Ordering Festools that aren't available in North America from overseas dealers
- Thread starter erikfsn
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People do buy Festools in Europe and have them shipped over. It'll cost you an arm and a leg and it certainly won't be "UL" approved
Whatcha lookin' for?
Dan Clermont
Whatcha lookin' for?
Dan Clermont
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Dan Clermont said:
Forgot to mention warranty and parts may be an issue as well.
Dan Clermont
Mike_Chrest
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I don't know if the Europeans have the same deal w/ Festool, but it's a violation of our dealer agreement to sell outside the U.S.
Any warranty or service work would have to be done there also.
Any warranty or service work would have to be done there also.
For a long time I was looking for a model CDD Festool drill. Couldn't locate on eBay and, after that model was replaced by the C12, Festool had none in stock. So, since I worked for FedEx and flew regularly to Europe I sought out used equipment over there. Plenty of used Festool on eBay Germany and eBay Uk.
Here's the big problem. Electrical power in Europe is 220v 50 cycle. So, even though you could plug in a Domino or a TS75 to your 220 outlet in the garage, the cutters would run at 20% overspeed because of the difference in the current. We have 60 cycles, the machine motors are made for 50 cycles.. Battery powered stuff wouldn't be a problem. But gasoline is currently selling for $13.50 a gallon in London. Which means, the US dollar is doesn't buy squat. The sales channels in Europe are quite odd, by our standards. There are specialized tool "agents/sales guys" who cater to the trades. As part of the Euro safety requirements, you go to the small shop of one of these guys and he gives you instructions and safety demo on each Festool machine you want. Then he sells it to you.
Mail order and such are quite restricted. Australia has Festool mail order outlets, but there again you run into the voltage/current dilemma. 220v, 50 cycle. Shipping would be quite high, and the warranty on Festools from other countries is void in the US because of contract agreements. So I would say for the battery tools, eBay UK or eBay .de might be ok. Nix on anything with a plug.
Oh, and after 17 months of looking on eBay I finally got my drill on Craigslist in Phoenix. Half price for a machine used only on one cabinet install job. The guy had 4 for sale. This information I am giving you here was confirmed to me by the Festool sales/repair facility in Santa Barbara California. (Goleta, actually)
Good hunting.
Gary Curtis
Northern California
Gary Curtis
Northern California
Here's the big problem. Electrical power in Europe is 220v 50 cycle. So, even though you could plug in a Domino or a TS75 to your 220 outlet in the garage, the cutters would run at 20% overspeed because of the difference in the current. We have 60 cycles, the machine motors are made for 50 cycles.. Battery powered stuff wouldn't be a problem. But gasoline is currently selling for $13.50 a gallon in London. Which means, the US dollar is doesn't buy squat. The sales channels in Europe are quite odd, by our standards. There are specialized tool "agents/sales guys" who cater to the trades. As part of the Euro safety requirements, you go to the small shop of one of these guys and he gives you instructions and safety demo on each Festool machine you want. Then he sells it to you.
Mail order and such are quite restricted. Australia has Festool mail order outlets, but there again you run into the voltage/current dilemma. 220v, 50 cycle. Shipping would be quite high, and the warranty on Festools from other countries is void in the US because of contract agreements. So I would say for the battery tools, eBay UK or eBay .de might be ok. Nix on anything with a plug.
Oh, and after 17 months of looking on eBay I finally got my drill on Craigslist in Phoenix. Half price for a machine used only on one cabinet install job. The guy had 4 for sale. This information I am giving you here was confirmed to me by the Festool sales/repair facility in Santa Barbara California. (Goleta, actually)
Good hunting.
Gary Curtis
Northern California
Gary Curtis
Northern California
Gary, good info regarding sources. However, all AC operated (power cord) Festools have universal motors. Universal motors are "self-commutating" and don't care about the mains frequency, only the voltage. A US "220V" circuit (and it's probably closer to 240V, as is Europe) when correctly wired will work fine. Which leaves the UL, a bureaucratic organization grown ossified.
Regards, Larry
Regards, Larry
Loren Hedahl
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Unfortunately there's more to it than the 220 volt, 50 cycle. In Europe the ground is at zero volts, i.e., at one leg of the 220 vac. In the US the ground is in the center, i.e., we actually use 110-0-110 volts.
Another thing to be aware of is all these voltages are stated in RMS (root, mean, square). That means the peak voltage will be 41.4 percent higher than the RMS.
Incidentally, my optometrist mentioned during a recent eye exam that people can see approximately 40 percent better with both eyes than with one eye. Go figure!
Another thing to be aware of is all these voltages are stated in RMS (root, mean, square). That means the peak voltage will be 41.4 percent higher than the RMS.
Incidentally, my optometrist mentioned during a recent eye exam that people can see approximately 40 percent better with both eyes than with one eye. Go figure!
martin2009
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HI,
I have a Festo TS 55 EB circular saw - purchased in UK. I move to the states last year. I also brought along a 22v generator because I have a number of tools and don't wish to get rid of them. However, now I find myself in a bit of a situation. The electronic control circuitry of my circular saw went on the fritz and I need to replace the part. What do I do? is there an online ordering system that you guys know of that supports European parts? or can a local supplier provide me with a part?
Much regards
Martin.
I have a Festo TS 55 EB circular saw - purchased in UK. I move to the states last year. I also brought along a 22v generator because I have a number of tools and don't wish to get rid of them. However, now I find myself in a bit of a situation. The electronic control circuitry of my circular saw went on the fritz and I need to replace the part. What do I do? is there an online ordering system that you guys know of that supports European parts? or can a local supplier provide me with a part?
Much regards
Martin.
From what I was told by Festool, You can still send it to Festool USA and they will fix it. It will just take twice as long because they don't stock the parts you need. They stock all the parts that are made for the US. Festool USA also accepts warrenties that started oversea's.
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