New to Festool and fairly new to carpentry

[kris]

Hi everyone,

I'm a 41 year old truck driver who wants to build his own kitchen and bath cabinets.I'm trying to gain as much knowledge as I can from posts on the FOG and YouTube videos.
What I'm especially interested in knowing is if there are any FOG members on here from the Shreveport, La area that I could network with and learn some things from, hands on.
The Festool arsenal is growing in my shop and I'm really excited to learn how to use these awesome tools effectively and efficiently!

Thanks,
Kris

 

[Birdhunter]

Have you watched the Halfinchshy Youtube videos? They are a great source of Festool knowledge.

 

[kris]

Oh yeah, him, Eric, Dave Reinhold, all of them. I have learned quite a lot already from their videos! The closest dealers to me are Woodcraft and Rockler, in Dallas. All of my vacation time for this year is earmarked already. Plus, the Festool classes are full. I hope to attend a couple next year. My wife doesn't object to me drinking the green kool-aid, but I better get it right!  [big grin]

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

Oh yeah, him, Eric, Dave Reinhold, all of them. I have learned quite a lot already from their videos! The closest dealers to me are Woodcraft and Rockler, in Dallas. All of my vacation time for this year is earmarked already. Plus, the Festool classes are full. I hope to attend a couple next year. My wife doesn't object to me drinking the green kool-aid, but I better get it right!  [big grin]

At least you're getting it right by buying good tools. Try making some tool cabinets. This will get the ball rolling towards making your kitchen cabs. Good luck.

 

[kris]

I have built some homemade sysports, a workbench/assembly table, and a rockler style router table to gain a working knowledge of my tools.  [big grin] I tried to attach photos but it won't let me  ???

 

[PaulMarcel]

Ironically, your post saying you couldn't post the photos is the one that got you to 5 total so now you can

 

[kris]

Well, I try to attach a file and it erases everything I've written and doesn't show the pic to be attached so idk....

 

[kris]

Whaddya know?!? Like my carpentry skills, I managed to figure it out! [scared]

 

[kris]

Like my carpentry skills, I managed to figure it out  [eek]

 

[GPowers]

Looks like you have been drinking the green cool-aid for a while...

 

[kris]

Just since Dec of last year, Greg. Between eBay and some things I've gotten from FOG members on the classifieds page, I've been able to acquire a few things at great prices.

 

[batcave]

Nice collection there. Shop cabs are a great way to start. It's like eating an elephant. Just take it one part at a time, and soon you'll have a kitchen full of cabs.

Kevin

 

[kris]

Thanks, Kevin. So far, I've gotten a ct33, ts55, 2 1400 rails, parallel guides + extensions, Trion 300, OF1400, Domino df500, domino assortment, ls130, ro90, dx93, and rs2e sanders. Next up is a mft/3 and maybe a mft basic to connect together for a larger table, and the lr32 system and rail. I also want to get the 2700 mm rail. Any other must haves I'm not thinking about?

 

[wow]

This one of those cases where - at some point - you just have to dig in and try something. Keep it simple to start, and understand that you WILL make a mistake. That's OK, 'cause that's how most of us learn.

"It's a wise man who can learn from others mistakes". I don't recall who said that, but they weren't talking about me. I have to learn from my OWN mistakes....and I make plenty!

 

[kris]

Yep, I screw up 5 times a day before breakfast! The sysports went well...they weren't EXACTLY square though. I'm hoping that the mft/3 will help me with that! On the middle cabinet, I moved the bottom panel all the way down and repositioned the drawer slides...then proceeded to install every drawer slide UPSIDE DOWN! I just shook my head and laughed, removed them all and installed them correctly.  [tongue]

 

[batcave]

Do you have any other shop equipment (table saw, band saw, etc..). Or are you going all green?

 

[kris]

At the moment, I have an older Rockwell band saw, a Ridgid table saw and CMS. No drill press, planer, or jointer. I'm thinking about upgrading my router table setup to the incra with the LS system and that serving double duty as a jointer. What say you?

 

[jlyons]

I would think real hard about a 3000 rail and not a 2700.  Sounds like a lot of sheet goods and the 2700 will work but extra length is so nice. 

 

[tbellemare]

I also want to get the 2700 mm rail.

I'm not a fan of the 2700. I think it makes things too fiddly on 8' and doesn't allow for as much flexibility as the 3000.

I'm hoping others will chime in here. I've sold several of the 3-meter rails and everyone has been happy. I can't think of a good reason to go with the shorter one.

It looks like you're on your way to "tool nirvana".

Tom

EDIT:
When I was about to post this, jlyons beat me to the thought. I'll agree with him then...

 

[Kev]

3000 rail for certain!! [wink]