old/newbie introduction

[EricT]

Hi everyone

My name is Eric, I got turned on to woodworking stuffs by an art furniture maker about 8 years ago.  I've been in the IT industry 20 some odd years, right up until about a month ago when I decided to quit doing stuff that wasn't fun anymore.  3 weeks ago I picked up a job at a cabinet shop as an apprentice/custom builder, and I am loving every minute of it.  Why I didn't do this so long ago, I don't know.

I just today ordered up my first festool items, a full c15 drill/driver kit, and a 55req saw, from the big reconditioned sale.  I am super excited to get those in hand!  Got those from Rick at "the woodworking source" who was super patient and helpful.

The only festool item at the shop is a small domino joiner, which I have been using a ton.  We have a job coming up in a couple of weeks that begs the use of the larger domino, and the shop owner wants to work the cost of that tool into the job!  So we should have 2 dominos soon.  Now if I could only talk him into a dust extractor!

Looking forward to building my festool army, and figuring out what I'm doing in the shop.  That's my story!  Career round two, as it were.  (edited to add-) I'm in central Arizona.

 

[tjbnwi]

Are you using dust extraction with the DF 500?

Tom

 

[EricT]

Don't have one, all I have is the domino itself.  I'm going to work on getting the owner to buy a combo package w a vac when he goes to get the bigger model.  It's not my money, so I can only suggest it.  I'm happy I get the domino!  Really nice on large panel glueups.

 

[Len Coleman]

Welcome to the FOG.  I am still in IT, at least for 3 more years then I get to retire.  Way north, north side of Phoenix.

 

[dltflt]

Welcome to Fog. I'm on the east side of Phoenix.

 

[EricT]

Tons of Arizona guys in here, very cool.  I'm up in Prescott.

So do any of you guys use/recommend a festool dealer in phx?  I know woodworkers source used to have stuff, but the website seems to suggest otherwise now.  I'm going to be down in phx on friday, was thinking about picking up that systainer that's tackle box style for my hand tools and joinery gizmos.  Right now I have to remove the blade from my japanese pull saw to get it into my current box, which is tall and tippy.  Would be nice to have a festool box for my chisels and whatnot, but I wanted to see that in person if I could.

 

[tjbnwi]

You really need dust extraction with the Domino.

Welcome to the asylum.

Tom

 

[anthonyz]

Is this the Arizona portion of FOG? I am here in Mesa and a Fairly new Festool junkie of about 5 months. Collecting tools like crazy. Hello fellow Arizonans. We should have a Phoenix Festool support group. LOL. I have been working with Timer woodworking in Mesa to see about setting up a Festool test center.

 

[EricT]

Hey Tom-

Yeah, I know, but I don't have it.  I have a shop vac, maybe I can look into rigging up some adapter for it with that.  For now I'm just tapping out the chips/shaking them out in between plunges.

It really is a nice piece of gear.

 

[tjbnwi]

Issue is with the chips not being extracted they can break the bits and damage the mortice.

Something for your boss to consider.

Tom

 

[EricT]

Ah, that makes sense.  In the meantime I will rig something with the current shopvac we have.  Good tip, thanks.  I'm just using what I have access to!

 

[anthonyz]

Eric, Timber is probably the largest dealer of Festool in Phoenix and probably the state. http://timber-woodworking.com/. I am fortunate to live only a couple miles away. They are very helpful. Talk to Sil, Paul or Dallas. They have different Systainers, and sortainers, don't remember if they had the tools totes.

 

[dltflt]

Woodworkers source does carry Festool. I know they quit several years ago but I was in there recently and they have about as good as selection as Woodcraft or Rockler. I have been buying my Festools from Intouchtool Tools in Palm Desert. They seem to keep a pretty good stock of Festool tools Nd ship quick. Very nice people to deal with plus they put on a big demo day every year.

 

[anthonyz]

Rockler no longer carries Festool. They had a falling out and pulled out of their stores. Rockler has a Kapex sitting on their floor in Phoenix, but that is about it. Timber I think is the only rep who has demo tools to try out. I think woodworker source only has new tools. They have a nice display, but not near the inventory of Festool that Timber in Mesa has.

 

[EricT]

Cool thanks guys.  I appreciate all the info here.  That timber url appears to be down, looks like the server is taking a break at the moment.  I'll check up on them once they're back up and running.

 

[anthonyz]

That's weird, I was just on the site. I must have broken it. lol  Their address is 935 E Southern Ave, Mesa, AZ 85204. (480) 926-2131. Ask them about the crazy Festool guy and they will mention me. lol. Have fun shopping.

 

[EricT]

Anthony, with all due respect, I think we're all "the crazy festool guy" at this point.  You've just been at it for longer than I have!

Now that I have a saw and drill coming, I guess it's time to save up for an MF3 kit with all the fun stuff, some nice festool clamps, another rail for the saw so I can join them and get 8', and of course a vacuum.  Per the vacuum - for a home shop and occasional job site usage, what size would people recommend?  My truck is a toyota tacoma, with a rolling bed cover that gives me just over 17" clearance- so almost any vac I get will need to be stored on it's side.  I'm unsure which size/volume makes sense - although I will almost certainly put a reusable bag in it so I don't have to spend a bunch on disposable bags (seems wasteful anyways).

Feel free to toss me recommendations on that.  And it is nice to meet everyone here, lots of great woodworkers in Arizona it would seem.  Gotta do something fun inside away from the heat!

 

[anthonyz]

Anthony, with all due respect, I think we're all "the crazy festool guy" at this point.  You've just been at it for longer than I have!

Now that I have a saw and drill coming, I guess it's time to save up for an MF3 kit with all the fun stuff, some nice festool clamps, another rail for the saw so I can join them and get 8', and of course a vacuum.  Per the vacuum - for a home shop and occasional job site usage, what size would people recommend?  My truck is a toyota tacoma, with a rolling bed cover that gives me just over 17" clearance- so almost any vac I get will need to be stored on it's side.  I'm unsure which size/volume makes sense - although I will almost certainly put a reusable bag in it so I don't have to spend a bunch on disposable bags (seems wasteful anyways).

Feel free to toss me recommendations on that.  And it is nice to meet everyone here, lots of great woodworkers in Arizona it would seem.  Gotta do something fun inside away from the heat!

Eric, I have the Midi and it's nice and portable being a little on the smaller side. I have an extended cab on my Tacoma and slide it behind the seat. If you are doing a ton of work with it, I recommend going larger, but I am very happy with the size and performance. I have run the domino and TS 55 with no issues. I also added a cord wrap on the back which was lacking on the midi.

 

[EricT]

Thanks Anthony.

Tom, I was running the domino again today - rigged up out crappy shopvac and got a nice seal to it, and wow the mortices came out way cleaner.  Good, good tip there, thank you.  I think I can talk my boss into a vac/domino XL package sometime in the near future since we have a job requiring some doors to be built.  Good news is theres a ton of work coming!  Ill post some pics up of my projects I've turned out so far, waiting for my current one to get finished up, hopefully tomorrow.

 

[paulpaulis11]

Just got ets 125 with titan 2 p1200 to p 3000 & platin 4000 still trying to understand the whole concept of refining previous grit scratches and ofcourse a lot of deep scratches any advice