Must have Festool kit?

[Freetime101]

Hi All,

New to Festool and new to FOG, so hi!

Started out with a cheap tracksaw (non-festool) that happens to fit Festool rails so bought an FS1400 rail as the cheap saw only came with 700mm rails.

A web search for the best dust extractor/shop vac led me to the Festool Midi which was shortly followed by the obvious upgrade to the TS 55!

I then needed a longer track so have bought the FS1400 LR32 with the connector with a future aim of getting the LR32 system (I've bodged a DIY version with a Dewalt router for now...).

The DF500 Domino, and RO150 Rotex sander are now also on my wish list which got me thinking; what are the must-have Festool tools?

I've gone the DIY MFT route as I'm garage based so don't need to be portable but either way a decent workbench is pretty high on the list of essential tools. I'd say the TS55, rail and dust extractor, naturally as it's what I have, but also the DF500 and RO150.
Anything else to add to the list? Anyone disagree with my choices? I deliberately said "kit" instead of tools as I noticed Festool do Fan Merchandise too  [big grin]

I have the usual tools (drills, sanders etc) from other brands but have now broken the mental cost/justification barrier to Festool ownership!

Cheers!

 

[afish]

This really depends a lot on what type of projects you do. 

 

[Thompmd]

Welcome to the forum/Festool . There’s a gentleman on the classifieds with a list of tools for sale, not sure what, prices etc.

They also have a recon site which saves you about 25%

I’ve been doing over a year and overall love their stuff

Great site and generally very detailed answers.

 

[Alanbach]

Don’t get me wrong, I love my Rotex sander but I’m not sure that it would be my first Festool sander. If I did tons of slabs and end grain cutting boards or other applications where a big, two handed heavy duty sander was needed then maybe. Otherwise I might consider a smaller Festool sander as my first. I would ask what type or types of sanders you have now and use the most?  Festool has so many shapes and sizes of sanders, I would just want you to pick the one that fits the work you do right now in the best way possible. In the end I would bet that you are going to own more than one. My first Festool sander was an ETS EC and it is still a favorite.

 

[Freetime101]

Thanks for the welcoming replies  [smile]

I meant the post as more of a fun "what are the Festool must have's" rather than a "what tools do I need" if that makes sense?

Naturally a tool is made to do a job, and so the "must have's" will vary based on what people intend to use them for - I'm just being curious

The recon site is interesting but seems to be US specific, I'm in GB so no discounts for me  [sad]

 

[squall_line]

Thanks for the welcoming replies  [smile]

I meant the post as more of a fun "what are the Festool must have's" rather than a "what tools do I need" if that makes sense?

Naturally a tool is made to do a job, and so the "must have's" will vary based on what people intend to use them for - I'm just being curious

The recon site is interesting but seems to be US specific, I'm in GB so no discounts for me  [sad]

The Festool "Must Haves" are the hats and t-shirts.  Rep the brand!

Beyond that, if I never have the need of a tracksaw (which to this point I don't) then even if a TS55 is "The Quintessential Festool", it's really not a "Must Have" for me, if that makes sense?

Possibly a Dust Collector, as another thing that Festool is known for, even though some would say that other brands are quieter or better in one respect or another.

As far as "no discounts for me", I'm not sure about GB, but at least on this side of the pond Recon is the only way to get a discount on a Festool (other than the used market).  EU dealers have more open arrangements as far as pricing and combos and deals are concerned.  It's always a little bit greener somewhere else, no?

 

[mino]

If you do not have a router still, I would get the OF1010 - the new REBQ version which come out this summer.

Then, being a hobby user, get the ETS 125 sander with the angle attachment. You will find it very useful for edging (without a steady professional hand) and it is an excellent finish sander for sheet goods in its own right.

Their AGC 18 cordless grinder is also excellent.

It is variable speed and very-very smooth and quiet If one can give such a characteristic to a grinder. I use it as an ad-hoc disc sander for all kinds of purposes. It is my second most-used tool after a drill driver.

The last "must have" for me would be the CXS.
You will love it and it will be your most-used tool fast. It is not the most powerful by far, but is a joy to use.

A non-Festool stuff I would consider more important than any of these is to get the TSO GRS 16 PE and their PGS system to go along your FS/2 rails. Add the Makita rail connectors to that (and avoid Festool ones which are worse) and you are set.

EDIT:
I know you look for Domino and a Rotex. Excellent. But I would much rather get the TSO PGS system or the AGC 18 grinder WAY before splurging on a Domino or a Rotex.

If you can get all, great, but if not rather cover your bases - e.g. a general router, a general sander - before you splurge on the specialty tools.

 

[Imemiter]

I'll throw down with the CSX. You may think you have enough drills for now, but in the absence of a CSX you need one more.  [smile]

 

[Cypren]

I'll plug the CXS as well; it's a tool a lot of people write off at first glance as a wildly overpriced screwdriver, but pretty much everyone who owns one will list it as one of their favorite tools in their shop. It just strikes a perfect balance of weight/power/ergonomics.

Other highlights:

• You've already discovered the TS 55, but adding the TSO squares and parallel guides to it takes it to a whole other level, letting you make cuts with the precision and repeatability of a cabinet saw in a portable form factor.
• The OF 1010 and OF 1400 are fantastic routers. Which one will be better for you, personally, depends on what you intend to do with it: the 1400 is a better general-purpose router (more power, more accessories, much broader selection of bits), but the 1010 is the only one of the Festool routers that can use guide bushings with absolute precision, so it tends to be better for template work where accuracy is critical.
• All the Festool sanders are great, but for your first one, unless you're doing a lot of heavy material stripping, you should probably go with the ETS EC 125 (or ETSC, if you want cordless). It strikes a good balance between functionality and ergonomics. The Rotex sanders are fantastic for rapid material removal, but they are heavy.
• I absolutely love the Carvex jigsaw. It has so many little touches that make it a pleasure to use compared to any other jigsaw I've tried in the past: the interchangeable bases, the strobe light that lets you precisely track the cutting path, etc.
• The Domino is a life-changing tool if your projects can benefit from floating tenons, but it is a very specialized tool. If budget is a concern, delay this one until you're positive you'll have a sustained use for it: it's a very expensive paperweight for the purposes of a large number of typical hobby woodworking projects.
• This may seem like an odd callout, but for me the boom arm attachment for the CT vac was easily one of my favorite purchases. Not having to constantly worry about my hose and power cords catching on things was just a huge weight off my mind and made it easier to focus on the task at hand.

 

[hoe]

I'll plug the CXS as well; it's a tool a lot of people write off at first glance as a wildly overpriced screwdriver, but pretty much everyone who owns one will list it as one of their favorite tools in their shop. It just strikes a perfect balance of weight/power/ergonomics

I just bought a CXS just over a week ago and love it. I also bought the 1010 router and am really happy with both. Those are the only Festools i own but i am eying the Carvex too.

 

[huntdupl]

It might be because my first sander was a 6" Porter Cable, but I never understood 5" or 125mm. Either way, pick a size and stick with it. I'd buy combination grit packs from FestoolNirvana to see what you like working with (IMO FT abrasives are worth every penny). I think the Rotex 150 is a fantastic sander, I bought this + the CT Midi combo as my entry with no complaints. I can get damn fine results in rotex mode to finer grits no problem. I have the ETS EC 150/3 which is another leap in technology, but often think about trading for 150/5. The RO90 is another excellent tool which I believe sets them apart from other manufactures. How I justify these purchases is the amount of time sanding in the craft and comfort/results doing so. CXS is great. Starting out, you may want to try a compact router before jumping into larger more expensive 1/2" router - This will be my next purchase. The Makita cordless router is great if you have other tools and my preference for drills/drivers. The milwaukee router = better depth adjustment.

One thing worth mentioning or considering is the type of projects you'll be working on. In a renovation, the RO150/90 were invaluable.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Always interesting to read replies to a post like this. One man's meat is another man's poison as the saying goes. I'm a professional woodworker with 40 years on the tools. I have 4 pieces of Festool equipment (and very fine it is, too) - but I also have a lot of other equipment from numerous different manufacturers, which - for me, dramatically outperforms the comparable Festool offering. Don't allow yourself to get sucked and marketed into one-brand slavery, and don't deny yourself access to something great, just because it doesn't come in a grey and green box.

 

[Imemiter]

Always interesting to read replies to a post like this. One man's meat is another man's poison as the saying goes. I'm a professional woodworker with 40 years on the tools. I have 4 pieces of Festool equipment (and very fine it is, too) - but I also have a lot of other equipment from numerous different manufacturers, which - for me, dramatically outperforms the comparable Festool offering. Don't allow yourself to get sucked and marketed into one-brand slavery, and don't deny yourself access to something great, just because it doesn't come in a grey and green box.

Yes, yes, of course. But which four Festool did you get???

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Always interesting to read replies to a post like this. One man's meat is another man's poison as the saying goes. I'm a professional woodworker with 40 years on the tools. I have 4 pieces of Festool equipment (and very fine it is, too) - but I also have a lot of other equipment from numerous different manufacturers, which - for me, dramatically outperforms the comparable Festool offering. Don't allow yourself to get sucked and marketed into one-brand slavery, and don't deny yourself access to something great, just because it doesn't come in a grey and green box.

Yes, yes, of course. But which four Festool did you get???

OF2200, TS55, CTM26, CT-VA-20. And I totally forgot about the CTL-SYS - so that's 5, not 4 

 

[Imemiter]

OF2200, TS55, CTM26, CT-VA-20. And I totally forgot about the CTL-SYS - so that's 5, not 4 

Thanks! Great choices! The suspense was killin' me.
Vacuums were the gateway tool for me. A CTL-SYS in particular. My Fein Turbo kept me going for awhile, but I'm glad it broke down.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Always interesting to read replies to a post like this. One man's meat is another man's poison as the saying goes. I'm a professional woodworker with 40 years on the tools. I have 4 pieces of Festool equipment (and very fine it is, too) - but I also have a lot of other equipment from numerous different manufacturers, which - for me, dramatically outperforms the comparable Festool offering. Don't allow yourself to get sucked and marketed into one-brand slavery, and don't deny yourself access to something great, just because it doesn't come in a grey and green box.

The ones I'm interested in are the tools that you believe "dramatically outperform" Festool.
The most important term there though is "comparable", because nothing compares to a Domino.

 

[afish]

I tend to buy Festool for the more specialized items that you cant get from other brands. Domino, lr32, conturo, mfk, Festool sanders are the exception due to the dust collection but as others said a RO is a sander you buy because you need a RO otherwise you will enjoy the other sanders from festool more. Cordless tools such as multi tools, jigsaw, routers, drills, impacts, mitersaw,  etc. are another brand.  The domino was my first festool and is still my fav.  I also really really liked the lr32 system pre cnc. 

 

[Cheese]

I'm looking at Festool tools that I will absolutely not trade or exchange for another manufacturers' tools and would only be upgraded if Festool released an improved version of their tool. This sticking point is strong, these are tools that will never be sold without the above caveat.

The CXS

The DF 500

The MIDI with Blue Tooth

The 1010

The ETS EC 125 because it accepts a 150 mm pad and it is the smoothest sander around

The Vac Sys

The MFS

I'd also put the Kapex on the short list, however it can be replaced but the replacements are not nearly as elegant and the constant realigning for other machines seems to be an ongoing issue.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Always interesting to read replies to a post like this. One man's meat is another man's poison as the saying goes. I'm a professional woodworker with 40 years on the tools. I have 4 pieces of Festool equipment (and very fine it is, too) - but I also have a lot of other equipment from numerous different manufacturers, which - for me, dramatically outperforms the comparable Festool offering. Don't allow yourself to get sucked and marketed into one-brand slavery, and don't deny yourself access to something great, just because it doesn't come in a grey and green box.

The ones I'm interested in are the tools that you believe "dramatically outperform" Festool.
The most important term there though is "comparable", because nothing compares to a Domino.

Both versions of the Domino are stellar, and as you say, it’s a unique product. I don’t do the type of work which enables me to justify one, however. But since you asked the question;

Hilti SF6H 22v combi - the most robust, reliable combi imaginable. Open this thing up and you’ll find a gearbox which looks like it came out of a miniature Kenworth or Scania truck. I have two  — the original Gen 1 plus the newer Gen 2 brushless.

Hilti SID-22A 22v impact driver - see comments above.

Hilti TE-30AVR SDS - 12 years old, it’s been absolutely tortured and looks like junk, but it still works as well as the day I bought it.

Hilti DD-150 diamond core drill. Not really relevant since Festool don’t make such a tool. I’d also mention the fact that their service offering is world-class. If anything fails (which hardly ever happens) - a courier comes to site and collects it the same day, the local rep drops off a temporary replacement, they repair the tool and return it to a place of your choosing within three days. They continue to make and stock parts for tools for at least 10 years after the last one came off the line.

Mafell P1CC jigsaw - the only jigsaw I’ve ever found which consistently cuts scrolled curves in timber whose edges are totally square to the surface. I bought mine at a tool show after a rep demonstrated the machine cutting a perfect square-edged circle around a £2 coin in 40mm thick oak countertop.

Mirka Deros 5650CV - just works for me. I love the near-silent operation, the feather-light weight and several other aspects of it.

Makita RP1100 quarter-inch router - I do a lot of work involving hinge rebates on in-situ door frames. The OF1010’s  parallel fence sits at 90 degrees to the handle, so you can’t get it anywhere near the head of a door frame before the handle, power cable and extractor hose all hit it.

Hilti AG125 grinder- it has a hugely efficient dust control shroud on the cutter head which means that dustless cutting of slate, quartz, granite and tiles is possible.

Fein 350 Multimaster - the quietest, lowest-vibration and best-performing multi I’ve used. Downside is the Starlock Plus head admittedly - it’s proprietary so I’m locked into buying expensive Fein blades.

DeWalt DWS 780 mitre saw - I do a lot of heavy framing and construction work. The thing’s indestructible and built like a Sherman tank. Super accurate and fully adjustable for those times when it’s been in and out of the van a hundred times and has been knocked slightly out of square. Dust control is absolutely hopeless, but it’s almost always used outdoors so it’s not really an issue. The DE7023 saw stand is also stellar, and indispensable to me since my stock is always supplied in 4.8m or 5.4m lengths.

Makita LS0714 mitre saw - simply the best-built, most accurate small 2nd-fix saw I’ve ever found.

Paslode IM65A 16g Brad gas nailer - again, no Festool equivalent.

As I said in my first post - we all have different ways of working our tools and consequently have different priorities. My own personal choices have all evolved over four decades and everything works for me.

Kind regards.

 

[yetihunter]

Hi All,

New to Festool and new to FOG, so hi!

Started out with a cheap tracksaw (non-festool) that happens to fit Festool rails so bought an FS1400 rail as the cheap saw only came with 700mm rails.

A web search for the best dust extractor/shop vac led me to the Festool Midi which was shortly followed by the obvious upgrade to the TS 55!

I then needed a longer track so have bought the FS1400 LR32 with the connector with a future aim of getting the LR32 system (I've bodged a DIY version with a Dewalt router for now...).

The DF500 Domino, and RO150 Rotex sander are now also on my wish list which got me thinking; what are the must-have Festool tools?

I've gone the DIY MFT route as I'm garage based so don't need to be portable but either way a decent workbench is pretty high on the list of essential tools. I'd say the TS55, rail and dust extractor, naturally as it's what I have, but also the DF500 and RO150.
Anything else to add to the list? Anyone disagree with my choices? I deliberately said "kit" instead of tools as I noticed Festool do Fan Merchandise too  [big grin]

I have the usual tools (drills, sanders etc) from other brands but have now broken the mental cost/justification barrier to Festool ownership!

Cheers!

Table: MFT + aftermarket accessories
Routers: OF1400 and OF1010
Sanders:
ETS EC 150 (some prefer Mirka over this), ETS 125 REQ and if you need a detail sander, than the DTS over the RTS or the RO90.
              I rarely use my Rotex.  I use the RAS115 quite a bit and I should not have sold the LS130.
Drill/Drivers: T18, PDC, or new TDC/TPC for the electronic clutch (certainly not the power). Probably lean toward the T18 because it's available now and you can get the Panasonic style ("eccentric") chuck for it. 99% of the time I use Makita, so whatever.
Fein Supercut: Cordless "Vecturo" is the bomb and you get Festool service which will matter in the USA.
Drywall: The cordless drywall gun is actually really good as long as you're only doing drywall.  There are no square bits for it.
Domino: Obviously.  I don't agree that it's infinitely better than the Mafell DuoDoweller nor the Lamello (and only Lamello), however. In fact, I'd rather have a top shelf Lamello and Duo Doweller than a Domino, but I sized down and the Domino covers both.
Trim Router: If you need one, the MFK700 is great.  You probably don't need one (and don't confuse it for a palm router).
Later down the road: A larger dust extractor to save $$ on bags.
If you have the current MIDI with bluetooth, I am envious of you.
Get a crevice nozzle. If you buy a cleanup kit, get one with metal tubes.

[member=75780]woodbutcherbower[/member]

"I’m locked into buying expensive Fein blades."

You say that like it's a bad thing. I guess Bosch has some good blades, but they're starlock too.