Help me blow $4K on Festools

[marrt]

So I came into a little extra money recently.  After years of procrastination, and consternation about Festool being too expensive, I've decided stop resisting and allow assimilation. 

I work mostly on cabinet stuff right in my shop (rarely work in the field).  Also, I have a 3 HP cabinet saw, 8" jointer, 15" planer, VS drill press, 3 HP cyclone, and 19" Band Saw and a Festool MFT/3 and PS 300.

Given those "conditions," here's what I'm thinking about adding:

+ a TS 55 with 75" rail (in case I pick up a TS 75 later)
+ a 118" rail
+ parallel guide set
+ a CT 33 plus boom and handle (or should I wait for the CT 36? or even figure out a way to use my cyclone?)
+ an ETS 150/3 (or should I go with the 150/5 or Rotex?)
+ an OF 1400
+ a Domino of course
+ and various clamps and accessories

Through the benefit of experience, I've often advised folks with "If I had it to do all over again, I'd...." type comments.  So, I'm interested to get your thoughts on the above items.  Is there anything you would change or add?  Obviously, I'll buy more later (sanders especially).  I'm just looking to get a good start.  Thanks. 

 

[Holzhacker]

I'll leave sanders off the list since they are cheap enough you can buy them anytime. I'd think about ...
- another MFT 3 if you have the space
- definitely the domino
- a TS, size depends on what type of material you mostly cut
- since you stay in the shop I'd also go with the CT33 instead of the 22, waiting for the next new Festool seems to be too long of a wait
- a T15 or C15
- I'd also allot some money for consumables, I like stocking up and then not having to buy for a while
Good luck and have fun, I'm jealous

 

[harry_]

just set me up with a gift certificate to some place, I'll take care of the rest [grin]

 

[tbellemare]

Do you have a way to make shelf pins? You might want to consider the LR 32 system.

Tom

 

[Jay Knoll]

If you're comfortable with the table saw and since you said that you're not going to working on site, then I wonder why the parallel guides?  In my opinion the sanders are one of the best elements of the Festool system, no dust great finishes.

Jay

 

[Sean7a]

Kapex, no?  Sure it's a lot but if you're going to indulge why not knock the toughest tool to call your own off the list right off the bat?

Also, remember new vacuums at some point in time, might be worth saving for considering a tinier foot print and HEPA certified.  The new RO90 also.....  I'd be psyched on adding those to my quiver!  Who knows when they'll be around though.  ???

Aaaaaand, sure I have my own reasons on this one, but why not a nice cache of systainers, different colors for easy identification of tools, and a sysport or two?  Organization means efficiency, time and money saved and less frustration

 

[nickao]

I would load up on the sanders and routers first as they are the best Festool products. Even though I have a TS 75 and had a TS 55(I sold it) my table saw still gets most of the work. The sanders and routers are the tools that easily make my work so much simpler and fun!

To me if you do not have an RO150 AND an ETS150 you are missing out on the best Festools. I couldn't live without my RO150 and can't imagine someone investing in Festool's and not having that.

 

[marrt]

To answer a few specific questions/comments:

- why not a T15 or C15?  I have 10 or more corded and cordless drills and 2 favorite impact drivers.  Also, I tend to think the Festool drills have less "value add" than some other Festool products.

- why not the LR 32?  Will probably buy on "round 2."

- why parallel guides?  The simple answer...I have 2 tables saws with riving knives and I'm scared of both.  The parallel guides seem to do a great job for their specific function.  That said, perhaps it does make sense to wait.

- why not a Kapex.  I should have mentioned that I already have a SCMS.  So, it's lower on the priority list.

- why not ETS 150 AND RO 150?  This makes perfect sense.  I should just get both.

- wait on the CT 36?  I exhaust the dust in my shop outside.  So, I've long toyed with the idea out buying another cheap 1 HP DC and rigging some hose from the ceiling.  I'd need a way to adjust the rate of suction, but this is easy to figure out.  Has anyone tried this?  At the least, this approach, plus my existing shop vac with hepa filter, would allow me to "get by" until the CT 36 lands in the US. 

 

[tbellemare]

You can exhaust the CT 22 or CT 33 outside if you choose.

Tom

 

[Brice Burrell]

You can exhaust the CT 22 or CT 33 outside if you choose.

Tom

Yeah, but you're exhausting HEPA filtered air so there's no reason to send it outside. The only reason might be for fumes but that's another subject.

 

[AlexThePalex]

- why not a T15 or C15?  I have 10 or more corded and cordless drills and 2 favorite impact drivers.  Also, I tend to think the Festool drills have less "value add" than some other Festool products.

If you already got a huge load of drills I can completely understand your choice and there's no need to get another one.

But when you talk about 'less value add' then I would certainly disagree. The centrotec quick change system and the special chucks (eccentric and angle) give a huge advantage over other drills that don't have this, in my opinion. I wouldn't want to be without them anymore because it speeds up my work and makes it more comfortable.

 

[RONWEN]

One thing for sure -- there is no way to "blow" $4k on Festools. if you watch e-bay awhile you'll see that the resale value is phenomenal.  I guess you could buy them & give them away to other FOG members... ;D

 

[tbellemare]

Quote from: Tom Bellemare on Today at 08:39 PM
You can exhaust the CT 22 or CT 33 outside if you choose.

Tom

Yeah, but you're exhausting HEPA filtered air so there's no reason to send it outside. The only reason might be for fumes but that's another subject.

I think I see what you're saying now...
Please forgive me, I was out in the heat and may have blown a breaker in my brain.

I think it won't be very long at all and HEPA filtration will be the norm. Oneida Air Systems is providing HEPA filters with their new systems by default now.

I don't know how many providers will have equipment that is acceptable to the inspecting authorities but I suspect that it will all converge - the requirements and what is the state-of-the-art in high end equipment.

I really don't think the authorities are going to suddenly require that everyone use equipment that previously didn't even exist. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

Tom

 

[erikfsn]

I'll add my 2 cents to the drill question.

Given the amount of money being spent the first go round and that you have good drills already I would wait as well. But I would like to address the question of the added value of a Festool drill. After I got one it went up exponentially.

Because the drill is one of the most used tools of all and the T-15 is way better than the Makitas I've been getting by with for awhile.

 

[dmckoy]

Good morning Marrt.  If you do buy a CT, a workshop cleaning set, 454767, might be handy, and the floor nozzle has casters.  I don't recall any member expressing dislike of the OF1010 EQ, and you might find many uses of the MFK 700 EQ and accessories.  You might consider a lesser known part, the plexiglass template for the 1010, 1400, or 2200.  It supports a router, aligns to center, and will guide the router as it cuts a mortise in the edge of a door or similar object.  The MFS multi-routing templates, headed to my shop soon, are used to cut circles, arcs, mortises in stair stringers, mortises in doors for butt hinges, and interior router profiles.  Happy spending!

FYI.  The new CT36 will not allow exhaust via a hose inserted into the port.

 

[marrt]

Thanks so much for all the comments.  Much appreciated.  Sorry to have confused you guys on a couple of issues.  It's the nature of forums...you write too much, and half the people won't read your post.  But if you write too little, your point may not be clear.  [smile]

Regarding the exhausting of dust outside...I already have a ClearVue DC on the outside of my shop.  That's what I was talking about.  But the ClearVue is "too strong" for sanders. 

On the issue of drills, I didn't mean to suggest the Festool products weren't great.  I was just putting some other stuff in front of them.  One of the reasons I'm moving to Festool is dust control.  Drills don't create much dust, compared to saws, sanders and routers.  Now, when Festool comes out with the integrated drill/impact driver with all those cool Festool accessories...I'll be all over that!   

 

[Wonderwino]

+1 on the second MFT3.  You can buy it in a combo with a TS55 or TS75 and save some money.  Buy your CT33 in combo with the OF1400 or Domino to save some more.  The variable suction on the CT vacs will really prove its worth when you use it with sanders.  When you buy your rails, get the pre-drilled LR32 version if possible, just in case you get the LR32 later.