Question: How many of us use non-Festool blades?

M

Mike B

Member
Joined
May 2, 2009
Messages
73
Hi,

I light of a recent warranty discussion I am just curious as to how many of us use non-Festool blades in our green jigsaws, circular saws, routers, Dominos etc.

Given the implication by Festool that it may have some bearing on the validity of any warranty claim, I am curious as to how many of you might think twice about using a Bosch jigsaw blade or CMT router bit in the future?

I guess I'm just wondering if Festool's claim that it ".. does not condone nor support the use of any non-Festool engineered, designed, and manufactured accessories or consumables with Festool products." why do Festool use industry standardised mounting patterns/dimensions for these consumables?

Personally I'm about 50/50 on genuine to non-genuine blades on my assorted tools. It would be disappointing to think I have to remember to throw a genuine blade back into my tool before I send it in for a service...
 
I would expand that to ask about ANY non festool product.

parallel guides, domi-shim  or even as rigid shop vac,  that excerpt doesn't just say blades...

I use festool and Bosch blades on the jiggies.

 
I hope this doesn't turn into a mess like the last post about the warranty issue.  Better to let this subject rest for a while!!!
 
No offense but I don't think many on this forum would implicate themselves directly on a question like this. I think you could search for any aftermarket company name or part here and find a rather long list to see how prevalent it is amongst the members here.

There is also a section of this forum dedicated to companies that make great tools even better and that was built and maintained by admins and moderators for this forum.

I personally don't care if it negates a warranty or not, as long as it operates like an original part I think most would assume that "risk". If you take the shroud off of a TS 75 and add a dado stack... You might be out of warranty!

Just use them as they are intended and if you have a mistake happen, deal with it then.

My .02

Cheers. Bryan.
 
In the previous post that raised these questions I was advocating to give Festool a chance to professionally review the case before concluding anything positive or negative.  Now that they have I'm shocked and can't believe that we are hearing the whole story.  It can't possibly be decided on what blade he was using?

For the record - I for one have only used Festool accessories and consumables, Festool vacs, blades, clamps, bits, and Sandpaper. Festool wrenches to change my bits and to setup my MFT, nothing non Festool has come within 50 feet of my items covered by the Festool Service All Inclusive Warranty.

I do have a friend of a friend that has been known to use other drill bits, router bits and sandpaper from time to time, he's wondering if using Norton sandpaper voids the warranty on his Rotex? He doesn't remember the sales clerks ever asking him if he had Festool sandpaper at home or Festool router bits for his 1400 since using them with other brands would void the warranty.

While the previous claim was between Festool and the OP, the findings do affect all owners, I think we deserve clarification as to what does and does not void the warranty.

 
I like the Festool blades and bits. Router bits are the ones of other brands I use the most.

I use my 2200 in the CMS, Seneca guides, CMT fiber cement blade in my TS-55, I'm sure a few other none Festool items in concert.

These are tools, use them. The only warranty I care about is mine to my customers, if a manufacture does not cover something, I do.

Tom
 
tjbnwi said:
I like the Festool blades and bits. Router bits are the ones of other brands I use the most.

I use my 2200 in the CMS, Seneca guides, CMT fiber cement blade in my TS-55, I'm sure a few other none Festool items in concert.

These are tools, use them. The only warranty I care about is mine to my customers, if a manufacture does not cover something, I do.

Tom
Click to expand...

Well said Tom... As always.

 
I agree with Tom, I will use a Festool consumable because they are good quality, but there are some things that Festool doesn't make, parallel guides that go beyond 25 inches, different router bits and different grits of sandpaper. Festool makes a good product, but they can't make everything.
 
I use Bosch jigsaw blades because I can get them locally and I hate ordering stuff online. The Festool ones are just fine, but like everything else, a bit spendy.

A proprietary blade design would've kept me from buying the Carvex in the first place.
 
I just remember while I was responding to the Domino thread. I modified the fence on my pin Domino (within 30 days of ownership) so I could mortice 1/2" material with a 5 mm cutter.

Tom
 
[size=14pt]
Well this is interesting, because down here Festool sandpaper is as or nearly the same price as comparable quality brands. So no issue for me re Sanders.

[size=24pt]However!
[size=14pt]
1. Regarding Drills, I mainly use Centrotec drill bits/drivers. But why provide a Jacobs Chuck with your drills, if using a high quality drill bitt such as 'Sutton' will void your Warranty?

2. My  Router is long out of Warranty, but if it wasn't, what router cutters/bitts from Festool are we supposed to use Down here? The range from Festool is vertically non existent. Thirteen Bitts for wood.  All 8mm. [eek]
[size=10pt]
http://www.festool.com.au/epages/tooltechnic.sf/en_AU/?ObjectPath=/Shops/tooltechnic/Categories/routers/routers-acc-consumables/router-cutters
[size=14pt]
3. I have nearly completed a video featuring a C15 and CXS. Do I publish this 'publicity' for Festool and void (if required) my warranties?

Although I was critical of the amount of attention the 'other' post was getting; I am surprised (based only on what has been published by Festool USA and the Customer), at the result. I thought Festool had a better case based on possible 'abuse' than use of a non Festool accessory.
 
I guess I was just wanting clarity if the reason for the warranty denial was because of what was quoted;

".. does not condone nor support the use of any non-Festool engineered, designed, and manufactured accessories or consumables with Festool products."

along with the statement that it wasn't a festool blade, or if it was because the tech found that the tool was abused.

 
There's probably a fine line in verbiage here, but "condoning or supporting the use of" doesn't specifically say that it invalidates the warranty, which was probably intentional. And I assume this is in lots of tools, especially cordless tools where aftermarket batteries are often not the same chemistry as original.

When it comes to actually honoring the warranty, it's US Federal law that aftermarket parts do not invalidate the warranty unless it can be proven that the aftermarket part caused the failure. Of course this is left up to the service department of the manufacturer, unless the tool owner chooses litigation.

And then, well, anything flies, as long as you have the legal team to back it up. ;)
 
I guess for me I was just a little taken back at Festool's application of that clause. I've read that and similar in Festool warranties before but always assumed it applied to situations where the tool wasn't performing satisfactorily e.g, not cutting true, blades dulling or tear out.

In a situation where there has been catastrophic failure I fail to see how a Festool blade would have acted any differently. Do Festool even manufacture their own blades/consumables?

 
Mike B said:
In a situation where there has been catastrophic failure I fail to see how a Festool blade would have acted any differently. Do Festool even manufacture their own blades/consumables?
Click to expand...

They don't. But that doesn't mean they couldn't contract the manufacturer to create differences in the product that manufacturer themselves offer. Metallurgy, kerf, tooth shape, etc. can be all proprietary if they wanted it.
 
I use whatever brand of blade suits me. I am really surprised by what I've read in the other thread and surprised how easily it is locked.

Under European law Festool would not be able to cite such a clause to avoid a warranty repair.

Festool chose to use an open and widely used universal mounting mechanism for their saws and thus it would be reasonable to assume anything else that is specifically made for that mounting mechanism and this type of tool will suffice. If Festool used a proprietary mount with proprietary blades they wouldn't sell a single saw.

If you make use of a universal standard, you commit to its universality.
 
Alex said:
I use . . .

. . . . Festool chose to use an open and widely used universal mounting mechanism for their saws and thus it would be reasonable to assume anything else that is specifically made for that mounting mechanism and this type of tool will suffice. If Festool used a proprietary mount with proprietary blades they wouldn't sell a single saw.

If you make use of a universal standard, you commit to its universality.
Click to expand...
[size=14pt]
Did you not hear Alex, that Centrotec Router and JigSaw fittings are being developed for the next generation!!  [big grin]  [smile]
[size=10pt]
PS Good to see your Avitar is back, so cute!
 
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