Protool accessories

[Frank-Jan]

A while back I bought a protool li-ion cordless drill ( a few weeks before the festool ones became available). I noticed that they sold several centrotec accesories that aren't availbable under the festool brand, but that can be used with the festool drills.
For example: shorter centrotec bits (55 mm total length), masonry drillbits (not very usefull for the festool drills, but compatible nonetheless), and centrotec versions of the zobo drills (high quality forstner bits), it's only a pity they don't offer the same variety in sizes as with the "normal" zobo bits.

They also offer regular circular saws (as in non-plungecut), that can ride on the festool rails. They have one of those saws on display at one of my dealers, and since I liked some of the features (remote control lever for the bladeguard, sturdy base that can ride on the festool rails,..) I checked out the accesories for those saws on their website.

This is where I arrive at the reason I started this thread: they offer two types of angle guides for the protool rails (which are the same as the festool ones, only with orange glide strips), that attach underneath the rail similar to the dewalt guides, and the old festool version that has been posted on these forums.

From the looks of them, I think they will remain at the angle you set them at, and the one in the second picures has a longer fence, with a tab that prevents it from tipping the rail to its side and comes with a stop-flag.

 

[richard.selwyn]

Frank-Jan,
I'm interested in the protool driver - which one did you get?  I need a new cordless hammer drill to replace my dead Bosch one and thought the protool seemed very powerful when I try it at an Expo earlier this year.  Problem is, no one locally seems to stock them.  I think it was you who posted a link to a good dealer in festool Germany, but I was beaten by the language.  a French speaking Belgian site would be perfect!

regards,

Richard.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Frank-Jan,

Thanks for posting this information.

Does anyone know of any practical route to obtain these products in USA?  Thus far, FestoolUSA appears reluctant (hesitant) to introduce the ProTools lines into USA.  My opinion is that FestoolUSA ought to make available at least those products that are unique (have no counterparts by DeWalt, PC, Milwaukee, Bosch, Makita et al. in USA) and that work with other Festool products that are available in USA, e.g. drilling tools and the Guide Rail device you posted.

Being in USA, I recently purchased the DeWalt 90 degree Guid Rail attachment  (they also offer an adjustable mitre head type) and a pair of their "Quick Clamps" that fit the channels in Festool's Guide Rails and MFTs.  I have not yet used either DeWalt product in making of a project with my Festool products.

Dave R.

 

[Frank-Jan]

Richard, I have the 18V pdc set version (this is the hammerdrill), it has gotten a lot of use since I got it, and I still like it a lot. I promissed I would do a review about it, but I have been flooded with work, I hope I get around to it soon.
I bought mine in Holland, I think you mean the site Mettes posted in this thread
I live in Belgium, at the Dutch border, there are no dealers in Belgium near me that stock festool products, except for some paint stores that have the sanders.

I'm not sure they officially sell  the protool line in Belgium, but I have come across a site in Belgium by accident that did sell them, allthough it was in Flanders.

I'll have a look later tonight, we have family over, and they are starting dinner without me...

 

[Forrest Anderson]

Festool, Protool and Tanos are part of the German TTS Tooltechnic Systems AG & Co KG.

See the Australian Protool site for the following background:

TTS Tooltechnic Systems AG & Co. KG, is the parent company of 3 brands: Festool, PROTOOL and Tanos. With headquarters in Germany, TTS Tooltechnic Systems AG & Co. KG has over 1,800 employees in over 20 countries worldwide. Although all three brands, Festool, PROTOOL and Tanos all use the TTS Tooltechnic Systems infrastructure, each represent independent companies with their own management structures and strategies.

Festool tools are designed and manufactured in Germany; partner brand PROTOOL in the Czech Republic and Germany. The TANOS brand, also based in Germany, is responsible for complementary products such as Systainer storage systems.

In Australia, TTS Tooltechnic Systems (AUST) PTY LTD represents Festool and PROTOOL. Festool has its focus mainly on the woodworking, painting and automotive industries and is complemented by partner brand PROTOOL, which specialises in the building and construction industries. The Festool range of high-end power tools have been designed and manufactured by Festool in Germany for over 80 years, and distributed throughout Australia for the last 30 years. PROTOOL's manufacturing plant is based in Czech Republic. Both brands have been extremely well received by Australian professional trades people and demanding DIY users. With a reputation of highest quality and offering superior work results, we have been able to satisfy even the most demanding customers. Festool was the first manufacturer in Australia to offer a 3-year (1+2) warranty on all power tools, now also available on all PROTOOL tools (2+1 warranty). Distributed exclusively through our partner dealers, who are specialised power tool distributors, we make sure that you get the right tool for the right job as well as an excellent after-sales service.

For details of Protool in other countries, see the map athttp://www.protool-online.com/

Although there are no links for the USA, Canada or the UK, the brand is represented in many European countries, including:

France -http://www.protool.fr/
Germany -http://www.protool.de/
Netherlands -http://www.protool-online.com/

For information about the company and products, possibly the best English-language Protool website is the one for Australia and New Zealand athttp://www.protool.com.au/

FOG member Anthony is a Festool and Protool dealer, and his company's Ideal Tools website is worth a look too.

I've always been interested in unusual power tools - the specialised ones that few people have heard of - and Protool have quite a few of these in their line-up, including the SBP285 hand-held bandsaw; CCP380 vertical chainsaw with a cutting capacity of 380mm (15"), an optional guiderail, and the ability to cant the chain to 60 degrees left or right; and PLP350E 18.5kg hand-held planer with a planing width of 350mm (13 3/4")...

Forrest

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Thanks, Forrest.  Now I better understand how Festool at their parent's level competes with the product lines of Mafell and others.

Dave R.

 

[robtonya]

Thats a lot of good info Forrest. I have the same interest in unusual power tools. It would be nice to be able to get to use some of those. I was wondering, where does Festo fit in with the Festool and other parent companies. We actually have Festo valves on our painting robots at Toyota, so I was just curious if you had info on where they fit into all this?

 

[Forrest Anderson]

I was wondering, where does Festo fit in with the Festool and other parent companies. We actually have Festo valves on our painting robots at Toyota, so I was just curious if you had info on where they fit into all this?

Although nowadays Festool and Festo are separate companies, they share the same beginning.

As I understand it, in 2000 Festo sold their woodworking machinery arm to TTS Tooltechnic Systems AG & Co KG, under whose ownership it became Festool. Consequently tools before about 2000 are labelled Festo, and since around that date are labelled Festool.

Festo is very much into pneumatics and automation, hence their equipment is often seen in factories.

From the Festo website:

Festo is a worldwide leading supplier of pneumatic and electrical automation technology. The globally aligned, independent family enterprise with headquarters in Esslingen, Germany, has evolved into a performance leader within its respective industry over a period of 50 years as a result of innovation and problem solving competence covering all aspects of pneumatics, and thanks to its unique offerings in the field of industrial training and vocational education.

The Festo group generated turnover amounting to 1,650 million Euros during fiscal year 2007, and demonstrates its presence all over the world with 12,800 employees at 250 locations.

The Festo Group comprises:

Festo AG & Co. KG (with 56 independent national companies)
Festo Didactic GmbH & Co.
KG Beck IPC GmbH
Festo Microtechnology AG

(More information at http://www.speedylook.com/Festo.html)

In recent years Festo have made themselves a little bit better-known to the public with their robotic flying and swimming machines which showcase their research and development work - for example the AquaJelly, AirJelly and Air_Ray





The firm's robotic developments have even made prime-time TV in the UK, where Channel Five's The Gadget Show visited the company in Germany, and a very interesting 5 1/2 minute clip from the show can be seen athttp://fwd.five.tv/videos/feature-festo-air-jelly-fish

Forrest

 

[robtonya]

I knew you would know Forrest. I wondered in your earlier post, Festo wasn't mentioned, but I didn't realize they had seperated as a company from Festool.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Thanks, Forrest.  Truly amazing videos, and beautful robotic "creatures."  I knew that Festool had split off Festo some years ago, and that Festo was into robotics, but I had no idea how sophisticated their capabilities were.  Makes the Mafell self-propelled track saw almost seem mundane.

Dave R.