Hawkeye0001
Member
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2018
- Messages
- 118
Been a long time reader of this forum for several years now and thought I might introduce myself and participate a bit more in future.
I've been hooked by woodworking since I spent several years in East Africa and observed the ingenuity and handycraft of the local "fundis" there (craftsman by experience, not apprenticeship). It taught me that many things can be hand made or recycled and don't need to be bought in furniture stores (where they never have exactly what you want anyway...).
Back in the old world after my stint abroad I started woodworking with my my grandfather's tools ranging from some cheap Aldi tools to some older Bosch tools (from an age when they'd still last) but soon got frustrated with their limitations and handling. First Festool was a used TS 55 EBQ followed in quick succession by a PS420, a T12 and a CTL 26 (working dust-free! - what a revelation!!!). Couple years down the line now there's seemingly very little space left between all those systainers that magically kept adding up - but hey, it's not like the money is gone: it just took the shape of tools
I decided early on to purchase all my Festool tools used as they still have plenty of life in them, all spare parts can be ordered with a simple phone call and the resale value equals or even exceeds their purchase value this way (plenty bargains on eBay). Not a single disappointment or failure to this date.
Most of my wood working consists of furniture; the latest projects where two display cabinet doors and a dinner table made from the remains of an ancient half timbered house, build from 300 year old german oak (that stuff is tough!).
If I'm not wood working I work as a paramedic in ze Fazerland and as a freelance helicopter pilot / instructor in Africa to fund my addiction [big grin].
I've been hooked by woodworking since I spent several years in East Africa and observed the ingenuity and handycraft of the local "fundis" there (craftsman by experience, not apprenticeship). It taught me that many things can be hand made or recycled and don't need to be bought in furniture stores (where they never have exactly what you want anyway...).
Back in the old world after my stint abroad I started woodworking with my my grandfather's tools ranging from some cheap Aldi tools to some older Bosch tools (from an age when they'd still last) but soon got frustrated with their limitations and handling. First Festool was a used TS 55 EBQ followed in quick succession by a PS420, a T12 and a CTL 26 (working dust-free! - what a revelation!!!). Couple years down the line now there's seemingly very little space left between all those systainers that magically kept adding up - but hey, it's not like the money is gone: it just took the shape of tools
I decided early on to purchase all my Festool tools used as they still have plenty of life in them, all spare parts can be ordered with a simple phone call and the resale value equals or even exceeds their purchase value this way (plenty bargains on eBay). Not a single disappointment or failure to this date.
Most of my wood working consists of furniture; the latest projects where two display cabinet doors and a dinner table made from the remains of an ancient half timbered house, build from 300 year old german oak (that stuff is tough!).
If I'm not wood working I work as a paramedic in ze Fazerland and as a freelance helicopter pilot / instructor in Africa to fund my addiction [big grin].
