Jumped in the Festool Pool! What I spent my money on the first time.

[RPSmith]

Greetings Everybody,

I am relatively new here (joined this week) and after many conversations with several of you and much input and wise council from many posters to my questions, I thought I'd let you know what I settled on. [big grin] [big grin]

Let me just preface:

I am an interior finish carpenter with 19 years experience and *thought* I had all the tools.  I am a lucky guy and get to work in some pretty high-end houses doing cabinetry, bookcases,  trim, case/base, crown, mantles, beams, paneling, coffered ceilings, and some custom furniture and weird one-off projects.  After using the TS 75 track saw, I knew that I was missing out on something and so I'm here.

I put my tax return together with some money I had saved and came up with what I consider to be a pretty good intro package:

-  TS 75 plunge saw (with 52 tooth blade for cross-cuts)

-  MFT/3 Table - non-basic package, along with various clamps, quick clamps, and dogs.

-  CT26 Dust Collector - along with the Dust Deputy Ultimate Kit.

-  OF1010 Router - with various guides, and fancy bases.

- an 'extra' 52" holed fence with connectors (for use with the LR 32 Hole Kit, which I couldn't afford yet [unsure]).

-  various clamps, splinter guards, guide rail deflectors, and extra do-dads to make all this stuff sing like it should.

-  I am working on getting a 'gently' used Domino to fill out the package.

-  I also have high on the list the LR 32 Hole Saw Kit for use in the field.

Not bad, eh?  I figured I would get the trinity of Festool products (the saw, the vacuum, and the table) and position myself to expand from there.

Thanks so much to all of you who helped me along in this.  There were many, many well-thought out answers to my questions. 

If anyone has any questions of me as to why I chose what I did, I'd be happy to share.  Believe me, I agonized over every purchase and weighed carefully before committing quite a chunk of change. [scared]

I'm really psyched to check all of this stuff out and will report back with my findings.

Cheers, and thanks again,

Richard

 

[GPowers]

Looks like a great start. Have fun.

 

[Sparktrician]

Welcome to the club!!!  Enjoy your new loot.  Be sure to chime up if you have any questions; there's a wealth of experience here on the FOG. 

[smile]

 

[billg71]

Congrats, that kit should take care of most of the things a trim/finish carpenter needs to do. If you do a reasonable number of built-ins the LR32 kit is a must! Combined with the Parallel Guide set (check out Brice's video for more info) it's a timesaver when running cabinet sides or boring doors for hinge cups.

Have fun!

Bill

 

[RPSmith]

Thanks Guys - yeah, I'm pumped.

If you do a reasonable number of built-ins the LR32 kit is a must!

I know, I know...that was the hardest item that I left off the list.  Right now, I have access to a sweet line-boring machine, so that was the piece that I could choose to afford later.

I literally spent every dollar of my available funds (I'm still hoping to get a deal on a Domino) on the setup.  Once it starts making money though...

I'll look like the guy in the video - Festool containers to the ceiling! 

In my dreams!!

 

[Brice Burrell]

...I'll look like the guy in the video - Festool containers to the ceiling! 

In my dreams!!

I'm the guy in the video, so how do you like my place.......  [big grin] 

Okay, for the record, that is Festool USA's training area, not my shop.  I was there last spring for the router class and demoed how I've used the LR32 with parallel guides for the guys there and Shane videoed it for Youtube. 

 

[Tim Morris]

Although the shots I've seen of your shop aren't much less significant. [poke]

Welcome Richard. Nice start down the slope!

 

[RPSmith]

Okay, for the record, that is Festool USA's training area, not my shop.

Yeah, had it been your shop, you'd be doing the demonstration in burlap sacks you'd be so broke!

Although the shots I've seen of your shop aren't much less significant.

Although, who knows, maybe these tools actually DO make money (and not just cost).  I can't justify this if all I do is feel better about woodworking...although on second thought...

Those guys at Festool are geniuses in more than one respect.

Thanks for the welcome.  This place is as warm as a bath.

 

[BigHonu]

Looks like a great start!

So when do the sanders join the inventory?  [big grin]

 

[peter halle]

RP,

This place is indeed a warm bath or an oasis or a ...  There are many like you here who at some time or another experienced a Festool tool and then wondered " Why not before now?"  I include myself in that arena.

You have a lot of experiences to share and knowledge that you have taken to be second nature.  When you can, share!

Welcome on board!   [welcome]

Peter

PS:  The welcoming attitude and advice like what you received earlier in your other thread is what makes this the best _________ forum of its kind!

 

[RPSmith]

The welcoming attitude and advice like what you received earlier in your other thread is what makes this the best _________ forum of its kind!

Amen to that, Peter.

You have a lot of experiences to share and knowledge that you have taken to be second nature.  When you can, share!

I'm on board with that sentiment.  This being a Festool site, and this being my first Festool purchase, currently my experience as it relates to Festool products and the other talented guys here is limited.  That said, I have already offered and willingly offer again to share the (agonizing) machinations that went into my purchasing decisions.

Today (hopefully) another experienced guy joined this site and wondered what am I going to do with all this stuff!  I can help there.

As I come to gain experience with all this, so shall I share.  We're all in this together.  

 

[sw1211]

I hope you have a camera so you can post some of your work.  [wink]  Finished and in progress shots are always good to see.

 

[tiralie]

Nice haul. Congrats.

Tim

 

[MrToolJunkie]

Enjoy and you did the right thing getting the three main parts of the system...it will make each additional purchase that much more enjoyable.  I have ended up with all the parts, but in round about way and wish that I had started with the heart of the system first.  These tools are awesome and this forum is a great place to hang out and learn and share.  Have fun!

Scot

 

[FulThrotl]

So when do the sanders join the inventory?   [big grin]

that was what tipped me over the edge, a rotax....

i needed a really good shop vac, and went into the store to buy a fein...

and the guy said... you might want to look at festool.... and i looked
at the vac, and looked at the price, and went... ?

and then looked at the sander, and it was $500, and you can get
a dual action sander for $80, and i said to the salesman, ?

and he clamped a piece of teak down, sawmill face up, put a sheet
of 80 grit in it, handed me the sander, and said.... try it and see......

left with the vac, the sander, and $100 worth of sandpaper.

then came the........

55 saw
rails
$1 k worth of systainers for all the other tools
kapex
domino
2200 router
base kit for the router
300 jigsaw
parallell guides
suction cups

it's not pretty.......
it doesn't get any better either.

 

[RPSmith]

So when do the sanders join the inventory?  Big Grin

I know, I know.  I held off buying another Bosch 1/2 sheet sander in order to get more Festools.  We all know I'll never get another Bosch :

then came the........

55 saw
rails
$1 k worth of systainers for all the other tools
kapex
domino
2200 router
base kit for the router
300 jigsaw
parallell guides
suction cups

it's not pretty.......
it doesn't get any better either.

That's some funny stuff.  I'm starting to get that feeling too.  How do you like the parallel guides?

 

[NVA_WW]

. . .  How do you like the parallel guides?. . .

I know I love my parallel guides.  I cut 10 sheets of 4'x8' plywood a couple of years, for a wall unit I was building for my wife, in an afternoon.  I know I would not have been able to do it that quickly with my table saw (it's a full size table saw, but I only have 32" rails for my fence.  I stacked up multiple sheets and cut them with my TS75.  The guides paid for themselves that afternoon.  The angle unit on the other hand collects dust in my garage.  I used it once and put it back in the systainer because I couldn't do repetitive cuts easily and quickly.  I can't get rid of my angle unit, because the systainer looks great on top of my CT.  [crying]

For the OP, you made a wise choice, but you might want to think about a 1400 instead of the 1100.  I have both, but it's nice to have a 1/2" collect available.  The 1400 works perfectly with the LR32 kit.

 

[FulThrotl]

then came the........
it's not pretty.......
it doesn't get any better either.

That's some funny stuff.  I'm starting to get that feeling too.  How do you like the parallel guides?

they work well, it's a different way of looking at processing wood.... i've also used them to
keep stock square when using the guide rail and a router...