T. Michael
Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2007
- Messages
- 63
Thought I'd start this topic here, as I do have a wish that Festool could act upon.
I've been looking for a metric, 150 mm double square, like my Starret 6" #13a model, which I use all the time.
Bought the Fast Cap tape measures, but need something for precision for joinery layout with Festools, especially the Domino.
Starrett doesn't seem to have a metric double square in their big catalogue. Someone suggested that I look at the Incra 150mm square, and that would be a good start; although the blade is very thin. But, I can't find them being sold by Woodcraft, Rockler, Lee Valley, nor Hartville tools. So I need some help on where to find it. This is sort of a chicken and egg problem. Since there are so few orders, sellers don't want to stock the metric items, and since they don't stock them, buyers can't buy them.
While looking at Japan Woodworker, I did come across two useful items, which I ordered to try out. First is called a Kanesa ss straight edge 12" (Probably 300 mm) it is 1/8" thick, so pretty sturdy, marked in 1 mm increments, with 5 and 10 highlighted. The other item is a Shinwa double mitre gage, this is made up of two aluminum measuring devices fastened together at right angles; one is about 6 cm square, the other has 45 degree mitre angles on it (see pic below).
Now, here is my wish. (I do remember in the 70's when there was a big flurry of effort to get the US to go metric. Didn't work) Now that Festool is gaining a toehold in the US market, and keeping all their tools that have measurements in metric, there is a need to complete the system for maximum market penetration; just as car's cannot be a widespread product without adequate roads and gasoline distribution system (plus many more) so a set of metric tools like Festool will have difficulty getting an even broader reach when limited by precision measuring tools. Of course the digital caliper is already here, and that's terrific (switchable from in to mm). But the rigid measuring tools seem pretty scarce. And thanks to FastCap for their tapes, the lefty-righty mm and the inch-metric tape.
So, I would propose that Festool find a partner in metric Europe that makes a good line of tri squares, double squares, ruled engineers squares in metric, and add them to their catalogue; stock in the US and increase the adoption rate even faster of their products. Otherwise, each end user has to go through the fight themselves. This will be a bit of a pain, but Festool has the most to gain. Of course, whom ever the largest dealers are could do this too; Woodcraft, McFeeleys (don't know who sells the most). But I think Festool would be the best bet.
Thanks for thinking about this,
Mike Ward, who just got his prize Domino yesterday! Wow! and thanks. More later on that.
I've been looking for a metric, 150 mm double square, like my Starret 6" #13a model, which I use all the time.
Bought the Fast Cap tape measures, but need something for precision for joinery layout with Festools, especially the Domino.
Starrett doesn't seem to have a metric double square in their big catalogue. Someone suggested that I look at the Incra 150mm square, and that would be a good start; although the blade is very thin. But, I can't find them being sold by Woodcraft, Rockler, Lee Valley, nor Hartville tools. So I need some help on where to find it. This is sort of a chicken and egg problem. Since there are so few orders, sellers don't want to stock the metric items, and since they don't stock them, buyers can't buy them.
While looking at Japan Woodworker, I did come across two useful items, which I ordered to try out. First is called a Kanesa ss straight edge 12" (Probably 300 mm) it is 1/8" thick, so pretty sturdy, marked in 1 mm increments, with 5 and 10 highlighted. The other item is a Shinwa double mitre gage, this is made up of two aluminum measuring devices fastened together at right angles; one is about 6 cm square, the other has 45 degree mitre angles on it (see pic below).
Now, here is my wish. (I do remember in the 70's when there was a big flurry of effort to get the US to go metric. Didn't work) Now that Festool is gaining a toehold in the US market, and keeping all their tools that have measurements in metric, there is a need to complete the system for maximum market penetration; just as car's cannot be a widespread product without adequate roads and gasoline distribution system (plus many more) so a set of metric tools like Festool will have difficulty getting an even broader reach when limited by precision measuring tools. Of course the digital caliper is already here, and that's terrific (switchable from in to mm). But the rigid measuring tools seem pretty scarce. And thanks to FastCap for their tapes, the lefty-righty mm and the inch-metric tape.
So, I would propose that Festool find a partner in metric Europe that makes a good line of tri squares, double squares, ruled engineers squares in metric, and add them to their catalogue; stock in the US and increase the adoption rate even faster of their products. Otherwise, each end user has to go through the fight themselves. This will be a bit of a pain, but Festool has the most to gain. Of course, whom ever the largest dealers are could do this too; Woodcraft, McFeeleys (don't know who sells the most). But I think Festool would be the best bet.
Thanks for thinking about this,
Mike Ward, who just got his prize Domino yesterday! Wow! and thanks. More later on that.
