How can Festool improve their products and service?

[Dan Clark]

A prior thread started going down hill.   In response to Gary E's suggestion to get back on topic, I decided to create this new thread. 

Asking what's wrong with Festool is pretty negative even though most posts were very positive.  It's easy to complain, but much more productive to suggest specific ways for Festool to improve their products and service.   

For example, I'd like to see better documentation and MUCH more detail on all their products.   The new Domino has great info.  But, how about the "Bit holder BHS 65 with collet"?   I want more detail on every single last "little" product.

Regards,

Dan.

p.s. I took Christian to task for the difficulty in finding their knowledge base on the Festool USA site.  He asked, "what do you suggest?"  I said, maybe something like "knowledge database"or "FAQ".   Sometime in the last two days or so, the upper left corner of the Festool USA website was modified.  It now says, "FAQ Database".   Christian listens and takes action!   

 

[Steven in Iowa]

I think the Festool products by themselves are of high quality and worth the extra cost.  My only suggestion would be to include more detailed Owner's Manuals similar to the ones that the guys are creating for Festool after the fact.

 

[woodshopdemos]

I think the Festool products by themselves are of high quality and worth the extra cost.  My only suggestion would be to include more detailed Owner's Manuals similar to the ones that the guys are creating for Festool after the fact.

Steve,
  This may be the best way. I agree that the Manuals are poor but I think the problem is having to create every manual in 6 or more languages. That Festool USA is sponsoring the in-depth English manuals that we get is a real service. Maybe you would rather have those come with the product, but 2nd best this time is a really workable answer.

 

[Steven in Iowa]

John,
  I do agree that second best is great.  I just think that Festool is doing itself a disservice when compared to the quality of their tools.  Take for an example Leigh Jigs, they are also distributed in several languages.  I'm not complaining, just wishing.

Oh by the way, I think your Assistants MAY be better looking.  :

 

[ejfud]

Thanks Dan!

What happened in the aforementioned thread is one of the reasons I stopped ready most of the woodworking forums in the first place. I figured with the size of this place it would stay mellow. I'm just buying my first Festools this week, so I'm hoping this place won't fall into the same pattern as many other forums. I for one love what I've seen and used from Festool and the info I've gained from here has be valuable to me.

Do we have an ignore feature on this forum for members we don't need to see what they have to say?

Gary

 

[bill-e]

For example, I'd like to see better documentation and MUCH more detail on all their products.  The new Domino has great info.  But, how about the "Bit holder BHS 65 with collet"?  I want more detail on every single last "little" product.

I agree, I like very detailed pictures or drawings so I know exactly what I'm getting.  Of course we can always call our sales guy which is a good option if he's like Bob M., but I don't think you could call Woodcraft and get satisfactory results.

 

[stvrowe]

One suggestion I would have would be to have an abrasive starter assortment for the various sanders.  Such a set could consist of say 10 each of the various grits (Rubin or other choice), a couple of the more popular hardness pads, and packed in a systainer.  The most likely purchaser of such a setup would likely be the "extreme hobbiests" such as myself who really don't need to order these grits in packages of 50 to 100.  Not all of the grits are available in the 5 packs.  An example of such a setup is the assortment systainer for the new Domino.

Steve

 

[ejfud]

Great idea Steve. I was looking for such a beast to order with my sander/vac combo. Something like the Domino tenon package would be great.

Gary

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I like the idea of 5 packs of the abrasives.  If Festool or the ISA's can't/won't do this, maybe this forum could be a vehicle for 'Swaps' , e.g. I have extra 180 rubin, will trade for 400 brilliant. 

Also, based on my own confusion and the large number of questions on this forum on abrasives, there could be better documentation on what each abrasive type (rubin, brilliant, etc.) - what they are designed to do best, what pad should be used with them, etc.

Also, clearer explanations of 'scope of delivery' and accessories - what is included in the base package and what does it do, what accessories and what do they do and why.   

Like the other posts, not complaining, just trying to make constructive suggestions.

 

[Dan Clark]

...
Do we have an ignore feature on this forum for members we don't need to see what they have to say?
...

Gary,

I don't know the answer to this.  Hopefully, we'll never have to use it, but it sounds like a useful feature.  You might want to post this question in the General Forum Q&A.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Brian 57]

Perhaps it was my imagination, but I thought that at one time on this forum every time a Festool part or package was simply mentioned, (NB not a part number or package number, just a verbal description), the word functioned as a hyperlink to a relevant Festool catalogue. Did I dream this or has it been dropped?
Regards

 

[Dan Clark]

Brian,

Hmmm...  And how many beers did we have last night?!?    ;D

I don't recall that feature, but it would be nice.  You can create these types of links.  I described the process here:http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=63.0.  For example, here's the link to the Hose Garage at Bob Marino's Site.  Maybe that's what you remember.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Brian 57]

Thanks Dan,
Beers - I wish.
The link you show is an example and does exactly what I mean, but not one of those I had in mind. The one I seem to remember following, (and I thought there were several), was to small parts or consumables - maybe part of the brilliant v. rubin discussion????
In any event there are a number of recent debates where it would have been useful e.g. what's in a package?
Regards

 

[Ned]

Brian,

If those links to products happen automatically, I'd sure like to know how to make it happen.  I've been making my references to products into links, but that's been a manual operation.

I don't think it's ever been automatic.

Ned

 

[Bob Marino]

One suggestion I would have would be to have an abrasive starter assortment for the various sanders.  Such a set could consist of say 10 each of the various grits (Rubin or other choice), a couple of the more popular hardness pads, and packed in a systainer.  The most likely purchaser of such a setup would likely be the "extreme hobbiests" such as myself who really don't need to order these grits in packages of 50 to 100.  Not all of the grits are available in the 5 packs.  An example of such a setup is the assortment systainer for the new Domino.

Steve,

Steve,

Steve,

I wouldn't be surprised if Festool came out with an assortment pack of papers, but until then, I can break up packs of paper - no problem.

Bob

 

[marvin wallin]

hi all,
this is my first post, i have not posted before now because all has been great with my growing festool collection.but this topic lends itself to two questions i have. i was not able to find what polishing compounds
one might use with the rotex when using the lambs wool pad for that purpose? second, every time i buy a new festool that means that what ever i was using in my shop is never used again, so what do you do with the old stuff --- yard sale?--lenders for neighbors?
                                                                              thanks marvin

 

[MarkF]

I've had good luck listing my used tools on www.craigslist.org
Find your metro region and click. 

 

[Per Swenson]

Hi Marvin and welcome,

My opinion on selling tools.

Someday you are going to need that tool

you think you don't need anymore, that day

usually arrives within 72 hours of relinquishment.

No matter what you sold it for or the room you made,

the combination of time, angst ,second guessing, and if only's,

are  a far higher price to pay then monetary or spacial renumeration.

Now with that out of the way, on to polishing.

It ain't a exact science. Polish and brands by nature all differ.

We try to stick with Menzerna, and still we experiment.

We use the sponge for the rough grade compound then to hard felt

then soft felt to lambs wool buffing.

There is a pdf on the festool website on how we did our last one.

Like I said it ain't gospel, we are doing another now and I will post

the results in a upcoming article or comedy routine.

 

*pdf file on how the Swenson's achieved such a beautiful finish.

Ahh, that didn't work. 10 th one down on this page.
http://festool.ndic.com/woodworking.aspx

 

Per

 

[Dave Rudy]

Also, based on my own confusion and the large number of questions on this forum on abrasives, there could be better documentation on what each abrasive type (rubin, brilliant, etc.) - what they are designed to do best, what pad should be used with them, etc.

Jesse, we had a chart listing Festool abrasives on the old forum in one of the attachment areas (Matthew, did those get archived as well?)  So you might try a search to see if you can find it.  Periodically, Bob Marino posts a reply to someone identifying the different types of paper and their uses.

But there is a chart somewhere -- can someone else with a better menory help direct Jesse to it?

Dave

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Do we have an ignore feature on this forum for members we don't need to see what they have to say?

Well, I just installed an "ignore user" feature in the forum.

The feature is fully described in a separate discussion, located in the "Forum Software How-To" section.

To learn how to use this feature, click here.

Matthew