Las Vegas FOG Tool Training!

[Matthew Schenker]

Everyone,
Perhaps you noticed that from April 18 to April 20, there was not much activity from me, nor from Brice Burrell, Dan Clark, Dan Clermont, Dave Ronyak, Per Swenson, or Ned Young.  Well, that's because we were all away from home, attending a three-day Festool training event in Las Vegas.

Yes, we were in Las Vegas, but we weren't there to party or gamble.  This was serious business!  From 8:00 to 5:00 over a three-day period, in a classroom-like setting, we were part of a thorough, detail-by-detail examination of Festool tools.  For those of you who did not know this, Festool has a permenent training center in Henderson, a town just outside Las Vegas.

It was a great opportunity, although our group included at least a couple of guys who are clearly not used to sitting still that long.  I'll admit I was one of them.

The seven of us spent all day with Christian Oltzscher (Festool CEO), Steve Bace (Training Manager), Brian Sedgeley (Tool Applications Trainer), and David McGibbon (Service/Tech Support).  The Festool guys generously gave their time, pouring out their souls...OK, I exaggerate a bit.  But seriously, they put together a detailed presentation of the newest Festool offerings -- the Kapex, OF2200, and MFK 700.  They also went over details of the current tool offerings.  Even though we have been using a lot of these tools for years, we saw some new details that surprised us.

And yes, we brought cameras!  I put mine away when I saw that a couple of others came with equipment that put my Canon PowerShot to shame.  So you'll get to see photos of the training center, the tools, and the people who were part of this event.

The point of the training was for us to gather information that is interesting and useful to Festool Owners Group members.  This post can be a way of opening up the discussion.  All the people who attended can jump in (if they are over their jet lag) and describe the event from their own perspectives.  What did they get out of this?  What most impressed them?  What technical tool detail is most memorable?  In the process, we'll reveal what we learned, and share with all of you.

It would also be great if we could hear from Christian, Steve, David, and Brian about this event.

I'll jump in again a little later in the discussion with more of my own impressions.

Stay in touch,
Matthew

 

[Dan Clermont]

Thanks for bringing it up Mathew. It truly was a blast and I was honored to attend this event.

Mathew said it was 8AM to 5 PM!! I'd say it was more like 7AM to 10PM as we'd all meet for breakfast and start talking tools and not stop till after dinner.

For me the most impressive tool was theOF220!! Steve turned it on and walked away from the MFT while the router  roared at full speed and never moved!! Just shows you how well balanced it was, seeing the new dust collection system and the chip extraction from it was incredible, the 30 degree offset for the router handles allows you to push the router up against your workpiece or edge guide was an excellent idea. Oh yeah and then they came up with this offset base which allows you to use it on a guide rail instead of the footie found on the OF 1400. I hope someday they add this base to the OF 1400 lineup

The KAPEX (bevel adjustment, 10"saw works like a 12" with a small footprint), MFK (precise small routah), HL 850 (quiet, easy cutter changes, fast removal or stock) and  trion jigsaw (barn beam demo) were also very impressive and I'll try to get more details in later.

All of the tools were impressive and I will add some pictures and a better description later on today once I get home and can access the camera.

Dan Clermont

 

[Brice Burrell]

It's true, if you go to Vegas you'll have spent all of your money, but not from gambling, but from the new Festools tools you now have to buy.

While I really enjoyed the tools it was getting to meet the Festool staff and the FOG members that was truly the highlight of the trip for me. I'd like to publicly thank Festool and Matthew for this great opportunity. Without the dedication of Festool to its customers and Matthew's to this forum none of this would have been possible, so thanks guys. Quick, note, there is one more Festool staff member to thank, Michael Williams, Vice President of Marketing, thank you Michael!

OK, I'll go into details a bit later, but for now I'll just say the new tools were impressive!

 

[Dan Clark]

This was a GREAT trip!   Meeting members of FOG face-to-face was a treat.   I'll write more later, but here are couple of pics to wet your appetite.

If you're wondering what I look like (probably not), here is me using the Kapex:

One the big benefits to guys with a bad back (me) is the Kapex's light weight.  I picked it up easily.  It was fairly light and it balanced very nicely, so that picking it up was very easy for me.   Here's a pic of Dave Ronyak lifting the Kapex:

Regards,

Dan.

p.s., My apologies for the pic with Dave's eyes closed.   (I think Dave is one of those people with lightning fast eye reflexes.  ;D )   

p.p.s In the first pic, that's Dan Clermont in the background.  In the second pic is Per Swenson (left), Dan Clermont (center), and Steve Bace (right).  Steve is Festool's training manager.

p.p.p.s. I received permission from the gentlemen in the pics, so I reposted the pics.

 

[PeterK]

Well - Matthew - you could of invited the rest of us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man, I would pay money to go to an event like that. Looking forward to all your comments - hopefully very specific comments on the new routers and stuff.
Thanks. Pete

 

[Brice Burrell]

No Dan, this is the pic of Dave trying to walk out the door with the Kapex, I'm glad security didn't ruff him up too bad.  

PeterK, details are coming.

 

[PeterK]

I have no patience!
I know I have no patience.
My wife tells me I have no patience ALL the time.
So - where are the details????  ;D
Ya'll got at least 1 hour of sleep 
Sheesh - how long do we have to wait?

 

[Dan Clermont]

I have no patience!
I know I have no patience.
My wife tells me I have no patience ALL the time.
So - where are the details????  ;D
Ya'll got at least 1 hour of sleep 
Sheesh - how long do we have to wait?

Hi Peter,

I got in late last night and am away from my camera with all of the pics on it. I promise to post pics, and other cool stuff tonight.

Festool has done some great things on the new tools and I am sure future tools will have similar features like the plus and minus symbols on fine adjusters for the routers (MFK and OF 2200)

Dan Clermont

 

[Brice Burrell]

Festool has done some great things on the new tools and I am sure future tools will have similar features like the plus and minus symbols on fine adjusters for the routers (MFK and OF 2200)

Dan Clermont

Heres a pic of the plus and minus symbols on fine adjuster of the MFK.
[attachthumb=#]

Heres a shot of the OF 2200's base, note: the green base will not be on the production unit.
[attachthumb=#]

The Kapex.
[attachthumb=#]

Domino cutaway.
[attachthumb=#]

 

[Brice Burrell]

Since we had a lot of ground to cover we didn't get a spent a great deal of time with hands on time with the tools, but enough time to get a bit of a"feel" for the tool. I didn't get nearly as many pictures as I wanted to. I would have loved to be able to photograph each new tool for a long time to get 50-60 quality pics of each tool, I sort of feel like I let you guys down because I'm sure you'd love to see all the details of the new tools. With the pics I took and the rest of the group's I hope to some good pics and info. In the next few days I intend to do mini reviews of the MFT/3, OF2200, MFK700 and the Kapex both here and on my site, stay tuned, this should be fun.

 

[jonny round boy]

OMG!!!

You have no idea how jealous I am of you guys...

It really does seem like Festool USA have the right idea! Festool UK aren't bad, but Christian O really puts them to shame.

 

[robtonya]

I would like to hear more about the MFK 700, that tool has really caught my interest. Also I seen Per wasn't wearing a dead animal on his head, was you able to recognize him without it? ;D

 

[Per Swenson]

Hello All,

What a Trip.

Literally and Figuratively.

Among us there were more picture takers at this event,

then at a Japanese wedding.

I took mental pictures with my ears.

I will comment when pertinent.

First and Foremost, though,to the staff of festool, my Heartfelt thanks.

For everything.

The president and Ceo, Christian[attachimg=#]

David McGibbon, the maytag repair man of Festool.[attachimg=#]

Steve Bace and Brian Sedgely ( I hesitate to use the word trainer because they are much more then that)

who shared their unlimited knowledge of the products with us.

And that is our very own Matthew in the background, whom I am forever indebted.[attachimg=#]

Somebody Please post a Picture Of Michael, the Marketing man another gem of a guy.

It is rare when you find a Company where everyone actually love's their jobs.

And it shows.

The insight I gained is just , well for a lack of a better word, invaluable.

Just because I am in this for the money. ;D

 

[Per Swenson]

Ahh,

Brian got cut off, that's not fair.

Here you go.

Per

 

[Per Swenson]

And one more thing.

Take 15 guys off the internet, stick 'em in a room

for two days...you would think there might be some discordance?

Not one bit.

A finer bunch of people I have not met.

Per

 

[Ned]

Yeah, I was there too.  And I'm grateful for a unique opportunity.

I came home to PC hell, and I won't be posting much until I get this resolved.  However it works out, you'll hear about it in the Vista Upgrade thread.

For the moment, my email is inaccessible too.

Ned

 

[Brice Burrell]

I would like to hear more about the MFK 700, that tool has really caught my interest. Also I seen Per wasn't wearing a dead animal on his head, was you able to recognize him without it? ;D

Rob, the MFK got my attention, there is a lot nice features in that router. I want one.

Brian domoing the MFK700 routah.
[attachthumb=#]

 

[peter halle]

I would not be surprised if I spoke for all fog members - I'm jealous.  but then again, I would say thanks for all that each of the contributors provides to the enormous knowledge base here.  

Finally, for those at Festool USA - what a class act you are.

I can't wait for more info about that working "vacation"

peter

 

[Fred West]

Peter, you could not have put it better. I would have given one of Nick's arms to have been there.  ;D Fred

 

[Matthew Schenker]

OK, now the photos are rolling out...

As you can all see, by the time that picture Per posted above was taken, my head and neck were starting to hurt from all the details we consumed.

Well, OK, and I was also calculating a way to get that Kapex into my travel bag and move it through airport security.

It was great spending the weekend learning about Festool tools, and getting to know some of the FOG members better.

By the way, I was rooming next to Per for the weekend.  We can vouch for each other that neither of us went near the Hooters down the hall.

Matthew