Newb here... am I making any major mistakes with my first purchase?

[pdlandgang]

Welcome!  My first purchase was very similar to yours.  I did get the domino and all the kits.  At first I did not use it and second guessed my decision.  I then figured I paid for it so better use it for something.  Once you start using it, you will find ways to use it.  It is a very practical tool and can be incorporated into almost every project.  Makes alignment easy, especially in the projects you describe.  Now I see it a wise investment and it would make it again.

I would find a way to get a sander.  Even if it means reducing the discretionary/hand tool fund.  If you are having to choose between the sander and boom arm, sander any day.  You can get a ETS 150/3 for about the same price.

Plan ahead in you purchases also.  For example, when I purchased an additional guide rail I spent a little extra and got the rail that is compatible with the LR32 hole drilling system.  I want to purchase the hole drilling system but can't afford it yet.  At least I have the rail for it.  I connect it to another rail, which is not hard, to break down sheet goods.

 

[mtmpenn]

Thanks for all of the info guys, there seem to be some real nuggets in there. 

The guide rail with holes is almost the same price as one without, so I'll probably go that route for the second rail. 

The cleaning accessories seem to make a lot of sense (especially since  I'll be working in a space that is half storage/laundry).  Looking at the cleaning accessories, there are a lot of options.  The compact cleaning set looks nice and the systainer for storage is great.  The price, compared to buying a few nozzles and the storage rack, is pretty comparable.  BUT, then I noticed the industrial cleaning set.  No systainer, but for $25 more than the compact it comes with a 50mm 2.5m hose (which retalis for $70 by itself). 

What do you all think about the difference between the small hose and the big hose?  How important is the antistatic feature? 

Thanks for all of the help,
Mike

 

[BTDT]

Just piling on here... I am in a similar situation with a mini shop (8x12). I got invovled with Festool because of some renovations that we are doing to our house. With my small shop I needed to be able to get out and work in the rooms I was doing the reno work for. Not only that, I needed to do it cleanly.

I pretty much have the tools that you are looking to buy except I also have the 150/3. In fact, that is the tool that got me started with Festool. Like others, I think you are missing out if you do not get a Festool sander. Regarding the Domino, unless you have a clear idea that you will need it for your first project (or second) then I would wait and potentially pick one up used. (Having said that, I love my Domino!)

The one accessorie that I keep thinking about are the parallel guides. The ability to make repeated cuts is something that yoiu will likely want to do given that I don't think you will be setting up a table saw in your small space! Making parts for cabinets would be so much easier with this accessory as I found out last night!

Brad

PS - Welcome to the forum! Bunch a great folks who are willing to share!

 

[JJ Wavra]

Welcome,

I would also recommend looking into getting a sander.  I would also add that I do not know if you are ply wood or mdf speaker guy.  If you are an mdf fan I would definitely loo into an air cleaner.  Although festool tools have good dust collection I would not want that dust floating in the house.  I have a jds and have been very pleased it is one of those things that goes unnoticed  But makes a huge difference.

JJ

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Welcome to the FOG!  We love spending other people's money so you will get lots of advice on this thread. [laughing]

First of all, No - you are not making any major mistakes.  Its a great start.  I bought all those tools, but it took me about 3 years, wish I had done it Big Bang style instead.

I'll pile on about the sander.  The dust collection is amazing.  You can hook up another brand sander to the CT, but it won't work as well.  Go for a 6 inch format, the extra area makes it much faster.  Go slow on buying paper, it lasts way longer than paper does on other sanders due to the improved dust collection - you are sanding wood, not sanding dust.

Ah yes, the Domino.  Shaun offered good advice.  Try it and send it back if you don't love it.  I wouldn't be without it, but different people have different styles.  If you plan to make furniture, the Domino is a no-brainer.  The other thing, the dust collection on the domino is darn near 100%.  I have had mine since they came out and it still looks brand new after hundreds of mortises.

Get either style clamp.  I have both.  I prefer whichever is closer when I need one.  The quick clamps take a little getting used to, but are wicked fast once you have the technique down.  Both work on the rails, the mft, or just as plain old clamps.

If you are looking for a project.  Find the threads on sysports and domi-drawers.  Building a sysport will let you store your goodies in a small footprint and give most of the tools a workout.  If you are not in love with the domino after this project, send it back.

 

[tiralie]

BUT, then I noticed the industrial cleaning set.  No systainer, but for $25 more than the compact it comes with a 50mm 2.5m hose (which retalis for $70 by itself). 

What do you all think about the difference between the small hose and the big hose?  How important is the antistatic feature? 

I am planning to get the industrial cleaning set because the one shipped in the systainer has a smaller diamater tube.
When I do cleanup I want to do it as fast as possible and a larger diameter hose and tube helps to collect all that stuff that much more quickly.
You'll definitely need some kind of cleaning kit working in the laundry room [wink].
Tim

 

[fdengel]

The OP indicated right away that he has a sander already.

I had sanders before I bought my Rotex, and sold those in a hurry once I got it.

From one perspective, I would agree with Shane and suggest that you get a Festool sander before getting a router -- except you apparently don't have a router at all yet?

If you need a router, don't waste money getting another company's router, just go straight to the Festool one.  The 1400 is probably an ideal choice, and the one I would buy if I had the spare funding for it right now.

Upgrading to a Festool sander should then be very high on your list after the things you've already listed -- it makes a *HUGE* difference.

I'm content to live with my existing router for now, but I never want to use another company's handheld sanders again if I can help it.

 

[fidelfs]

I never want to use another company's handheld sanders again if I can help it.

Amen.  8)

 

[nnordrum]

Mildly similar boat here, but wanted thoughts on the 26 vs the 36?

For me specifically, for home/hobby shop use, am I just getting a bigger/heavier vac that I won't realistically use the extra capacity on?

 

[RPSmith]

Mildly similar boat here, but wanted thoughts on the 26 vs the 36?

I went with the 26 and put the savings toward the http://dustdeputy.com/index.htm.

I figured the savings in bags alone would make up the up-front expense...not to mention the wear and tear on the unit.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I thought I'd touch on the antistatic feature on the Festool vac hoses and the industrial cleaning set.  I happen to think the antistatic feature is a good thing to have, although I could live without it.  I live in an area that is almost always humid enough that I don't have problems with static shock or dust clinging to the hose.  If you live in the desert or your place gets pretty dry during the heating season the antistatic feature will be welcomed.  Another thought on the antistatic hose is for routing or cutting plastics or composites that take a charge while being cut so the dust will sticks to the tools and vac hose like crazy.  The antistatic hose reduces this buildup considerable.

The industrial cleaning set will certainly be nicer for cleaning up than the smaller compact set.  However, ShopVac, Craftsman, Ridgid and some other brand vac hoses will fit the Festool vacs.  So you can save a few bucks by buying a cheaper set from the Depot (or maybe you already own a set that will work).  I happen to have the Tradesmen set, it comes with the D36 antistatic hose.  That's Festool's mid sized hose and it'll get better dust collection with some of the larger tools like OF1400, OF2200, the planers and Kapex.  A nicer set probably isn't in your budget now but it is something to keep in mind for the future.  Good luck.

 

[fdengel]

Mildly similar boat here, but wanted thoughts on the 26 vs the 36?

For me specifically, for home/hobby shop use, am I just getting a bigger/heavier vac that I won't realistically use the extra capacity on?

Bags are cheaper per unit content on the larger vac, so while the 26 is smaller and is cheaper short-term, the 36 will be cheaper long-term if you go through enough bags with it.

 

[nnordrum]

Mildly similar boat here, but wanted thoughts on the 26 vs the 36?

I went with the 26 and put the savings toward the http://dustdeputy.com/index.htm.

I figured the savings in bags alone would make up the up-front expense...not to mention the wear and tear on the unit.

Any idea what that white tube is? I feel like I could make my own Ultimate Kit with a DIY Dust Deputy and a Sys 4/5 that would be cheaper and integrated better...

 

[Corwin]

...
Any idea what that white tube is? I feel like I could make my own Ultimate Kit with a DIY Dust Deputy and a Sys 4/5 that would be cheaper and integrated better...

Yes, that tube provides some vacuum between the Systainer-like bucket and the bag that is placed inside.  Otherwise, that bag would constantly get sucked up.

 

[rmwarren]

Regarding the Dust Deputy, I have one I am using on a CT36, works great. I also connect it to my non-Festool (sacrilege?) tools via a Mr. Vacuum hose and it handles my chop saw and portable table saw with no issues.

My CT36 is mostly stationary, I have the vacuum ends of the 27mm hose and the Mr. Vacuum hose both anchored with bungees near the Dust Deputy, when switching tools I just change the hose connected to the inlet. By plugging a power strip into the CT I can trigger the vacuum from most of the tools. Overall it can darn near eliminate the need for a full size dust collector.

 

[agarwalsa]

I understand your space constraints but I would recommend to have a table mounted router in your list.  I have the following routers: OF1400, OF1010, Bosch 1617EVS, Milwaukee 3.5HP and Bosch Colt. The Bosch 1617 and the Milwaukee are dedicated for table use with Router Lifts. The OF1400 hardly get used. I find table mounted routers are safer and far more easier/faster to work with in a variety of situations than handheld. Besides making a router table is a fun beginners project anyway. There are several 2 1/4 HP routers cost about $200 and come with 2 bases for both handheld and table use. If you do need one dedicated for handheld get the 1010 later. I would save the money from the 1400 and get one of these routers plus the ETS 150/3 sander.

 

[Kodi Crescent]

I understand your space constraints but I would recommend to have a table mounted router in your list.  I have the following routers: OF1400, OF1010, Bosch 1617EVS, Milwaukee 3.5HP and Bosch Colt. The Bosch 1617 and the Milwaukee are dedicated for table use with Router Lifts. The OF1400 hardly get used. I find table mounted routers are safer and far more easier/faster to work with in a variety of situations than handheld. Besides making a router table is a fun beginners project anyway. There are several 2 1/4 HP routers cost about $200 and come with 2 bases for both handheld and table use. If you do need one dedicated for handheld get the 1010 later. I would save the money from the 1400 and get one of these routers plus the ETS 150/3 sander.

When I started, I bought the 1400 because I had a set of Freud 1/2" bits, most unused.  Oh, and the ratcheting collet.  I hated busting my knuckles on my Bosch 1617.
In hindsight, I wish I would have sold the 1/2" bits and bought the 1010 instead.  Its lighter and has a lot of features and accessories.  I do primarily edge treatments, and after a bit felt the 1400 was a bit unwieldy.  I bought the MFK 700 to add to the line up.  As a hobbiest, I probably would have been better off starting with the 1010 and buying various 1010 accessories.

The Domino changed the quality of the projects I worked on.  Like going from framing carpentry to trim carpentry.  From utility items to more showy items.

I didn't buy the Domino with all the tenons at first.  You can get by with the 5mm tenons for quite awhile if you work in 3/4" stock.  When you start changing stock size you may want to look at the different sizes.  So you don't have to take that $270 hit at once.

 

[mtmpenn]

Hmmmm.... more thoughts to consider. 

The router points are a good one.  Here is my hesitation.  I definitely see some dado's in my future.  It seems that if I go with a festool router I can use the mft and the guide rails to make relatively precise dado's.  I cannot do this with a table mounted router.  I could do it with a cheaper router and a straight edge... I suppose I just feel like by the time I get a cheaper router, appropriate straight edge, possibly a micro-adjust adapter (such as sold by infinity tools), the price difference isn't that great, and I have more "pieces" to store in my small space.

For guys that have used other routers with decent dust collection, like the dewalt 621, how would you compare the festool dust collection?  Noticeably better or about the same?  This might help me to decide. 

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Hmmmm.... more thoughts to consider. 

The router points are a good one.  Here is my hesitation.  I definitely see some dado's in my future.  It seems that if I go with a festool router I can use the mft and the guide rails to make relatively precise dado's.  I cannot do this with a table mounted router.  I could do it with a cheaper router and a straight edge... I suppose I just feel like by the time I get a cheaper router, appropriate straight edge, possibly a micro-adjust adapter (such as sold by infinity tools), the price difference isn't that great, and I have more "pieces" to store in my small space.

For guys that have used other routers with decent dust collection, like the dewalt 621, how would you compare the festool dust collection?  Noticeably better or about the same?  This might help me to decide. 

My Dewalt 621 went on craigslist a week after I got my OF1400.  In my experience, there is just no comparison.  DC is much more efficient on the 1400 and better integrated.  DC seemed like an afterthought for Dewalt.  The hose connection was awkward and the router topheavy with a hose connected, plus the hose was always getting in the way.

The 1400 running on the guiderail is incredibly precise, way more so than running off a straightedge.  Also, get a couple of stops for the guiderail so that every dado is the same length.

One more thing, I still feel giddy every time I use the racheting collet on the 1400.  No more two wrench dance or skinned knuckles.  I still keep a Bosch router around because I built a jig custom for its base, but I curse the laziness of the Bosch engineers each time I use it.

 

[nickao]

I don't get it, maybe you did not have the cover on the DeWalt?

I have the DeWalt 618's as well as the DeWalt 621 and 625 and the DeWalt 618's and 621's are very effective at dust collection, just as good as the Festools. I own the OF 1400 and use it right next to my DeWalts all day long and none of them produce any dust for on top of material operations.They all produce dust for edge operations unless you use the cup on the bottom of the base.

I rate the dust collection on the DeWalt 618 plunge base(and the new Porter cable copy), the 621 plunge and the OF 1400 all the same, excellent. They are all my go to routers.

Actually, I prefer the straight up collection of the 618 the best(followed by the 621), especially when used with the boom arm.