Just a note to introduce myself.

[dgcope]

Hello, All.

My name is Donald Cope and I've just joined the FOG, although I used to read and contribute to it a couple of years ago.  I am a Festool dealer, but I am also a professional furniture designer and maker.  I work in wood, metal and glass among other materials, and I use Festools for many of my commissions.  I also teach furniture design at the University of Georgia.  Anyway, I have a good deal of practical knowledge regarding using Festools in real world applications, as well as using them creatively.  If there is anything I can help you with, please drop me a note or give me a call (706.207.5086) and I'll do my best to help.  While I don't have a website for Festool, I do have a site for my furniture design which you might like to see:

http://www.stalror.com

While Festools are the only power tools that I sell, I handle several other lines of German hand tools like Knipex, Stahlwille, Witte, Wiha, and others.  I am also a dealer for the excellent Swiss Lista tool cabinets.  Please let me know your needs and I'll be happy to help!

Kind Regards,

Don

 

[EcoFurniture]

Hi Don,

Welcome to the forum! Pretty cool product line you have

Do you have a website where you are selling the festool and  other tools from? I'm interested to see what you have to offer.

Cheers,
Andreas

 

[Les]

Welcome Don. Easy to see why you are teaching design. Very nice.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Don,
Welcome to the forum, and it's great you posted an introduction to yourself.  I always encourage dealers to do that!

You have also been added to the growing list of dealers here in the forum: click here.

Thanks,
Matthew

 

[meldgaard]

... I do have a site for my furniture design which you might like to see:

http://www.stalror.com

Hi Don and welcome

Out of curiosity - How on earth did you get the idea of using the danish word for steelpipe as your company name ?

 

[dgcope]

Hi, and thanks for the welcome and the kind words.

Andreas, I don't currently have a website of my own for the tools, but as follows are company websites for my major lines.  I sell all of the tools on any of these sites.  I can also send you catalogs as well.

Lista Tool Cabinets
Knipex Tools
Stahlwille Tools
Witte Screwdrivers
Wiha Tools
Anglo-American Hand Tools
Kranzle Pressure Washers
and of course, Festool!

meldgaard, the company name is kind of a long story, but I'll give you the short version.  My biological family (I'm adopted) were Danish and German.  I was fascinated by Danish design even before I knew this.  When I was looking for a company name, I wanted to choose something Danish in honor of my heritage and my scholarly interest in Danish furniture design.  Since at the time, steel tubing was my primary media, I finally settled on "stalror," (sorry the correct danish characters won't display) the danish word for steel pipe.  It was a big mistake because it confuses people, but I have used it so long it seems a shame to change it now.

Kind Regards,

Don

 

[Tom D]

Boy, Those Kranzle vacs look familiar.

 

[woodshopdemos]

Hi, and thanks for the welcome and the kind words.

Andreas, I don't currently have a website of my own for the tools, but as follows are company websites for my major lines.  I sell all of the tools on any of these sites.  I can also send you catalogs as well.

Lista Tool Cabinets
Knipex Tools
Stahlwille Tools
Witte Screwdrivers
Wiha Tools
Anglo-American Hand Tools
Kranzle Pressure Washers
and of course, Festool!

meldgaard, the company name is kind of a long story, but I'll give you the short version.  My biological family (I'm adopted) were Danish and German.  I was fascinated by Danish design even before I knew this.  When I was looking for a company name, I wanted to choose something Danish in honor of my heritage and my scholarly interest in Danish furniture design.  Since at the time, steel tubing was my primary media, I finally settled on "stalror," (sorry the correct danish characters won't display) the danish word for steel pipe.  It was a big mistake because it confuses people, but I have used it so long it seems a shame to change it now.

Kind Regards,

Don

Welcome Don, I too enjoyed your website and art. A point of information:  ST?LT?R does exist on these keyboards, allthough a little cumbersome. They are ASCII keys 197 and 216. You employ them by pressing the ALT key and 0197 (or 216) and if you knew that already, nevermind.  Edit: well they worked in the preview but not now...so newvermind.)

 

[dgcope]

Hello All,

Since this forum is dedicated to fine tools in one form or another, I thought I would share with you some of the work I have been doing in regards ito fine German hand tools and organization.  I developed this for a couple of my best customers, whom I would like to thank for their patience while I worked through the problems. I think it represents the ultimate in organization and presentation and is highly practical as the prevention of damage and loss of expensive tools makes the cost of implementing a control system very low. The concept is called "Tool Control" and is an evolution of shadow boards.  It is in widespread use in the Aircraft industry as a misplaced tool can have grave consequences.  Tools are placed in a 3-dimensional CNC routed foam insert.  The foam is firm and resilient, as well as resistant to dirt and solvents.  A place for everything and everything in it's place...a missing tool is immediately noticeable by the visibility of a background "alert" color.  I can supply the tools and foam, as well as empty foam inserts for your existing tools.  The process is possible via photography which means you can keep your tools at your location.  Please email for more details.  I'd be delighted to hear what you folks think of this work.  Keep in mind inserts can be made practically any size, even Systainers!

[attachimg=#]

[attachimg=#]

For more images of the completed projects, please go to this link: Tool Control

Thank you!

 

[Frank Pellow]

Don, I like your Tool Control system.  I can certainly appreciate how useful it is.

 

[Gene Howerton]

Can you make an insert for a PC 690 router? And how thick would the foam be.  Any ideas on cost, sounds like a great system

 

[Bob Marino]

Hello All,

Since this forum is dedicated to fine tools in one form or another, I thought I would share with you some of the work I have been doing in regards ito fine German hand tools and organization.  I developed this for a couple of my best customers, whom I would like to thank for their patience while I worked through the problems. I think it represents the ultimate in organization and presentation and is highly practical as the prevention of damage and loss of expensive tools makes the cost of implementing a control system very low. The concept is called "Tool Control" and is an evolution of shadow boards.  It is in widespread use in the Aircraft industry as a misplaced tool can have grave consequences.  Tools are placed in a 3-dimensional CNC routed foam insert.  The foam is firm and resilient, as well as resistant to dirt and solvents.  A place for everything and everything in it's place...a missing tool is immediately noticeable by the visibility of a background "alert" color.  I can supply the tools and foam, as well as empty foam inserts for your existing tools.  The process is possible via photography which means you can keep your tools at your location.  Please email for more details.  I'd be delighted to hear what you folks think of this work.  Keep in mind inserts can be made practically any size, even Systainers!

[attachimg=#]

[attachimg=#]

For more images of the completed projects, please go to this link: Tool Control

Thank you!

Don,

I think your work is incredible - great concept! I only wish my tools were any where near as organized as in your pics.

Bob

 

[peter halle]

Don,

My wife saw this thread and asked if you could possibly make something to fit a 5 x 10 trailer and the back of a standard american big pickup so that I wouldn't spend so much quality time sorting stuff out.

I really think that she wants to see if you can do an outline of my head - she's worried that I am losing my mind.

Realistically, how large can you go?

Peter

 

[meldgaard]

Don

I allmost had an instant asthma attack.
If I ever had the money for this I would
let nobody touch it or even see it at all
- probably just sit and mumble 'my precious'

[attachimg=1]

 

[dgcope]

Meldgaard,

I laughed and laughed when I saw your photoshop work.  My girlfriend thought it was hilarious.  I pretty much feel the same way, and that's why I've put so much work into the projects shown.  DKK's will buy a lot in the USA...can I ship you some precious?

Peter,

The maximum dimensions for a single piece of foam are 75mm (3") thick, and about 30"wide x 60"long, although it is possible to go thicker by post-machine stack laminating and it is also possible in certain cases to go longer, ie. 70+".

Gene,

I see no immediate problems with an insert for the PC 690 router.  Normally I like to have at least half of the tool submerged in the foam.  We can make up the required depth by post-machine stack laminating the foam.  I'd need more details for a firm quote, but I'm guessing $100-$150, maybe less.

To all who commented, thank you for your feedback and encouraging words.

Kind Regards,

Don

 

[Matthew Schenker]

meldgaard,
Wow, that's a pretty convincing Photoshop workup.  Well, at least I assume that's what it is!  Either that, or you and Don are really from Middle Earth.

I look forward to seeing what else can you do with Photoshop!

Stay in touch,
Matthew

 

[Sean7a]

Hello All,

Since this forum is dedicated to fine tools in one form or another, I thought I would share with you some of the work I have been doing in regards ito fine German hand tools and organization.  I developed this for a couple of my best customers, whom I would like to thank for their patience while I worked through the problems. I think it represents the ultimate in organization and presentation and is highly practical as the prevention of damage and loss of expensive tools makes the cost of implementing a control system very low. The concept is called "Tool Control" and is an evolution of shadow boards.  It is in widespread use in the Aircraft industry as a misplaced tool can have grave consequences.  Tools are placed in a 3-dimensional CNC routed foam insert.  The foam is firm and resilient, as well as resistant to dirt and solvents.  A place for everything and everything in it's place...a missing tool is immediately noticeable by the visibility of a background "alert" color.  I can supply the tools and foam, as well as empty foam inserts for your existing tools.  The process is possible via photography which means you can keep your tools at your location.  Please email for more details.  I'd be delighted to hear what you folks think of this work.  Keep in mind inserts can be made practically any size, even Systainers!

[attachimg=#]

[attachimg=#]

For more images of the completed projects, please go to this link: Tool Control

Thank you!

Awesome stuff, incredible!  Would love to see that in person!