McFeely screw assortment in Systainer 1

[Paul Franklin]

Anyone interested in a Sys-Set including an assortment of Spax screws or equivalent?  I find their product advertising claims pretty much match performance - easy to drive and minimal or no need to drill a pilot hole to prevent splitting in most applications.  Their high strength relative to shank size and thread design enables their use in place of multiple other specially designed fastners.  Combi-head or square drive would be fine.

Dave R.

Dave

I would be interested in a Spax set. I use them all the time. I like both the #8 and #6 sizes, I actually use the #6 the most.

Paul

 

[Paul Franklin]

Ron

What are the savings if any of buying your screw selections?
Also how do your screws  and which ones compare to Spax?
Do you do trade discounts?

Cheers

Paul

 

[Ron Pegram]

Ron

What are the savings if any of buying your screw selections?
Also how do your screws  and which ones compare to Spax?
Do you do trade discounts?

Cheers

Paul

Hey Paul,

Because of the pretty stringent rules regarding the brand equity agreement between Festool and distributors, I've tried to make sure that none of these packages are direct apples to apples comparisons with other assortments we sell. To do so would be to run the risk of giving the notion of discounting. That's a 'no-no' under the brand equity agreement.

So while you could calculate here's what it might cost if I bought all of these separately (and if you did that, I suspect you'd be very pleased with the pricing), you'd have to also consider two things. The 1st is that McFeely's has long been in the practice of offering screw assortments at pretty good pricing under the hypothetical list and the 2nd is that these are all new packages. That makes the comparison pretty tough.

I'm very respectful of the Brand Equity Agreement so McFeely's will not be able to use the marketing tactic of here's the hypothetical pricing of all these items purchased separately and here's the savings in a kit. I'll have to leave that to you all to decide whether it's a valuable package (although I'm very confident that you'll agree that they are).

As for Spax, we have a serrated product entitled the ProMaster. Like the Spax, it has a serrated thread type that helps with driving the screw. I think it compares favorably although we haven't conducted any fair 3rd party testing. Just from market feedback, I'd wager that our product is very similar to theirs and vice versa. I don't think you can go wrong with either brand to be fair. Well, perhaps I have a slight bias with the McFeely's product.

This makes me think I should offer a best of both worlds approach and see if the Spax folks would be interested in having a McFeely's relationship. If so, I'd be happy to put some kits together offering both our and their products and let the real world engineers (i.e. you guys) tell me which works best where. That would help both Spax and McFeely's improve their line.

Looks like I'll be making a call this morning...

 

[Ron Pegram]

Two quick updates:

1) The sortainer options ARE a go. Festool had ample opportunity of the 12 drawer version.

(Had being the operative word here)

2) I've started the conversation with the SPAX folks. It's very early in the game but their brand reputation is very similar to ours so I think selling both screw lines in one place will be a win-win for everyone. They seem to be as enamored of us as we are of them. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[brandon.nickel]

Ron,

I've got a limited experience with Spax, but so far I'm very impressed.  I used their torx-head lag-screws (1/4 x 3 1/2) to mount my garage heater to the ceiling.  I used a 2x4 spanning 3 rafters (~60" due to the angle).  After driving only one home with my 12V DeWalt (I can't afford a C12 yet) I was unable to rotate the board to adjust the final position.  This was with a 60" lever arm and a smooth drywall ceiling.  Incredible.  I had to loosen it.

They're also holding my wood racks up, my winter-tire shelf, and my wife's garden framing together.  I could definitely use an assortment of these fasteners.  I think I'm hooked.

-Brandon

 

[allen_petty]

I would love to see a euro hardware/cabinet set, hinges and drawer slides in either the sys or sortainer. I already ordered the 1300 set from Mcfeely's. looks like I should have waited a few weeks I would have had more options. I don't kniow about everybody else but I love these screw sets, I would rather buy these sets and have a few extra screws than run to a hardware store every time I need a special screw.
I really love the Festool boxes, standards sizes, very sturdy, they even look good.
Thanks Mcfeely's and festool

 

[Tim Sproul]

If you'll give me a breakdown of what sizes you'd find most attractive, this will happen. There are a lot of options in machine screws and because I'm not working with handles and pulls as regularly as you are, your insight is infinitely better than mine. Also, should those machine screws be stainless or regular steel in your opinion?

I'm far from a representative example.  Handle pulls require different machine screws dependent on the manufacturer and the handle/pull so I'd probably leave those out.  If you opt to put some in, regular steel is just fine.  Drawers and doors shouldn't be subject to moisture concerns.

I'd like to see:

Small assortment of pocket hole screws - for joining 1 inch, 3/4 and 1/2 inch material, in both the coarse and fine threading.
Small assortment of small flathead screws for hinges - #4, #5, #6, #8 in 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4 inch lengths in brass and antique brass finishes.
Assortment of undercut screws for slides in nickel or zinc finish and perhaps a darker finish too.
Assortment of screws typically used in cup hinge installs (I abhore cup hinges and so don't know what would be appropriate)
Small assortment of flathead screws for hanging cabinets and assembling cabinets - #6 and #8 in 2 , 2 1/2 and 3 inch lengths.
Stubby length hand drivers and regular length hand drivers....stubby's are great for hardware installs like slides and hinges.
I like to use brass estucheon pins for pinning panels and glazing.....I don't know if McFeely's sells them nor how popular this is with other cabinetmakers.
Machine screws in brass or brass finish or similar for hinges in 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4 length.  Sometimes machine screws work better for small hinges because you have more thread biting compared to wood screws.  A drill bit and tap if you sell them too.

Drill bits (regular and taper point) for the about screws and countersinks.

I'm sure there are other common fasteners that I've left out and perhaps others might chime in.

Tim

 

[Bob Childress]

I received my assortment last week and yesterday brought the systainer in the house for some work. Opened it up on the kitchen counter and SWMBO said "That's really neat! I love that!" 

So, my question is: What am I bid for a wife that loves it when you buy Festo stuff?  ;D ;D

 

[Tinker]

I received my assortment last week and yesterday brought the systainer in the house for some work. Opened it up on the kitchen counter and SWMBO said "That's really neat! I love that!" 

So, my question is: What am I bid for a wife that loves it when you buy Festo stuff?  ;D ;D

Be careful what you wish for, my friends.  My wife is the same way. Because she is so "understanding", she has bought about $10000 worth of sewing machines.  ??? ??? ???
Tinker

 

[Eli]

So, my question is: What am I bid for a wife that loves it when you buy Festo stuff?  ;D ;D

Is there a reserve? When does the auction end? Can you combine shipping with multiple items, like maybe some sandpaper? Obviously, you'd need to ship internationally.

 

[stvrowe]

Be careful what you wish for, my friends.  My wife is the same way. Because she is so "understanding", she has bought about $10000 worth of sewing machines.  ??? ??? ???
Tinker

Ahh - consider yourself lucky my friend.  My "understanding" wife bought over $18,000 worth of sewing machines and sergers.  High end European Swedish and German made of course.
Steve

 

[Bob Childress]

So, my question is: What am I bid for a wife that loves it when you buy Festo stuff?  ;D ;D

Is there a reserve? When does the auction end? Can you combine shipping with multiple items, like maybe some sandpaper? Obviously, you'd need to ship internationally.

No reserve. Bidding starts at $1.00. But the auction goes for 10 days. And anyway, Eli, I've got your number. Yes, you can combine shipping; for example, the wife and three boxes of Rubin sandpaper. 

 

[Corwin]

How 'bout some pics?         

 

[Eli]

There are pics of Rubin available on the festoolusa website.  ;D

 

[rodwolfy]

Hey Garry,

Things are pretty much moving along as I noted upstream. I have my production department working on assembling the needed components and we're going to try to offer these items in the next 10-14 days. My plan is to introduce a Kreg pockethole version, a McFeely's pockethole version, a connecting screw version and a combo recess version as suggested here. Price points have been established (and will be very close to the price of the original offer it not identical) and we should have all of the alternate iterations ready to go soon. As soon as we do, I'll have my artist put together an email and it'll be 'off we go' from that moment on.

I follow this thread pretty regularly so if anyone would like to see a different version, this is the place to tell me.

Thanks again,

Well Ron,

I'm not one to let this thread die... 

I am always searching about the house and local hardware stores for nuts and bolts (and washers). It drives me nuts, as I'm constantly out of one or another. It would be nice if you'd offer a large variety, but small quantity of them in the systainers. Like imperial and metric versions in various lengths and widths, with the nuts to match. I didn't have the ones for my electrical outlets the other day after they stripped out, I needed one with a nut for my kid's bike, I needed a metric 20mm long one for my Felder, my router wouldn't mount on the new plate as the screws didn't fit... on and on. Maybe just 25 of each length and width (with a common thread pattern), but a large assortment of types, up to a couple of inches?

Rod

 

[GreenGA]

This should not die.  We're all waiting for the promised new McFeely Screw Assortment announcements.  Any day now, any day.....

Tick, tick, tick....

 

[Ron Pegram]

Don't I know it! I'm chomping at the bit myself. I'm at the point where I'm ready to make some assortments by myself just to get it done!

But the good news is it's happening this week. At this point, all of the items have been established and inventory is being made. I know I must sound like the boy who cried wolf but they're coming.

And I can't wait, to be honest. Wait until you all see the pricing on the sortainer versions. I feel really good about what we're doing and I hope you all feel the same. Just bear with me for another few days...another few days.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

You'll probably come out with them while I am out of the country on business and then be out of them at my return.  The cruelty of it all!

Dave R.

 

[GreenGA]

Well, the delay, or more accurately, the time it took to build the packages to offer,  :, allowed me to save a few more pennies.  So, I guess I know where they will be spent.

 

[brandon.nickel]

I just came from the McFeely's website after a few days of non coming back here.  I was looking for the promised sets and had to come here for the update.  Ron, can you let us in on what the sets you came up with look like?  As in, what Sys/Sortainer and what types of screws?  Also, how's that partnership with Spax coming?