Returned My Festool Gear

[eddomak]

Hey,  that is what the 30 day Festool Tool Return Policy is all about - giving users the time to use the tools in their own environment to see if it works for them.

Peter

Mitchy - thanks for taking the time to do the write up, and to respond, as I have found it really useful.

Peter - it's great that Festool USA have this 30 day Tool Return Policy, if only Festool Australia had it as well then I would certainly give it a go with more tools. For me the risk of spending up big (the comparative product is often 1.5 times the price here in Australia) on items I think I would like but am not sure of constantly stops me from giving it a go.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

Glad the OP was able to buy and try the tools and return what did not work for him.  That is what it is all about.  Each of us is different in how we work and what we find of value in.  Congrats on the Domino and TS.  Looking forward to hearing more from you about your experience and work in general.

Scot

 

[Locky]

Eddomak, if there are any tools you want to try in oz call up your local rep and he can bring it over and use it on the application you want to try it on. There on-site demos can be very helpful as they show you multiple ways to use the tool for the application you want, they dont charge you for it [wink]

 

[rrmccabe]

Static will happen with any system. The ct dust extractors have advanced electronics that other vacs don't have and the static from 3rd party add-ons have caused some issues. FYI, Oneida has a new black conductive cyclone for the UDD that is supposed to eliminate this without all the grounding mods.

Regarding the  MFT it's my second favorite festool in the shop next to the TS55. With precision dogs It's amazing. I agree the track hinge and locating pin needs help!  Besides those things it's invaluable .

 

[leer]

I did like the MFT, however there isn't much value in it in my opinion unless you are a contractor moving it to and from job sites all the time.  I do 95% of my work in my shop, so for $800 I could build a nice table that functions the same and have a lot of money left over for other things.  I'm even thinking of just purchasing the top and installing on a home made bench with parf dogs.  I have nothing against any of these items I returned, I just can't see the value in them (other than the domino and the TS55), on top of that, any accessories for these tools is a small fortune.

I built my own stationary "MFT-XL" large workbench -- nothing fancy, but works great.  I CNC-machined my own top, but I've heard of some getting one done for a $100 or so.  Here is a link to my bench project.  I have since started on the addition of an end vise.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/member-projects/home-built-%27mft-xl%27-workbench/

 

[plaidma1]

I am a seldom-poster, frequent-lurker; I'm an amateur who is likely outgunned by every other person on here.  I'd like to reiterate one thing and add one thing for future people who will likely use this post to determine whether they should spend their money on a Festool, because its posts like this that have helped me decide which tools I should own.  Specifically, about sanding with Festool:

1.  Sanding with festool sanders and dust extraction is an amazing experience; something that people who haven't seen it have to see to believe.  The lack of dust is borderline dark-side-of-the-force-like.  So if you have never seen the festool sand/extract experience, check it out. 

2.  Reiterate/disagree with original poster's contention that few Festoolies turn down the suction on their CT when sanding.  I do it.  And I can tell the difference.  Every sander has what I think of as a resonant suction frequency.  Set the suction too high, and the sander is pulled to the work surface, and you fight it.  Set it just right, and its kind of like your not really even sanding.

Its definitely possible to create shop products to do many of the things that Festools do... like introduce resistors in series with your vacuum to produce less suction.  That's fine if you have the time and ingenuity, but for me, the price of the CT is well worth it.

Okay, one more thing to add.  Festool's willingness to provide training is awesome.  It helps that I live 20 miles from their NA headquarters (drop off freebies anytime, guys!), but Brian S. is on youtube giving his amazingly simple and informative walk-throughs of the tools, if you can't make it in person.

 

[peter halle]

Moderator Note:  A discussion started on how people deal with dust that the sanders may not capture.  That discussion has been split off into a separate thread.  You can find that discussion at:  Dealing with Uncaptured Sander Dust

P.Halle - Moderator

 

[jackandhenry]

I own many festool products including the carvex jigsaw, domino machine, mft3 table, track saw etc etc. I have found from my own experience that everything serves a purpose for the specific user. I do most work on site and love the table and track saw together. The option for clamping, accurate square cuts and multi functional table works so well for my purposes. I have talked to many people who it doesn't work well too. The jigsaw is superb in my opinion. I have cut through 2" pieces of mahogany with zero deflection. I love it. Sorry Mitch things didn't work the best for ya. The key in my opinion is to be efficient and being comfortable and happy with the tool. There are many companies out there who also do great jobs at making quality tools. Hope all works out with you in the end. You can also pick up an auto switch to fire the vacuum up when tool is engaged. Anyways. My 2 cents worth. Thx

J

 

[Kodi Crescent]

Some swear by the MFT in their workshop, but i think it's best used on site. In a workshop you are much better of with something heavy and bigger if you have the room.

I have them hooked up to a shop-vac, it works great!

I'm coming to the conclusion that the MFT does not make a good workshop workbench.  And yes, I've made those MFT sysport things and such and have multiple MFT's.  I find I spend so much time shifting them around, or trying to work around them, that it just isn't efficient.  

In my opinion, the MFT is a good cross cut and assembly table for mobile applications.  I need to build a Roubo for workshop use.

EDIT> moved reply out of quote box.

 

[skids]

Some swear by the MFT in their workshop, but i think it's best used on site. In a workshop you are much better of with something heavy and bigger if you have the room.

I have them hooked up to a shop-vac, it works great!

I'm coming to the conclusion that the MFT does not make a good workshop workbench.  And yes, I've made those MFT sysport things and such and have multiple MFT's.  I find I spend so much time shifting them around, or trying to work around them, that it just isn't efficient.  

In my opinion, the MFT is a good cross cut and assembly table for mobile applications.  I need to build a Roubo for workshop use.

I disagree I think it's an awesome workshop bench, insanely awesome actually. But I guess that depends on the user and what's important to them in their application.

To be able to move it around where you want fold it up and put it in a job site plus all the other things it does superbly I personally think it can't be matched.

EDIT> moved reply out of quote box.

 

[grbmds]

Just goes to show ya. . . no one thing works best for everyone. I use the MFT a lot since I bought the saw and table (stationary in my workshop and not mobile), but I agree that it doesn't work for everything. It's one of the reasons I've resisted buying a second one even though 2 would have some use. Every tool has its uses.

 

[leakyroof]

Some swear by the MFT in their workshop, but i think it's best used on site. In a workshop you are much better of with something heavy and bigger if you have the room.

I have them hooked up to a shop-vac, it works great!

. He means for hand tool work if you follow or read all of his posts in other threads. Kodi is looking for a rock solid table or work bench for hand work, and for hand planing, an MFT would never be my first choice.

I'm coming to the conclusion that the MFT does not make a good workshop workbench.  And yes, I've made those MFT sysport things and such and have multiple MFT's.  I find I spend so much time shifting them around, or trying to work around them, that it just isn't efficient.  

In my opinion, the MFT is a good cross cut and assembly table for mobile applications.  I need to build a Roubo for workshop use.

I disagree I think it's an awesome workshop bench, insanely awesome actually. But I guess that depends on the user and what's important to them in their application.

To be able to move it around where you want fold it up and put it in a job site plus all the other things it does superbly I personally think it can't be matched.

EDIT> moved reply out of quote box.

He means for hand tool work if you follow or read all of his posts in other threads. Kodi is looking for a rock solid table or work bench for had work, and for hand planing, an MFT would never be my first choice.

 

[Kodi Crescent]

With regard to not keeping the CT26... Are you sure you're not going to damage your TS55 and Domino without it?

The CT Vacs have anti-static hoses to prevent static charge buildups that could otherwise potentially ruin the electronics in your tools.

See: http://festoolownersgroup.com/ask-festool/warranty-issues-using-dd-non-festool-vac/

You damage your lungs and hearing.  I had a shop vac, but tired of the scream and replaced it with a CT.  Expensive, but no remorse.

 

[Kodi Crescent]

Some swear by the MFT in their workshop, but i think it's best used on site. In a workshop you are much better of with something heavy and bigger if you have the room.

I have them hooked up to a shop-vac, it works great!

. He means for hand tool work if you follow or read all of his posts in other threads. Kodi is looking for a rock solid table or work bench for hand work, and for hand planing, an MFT would never be my first choice.

I'm coming to the conclusion that the MFT does not make a good workshop workbench.  And yes, I've made those MFT sysport things and such and have multiple MFT's.  I find I spend so much time shifting them around, or trying to work around them, that it just isn't efficient.  

In my opinion, the MFT is a good cross cut and assembly table for mobile applications.  I need to build a Roubo for workshop use.

I disagree I think it's an awesome workshop bench, insanely awesome actually. But I guess that depends on the user and what's important to them in their application.

To be able to move it around where you want fold it up and put it in a job site plus all the other things it does superbly I personally think it can't be matched.

EDIT> moved reply out of quote box.

He means for hand tool work if you follow or read all of his posts in other threads. Kodi is looking for a rock solid table or work bench for had work, and for hand planing, an MFT would never be my first choice.

Yes.  I'm a novice, but I'm learning that all power is not necessarily the most time efficient and accurate.  If you can cut a joint close with a power tool, you can "tune" it with a hand tool.  Accurate tool setup can take a really long time.

Plus, I'm learning the joys of working with square stock.  Unfortunately, you can't just buy it that way (regardless of what they tell you!).  You need to get it flat enough to run through the planer.  Enter the hand plane.  The MFT is good for clamping some things, but for hand planing it just doesn't have the mass and stability.

Sharpening chisels and plane blades on the MFT is frustrating to me.  Too wobbly for me to feel I am getting results.

Now in regards to using sheet goods, I love the MFT for crosscutting.  I like being able to cut into the table when doing long rip cuts.  I plan on attaching my Kapex extensions to the sides so I can get nice long cross cuts to size for sheet goods (e.g. bookcase panels).  I haven't tried this as of yet, but I'm betting it speeds up production quite a bit.  I will not get rid of the MFT just because it really excels at the cross cuts.

Another spot where I get frustrated is ripping the smaller pieces.  Yes, the parallel guides are available.  And the Festool video the training guy is doing is pretty compelling.  But give him only one MFT with the overhanging thingy and see if he can get those narrow strips.  Or make him shift his MFT's around so he can have the bridge for those narrow strips.  And make those strips longer than 4'.  Tough (not impossible) in the real world.

 

[Kodi Crescent]

One thing that the Festool stuff has taught me - we live in a disposable, diminishing quality world.  The quality of things you buy in common channels is decreasing.  Springing for the extra cost of the Festool stuff has taught me about not buying on price, but buying on quality and longevity.  And I appreciate the joy of something well made.  It's become more of a philosophy now with most things I buy.  No more disposable commodity stuff for me.  I want lifetime quality stuff that I can either hand down to my children, or sell for decent "salvage value".  I'm tired of stocking the Goodwill.