Is Festool the best?

[AdamV94]

I understand there may be a large bias asking this question on the Festool forum, but I am curious, do you really get what you pay for? My other questions are, do the tools last long, are they as high performance as they say they are, and are they comfortable to use.

Thanks!!!

 

[ajones]

[welcome]Adam

Are you thinking about buying some festools?

 

[mattfc]

don't know as depends on what you mean by the best.. in terms of a system of tools for mobile use then probably yes, but if you go through tool by tool then mabe no (e.g. Maffel MT55 vs TS55 etc)

and obviously a Felder table saw is going to better than a TS75 mounted in a CMS unit.. but again.. best for what?

 

[leakyroof]

Their strongest suit is the ability to expand their product line as a complete system, in a way that complements each of the tools with each other when you're using them, esp when dust extraction is figured into the equation.
I started with just an ETS-150 sander and a CT-22 vacuum back in 2004, now have a large assortment to assist me in all my work/tasks. Great value, easily resaleable if you need to, and rarely a dud in the line-up is mentioned when people start discussing the tools.
With the sanders hooked up to a vacuum, you get much more life out of the abrasives you're using since you're not clogging the paper or work surface with material as you work.[provided you're using the right product for the task at hand]
This means you spend less money than you used to when sanding since you're not going through discs/sheets nearly as often.
Couple that with a cleaner work area, and a cleaner project surface that doesn't have dust ground into the wood pores, and you end up with a happier worker and clients since there isn't a huge mess to deal with like in the past when all the dust went everywhere. [blink]
Others will add more thoughts to this thread, but try out whatever model/tool you're thinking of with Festool's 30 day trial, and you're probably going to end up smiling at the end of the time period.  [big grin]

 

[GhostFist]

I would say Festool is worth their price for the most part with a lot of their products. I've never been let down by a major Festool purchase or regretted the money I've spent on it. From my experience I've found their products to exceed my expectations in regards to performance and durability. I have a few minor annoyances with some things, the BHS 65 is something I feel I've wasted money on twice over, but that's about it from the tools I own. I've used the ts 55 quite a bit as well as dewalts version of the track saw and I find the Festool to be superior IMO. While I've yet to use one, or see one in person, the Mafell track saw seems to have quite a few feature advantages over Festool's. This isn't to say that the TS saws are bad, they're fantastic, but Mafell has me eying their feature advantages.

Tools i currently own (Festool)
CXS, T-15, CT MIDI, OF 1010

 

[Wonderwino]

You have essentially the same access to tools in Canada that we have in the US.  I started out with "just a couple" of Festools and now refuse to admit how far over a dozen I have gone.  For framing and rough carpentry, there are more appropriate choices.  For finish carpentry and cabinets, I have not found any better, especially when portability and cross-use in the system is considered.  The dust collection alone will save you days of cleanup each month.  The LR32 system will turn your router into a boring machine.  For long, joint-ready, straight cuts, I cannot think of a better way than rail guided TS55 or TS75 saws.

I still use my heavy machines in the shop for some operations, but find myself going to the Festools for things I used to do on the tablesaw.  When I am working remotely, I can't drag a 5hp 220v tablesaw along!  What is best depends largely on what kind of work you plan on doing with your tools.

 

[fisheye]

I bought into the Festool system after trying to figure out how to fit woodworking into my small available space. It's been about a year so far. I've been very impressed, and haven't heard of any options that would give me this much versatility. An unexpected side benefit has been I've been able to install a lot of trim during our basement refurbish. With the great dust extraction, I've been able to bring the tools into the basement while keeping the peace with my wife.

 

[Waka]

Good question.

I think a lot depends on whether you're a professional or a hobbyist. Myself I'm a hobbyist who makes a lot of furniture big and small and use a range of hand and power tools.

I was first introduced to Festool about 9 years ago and was so impressed I have over time replaced most of my power tool selection. Do I think they're the best, absolutely, do I think they're value for money, absolutely, do they last, absolutely.

Can't say more then that.

 

[andvari]

Do you really get what you pay for?

The dust extractor, track saw and domino cleaned up my shop and gave me much more space to work. No longer do I have a big fixed dust collection and table saw system, and most of my tools capture the dust they create, not just the big fixed tools.

It's a big deal.

 

[Frank Pellow]

Many, but not all, of their tools are the best.  I have owned various Festool tools starting about 8 years ago and, in spite of their (mostly) higher initial  cost, they have saved me money.  They have certainly saved me time and they have certainly made working more pleasant.

 

[fdengel]

To state more simply what the others are already saying:

One Festool tool (plus dust extractor) is excellent on its own.

The quality of each tool goes up as you start collecting the others.

Or even more concisely:

The system is greater than the sum of its (already excellent) parts.

 

[semenza]

Adam, Welcome to the FOG!  [smile]

Quality, longevity, durability, are all top notch.The performance is hard to beat also.
In my opinion you get what you pay for with Festool.  We are biased on FOG but biased with good reason.  
Sometimes the 'system' thing and all the special features  can make Festool seem gimicky. But the system and features  really do work, and there is no quality compromise because of it.

Remember  that you have 30 days to try the tools out, and Festool really does honor that policy.

Seth

 

[dltflt]

First Welcome to FOG.  I am a hobby woodworker and saw Festool at a woodworking show 10 tears ago and did not buy anything because I thought the price was way too much for a circular saw.  Then about 3 years ago I found FOG and did a lot of reading and ended up buying the RO150.  I was so impressed with the sander that I purchased the Domino and CT next.  So now I am getting into the system which has me hooked.  I have since bought the MFT/3, MFK700, TS75, RO90, Kapex, and several accessories and I don't think twice about the money I have spent because it has made woodworking more enjoyable for me.  I actually finish projects faster and the quality is better.  I just wish I would have bought that saw 10 years ago it would have saved me a lot of money on other tools that are being replaced now by the Festools.

Don

 

[ccarrolladams]

I understand there may be a large bias asking this question on the Festool forum, but I am curious, do you really get what you pay for? My other questions are, do the tools last long, are they as high performance as they say they are, and are they comfortable to use.

Thanks!!!

[welcome]  to The FOG, Adam

My short answer is that Festools are worth their price many times over.

Festool is a system, where the value is increased by the way two or more Festool products combine in such a way as to reduce frustration and improve efficiency.

Do they last? Well, my first Festools were a TS55 plunge track saw and a CT22 dust extractor purchased in January 2006. At the time I needed to use a few weeks of vacation to build prototypes of several cabinet systems I intended to sell. I needed the ability to work with expensive plywood in my condo quietly, with effective dust collection and still produce the quality of cut I had grown accustom to when I had a large workspace with an Altendorf cabinet-size sliding table saw. The long-time friend who has become my primary Festool dealer let me try for myself that the TS55 on a guide rail made excellent glue-ready cuts with dust collection better than expensive slider table saws and with significantly less noise. Besides, with the TS55 I only needed room for a sheet of plywood, not the extra space to the side and either end of the blade as I would with a table saw.

Here it is six years later. I have bought a whole lot of Festools since then, including more TS55s and CT22s. That first combo is still in use 5-6 days a week. Neither has required factory service, just common sense routine care. Until I opened my huge new shop in mid 2010 all of my Festools were transported from rented space to rented space as I built more projects. The Systainers are an important part of the Festool System. Not only do the protect the tools in transit, they organize the accessories so that what you need to use a tool is there with the tool.

I have been using portable circular saws, sanders and routers since they became available right after WWII. I have never felt "as one" with a hand saw as I do with a TS55. They are designed to be fine-tuned. I own a lot of guide rails, TS55 and a few TS75 saws. For me it is vital that not only is the toe-in appropriate on each for the blade in use, but that all of these saws cut in exactly the same place relative to the splinter guard of the rails. Festool trainer Steve Bace showed me how to perform those adjustments within a couple of months of my first Festool purchase. When a person of company has many rails and saws, it is vital that all rails work together and with any of the saws.

It is no secret that the money I have made with Festools provided me with the funds necessary to buy the land and building for my current shop, which is also equipped that top of the line CNC nested routers, pressure beam saw, sliding table saw, edge bander, shapers, jointers, thickness planers and so on. I still use TS55 and rails to perform the odd angle and/or bevel breakdowns of sheet material. This can be done on a slider saw, but not as efficiently. I also use all of the Festool routers in addition to the CNC machines. Sometimes it is more efficient to use an OF1010 router on a Festool product with a drilled guide rail to make LR32 shelf-pin holes than to tie up a CNC machine for the task.

Some people really enjoy sanding wood. I want beautiful results with the minimum effort on my part. Festool sanders do this for me, while also giving me so much extra life from the abrasives as to justify the cost of the tools. Those sanders also keep on working well. All of my 2006 sanders are still in use.

 

[JimB1]

Well, I'm just a hobbiest and fairly new to Festool but I have a lot of DeWalt stuff along with Craftsman, PC, and Freud.

Seems to me that Festool commands a high price partly for innovation, partly for quality, partly for support and partly for made in Germany (other brands are made places where it is less expensive to build)

From what I've seen so far I am impressed with most of their stuff and am currently deciding on a ROS to join my Midi vac and 1010 router. My 1010 is the best freehand router I've ever tried and the Midi is excellent as well. The only other maker for vacs that I've tried that comes close (maybe exceeds it in some ways) is Fein.

Are they the best? I'm not sure, they are very good though and Festool USA seems pretty responsive to customers. Do you get what you pay for? Well, I guess that depends on what you think you are getting. I thought I was getting a well made, light, easy to use router in the 1010 so yes, I got exactly what I thought I was getting plus I also got a support group here at the FOG and a new hobby looking though the Festool catalog so I guess I actually got more then I thought LOL

-Jim

 

[waynelang2001]

I have a CDD cordless drill and the ATF55 I bought about 7 years ago. They have never failed on me all that time. I have been through 4 battery repackings though.

 

[Jerry Sitton]

Adam I don't think anyone addressed the question of comfort yet. If they had I apologize since I'm doing this from my phone.
The ergonomic design is up there with the best. I'm left handed but can switch with power tools and Festools are very comfortable to use. All are thought out well as far as safety is concerned as well. The big router i.e.. OF2200 is the most comfortable hand held monster router you can use. It is designed that well IMHO.
I own quite a few pieces as well and not one feels awkward. Hope this helps.

 

[zapdafish]

I havent used every tool out there so I couldn't say they are the best but they have given me no reason to look for something better.

Of the tools that I own and used, I can say Festool is the best  ;D

 

[Rembo]

I have a Makita and DEWALT and do not see any reason to pay more. my needs, this tool fits.
but I have two diamonds from Festool, Domino  df 500 and 700.

 

[Wood_Junkie]

A poignant note about your asking on the Festool Owners Group forum-- without argument, suspect a self-selecting fanboy club. 
However, as a frequenter of other woodworking forums, anytime I’ve seen Festool discussions come up over there, the one and only argument that is against/detrimental to Festool products is the price to purchase them.  Rarely if ever is there an actual valid negative point.  Some people simply can’t stomach the idea that something is worth that price.
If I might generalize, FOGgers are people who have realized that you do get what you pay for, and we feel ourselves are worthy of buying the categorical best.

As a hobbyist, my tools are both a functional asset, and a modicum of a ‘collection’.  I don’t need them to stay pristine, nor do I keep them in crystal cases.  But I also don’t earn money with them nor can I factor ‘future replacement cost’ into proposals to clients.  They cost me my own money, so I want them to last and to function perfectly.  Some things, like the MFT, rails, clamps, Systainers, etc are literally going to last me my lifetime, and they are game-changers unto themselves.

Having gone through three stages of upgrades over 5-6 years (B&D; Ryobi; misc (DeWalt/PC/Ridgid, etc) I now have a full Festool hoard.  Do they automagically make my woodworking better (from a holisitic and design sense)?  No.   

Do they make it faster and easier?  More efficient?  Do I get better results, AND have more time with my family (or for more projects  )?  Does working with them keep black crud out of my lungs, keep my shop cleaner and better organized, and thus again more efficient?  Do they allow me to enjoy this craft with less frustration?
Yes to all of these questions.

Would I buy them again? (to the tune of thousand$$)  Heck yeah.  As most ‘converts’ admit, I wish I’d known earlier on about Festool and just put that money of the first two upgrade stages straight into the green & blue.