Not very impressed with Festool.

Corwin said:
I feel a whole new round of contests coming......

Yes, where the winner funds the training videos right? [big grin]  Actually, I was talking with Shane about the next FOG contest and he was thinking along the lines of how-to's as a possible contest.
 
A few more random comments. I have attended two classes in Lebanon near Indianapolis. I drove there and back both times - 850 miles each way. IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!   [big grin] It cost me about $600 total per class in gas, fees, lodging, food. That is a lot of money to me but I had absolutely no regrets of the cost versus the benefit.

I was lucky enough to have my last class with several of our star members here. As Brice says, the classes are quite spontaneous at times. Brian and Steve will stop the teaching and turn it over to one of the students to share their usage and ideas. Several times Shane would come in and do a quick video of the presentation and post it here for all to see. You have to realize that Festool is actually a fairly small group of dedicated employees doing many job functions like Shane.

We are so in incredibly lucky to have members here that are so giving of there talents and time. All those video reviews of tools and their usage. Some of these videos were almost 30 minutes long and far longer than that in their original form before editing.
 
Never had a loose receptacle (don't say it), but my speed control rhio went out after the warranty expired and they still fixed it for free.
 
If the cost of production is something Festool USA does not have in the current budget why not run a contest for videos on "How-To" just like they did for tool reviews.  There is some great talent in this member base.

I bet you would get some great "How-To" videos. The batch of armature videos would hole every one over until Festool can get the budget to do the professional training videos.

It would also give Festool some information on what video are the most popular, so they would have an ideal on which video to produce first.
 
Contract the "Wood Whisperer" or the "Wood Nerd" to produce them.  It looks like they're already setup for production, know how to use the tools, and they have an existing relationship with Festool.

 
The first Festool Sander I bought was the old Rotex with the hard wired plug and I've never looked back. With 24 grit and direct drive it removes blistered epoxy in seconds, then switches back to RA to work through all the grits to a polished surface. The paper lasts to long when I get bored sanding I think oh! the papers worn out, then I look and it's as clean  as a new piece, no build up no glazing.
I also leave a good quality muti-outlet and a  plug-it in my CT-33. That way I just switch out the hose and the plug. less clutter and the cord stays with the respective tool box, no suprises when I get to the job.
I was annoyed that the little cover over the outlet on my CT's would come off occasionally depending on the direction I was pulling the vacuum.. Then I realized that if they didn't, the force would break them and I would be paying to replace it each time.
I have seven MFT's, one I made square so I could make a right angle work table for a complicated cabinet job. Having said that I used the left-over side rails etc to make my own fence extension for my Kapex. Works well enough.
Festool is a business, we are not required to buy everything they put out. I passed on the Festool first  aide kit because the contents where from China. A couple of years ago I put partions in a SYS-3 and made my own first aide box. From sutures to amputations it all in one box.
 
joinery45 said:
The first Festool Sander I bought was the old Rotex with the hard wired plug and I've never looked back. With 24 grit and direct drive it removes blistered epoxy in seconds, then switches back to RA to work through all the grits to a polished surface. The paper lasts to long when I get bored sanding I think oh! the papers worn out, then I look and it's as clean  as a new piece, no build up no glazing.
I also leave a good quality muti-outlet and a  plug-it in my CT-33. That way I just switch out the hose and the plug. less clutter and the cord stays with the respective tool box, no suprises when I get to the job.
I was annoyed that the little cover over the outlet on my CT's would come off occasionally depending on the direction I was pulling the vacuum.. Then I realized that if they didn't, the force would break them and I would be paying to replace it each time.
I have seven MFT's, one I made square so I could make a right angle work table for a complicated cabinet job. Having said that I used the left-over side rails etc to make my own fence extension for my Kapex. Works well enough.
Festool is a business, we are not required to buy everything they put out. I passed on the Festool first  aide kit because the contents where from China. A couple of years ago I put partions in a SYS-3 and made my own first aide box. From sutures to amputations it all in one box.

What you got a ts55 in there as well ?
 
Jimarnold126@gmail.com said:
I agree that Festool products are not perfect.  My stickers keep pealing back on my systainers.  Other than that they are perfect.

And that little problem has been sorted with the labels on the new t-loc [smile]
 
[welcome] to the fog

i dont think any tool companies tools are perfect . it would be stupid to think so, without realising that tools are not perfect there would be no reason for improving them
 
Holzhacker said:
Well David, I can't entirely disagree with you. I wouldn't buy the MFK700 if it was 75% off. Way too complicated and expensive of a tool. I tend to think it is one of the big dumb jokes of Festools. They made it super duper because they could,
Did they really? It actually started out life as a Holz-Her 2360 and was available for a number of years before Festool took it over and added a few things to it (like a revised motor design and the side fence). It is fundamentally a very good laminate, lipping and edge trimmer/profiler. Why do I say that? Because I've had a 2360 in regular use since the late 1990s. And I know how to use it. Runs rings around a Colt, Makita or DW trimmer - providing you don't want to use it as a router. Then it's equally naff as the others IMHO. Routing isn't its' forte. Maybe that's where the problem lies. Marketing.

As to the "Festool myth", does anyone here with a TS55 want to go back to using a P-C sidewinder? Probably not. I use the EHL65 planer for door installation - best planer I've ever had for the job, certainly the best quality of cut. All the tradesmen I've met who've bought one wouldn't go back to a "conventional" planer, either

I've never had any of the problems with sockets on extractors that some of the posters have, but I use UK 110 volt tools which have the giant CEE typ-17 (BS.4343) plugs. Maybe the problem has to do with the design of the socket

My only real "gripe" about Festool is that it costs a bundle. That and I have problems with Plug-Its not lasting as long as I'd like. But as I make my living from my tools I bite the bullet and buy the most suitable tool for the job. Regardless of brand

Phil
 
Chris Rosenberger said:
They use the sticker adhesive on the clear splinter guard. Now those do not stay stuck for more than a week in the truck.

I had a piece of the clear material on the rails flopping around on me... a piece of double sided carpet tape took care of that.  But in truth, I think we should be able to expect more from Festool on this.
 
pugilato said:
Chris Rosenberger said:
They use the sticker adhesive on the clear splinter guard. Now those do not stay stuck for more than a week in the truck.

I had a piece of the clear material on the rails flopping around on me... a piece of double sided carpet tape took care of that.  But in truth, I think we should be able to expect more from Festool on this.

When I called about this strip falling off I was told it was due to, stretching the edge too much in manufacturing when applying the edge strip. They sent me a replacement roll of edge stripping.
 
I spoke to the adhesive manufacturer who admitted they didn't use a strong enough adhesive.  They're sticking to their story.  Maybe that'll change if they feel more heat from us -- American phrase for complaints.

[big grin]
 
The clear splinter guard is one of the few design flaws wiith regards to the guide rails.
I preferred the old black splinter guard. The adhesive lasted ten times longer.

 
Phil  P said:
Holzhacker said:
Well David, I can't entirely disagree with you. I wouldn't buy the MFK700 if it was 75% off. Way too complicated and expensive of a tool. I tend to think it is one of the big dumb jokes of Festools. They made it super duper because they could,
Did they really? It actually started out life as a Holz-Her 2360 and was available for a number of years before Festool took it over and added a few things to it (like a revised motor design and the side fence). It is fundamentally a very good laminate, lipping and edge trimmer/profiler. Why do I say that? Because I've had a 2360 in regular use since the late 1990s. And I know how to use it. Runs rings around a Colt, Makita or DW trimmer - providing you don't want to use it as a router. Then it's equally naff as the others IMHO. Routing isn't its' forte. Maybe that's where the problem lies. Marketing.

As to the "Festool myth", does anyone here with a TS55 want to go back to using a P-C sidewinder? Probably not. I use the EHL65 planer for door installation - best planer I've ever had for the job, certainly the best quality of cut. All the tradesmen I've met who've bought one wouldn't go back to a "conventional" planer, either

I've never had any of the problems with sockets on extractors that some of the posters have, but I use UK 110 volt tools which have the giant CEE typ-17 (BS.4343) plugs. Maybe the problem has to do with the design of the socket

My only real "gripe" about Festool is that it costs a bundle. That and I have problems with Plug-Its not lasting as long as I'd like. But as I make my living from my tools I bite the bullet and buy the most suitable tool for the job. Regardless of brand

Phil

At times, I really do miss my Skill 77s, For home framing, they're my saw of choice. Pin that ***** back- and stand back! Sometimes torque is more important than plunge and precision.
I can just picture a residential roof framer with a TS55 on a joist hook...
At one time, I was close to owning a MFK700, and I work w/ solid woods and almost never work with laminates. It would also give me a reason to ship over my old collection of 1/4" bits.
 
William Herrold said:
At times, I really do miss my Skill 77s, For home framing, they're my saw of choice. Pin that ***** back- and stand back! Sometimes torque is more important than plunge and precision.
I can just picture a residential roof framer with a TS55 on a joist hook...
Yes, but a Skil 77 is hardly a sidewinder. Heavy so and so's from what I recall. I was thinking more like a Skil Classic (#66?). I have a Makita 5704RK5704RK  for "rough work" (such as opening up floors, etc), but it isn't mucjh good for shortening finished, veneered fire doors or trimming laminated counters to size! Horses for courses, I say

Reards

Phil
 
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