Introduction

[Sahadev]

My name is Paul and recently I have found myself on the slippery slope of "Festoolitis." I love tools, especially good ones. I now own a TS55 and am very pleased with the accuracy of the saw. It also has a solid feeling of being in control that I have experienced with few other tools. I am already dreaming of a OF1400, LR32 and a Domino.

I am returning to woodworking after several years of other ventures. I am currently working on a kitchen where the owner purchased a used houseful of cabinets. My job is to rebuild them to fit into their new home. It has been a fun and rewarding project. I just wish I had bought my saw before I began!

I have been an on and off again cabinetmaker for many decades. I have run my own shop producing commercial and residential cabinetry, worked as the in-residence cabinetmaker for an expanding bookstore, sold and trained CabnetWare, sold tools and hardware for Louis and Co. and made wall altars from hardwood and stone with a ShopBot and laser engraving. I am currently seeking projects to work on from residential and commercial clients in the S.F. Bay Area.

I have been a member here for a very short time and have learned a lot already. My rail now has homemade parallel guides and my first empty Sys 4 has a custom fitted base for my routers, plus magnets in the lid to hold the wrenches. I want/need a few more Sys 4s to fit the rest of my current tool and hardware supply. I have learned a lot about how to use the system to organize my tools and supplies for easy transport to the job site where I will be doing most of my work. Festool has made it fun and potentially rewarding to be back in the trade.

Are there sources of used tools and containers other than this forum, CL, eBay? I would love to round out the collection, but the finances are not there at the moment to buy all new.

I look forward to learning even more!

 

[peter halle]

Paul,
[welcome] to the forum and thank you for the introduction.  I have a feeling that you will fit in nicely.  You have a lot of knowledge to share  [big grin].

OOPS.  You said other than CL, but  very often members here will post in the classifieds links to tools that they have seen on Craigslist.  These items usually go quickly, so you should check back often.

Welcome onboard!

Peter

 

[woodguy7]

Paul, Welcome.

Woodguy.

 

[lumbajac]

Paul,

First, welcome to the FOG.

You said, "My rail now has homemade parallel guides and my first empty Sys 4 has a custom fitted base for my routers, plus magnets in the lid to hold the wrenches."

Not sure if you got the magnets idea off the FOG or if it's your own, but regardless, I learned a new idea from your first post that I believe I will use.

Keep posting as you become more familiar with your Festools.  You have a lot of previous experience that will likely tweak out new ways of using the tools.  Please share when you come up with such uses or ideas.

By the way, whose homemade version of the parallel guides did you make... your own or someone elses?  I particularly like Eiji Fuller's and have the idea bookmarked for when I need parallel guides, if the funds aren't available to purchase Festool's.

Thanks,
Corey
U.P. of Michigan

 

[Sahadev]

Thanks for the many welcomes! I am looking forward to learning and sharing what I might know.

lumbajac - I used the basic ideas from lablover's post  here. I modified(improved?) it, of course. Woodworkers are always tweaking things. I will take pictures tomorrow of the guides and the magnets in the lid.

I actually purchased the Festool parallel guides with the saw, but as soon as I saw what could be done with a little plywood and some time, I returned them. The jig ideas presented here are much more useful and flexible.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Welcome Paul!  The talkFestool forum also has a classified section you can look for use Festool tools.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Welcome to the forum, Paul.  Be sure to get in a three posts that contribute to the forum before the end of the month and you'll have a chance to win a free annual magazine subscription.  Look forward to hearing more from you!

PS - the magnets in the systainer lid are pretty neat idea.

 

[Wood_Junkie]

Welcome Paul!

You are very lucky to be in the SF bay area.  There are always a number of Festool items on craigslist there.

Beware, this is an addictive utility.  [wink]
If you want to really open the door...  www.searchtempest.com
Set your mileage out to, ohh... 2500 miles and simply put "festool" in the search criteria.  ba-bing

It took some patience buying remotely from some people, but deals can be had if you're patient.  I've purchased 9 of my 13 Festool machines through Craigslist at discounts ranging from 15-30%, even factoring in shipping costs.  A very few local purchases... the rest from all over the country.  Also, don't be afraid of listing your interest in certain things.  Some people don't even realize they have something to sell until a buyer asks around.  This paid off for me with my first MFT.

 

[Sahadev]

Wood_Junkie,

I don't know whether to thank you or curse you for that link! I will have to be careful visiting that site. Great deals there, though.

 

[justinmcf]

hi paul and welcome to the forum!

which country are you from mate?

justin.

 

[woodguy7]

Can i take a guess at San Fransisco Bay, US  [smile]

 

[Sahadev]

Yes, I live on the peninsula south of San Francisco, in Mtn View, Calif. We are half way between S.F. and San Jose.