"I'm too poor to afford cheap tools"; What Festools exude value?

[Michael Kellough]

[member=7266]jeffinsgf[/member]  Hey Jeff, tell us about your “guided drill”.

 

[Cheese]

Thanks for the IKEA suggestion Jeff...I have no problem allowing others to do the heavy lifting.  [big grin]  I really enjoy creating things rather than spending my time making "boxes for boxes". [smile]

What are those Domino mortices on the front for?

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

I adopted a similar color coding system for my Systainers, taking advantage of the Systainer USA holiday sale:

-- Festool tools stay in their original Systainers
-- Other brands (Mafell, Mirka, Makita, etc....) stay in their original Systainers
-- Makita tools get Light Grey bodies, Sky Blue handles and catches
-- Makita batteries and chargers get Sky Blue bodies, White handles and catches
-- Hilti tools get Light Grey bodies, Sky Blue handles and catches
-- Other miscellaneous power tools get Signal Blue catches
-- Hand tools get Black catches
-- Fasteners get Orange catches
-- Miscellaneous supplies get Green catches

I haven't yet fully implemented the system, but it's off to a good start:

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[Tom the Remodeler]

Thinking on this a bit more, I'm realizing I recently completed a project where the client requested her new planter boxes painted a color very close to Makita "Teal". My finishing colleague used a brushable formulation of Ilva's "Klima" product, I should paint an extra catch to see how well it holds up.....

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[Cheese]

Nice looking planter boxes Tom...do they have liners?  If so, what's the material?

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Nice looking planter boxes Tom...do they have liners?  If so, what's the material?

Hi Cheese,

I was unable to locate a fabrication shop that could produce liners that fit in the already strained budget, so my contract explicitly states that placing soil or any other reservoir material in the planters voids the warranty and any liability on my end.

Frankly, I think window planter boxes are a terrible idea in terms of inviting rot/decay so I put a lot of disclaimers in the contract indemnifying my company from any loss or damage related to the planters.

That being said, there are weep holes in the bottom, I sealed all of the joints with SikaFlex 510 AM50, and all surfaces have three applications of Klima, so they should hole up reasonably well, assuming the client uses potted plants and maintains the system of coatings.....

 

[jeffinsgf]

[member=7266]jeffinsgf[/member]  Hey Jeff, tell us about your “guided drill”.

Michael,

Port-A-Lign Drill Guide circa 1983.

 

[jeffinsgf]

What are those Domino mortices on the front for?

Sjobergs Holdfasts circa 1993

 

[Michael Kellough]

[member=7266]jeffinsgf[/member]  Hey Jeff, tell us about your “guided drill”.

Michael,

Port-A-Lign Drill Guide circa 1983.

Well, that’s a drill guide, not a guided drill.  [tongue]

Also, does your boss know your drill guide is not colored red?  [blink]

 

[jeffinsgf]

The drill in the box is guided by the drill guide.  [blink]

He does. I badgered him and the engineering team until they started designing the Auto-Line. But, in my defense when the picture I posted was taken, the Auto-Line didn't exist yet.

 

[onocoffee]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] That DeWalt is indeed in that plastic roto-molded case. It's way bigger than necessary. I've thought about moving tools to Systainers. I'm still trying to figure out my color scheme. - whether I should go to colored bodies or just colored locs.

 

[Cheese]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] That DeWalt is indeed in that plastic roto-molded case. It's way bigger than necessary. I've thought about moving tools to Systainers. I'm still trying to figure out my color scheme. - whether I should go to colored bodies or just colored locs.

Ya, that's what I thought,  [sad]  blow molded cases were designed to be shipping containers, not storage containers. A naked blow molded case will fare a lot better than a naked Systainer as a shipping container. So I get that, but once that blow molded container arrives at my house...it gets the boot because it is so wasteful of space. DeWalt, Milwaukee and Woodpeckers blow molded cases all get put on the sidewalk for someone else to deal with...amazingly after a few hours, they all disappear.  [cool]

Colored bodies cost more but really catch your attention, while the colored locs are definitely more affordable.

So I kind of use both, Milwaukee is in red, Stihl is in orange, Woodpeckers is in anthracite...you just have to pick a rhythm that works for you. The one nice thing about colored Locs is that if you swap out Systainers to increase the storage space for a tool, you just move the Loc and don't have to worry about the color of the Systainer.

 

[Mini Me]

, plus I have an emotional attachment as it was the second quality tool I purchased new all those years ago. Do others have an emotional attachment to power tools?  [crying]



Regards from Perth

Derek

I too had a Panasonic and I echo Derek's thoughts, it was simply the best cordless drill I have ever picked up the way it felt in the hand. Unfortunately mine was  9V version so it had to go as I wanted a brushless motor and the only one available was the C12 which is a cumbersome drill compared to the Panasonic. I have since reverted to using 12V Bosch in the workshop and they drill the same hole as any other drill.

 

[Cheese]

Sjobergs Holdfasts circa 1993

Nice...I like that. [smile]

Is that a standard Domino mortise? If so, what size?

 

[friedchicken]

Do you have a Festool extractor yet? CT midi or CT26 are both excellent choices. You said you’re tempted by the Kapex, take advantage of the campaign combo price at 2300 or you’ll be paying 2600 next year. One of my favorites to use, and will never own another miter saw. Skip the hkc55 and save for the Mafell KSS, their tools are amazing, the P1cc jigsaw is also amazing. (If Festool, go trion, not carvex. If your PC routers turn 1/2” bits, I’d recommend the OF1010 first. (Bought the 1400 first not having handled a 1010, which then became the go to once added later.)

I don't have the Festool extractor.  I use a Dewalt stealthsonic.  It's excellent.  Has that spooky quiet, the wheels roll well; I've debated buying the festool hose for it; only things it's missing is an auto tool start and variable speed.

I've eyed the Mafell KSS 60cc.  There really is another dimension over Festool.  Good lord the sky is the limit.

I didn't even know about the Mafell P1cc.  I didn't even know about the Festool trion!  I have a Bosch 1590EVS jigsaw that's made in Switzerland.  I need to get accessories for it.  It's nice but not perfect.

You really like the OF1010!  So it has accessories not available on the OF1400?  I'll have to look and hold them.  It's very difficult for me to actually hold, let alone use tools before buying.  The nearest retailer is over an hour drive away.
Router is my next festool purchase I'm looking at.  I really have to think hard on this one.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Nice...I like that. [smile]

Is that a standard Domino mortise? If so, what size?

I'll check it when I get home tonight. I think it is 10mm thick, but I'm pretty sure it is wider than the wide setting on the Domino, and 25mm isn't deep enough for the bar to engage. I cut them with an old European mortising table. If you've got a 700, that would porobably work.

 

[Michael Kellough]

"I cut them with an old European mortising table."  INCA?

 

[Michael Kellough]

Do you have a Festool extractor yet? CT midi or CT26 are both excellent choices. You said you’re tempted by the Kapex, take advantage of the campaign combo price at 2300 or you’ll be paying 2600 next year. One of my favorites to use, and will never own another miter saw. Skip the hkc55 and save for the Mafell KSS, their tools are amazing, the P1cc jigsaw is also amazing. (If Festool, go trion, not carvex. If your PC routers turn 1/2” bits, I’d recommend the OF1010 first. (Bought the 1400 first not having handled a 1010, which then became the go to once added later.)

I don't have the Festool extractor.  I use a Dewalt stealthsonic.  It's excellent.  Has that spooky quiet, the wheels roll well; I've debated buying the festool hose for it; only things it's missing is an auto tool start and variable speed.

I've eyed the Mafell KSS 60cc.  There really is another dimension over Festool.  Good lord the sky is the limit.

I didn't even know about the Mafell P1cc.  I didn't even know about the Festool trion!  I have a Bosch 1590EVS jigsaw that's made in Switzerland.  I need to get accessories for it.  It's nice but not perfect.

You really like the OF1010!  So it has accessories not available on the OF1400?  I'll have to look and hold them.  It's very difficult for me to actually hold, let alone use tools before buying.  The nearest retailer is over an hour drive away.
Router is my next festool purchase I'm looking at.  I really have to think hard on this one.

The OF1010 is great (as are the OF900 and OF1000) but it doesn't take 1/2" bits, in case you missed that detail.
It comes with an 8mm collet (and maybe 1/4" also?) and 8mm is plenty stout for most things but since you don't like things that aren't "standard"...

 

[Michael Kellough]

, plus I have an emotional attachment as it was the second quality tool I purchased new all those years ago. Do others have an emotional attachment to power tools?  [crying]



Regards from Perth

Derek

I too had a Panasonic and I echo Derek's thoughts, it was simply the best cordless drill I have ever picked up the way it felt in the hand. Unfortunately mine was  9V version so it had to go as I wanted a brushless motor and the only one available was the C12 which is a cumbersome drill compared to the Panasonic. I have since reverted to using 12V Bosch in the workshop and they drill the same hole as any other drill.

Back in the early eighties I visited a friend at his parent's house and his father was showing off his new tools, one of which was Milwaukee's first (I think) cordless drill. He was a WWII vet and he only bought American tools. I made the mistake of pointing out that his new drill was made in Japan and he became distressed. It didn't help that I told him I thought it was made by Panasonic who were making the best cordless drills at the time.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Ya, that's what I thought,  [sad]  blow molded cases were designed to be shipping containers, not storage containers. A naked blow molded case will fare a lot better than a naked Systainer as a shipping container. So I get that, but once that blow molded container arrives at my house...it gets the boot because it is so wasteful of space. DeWalt, Milwaukee and Woodpeckers blow molded cases all get put on the sidewalk for someone else to deal with...amazingly after a few hours, they all disappear.  [cool]

I have a strong tendency to agree, with 1 exception. The blow-molded case that comes with the Milwaukee 5615 router serves me very well. It's a 3-piece unit, that has a bottom platform which separates from the clamshell style upper. When opened, it presents the router, sitting on it's base, with clearance for leaving a bit in place.
That ridiculous suitcase-looking thing that they supply with the multi-base kit though......That's a completely different thing. Who thought that was a good idea?