New to woodworking... and getting started with Festool

[cparson]

I'm looking for advice on my first steps onto the "slippery slope"...  My dad and I recently built an arcade cabinet in his shop, which has given me the woodworking bug.  I was about to buy a Bosch jigsaw to make a projector mount when he completely surprised me with a Trion barrel grip for my birthday.  I knew next to nothing about Festool before then, but I've been reading as much as I can get my hands on about the Festool system (and woodworking in general) since then, trying to plan out the best way to build up an arsenal.    In the meantime, I have access to any of my dad's equipment, and he has a pretty complete shop.

I plan on starting with simple projects - a shoe rack, speaker stands, a storage chest, and a small closet dresser that nobody would really see - to build up some skills before trying some dining room and living room furniture.  All I have right now is the Trion, a Kreg jig set, a pair of sawhorses, some Besseys, and some miscellaneous stuff from Home Depot..  a Ryobi drill, sander, and circular saw, an "empire" square (don't know if it's any good, but it's at least made in the U.S.), big drywall square, and miscellaneous little things.

So far, for straight cuts I've been clamping the drywall square to the workpiece and running the trion along it, and at least according to the empire square it's been making nice square cuts (and certainly clean ones!) so I had originally counted out the TS 55/MFT as my next purchase.  I had been leaning towards the OF 1400 + CT 22, but after John Lucas' post on squaring, I'm back on the fence for which to get first between the TS55/MFT and the OF1400/CT22.  I need to refinish a fence and deck this summer, so I should have an excuse to get a Rotex then, and I have a cheapo craftsman shop vac I can hook up for dust collection until I can get the CT22 - although the CT22 sure does sound nice!

So, I'm looking for any advice anyone has regarding this decision...  will the Trion make good enough cuts that I can do without the TS55 for a year?  Or should I forget about the package savings on the MFT and go for the TS55/CT22?  Any other advice/suggestions?  I was originally thinking I'd just borrow my dad's stuff and see what I used the most, but there doesn't really seem to be any 'normal' tools that compare to the TS55+MFT.

My apologies for the long-winded post..  it's just a little overwhelming at the beginning!

Thanks in advance!
-chris

 

[ByronBlack]

The finish from a TS55 is unrivalled.

The TS55/MFT in my opinion would be more useful to you in the outset - espeically if your need to cut panels square or mitres etc.. I've recently purchased one and the only bad thing about it is: I should have bought it about 4 years ago!

 

[Llap Goch]

Hi from a very wet Wales! (As ever was Rkr)

Go for the TS55 and MFT combo!  Apart from an expensive and well set up table/bench/cabinet saw there is not a better combination to cut highly accurate and beautifully finished timber which needs little or no additional further preparation. The Trion is a cracking jigsaw but it is designed to follow curves and patterns. The TS55 will stagger you with its accuracy, speed and, when connected to a good vacuum (get the CT22 before the router), superb dust collection. The MFT is simply superb.

Great choice of tools but I do feel sorry for you. I started with one Festool a few years back and look at me now. I am shadow of my former self and totally skint (Brit for lacking sufficient folding stuff).  Add in despicable enough to spend my children’s inheritance to feed the Green and Black habit and ........

If you wish to remain pretty much as you are now may I suggest you forego the Festool thing and purchase Jinglang tools. You will get a crap finish but you will be able to afford food and look in the mirror at night. It’s a slippery slope and I wish someone had warned me all those years ago.

Nahh! Total bolleaux!

Get the TS and the MFT or YWRI (You Will Regret It). ;D

Pat and the Lad

 

[Bob Childress]

Pat and Byron have you on the right track. I pretty much stumbled into Festools a couple of years ago after seeing Tom Silva use them on TOH and then doing some research, but I've been buying them piecemeal ever since. Whatever tool(s) you purchase first, please get one of the CT vacs. I am planning on the TS55 next and am only waiting because I just absorbed a Domino and have to let SWMBO subside. Also, for finishing, you will soon be lusting after a sander. Festool are like potato chips, bet you can't buy just one!  ;D

[NB: Hi Pat. Haven't seen you around for a while. Simou keeping you out of trouble?]

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Hey Chris,
The good news is that you really can't make a wrong decision here.  All the tools you mentioned are first rate and you will be glad you have them.  A few thoughts...  My first purchase was the TS55 and CT22 package - love at first sight, and a must have if you are doing a lot with sheet goods.  If you don't already have a router, then the OF1400 might be your ticket - if you do much cabinet work, you will need it for cutting dadoes or sliding dovetails.  I love my MFT and use it every day, but I got along ok without it for a year just fine.  The vac is an investment in your health - don't delay.

Your mileage may vary.  Welcome to the slope!

 

[ByronBlack]

I know this is the festool forum, but if your after a cheaper alternative to the CTmini extractor. The Trend AF is an excellent extractor for only £120 (not sure about in USA) and the attachment fits all festool's gear.

 

[Llap Goch]

Hi Bob

Damm that dog Sir!

He persuaded me to buy a Kapex and, as we speak, I am writing a letter of apology to the Chief of Staff as the fridge is bare and there is nothing to eat. I fear a 'get yourself and that useless dog of yours and move into the shed' order coming my way.

Thank God I was a Boy Scout (Be Prepared) and had the foresight to hide a bottle of Lagavulin and two old army blankets in the shed in readiness for such an occassion. We will be warm and very, very drunk. ;D

Pat and Simou

 

[Llap Goch]

Byron

wash your mouth out
:

 

[woodshopdemos]

Chris,
  You have some serious projects ahead of you. That's great.  I suggest a slightly different road of purchases though. The TS55, the CT22 or the new Midi, guide rail, the boom and then the MFT. I love the MFT. They are really useful in so many ways, but you can use a 2-horse worktable for your work and add the MFT after.  As to projects, you have read what I have to say about square...so make a box or two at first. You can make them out of MDF if you want and they can be any size. But if you make these and they come together without heavy clamping and they are square you have a system and skills to do the speaker stands, storage chests and dressers.  I use to make 15" cubes of 1/2" ply for a catering friend of mine. They wanted 20 for storing party plates and stuff. I learned real fast how important square is.  Good luck with your woodworking.

 

[Brian 57]

Like John Lucas said.
Regards

 

[pakkmule]

My two cents is to go with the TS75 EQ and MFT right off the bat.  You can get by with your old shop vac until you need to start doing finishing work (variable speed vac on low, so as not to put "fish eyes" in your work piece, when you are sanding "finish").  I heard FENCE which led me to believe that you may need depth in your plunge if you start working with thicker construction lumber/hardwood.  The 75 is a bit bigger, but much more versatile IMHO. 

When you look to purchase a sander then add your CT22 or Midi.  With regards to sanders, make up your mind early regarding size; either 5 or 6 inch and stick to it.  This way, you are not having to buy same grits with two sizes of disks.  Abrasives can really add up.  If it were my money, I would go 6 inch all the way.  Go first with the RO 150 FEQ.  This gives you the Dual Mode and 5mm throw for rough and intermediate sanding.  Then go to the ETS 150/3 to get to your finishing of urethanes and such.

Good Luck, and Go Festool all the way.  LOL.  Figure out a way to break your new jigsaw and go with the PS 300.  It'll smoke anything on the market.

pakkmule

 

[cparson]

Picked up the TS55, MFT1080, and CT22 today... Thanks everyone for the advice!  I was able to get everything set up, but at that point it was getting too dark and I was too tired to do anything else safely.  Looking forward to tomorrow!

Everything just seems so well built and well thought out... on the little guide stop that fits into the fence rail, when I was playing around and tightened it down, I noticed that the handle was sticking out into where the workpiece would be...  thought to myself, huh, that handle is going to get in the way of anything bigger than about an inch... and then realized that the handle can be lifted up and rotated around to the other side, without loosening the piece.  That this much thought went into this little piece...  it's like the people designing this stuff actually know what they're doing or something 

Thanks again for the great advice!
-chris