How long has it taken you

[Thompmd]

To accumulate your Festools? Is that what you started with, what’s your story?

I only started about 3mo ago, and I had never heard of them until a little over a year ago. I retired 2yrs ago at 53 and wanted to Woodwork and we had bought a log cabin and wanted a live edge top and I now buy/resell them, mostly Walnut  and the money I make from them buys my tools and everything for the shop. It has also purchased a bunch of things for our cabin as well. The best part is I enjoy being around the sawmills and the men/women doing this and what they’re building. It makes me smile.

If it weren’t for the live edge slabs I likely would t have spent the additional money for FESTOOL.

What’s your story ??

 

[Jim_in_PA]

The majority of my Festool arsenal was purchased in the mid-2000s from "Uncle" Bob Marino, as many have referred to him over the years. I've had the pleasure of playing with several tools that I didn't acquire thanks to Bob, too. One or two items were purchased pre-owned from the SMC classifieds. (another forum) All of them work like new and generally look like new. The only things I've replaced are a few batteries (I have three of the drill/drivers) and, of course, the hook & loop pads on my sanders a couple of times. I've built up my collection of Centrotec items for the drill/drivers and have been moving toward having the MFT 96mm grid of 20mm holes on all of my work surfaces as time allows.

Yea, I like the tools and I like the system. Now that I'm in "business" mode, I'm embracing it even more. Most of my use is in-shop, but I've appreciated the portability while doing home improvement projects, too.

 

[sancho57]

Majority of mine were purchased from 2009 on. Joe Fusco a well known cabinet maker famous for his crown moulding chart and I were talking. His first told me about festools and had a video on cabinet making on his you tube channel (Joe passed away some time ago and his channel is unavailable now). So becuase of him I bought my Ts 55 w guide rails, then a MFT and CT then and then and then.....

Im moving to Az here is a photo of some of my tools getting ready to be loaded on my nieces trailer

 

[jarbroen]

Dang, Jobsworth!  I think you need more tables and systainers...  [tongue]

My trip down the Festool Green road started 3 years ago.
I grew up working with my dad who has done everything from electrical to finish carpentry to tile, etc.
So that was always something I wanted to get into as a hobby. 
I'd done several minor projects in my previous house and was starting to get more into cabinets.  I built cabinets and shelves for my wife in our master closet.  That was cut with a crappy $40 Skill circular saw on foam on the floor.
After the cabinets were built and I struggled to get things square, etc. (still turned out pretty decent) I convinced my wife we should look at the TS55.  She's a great wife and always supportive of my crazy spending/hobbies.  She told me I should get the vacuum while we're at it... lol
From there it's been steadily replacing my old/cheap tools with the Festool versions.  Some as gifts - my first router ever was the OF 1400 that my wife bought me for a birthday present.

Overall, it's been a great learning experience and chance to improve my skills on progressively challenging projects.  Very rewarding to have a hobby that has a functional and aesthetically pleasing result.  And the green and blue tools make the process all that more enjoyable.

 

[Birdhunter]

I started woodworking in my early 40s and I'm now mid 70s. I bought DeWalt routers, Unisaw table saw, Sears Craftsman hand tools, Sears drills, etc. OK stuff.

I started a major upgrade to my shop about 10 years ago. I attended a Festool show at Highland Woodworking and bought a Domino 500 plus kit, Midi vac, CXS drill, TSX55, and two MFTs. That was the start. A SawStop Industrial saw replaced the Unisaw, a big Powermatics jointer replaced the 6" Delta, a big Powermatic planer replaced the DeWalt table top unit, a Delta 18" bandsaw, and a Kapex joined the crowd. Later, additional Festool routers, drills, sanders, vacs, Domino 700, et al showed up in their gray boxes. There are drawers full of really nice super sharp chisels and shelves full of Lie Nielson planes.There are others but that's a good start.

I'm retired and my shop keeps me busy. I do some commission work and some as a charity to poor young friends.

Most of my replaced tools have gone to young woodworkers who cannot yet afford Festool. I get a great deal of pleasure giving tools away and teaching people how to use them.

 

[Thompmd]

No kidding , I could take a few and he’d never know lol.

Great idea about donating them, my son in law will get my existing.

 

[StevoWevo]

Nice to see you encouraging another generation to work with their hands and own creativity Birdhunter. That’s really cool man.
We recently moved down to the islands and I told the misses that if we’re going to pay high shipping rates to get the tools I need, might as well get quality tools. Started down the festool road a few months ago. There’s a ton of work to do here. I’ve been using a lot of stuff common in Home Depot or Lowe’s for the past 25 +\- years and I just don’t want to fight those tools anymore. They’re ok for framing and dealing with simple
stock trim but I’m trying to move on from most of that kind of work.

 

[peter halle]

I received a DV in the mail in 2005.  It showed various Festool products.  My poor wife had to hear that over and over again.  IN 2006 for Christmas I got my TS-55.  I literally cried.  We went out together to get the accessory kit and a longer rail.

Since then I have accumulated tools as the need for them comes up.

Peter

 

[Birdhunter]

It’s fun to use the Festool products and other fine tools, but the real pleasure is to see my handiwork in people’s homes. I’ll see a Mesquite bowl, a pretty box, furniture, etc in a friend’s home and enjoy remembering the making and the giving.

It’s fun to see one of my young friends show off something they have made. Most young people don’t use their hands except to play with their phones. When they actually make something with their hands, I see great joy.

 

[pettyconstruction]

My Festool thinking started with the Systainers.
Being a mobile contractor, the way the systainers connect ,was a big deal to me. As the day goes,tools are brought out a bit at a time,but at cleanup,they all go back at the same time. The quicker the better.

My first purchase was a jig saw ( Trion )because I needed one.
The ct-26 was next but not really properly used until I got the Rotex 125 ,what a difference it is to sand without dust.

Ts-75
Domino 500 and tenon Sys
Cxs, great little drill
Pro 5 sander
Tcs-55
Bunch of rails.
The list of tools I want is just as big.
Dts sander
Kapex
Vac clamp
Midi vac
You get the point.
I started in about 2007 but knew about the tools before.
Cheers,Charlie

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Alanbach]

I’m 61 and I’ve been woodworking since my early twenties. My shop (two car garage - no cars allowed) has undergone numerous upgrades over the years. I bought my first Festool (ETS-EC 125/3) and a CT36 about 3 years ago. I make end grain cutting boards as gifts so a Rotex 125 followed. That tool introduced me to the Recon site and off to the races we went. I just bought my seventh Festool sander last week. I also have a Carvex, a DF500, a CT-SYS, Vecturo, TS55, OF1010 and LR32. The main attraction for me, in addition to high quality overall, has been superior dust collection and in many cases superior accessories. Now I just need to tear out a section of built in cabinets and rebuild them as Sys Ports.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

TS75 was my first Festool years ago - probably 2010 or 2011 - I cannot remember now. I bought a Rotex 150 and CT22 next, followed by a DTS400 and the cleaning set that came with a D36 hose. Next was an ETS150 and T15 drill and numerous purchases since. I have sold a couple of tools along the way, but by and large I think long and hard before each purchase and I have no regrets. Really like most of what Festool offers and it has changed the way I work wood.

 

[bertv]

I started out as a graphic designer and illustrator in the early eighties, and as things go, ended up doing a lot more, like designing expositions and such. Being a control freak I started doing the installs and that took tools of course. My first Festool was a drill (2002 or around that time). A systainer for the tools followed. And for chores around the house I needed a sander — my first corded Festool (RTS400!).

After stepping away from my firm and marriage, I turned part of my former office into shop space, just to have a spot to fool around. Bought a MFT/3. And a TS55 with a rail, because that’s what you need then. Dust collection? A Midi! Another drill, because one needs at least two, right? And so on.

Well, a decade-plus of collecting tools led to the list below…

 

[Cheese]

On November 2006 I purchased an ETS 125 for the princely sum of $155. And it was a princely sum compared to the Milwaukee sander I was using that cost only $49.

However it took another year before I broke down and purchased a CT 22 to go along with the sander.  [eek]

Well, 14 years later and 38 Festool tools poorer I pretty much have all of my bases covered...I think.  [smile]

Also of note, is a $45 price increase in the ETS 125 over 14 years really that big of a deal considering the new ETS 125 has 50 more watts of power and it comes in a T-Loc?

Plug the number and dates into the inflation calculator below and come to your own conclusion.
https://www.usinflationcalculator.com

 

[ctvader]

Started with the pro 5... then the ts55 about 15 months later.  I was in woodcraft last weekend and the wife asked I saw anything I liked.  I’m good for now but the wish list is the df500, ets sander and a vac.

 

[SoonerFan]

I started about six years ago.  First purchase was a fairly large assortment of tools which included MFT/3, TS55, Carvex, OF1400, a Rotex 125 and a CT36.  Since then I have added 2 drills and Centrotec set, a Kapex, DF500, couple more sanders, MFK700, Vac-Sys, couple long rails, an LR32 system + rail and CT Midi that I dedicate to the Kapex. 

All my tools have been great.  No issues at all. 

 

[JayStPeter]

Not sure what year it was, but I was in the process of building a panel saw when Festool came into the USA.  After a few reviews were raving about it, I picked up an ATF 55 e.  I actually continued to build the panel saw using it for a bit until I realized that was dumb.  Not too long after I bought a ETS150 that really helped with my repetitive stress wrist issues.  Not all my Festool purchases were quite as revolutionary as those, but still going.

 

[ADKMedic]

My kool-aid drinking started roughly 10+ years ago with a T-15+ drill, which then went to TS-55 and CT-36.  It quickly progressed to everything else.  If you want to control your wallet, I highly recommend NOT attending any of the end-user training classes.  LOL

Andy

 

[Thompmd]

End user training classes?? Tell me more.

Nice to read the variety of stories .

I feel bad asking a lot of questions about what I’m sure lots of you consider basic. I’m researching as well but I like practical stories better and the reasons for them.

I’m looking right now at adding the Bluetooth to the CT36 and I’m not sure if I can use the existing hose and which set of floor nozzles/options are best.

Got to use my df500/tenons for the first time today, neat tool.

Thanks for responding with your stories and helping me along

 

[Cheese]

Thanks for responding with your stories and helping me along

Hey feel free to ask questions and solicit help. That way we all learn.

After I’ve made a jillion of posts [member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] horse collared me when I made an incorrect assumption about some brushless sanders. Hey, we all learned from that.