My first Festool! and a C12 story...

[caliwooddude]

Hey guys,
  Hail to all you revered FOG's..... after many years of the big box/home center rut, I am now a brother on that slippery Festool slope....I just got a C12 with all the trimmings(right angle,offset chuck etc.)
I am a carpenter in California specializing in door installation and hacking out the occasional cabinet for
the not so discerning customer!I hope to be fully green and black someday and hoist the Festool colors with pride.
I showed the C12 to the kid who manages some of the properties I work on.He fancies himself a "Tool Head'
(he pledges allegiance to Craftsman!!! arrrgggghhhh!!!!)
when he saw the Festool he sneered at the different chucks and said he had never heard of it and then snidely asked if I had bought it  at the County Fair or from an infomercial.I was amused by this and just replied that it was "top secret" I was a LITTLE irritated by these comments and then I realized that most
workers I am around might think the same thing,this might lessen the chances of my good old C12
getting ripped off. Anyone else run into this Festool ingnorance?

 

[pteubel]

Yup...all the time. But one cut with the TS55 on the guide rail, hooked up to the vac, and they start rethinking their comments. More than one of these spectators have become "converts".

 

[Dan Clark]

First, welcome to land of the Slippery-Slope!    ;D

On the woodworking and trades forums, Festool has become a recognized name amd is generally pretty well regarded.  When dealing with the "unwashed" on the street, Festool has a lot less visibility. 

Many people still believe the marketing hype from big tool vendors like Craftsman, Dewalt, and Black and Decker.  If Dewalt says the new DW718 is a high quality replacemnt for the DW708, it must be true.  (It's not.  The DW708 was a much better saw.)  Or, they go with history - "My dad used Craftsman all his life.  That's good enough for me."  (I was raised with this; my dad LOVED Craftsman. Unfortunately their quality has gone down tremendously in the last 30 years)  Another reason to buy a tool is what their friends or associates say.  (Much of which is driven by the first two reasons.)

OTOH...

Smarter, more discerning tool buyers do their research and evaluate products based on a tool's CURRENT quality and features, and how well it meets their needs.  When it comes to buying, the more risk-averse fall back to the tried and true.  Risk takers (like you and me) say, "Well I'll take a chance..." 

That's the first crack in the dike (the first "slide" on the slippery slope.  ;D ) Don't worry, that's normal.  Your standards will start changing.  What you used to think of as "normal" will become "poor" or "sub-standard".  Festool and other high quality products will start becoming "normal" to you. 

Regarding the other folks...  After a while, I think you'll just shrug, smile a little, and watch their criticism turn to envy when they see you working smarter and faster.

If you haven't already, you might want to take a look at the JLC (Journal of Light Construction) Finish Carpentry forum:http://forums.jlconline.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=7.  Gary Katz is the moderator and pretty much the Godfather of modern finish carpentry.  He's a strong proponent of new, effective tools and methods including Festool, Cadex pinners, Clam Clamps, and Sketchup. His website has a lot of good information and reviews:http://www.garymkatz.com/.

Welcome aboard.

Dan.

p.s., I have the C12 with all the chucks.  Great tool.  Here's a review of the Depth Stock Chuck (with pics):http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=331.0

 

[Bob Childress]

Happens a lot. Most tradies that I run into never give 'em a second glance. Makes you realize the very narrow market niche Festool occupies. I've quit trying to explain about them. You either know or you don't. I think the high-end contractors are sold on them, but the average chippie hasn't got the message. Which makes you, Caliwooddude, a very discerning chap indeed.  ;D But they are like potato chips--bet you can't buy just one!