Hi thought I'd give my 2 (AMATEUR) cents on being a new Festool owner

[NHSP759]

So I am in the middle of a room by room renovation. My latest endeavor was to re-do my 10x12 breezeway / entryway. I had the attachment put on my house when I first bought it 12 years ago. At the time, I didn't know the first thing about building a structure onto my house (and truthfully at this point in my experience, I still don't). After a major life change upset this year, I decided to start changing the house around. I have worked hard for this place. I've done the living room (around Thanksgiving), my upstairs bedroom and now this room. Five years ago, I finished the room. For the seven years previous to this it was unfinished. This was a big deal for me, I had never hung Sheetrock let alone mud. I decided to try my hand at refinishing again. So, why not spend a TON of money on a new toy right?. I have had a random orbit Hitachi sander for several years. I did the whole upstairs bedroom with this tool. The dust was unbelievable. Everything upstairs was completely covered with dust. My eyes and lungs hurt. On a recent trip to Woodcraft, I spoke with my friend Pam, who was telling me about the Festool RO 90. I did some extensive research and reviewed Eric and Dan's review of the Festool Midi Extractor (Tools in Action). I decided against the tools but my girlfriend decided I needed them. So today after the mud had dried, the wood filler was rock hard and trim work was ready to be sanded I broke out my new toys.

The Festool RO90 and Midi Extractor. What can I say. This set rocks. Coupled with the Midi Extractor, there was NO and I mean NO dust. The tool got a little bit on it. My sweatshirt was clean, my safety glasses were clear and I didn't even cough once.

I have received some grief about using these tools because of cost. This set is REALLY expensive. Is it worth it? That depends. My old Sergeant, Tom, who retired from NHSP last year and runs a professional furniture making business told me if I am going to buy tools, buy once. Buy Festool. I want to follow in his footsteps with making furniture. Like Tom, I have a basement workshop. Unlike Tom, I don't have room. I never had an air filter, just my shop vac. Now with my Midi, I can connect my T55, my Carvex or my RO 90 and work in my unventilated basement workshop with no fear of "Ahhheee Ahheee....Daddy....Aheee....Ahee.....I got the black lung Daddy!" (Yes Zoolander is an awesome movie). I've been using my TI15+3 all week too.  Is it worth spending a three days pay in this? Yup. For me it is. Maybe when I pull the plug in five years and retire, I might decide to volunteer more and maybe actually try my hand at carpentry. These tools will serve me well for many years. These tools are brushless, unbelievably strong and well manufactured. I finished the finish work and painted all the day. And reminiscent of "A Christmas Story" when I was done, I cleaned off my RO 90 and sat down and had a nice dinner with my girlfriend and my dog and stared at my new toys. Totally worth it.

 

[Wooden Skye]

[welcome]

Enjoy the new tools, the lack of dust is one of the main reasons I took the plunge.

 

[wow]

Great testimonial! Hollywood should make your story into a movie. I can hear the promo's now…

"In theaters everywhere June 1st, don't miss a second of the exciting new romantic comedy 'Dustless In Dover'.
This move is not yet rated."

(I'll leave that for someone else)

 

[semenza]

Hi Chris,

Welcome to the FOG!  [smile]

What's the  next tool on your list?

Seth

 

[RKA]

Chris, Welcome to FOG!  I have to say I cringed a bit when you said you're learning to sheetrock and used a RO sander without dust extraction.  That's probably the worst possible combination!  I'm no expert and I know I lay down more mud than is needed, which means it has to be sanded, which means a lot more debris to pick up.  Before Festool, I would avoid using a power tools for this because it was really good at sending everything airborne, but now I would happily consider using one of my Festools (the occasion hasn't arisen yet).  Great that your GF was willing to entertain the idea and that you've found a better way.  I hope the rest of your Festools bring you just as much enjoyment!

 

[Theshipstore]

Chris.  Welcome to FOG and to the taste of the Green Koolaide. The ride is fun and maybe expensive but the rewards of using these tools is just great as you have already found.
Enjoy your project and please post some pictures when you can.

Sal

 

[NHSP759]

Thanks guys for the welcome. I appreciate it! I am hoping to try my hand at the Domino DF500 when I can honestly justify it but realistically would love to get the portable table set up. I have a tiny workshop and setting my TS55 or Carvex on it would be really nice. Who knows? Maybe I'll win the lottery! I had thought about getting the TI15 to go with my T15 but I've got an Milwaukee M18 Fuel Impact and cannot justify it  :-\  But boy....I'm loving my tool collection thus far!

 

[ccarrolladams]

[welcome] to The FOG, Chris,

We are a mixture of all sorts of woodworkers.

Please feel free to pick our experience and add your own.

 

[Woodhack]

I am new to the FOG and can sayI have not used my set up for drywall yet.

How did the bag hold up? Did you use more than 1? Fill it up?

 

[jacko9]

Good introduction Chris and Welcome to the FOG a place where you can get fine ideas on how to spend your money [wink]  I was introduced to Festool when I was searching for a replacement slot mortising tool (that left with my old Inca Table saw) and found the Domino.  When I called the supplier he highly recommended the dust extractor a CT22 and when I found out how well it worked with my Domino I realized that Festool was making some pretty special tools.  Six years later and I own most of the Festool lineup and my lungs thank me for it every day!

Jack

 

[NHSP759]

I am new to the FOG and can sayI have not used my set up for drywall yet.

How did the bag hold up? Did you use more than 1? Fill it up?

Tha
The bag is still mostly empty but my room is only 10x12 that I finished. My living room was done with light mask and. Hitachi. I think I have permanent lung damage

 

[jacko9]

I am new to the FOG and can sayI have not used my set up for drywall yet.

How did the bag hold up? Did you use more than 1? Fill it up?

Tha
The bag is still mostly empty but my room is only 10x12 that I finished. My living room was done with light mask and. Hitachi. I think I have permanent lung damage

I think you'll survive, I did my house without dust protection almost 30 years ago and i only have a slight cough, cough, cough [wink]

 

[NHSP759]

I am new to the FOG and can sayI have not used my set up for drywall yet.

How did the bag hold up? Did you use more than 1? Fill it up?

Tha
The bag is still mostly empty but my room is only 10x12 that I finished. My living room was done with light mask and. Hitachi. I think I have permanent lung damage

I think you'll survive, I did my house without dust protection almost 30 years ago and i only have a slight cough, cough, cough [wink]

It's really not the dust control you know.  It's the fact that when I'm working with my new tools, I have this grin on my face and I'm a happy camper. Plus it makes everyone jealous and it's nice not having mud dust and wood particles everywhere!

 

[jar45]

Hi Chris,
Your experience with the RO90 reminded me of my first experience with Festool.  My RO90 was bought after a lot of research on sanders.  I wanted something to remove a clear acrylic finish on my deck posts.  I did not want to use a stripper and dreaded the thought of sanding.  Actually I had tried a paint stripper had poor results and my old sander was quickly blinding the course paper in a few minutes.
I bought the RO90, a generic vacuum hose and connected the pair to a 30+year old Shop Vacuum fitted with a basic Dust Deputy.  The RO90 sander ate through the coating, leaving a nice surface which I later stained.  It was a pleasure to use the tools and see the good results quickly.  This work was outside.  The sand paper was not quickly clogged by the finish as it was removed.  This was a surprise.  Yes the RO90 was expensive,  but the sanding job went fast and I did not use a lot of sanding disks.
Next, our family room has cheap paneling with a wood like smooth, high gloss print installed likely in the late ‘80s.  Definitely it is out of date.  The panels are attached to sheet rock with nails.  What to do?  I got conflicting suggestions on how to prepare the wall panel for paint or to just bite the bullet and remove the panels.    The room is 20 x 30 foot.  I did not want to remove those paneling if possible and deal with all the mess.  Just paint it.
After the previous experience with the RO90, I bought a CT26E and a Dust Deputy designed for the extractor.  I convinced my wife I could roughen the panels, fill the nail holes and panel seams and any other blemishes with mud with minimum dust.    I did just that, working on one wall at a time preparing the surface.    I next applied a low odor, alkyd primer and then 2 coats of paint. 
For a DIY, I think the job looks fantastic and like most of us, we are our worse critics.  This was a job I dreaded tackling for about 10 years.   
Next was fence boards another success story.
John