick up one of your old ones for a "quick job" that ISN'T.

Kev.

PS Welcome on deck Dr T.

 

[davee]

I love woodworking but developed wood allergies over time. Festool dust collection allows me to still work without allergic reaction. Sanding without a mask again is great.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Dust collection is the main reason I got started with Festool - wish I had started much sooner.  I have poor lung function and suspect years of dust contributed.

I think the reason you don't see a lot of discussion on Festool dust collection is that we come to take it for granted.  DC is always built into the product from the beginning, not a an awkward half-assed accessory as in many tool companies.

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Dr T and welcome

I have a CT26 extractor and it the unsung hero in my Festool lineup. A huge amount of effort goes into the dust collection design of the various tools and the results are clear (literally) to see.

I used to have an overhead air filtration system because of the amount of floating dust when using my old tools. I no longer use it (it has been sold together with the old gear). I still get some dust, mainly when routing rebates or using the Kapex. But, in both cases, it is only some of the larger high velocity particles that escape - all of the fine dust goes into my CT.

So, to answer your point; yes dust collection is important and yes that is a key reason for me moving to Festool. Take a look at my CT26 review.

Peter

 

[rmwarren]

Welcome, it is becoming a huge factor in my decision to change over to Festool.  I recently started to swap my sanders and buy the CT26.  A lot of time I work outside and didn't use dust collection and noticed all the dust around and also in my nose when finished.  I bought my first festool 3 months ago, and so far I think performance and knowing all the dust isn't going in my body are the best parts of Festool.  Down the road, I am sure I won't give a second thought about the cost.

Thanks, my wife does the sanding in our household (and the smoking, alas).  I think your endorsement will help us to buy a few Festool sanders.
I am not yet familiar with all the models - I had tentatively identified the RO 125 FEQ 5" Dual-Mode Sander and Deltex DX 93 E Detail Sander as ones to buy for her use.

I have an outdoor area, outside my workshop, but I can only use it in the dry season, which is usually June-August in these parts, but has not started yet this year...

Dr. T,

First, welcome to the FOG, it is a great resource.

Second, I had a run-in with too much Bubinga dust thru not being really careful with my non-Festools; I did too much cutting without a mask and ended up with a nasty respiratory infection. That was 2-months ago and I still have a slight lingering cough and persistent tickle in my lungs. I am more careful now and it does not seem to be getting any worse but that was a real wake-up call for me.

Lastly, I highly recommend the RO90 sander, I use it more than any other sander and it has the delta capability for detail work. If you wife does much work on small or intricate stock it is great to have. Just my  [2cents].

RMW

 

[hockey_magnet]

Welcome, it is becoming a huge factor in my decision to change over to Festool.  I recently started to swap my sanders and buy the CT26.  A lot of time I work outside and didn't use dust collection and noticed all the dust around and also in my nose when finished.  I bought my first festool 3 months ago, and so far I think performance and knowing all the dust isn't going in my body are the best parts of Festool.  Down the road, I am sure I won't give a second thought about the cost.

Thanks, my wife does the sanding in our household (and the smoking, alas).  I think your endorsement will help us to buy a few Festool sanders.
I am not yet familiar with all the models - I had tentatively identified the RO 125 FEQ 5" Dual-Mode Sander and Deltex DX 93 E Detail Sander as ones to buy for her use.

I have an outdoor area, outside my workshop, but I can only use it in the dry season, which is usually June-August in these parts, but has not started yet this year...

Dr. T,

First, welcome to the FOG, it is a great resource.

Second, I had a run-in with too much Bubinga dust thru not being really careful with my non-Festools; I did too much cutting without a mask and ended up with a nasty respiratory infection. That was 2-months ago and I still have a slight lingering cough and persistent tickle in my lungs. I am more careful now and it does not seem to be getting any worse but that was a real wake-up call for me.

Lastly, I highly recommend the RO90 sander, I use it more than any other sander and it has the delta capability for detail work. If you wife does much work on small or intricate stock it is great to have. Just my  [2cents].

RMW

+1 on the RO 90. Particularly compared toe the RO 125 which is also an excelletn sander but with the RO 90, you're getting an excellent Delta sander plus The RO 125 functionality. Just IMHO

Chris