Newbie here

[allthatrip]

Hi,
I discovered Festool a month ago and decided to take the plunge after reading many of you on this wonderful FOG owners group.
I would like to know from you if I am making any mistake in my first choice of equipment.
I will be getting the 55REQ, MFT/3 and CT36 for a start.
Anything else I should add or change to my equipment?
I intend to make small furnitures.
I just retired and decided woodworking as my hobby.
Thank you all.

 

[RJNeal]

  [welcome]
Welcome aboard. That's (just) a good start.
I started out with a et125 an of1010. Twenty tools later......

Good luck
Rick

 

[TOOLTOWN]

[welcome]

I would suggest a cleaning kit to go with the ct, the compact cleaning kit is a good start.

Also, you may want to look into some smaller rails (depending on how small the furniture is going to be)

I'm sure you will get plenty of other advise here as well.

Ken

 

[wow]

Welcome allthatrip!

Your choices look fine to start with, and besides they're not 'final' You'll have a lot more soon enough!!!

 

[Bark]

Might as well buy a domino with the 10% discount at the moment. Consider it a retirement present

 

[Nvcraftsman]

Hi,
I discovered Festool a month ago and decided to take the plunge after reading many of you on this wonderful FOG owners group.
I would like to know from you if I am making any mistake in my first choice of equipment.
I will be getting the 55REQ, MFT/3 and CT36 for a start.
Anything else I should add or change to my equipment?
I intend to make small furnitures.
I just retired and decided woodworking as my hobby.
Thank you all.

Welcome to Fog, you will get some great advise on these forums. I started my Festool journey about a year and half ago. I bought the Mft/3, 55req first, just recently I have purchased the CT 26 and a Rotex 90 sander, if you don't have a good sander put this one on your list, I use it on all my projects it's awesome. I don't have the Domino but that is my next purchase. That would be another for you to list. I will caution you though, these tool will make wood working a joy and it like green crack- you just can't get enough. Good luck and enjoy you new tools. Remember these tools are an investment, if you don't believe me go to the classifieds on this forum or on eBay and see tools that are 3,4,5 years old still selling for 80% of today's purchase price.

 

[ceddy]

If you plan on building furniture then the domino is going to come in handy for sure, but the TS55 is a good start. I started with the same set up as you (TS75, MFT and CT22 back then). In a rough order I got after that : Compact cleaning kit, clamps, ETS 125, ETS 150/5, OF1400, CXS, Kapex, tradesman cleaning kit (to get the 36mm hose), RO90, C15, Domino XL, Carvex, and lots of accessories. If I could do it again I would skip the CXS and ETS 125. They are both overshadowed by the C15 and ETS 150. The rest I love. Getting longer rails is great if you are going to break down sheet goods. There are lots of accessories you can get for the routers, thats a world in its self. Happy shopping!

But all of this is pointless, you will simply do like all of us and buy every festool, slowly but surely.

 

[allthatrip]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and suggestions.
I still have a lot of reading to do here since there are tons of good infos on FOG.
I will sure be back here with questions.
I already feel at home 

Thanks everyone

 

[Oso Rojo]

One suggestion, when you get the 55REQ, ask your dealer to swap the standard rail for a holey rail. You should be able to do this and only pay the offset in costs. This way when you get the itch to upgrade to shelf pins, you already have a rail that is compatible.

 

[wow]

One suggestion, when you get the 55REQ, ask your dealer to swap the standard rail for a holey rail. You should be able to do this and only pay the offset in costs. This way when you get the itch to upgrade to shelf pins, you already have a rail that is compatible.

What he said - except that I think with the new pricing from April 1 that they are now the same price? Whether they are or not, get the Holey Rail. You won't be sorry!

 

[allthatrip]

Sorry to ask but what is a Holey rail?

 

[Oso Rojo]

It's the version of the rail with 32mm spacing holes for use with the hole drilling system.
http://www.festoolusa.com/power-tool-accessories/guide-rails/tracks/32-mm-hole-drilling-guide-rail-55-1400-mm-496939

I'm surprised to see the holey rail and the standard rail are the same price now, so definitely ask for the holey version.

 

[wow]

Sorry to ask but what is a Holey rail?

Don't be sorry for asking ANYTHING - we all had to learn. A 'Holey Rail' is kind of an inside joke or wordplay on the 'Holy Grail'. It's a Festool guide rail that is perforated with holes (actually they're slots) for the LR-32 cabinet system. Here's a quick link:

http://www.festoolusa.com/power-tool-accessories/guide-rails/tracks/32-mm-hole-drilling-guide-rail-55-1400-mm-496939

And here's a picture that might help you visualize it:

[attachimg=#]

There is no 'penalty' if you buy the 'Holey Rail' - just a benefit for WHEN (not if) you get into the 32mm system. Did you notice how I made that sound so certain?

[big grin]

 

[allthatrip]

I get it now. Thanks.
Really impressed by the help we get here.
Also, do you think I should go for the Parallel Guide set before anything else since I have a little more margin to invest here?

 

[wow]

I get it now. Thanks.
Really impressed by the help we get here.
Also, do you think I should go for the Parallel Guide set before anything else since I have a little more margin to invest here?

Reviews are somewhat mixed on the Parallel Guide set. I don't own them, so I will leave the comments to those who do - or have.

 

[jacko9]

Welcome,

If you want to make furniture, buy the Domino Joiner and the tenon assortment set.  Nothing that Festool sells is as revolutionary as the Domino joiner.

Jack

 

[ceddy]

Thats a great idea, swap out the rail that you get with the 55 for a longer or holy rail. Would have done that for sure.

 

[Kev]

[welcome]

Falling for Festool has probably put retiring off till I'm in my 90's [crying]

Enjoy the green!

 

[Birdhunter]

I'm retired, but was doing woodworking as a hobby for a long time before quitting the corporate world.

The first thing I would do as a new woodworker would be to take some classes involving the tools you plan to use. The classes should include a heft amount of safety instruction. The most important safety item is a pair of really good safety glasses. I put mine on as I walk into my shop.

Most woodworkers have strong opinions about what equipment they prefer. I know I do.

I believe a big solid table saw is the cornerstone of a shop (Sawstop Professional or Industrial model). Purchased wood is never straight. Thus, a planer and a jointer are needed. The jointer should be at least 8". Helical heads with carbide cutters are best. A bandsaw would be next and 14" is a minimal size. Major league dust collector is mandatory. Shop vacs are not big enough for table saws. You will want to build or buy a solid router table and a fixed router with a good lift. Sanding goes faster with a Festool sander connected to a good vac. Woodworking is almost impossible without a good bench. The Festool MFT setup is great except you can't mount a vise without modifying the bench (I did). Festool makes great routers. I've got them all, but the 1400 is the one I pull out the most. I use a small drum sander a lot to flatten glued up boards. A Festool Domino is a great tool for building cabinets, boxes, and almost everything needing jointing. There are tons of posts on the Domino. Clamps, lots of clamps, are involved in most projects. I like Bessey clamps, especially the parallel clamps. I could go on, but the dog needs to go for had walk.

Remember, any of these tools can maim your hands and blind your eyes much faster than you can possibly react. Knowing how to avoid an injury scenario BEFORE you flip the power switch should be learned. Most experienced woodworkers will be willing to walk you through the learning curve. Most areas have woodworking guilds. Woodworking stores often have free or cheap classes on the basics.

 

[Kev]

I may seem like I have an axe to grind here, but this really does my head in ...

Why is that people gravitate to the "spinning blade in a box" cabinet saw whenever a table saw is mentioned and COMPLETELY IGNORE sliding table saws ???

Please consider a sliding table saw if you really want a table saw.