I love Festool. I have been addicted since I first bought my TS55 about 2 years ago. I bought the RO125 a few months later, along with the CT22. Last year, I bought the Domino, which continues to amaze me with what I can do with it. Then, I bought an MFT3 5 months ago. I bought it based on a lot of love posted here about the MFT tables, even the 1080s with their notorius difficulties of squaring cuts (or so you would think from all the threads about that topic here). I liked the idea of a work table I could take to the job site, and it just looked nifty. I didn't really expect it to change the way I worked, or revolutionize anything. And at first, that estimation was right. I really liked it, but it was just a nice table with holes in it that I could cut stuff on. 
I always looked at the clamping elements whenever I would go into Woodcraft, and thought, "nah, they are over $80, I can get by without them." Its not like I was scared to spend money on Festools, but for some reason, I couldn't justify the clamps. The other thing I kept drooling over, but again, price held me back, is the boom arm. It just bothered me that you had to buy the handle for the vacuum, and the arm assembly separately. I know, maybe a silly thing to be annoyed at, but I'm just like that.
Well, Tuesday of this week, I broke down. I had cabinet doors to sand, and the process I was using just wasn't working. I usually just use some of that no slip shop cloth stuff, if you understand what I mean. Its the somewhat tacky foam stuff with holes all over it. I think you get my drift. Anyway, I would clamp that onto the MFT (so it wouldn't just move all over. Even though its "anti-slip," that didn't seem to count on the MDF table top) and then sand my door on that. It still wanted to slowly move all over the place, and the dustier the pad got, the worse it moved. Not to mention, the hose and cord always under foot. I couldn't take it anymore. Little things like that make me frustrated, when I know there is a better way, but I'm not doing it that way. So I drove to Woodcraft and bought the boom arm and the clamping elements.
Holy crap!!! While sanding the first door, as it was clamped in place, not moving, and the boom arm overhead, keeping cords and hoses organized and out of the way, it was a pure joy and revelation. I finally "got" the Festool System. It all works better together. Yes, the tools themselves are amazing. No dispute. But when you combine it all together, it makes things go so much smoother, and efficiently. And that means a better use of my time and money. Of course, it also means I just want more of the Festool System! Oh what a slippery slope that is. . .
I have the OF1400 and the RS2E on the way. As soon as I get another good sized cabinet job, I will be getting the LR32 set. And of course, I would LOVE to have a Kapex! Is it possible to hire a hit man to "knock of" my existing Bosch 12" SCMS? I mean, it does a fine enough job, I can't justify changing at the moment. So its either the hit man option, or getting a big house to trim before I can justify it.
I always looked at the clamping elements whenever I would go into Woodcraft, and thought, "nah, they are over $80, I can get by without them." Its not like I was scared to spend money on Festools, but for some reason, I couldn't justify the clamps. The other thing I kept drooling over, but again, price held me back, is the boom arm. It just bothered me that you had to buy the handle for the vacuum, and the arm assembly separately. I know, maybe a silly thing to be annoyed at, but I'm just like that. Well, Tuesday of this week, I broke down. I had cabinet doors to sand, and the process I was using just wasn't working. I usually just use some of that no slip shop cloth stuff, if you understand what I mean. Its the somewhat tacky foam stuff with holes all over it. I think you get my drift. Anyway, I would clamp that onto the MFT (so it wouldn't just move all over. Even though its "anti-slip," that didn't seem to count on the MDF table top) and then sand my door on that. It still wanted to slowly move all over the place, and the dustier the pad got, the worse it moved. Not to mention, the hose and cord always under foot. I couldn't take it anymore. Little things like that make me frustrated, when I know there is a better way, but I'm not doing it that way. So I drove to Woodcraft and bought the boom arm and the clamping elements.
Holy crap!!! While sanding the first door, as it was clamped in place, not moving, and the boom arm overhead, keeping cords and hoses organized and out of the way, it was a pure joy and revelation. I finally "got" the Festool System. It all works better together. Yes, the tools themselves are amazing. No dispute. But when you combine it all together, it makes things go so much smoother, and efficiently. And that means a better use of my time and money. Of course, it also means I just want more of the Festool System! Oh what a slippery slope that is. . .
I have the OF1400 and the RS2E on the way. As soon as I get another good sized cabinet job, I will be getting the LR32 set. And of course, I would LOVE to have a Kapex! Is it possible to hire a hit man to "knock of" my existing Bosch 12" SCMS? I mean, it does a fine enough job, I can't justify changing at the moment. So its either the hit man option, or getting a big house to trim before I can justify it.
