New guy here. Questions about a first tool.

[thephizzle]

I'm pretty new to woodworking (now that I have a decent job [smile]). I work indoors or outdoors since I don't really have any room at all. All my tools are stored in a closet or in my room, and I take them out when I want to use them. Festool so far appeals to me for the great dust collection and portability. I currently own just hand tools and a cordless drill:

• Cordless drills
• Hand saw (ryoba/dozuki)
• Chisels
• Hand Plane

So far these have been fine, but I'm looking to up my game. I've been looking at the routers, sanders, track saws, and domino lately. Right now, I'm thinking a router should be my first, but I think a sander could also be one as well. I think the track saw can wait because I'm not really working on big projects at the moment, and I can hand saw things fairly well for now. Domino can probably be the last thing I get. Do you all have any suggestions on what type of tool I should get and what model? I'm open all opinions. Thanks all!

 

[Slowlearner]

Well i would look at what you do most but kind of hate doing. For me besides getting measurements nailed down it was assembly. I went w the domino. Made my life easier. The mft table was a great investment for me. Can literally take it anywhere and it folds w a great working space.
  I mainly ly do small projects but track saw was a great investment as well. I think alot of ot will do w budget and what you will be doing most.

 

[RKA]

The typical answer is it depends on the projects you have in mind.  Look at the gaps in your existing tools and fill them in with tools that give you new capabilities.  Given the limited tools you have, I would carefully consider the projects you work on and the tasks your existing tools can’t help you with.  After that consider time saving tools or tools that make it easier to do things you don’t particularly enjoy. 

Welcome to the FOG! 

 

[Euclid]

If you are still thinking about routers - I began a thread/question yesterday "Router advice..." which garnered a lot of thoughtful and useful advice.

If you're working in your living space, then really good collection is something of a revelation; I've been very pleased with my Midi. (And if you want it to double-up as your domestic vac, then most of the fancy Miele tools, which are available as spares, fit too.

Do you have some good layout tools, square, straight-edge, saddle-square? And something to keep your chisels honed?

 

[AlexThePalex]

Can't go wrong with a good sander like the DTS400 and a router like the OF1010. A jigsaw would be very nice (don't go Festool here, get a Bosch), and a CTL vac (Mini or CT26) is a must too.

 

[TXFIVEO]

For a first FESTOOL tool I strongly recommend the TS75.  For a track saw I recommend the more powerful TS75 and it’s larger depth of cut. 

 

[ear3]

Welcome to the FOG.  As others have already mentioned, advice will strongly depend on what your future project list looks like.

Since you are looking to Festool primarily for its dust extraction capabilities, sounds like your first purchase will actually be a twin bill -- a tool coupled with a CT Vac.  This has the added advantage of gaining you a 10% discount on the overall purchase.  If you will continue working on smaller scale projects, then a CT-Sys, Mini or Midi will probably suit your needs.  Keep in mind though that the bag on a CT-Sys is pretty small, and so coupling that with a router may not be the best option longer term.

If you're leaning towards routers, the 1010 might be your most versatile option for smaller scale stuff -- though keep in mind it doesn't do 1/2" bits.

 

[sancho57]

First thing youll need is a proper work surface. In your case the new work station MW 1000 would work. Then youd need dust collection, because of your limited space the CT Sys would work for you. They sell pkgs so this may be your best way of getting the vac and saw
https://festools-online.com/festool...q-imp-circular-saw-ct-sys-dust-extractor.html

You will also need a set of bench dogs like the parf dogs and some clamps so in your case for storage purposes the festool clamping kit would do you right. Te festool one is a limited run so if you cannot find it Lee Valley makes a nice one
http://www.leevalley.com/us/Wood/page.aspx?p=70681&cat=1,43838,70865&ap=1

here is the festool clamp set limited edition
https://www.amazon.com/FESTOOL-Clamping-Set-with-Sy/dp/B01E0D0J5S/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?keywords=festool+MFt+clamp+set+limited+edition&qid=1562165235&s=gateway&sr=8-2-fkmr0

this should be a good starting kit for you. the rest is gravy as we say, add a router and a guide rail to this and you should be able to start building almost anything you'd like.

you will need more of course but its a good start

 

[RussellS]

I'd advise the Domino for joints.  You have saws and planes for preparing the wood to the right size and finish.  Planes take the place of sanders.  Sort of.  You have handsaws so maybe you don't need a track saw or miter saw.  Maybe.  Drill because you always need holes everywhere.  You can use your drill and chisels and saws to make mortises and tenons.  But the Domino would make them so much easier.  And about everything uses a joint somewhere so the Domino should be in constant use.  Track saw is great for plywood.  But I'd advise the much cheaper Makita competitor.  No need to spend double the money for the same performance.

You need some kind of workbench.  Get that first.  Build preferred over buy.

 

[ScotF]

My two cents is a router - that is an essential tool in a power tool shop - so versatile from joinery to profiling. The 1010 is great for hand-held and smaller project and the 1400 is a really good all around router, but heavier (and more powerful to spin larger bits). I would start there - of course adding dust extraction is key and routers make lots of dust. I would then add a track saw as a second purchase - makes sizing stock easier, faster and more accurate.

Have fun in the process!

 

[Bob D.]

Seems to me of the four power tools you are considering the only one you can't easily duplicate the action of is the router, not without a stack of molding planes that is.

But seriously the sanding can be done by hand, the track saw you already said you have confidence in your ability to use a hand saw to meet your current project needs, and the domino you can hand cut mortises and tenons or use dowels. Not as elegant as the Domino I know, but somehow a lot of stuff got built over the last 2000 years before the Domino came along.

So if your decision is driven in part by what funds are available and that is limiting you to purchasing only one power tool at this time I think I would vote for the router as my first choice, followed by the track saw, then a good dust extractor. At that point a sander (or two) and the Domino to top it off.

I think of the four tools you mentioned a router would add the most to your capabilities alongside your current tool lineup.

 

[xedos]

I’ll echo Bob’s advice. 

A router would be high on my list. 1010 is prob. best starting out. Will do prett6 much all the 1400 will at a lower cost. 8mm bit will fit which are just about as substantial as 1/2” ones.  You can also mortise with it.  If you’d like a nice, small but capable router with pretty good dust collection look at the Dewalt 611.

Domino might be more fun and efficient, but it’s a one trick pony.  At $1400 for the machine and a supplynof dominos/cutters, it’s a large expense.

Makita’s tracksaw is hands down a bargain if you decide to go for a tracksaw. Comes in a pseudo Systainer and can use Festool accessories.

A Festool vac would be high on my list too. CT-Sys is not going to be powerful or large enough for a main vac.  Festool sanders are really nice and I’d probably put that and a vac at the very top of a list because pretty much every project needs sanding and cleaning up after.

Festool work tables are nice, but very pricey and their function can easily be duplicated for a fraction of the cost.  Best to put that money elsewhere.

Unless you’ve got lots, then just order it all. 

 

[thephizzle]

Seems to me of the four power tools you are considering the only one you can't easily duplicate the action of is the router, not without a stack of molding planes that is.

But seriously the sanding can be done by hand, the track saw you already said you have confidence in your ability to use a hand saw to meet your current project needs, and the domino you can hand cut mortises and tenons or use dowels. Not as elegant as the Domino I know, but somehow a lot of stuff got built over the last 2000 years before the Domino came along.

So if your decision is driven in part by what funds are available and that is limiting you to purchasing only one power tool at this time I think I would vote for the router as my first choice, followed by the track saw, then a good dust extractor. At that point a sander (or two) and the Domino to top it off.

I think of the four tools you mentioned a router would add the most to your capabilities alongside your current tool lineup.

I was thinking the same thing looking at these tools. I've looked at a lot of my sample drawings and CAD and it seems like I would currently benefit most with a router. And sanding I can do by hand. Thanks!

I’ll echo Bob’s advice. 

A router would be high on my list. 1010 is prob. best starting out. Will do prett6 much all the 1400 will at a lower cost. 8mm bit will fit which are just about as substantial as 1/2” ones.  You can also mortise with it.  If you’d like a nice, small but capable router with pretty good dust collection look at the Dewalt 611.

Domino might be more fun and efficient, but it’s a one trick pony.  At $1400 for the machine and a supplynof dominos/cutters, it’s a large expense.

Makita’s tracksaw is hands down a bargain if you decide to go for a tracksaw. Comes in a pseudo Systainer and can use Festool accessories.

A Festool vac would be high on my list too. CT-Sys is not going to be powerful or large enough for a main vac.  Festool sanders are really nice and I’d probably put that and a vac at the very top of a list because pretty much every project needs sanding and cleaning up after.

Festool work tables are nice, but very pricey and their function can easily be duplicated for a fraction of the cost.  Best to put that money elsewhere.

Unless you’ve got lots, then just order it all. 

Thanks! I think I will take this advice.

Thanks everyone for their input.

 

[Euclid]

Re. sanding:  I've found hand sanding blocks (Mirka, in my case) work pretty well dust collection (CTL Midi) - mostly the larger oblong block with Abranet (and some regular) abrasives.

My only top-quality sander at the moment is a Rotex, which I've been getting on well with as a multi-use sander, but it can't do everything; the mostly-dust-free hand-sanding has been adequate for me until I settle which other sander(s) would be most useful to me.