Must have Festool kit?

[MaineShop]

I have way too many festool, along with other brands. But if it were one tool, I won't give up my Ets 125, with the CT. I have a bunch of other sanders, including a Rotex and a mirka. But something about the Ets just fits my hand and arm movement best. I prob put in about 6 hours a week on mine and have for at least the past decade or so. For me if and when it finally dies it will be a same day replacement for me. Good news is it is one of the cheaper festool tools.

Worth noting I have at least a dozen other drills and drivers from all the major manufacturers but I do enjoy using the cxs for installer work. Not sure why but the size and balance is just perfect for some reason. I have the Milwaukee knock off that I picked up since I have a mountain of those batteries but there is really no comparison, and I don't think the Milwaukee was much cheaper if at all.

 

[CeeJay]

Back on topic,

Of my Festools, in order of priority in terms must-have to nice-to-have I’d score:

1. Domino DF500
2. CXS
3. ETS EC 150/3
4. CT MIDI
5. OF 1400
6. DTS 400
7. Rotex 150
8. TS 55

That’s a balanced score of how frequently I use them (I use the CXS the most, followed by the MIDI), combined with how unique the tool is compared to competitor tools. Eg the TS55 is not only the tool I use the least, but also the one with in my opinion the least differentiation from Mafell, Bosch, Makita etc.

My competitor must haves are the Mafell P1CC, the Makita 23ga 18V pin nailer, the Makita 18V trim router and my AEG (Rigid) 16ga 18V bradder.

Finally not a particularly unique tool, but super useful and used more than pretty much any other is the 18V Makita adjustable LED light. This has replaced all the desk/angle poise lamps in my workshop, and is perfect for close up hand work, routing, and supporting all those pesky Festool machines (I’m looking at you OF1400 and DF500) without built-in lights. [emoji3525]

I mean even my old school Makita RP2301 router in the router table comes with LEDs.....

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[squall_line]

Finally not a particularly unique tool, but super useful and used more than pretty much any other is the 18V Makita adjustable LED light. This has replaced all the desk/angle poise lamps in my workshop, and is perfect for close up hand work, routing, and supporting all those pesky Festool machines (I’m looking at you OF1400 and DF500) without built-in lights. [emoji3525]

Which one specifically of the two dozen or so LED lights that Makita offers is your favorite?

 

[Cypren]

all those pesky Festool machines (I’m looking at you OF1400 and DF500) without built-in lights. [emoji3525]

I'm glad I'm not the only one annoyed by this. The strobe light on the Carvex is one of my favorite features about it and I would really like to see something similar on the routers to help guide their cuts.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Unless a guy is willing to take the time required to make Mortice and Tennon joints, in any of the several ways to make them happen, a Domino is pretty much a must have.Snip.

A better machine (or a better way of doing things) doesn't make it a "must-have."

If time matters, it does.

I bet there's tons of people working in the same business as you who don't have a domino and don't miss it at all. Nothing's absolute.

I'm sure there are, I was one of them for years too. But, you can't miss what you never had.
I never said anything about absolute, just offering my view on the topic of "must have".
I certainly can't speak for everyone, wouldn't even try, but for me and the way I work, some things are essential.
Things were painfully slow in the weeks immediately after the fire. Not only were the tools destroyed, several projects awaiting delivery/install were there too. So, current jobs/upcoming jobs got behind because previously finished things had to be reconstructed first. All of this while moving, re-making work stations and replacing tools. It was quite a challenge and also the point were I really learned to appreciate the TS55, which I didn't have before.

 

[FestitaMakool]

Finally not a particularly unique tool, but super useful and used more than pretty much any other is the 18V Makita adjustable LED light. This has replaced all the desk/angle poise lamps in my workshop, and is perfect for close up hand work, routing, and supporting all those pesky Festool machines (I’m looking at you OF1400 and DF500) without built-in lights. [emoji3525]

Which one specifically of the two dozen or so LED lights that Makita offers is your favorite?

I’m looking forward to the tower light, when it eventually shows up here. Hoping before autumn.
I have wanted to buy a couple of the Makita LED lights, but even on the darks side of the world we live in, the importer of Makita doesn’t think much of lights..

Regards to the OP, yes the CXS is something on its own. And an absolute essential Festool tool.
That said, it does cost, and it doesn’t have counterparts to use its batteries. I’ve lately been digging further into Makita 12V Max. I find them handling excellent, with quality electronics and smooth triggers. Being spoiled when doing small and large projects, several drills comes into play each doing one task.. As from today’s work in the photo.
(And when some of these drills I have where available pre-owned, but still as new. There’s a huuuge gap in price if I were to have these numbers in Festool drills) And none of the Festool’s would have done the job any better. 4 drills plus the drill press to work on this one:
[attachimg=1]

 

[CeeJay]

Finally not a particularly unique tool, but super useful and used more than pretty much any other is the 18V Makita adjustable LED light. This has replaced all the desk/angle poise lamps in my workshop, and is perfect for close up hand work, routing, and supporting all those pesky Festool machines (I’m looking at you OF1400 and DF500) without built-in lights. [emoji3525]

Which one specifically of the two dozen or so LED lights that Makita offers is your favorite?

I like the DML801.

It’s small enough to stand anywhere without getting in the way and is bright enough to supplement whatever ambient light is there.

It sits up high enough to look down on the workpiece and the head has up/down and side/side tilt.

With a 3.0ah cell it is base-heavy enough to be stable and will last 4-6 hours.

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[CeeJay]

And agreed the CXS is expensive. But I got mine used for 60% of retail and that makes it great value IMHO.

Also got all my sanders, and the TS55 used for 60ish% of retail and they are as good as new for me.

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[Freetime101]

I should add the Bluetooth vac remote to my list...

By no means essential, I've just ordered one as I'm sick of climbing under the bench to turn the vac on for non-Festool/corded tools and general clean up. I could have moved the vac but I have a tiny workshop so it's tucked out of the way.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I should add the Bluetooth vac remote to my list...

By no means essential, I've just ordered one as I'm sick of climbing under the bench to turn the vac on for non-Festool/corded tools and general clean up. I could have moved the vac but I have a tiny workshop so it's tucked out of the way.

Yes, very handy.  I use mine most for general clean-up and with the Kreg K-5 since most of my stuff is corded, no bluetooth batteries.
Drills, drivers and Makita compact routers are all that I have that are cordless.

 

[CeeJay]

Ditto on the Bluetooth remote. I’ve got two.

One on the ‘no plugit’ hose I use with non Festool stuff, and I later put one in the ‘with plugit’ hose I use with my Festools. This is so I can quickly disconnect the hose from the tool for a clean up without having to trigger the tool.

Particularly useful for edge routing which is usually messy, and for cleaning up sandpaper between grit changes.

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