Returned My Festool Gear

[Mitchy5104]

I went out and purchased a lot of festool gear a couple of weeks ago after hearing how great everything was.

I purchased the OF1010, Carvex, CT26, RO150 and MFT/3 after purchasing the TS55 and Domino 500 used.  The track saw and domino work so well I was hooked!

Well, after trying the Carvex and OF1010 I was disappointed.  The rotex was great, I purchased it with the CT26 and abbrasives set.  The MFT/3 was good but not even close to being $800 good!

Anyway, after much debate I have returned the OF1010, Carvex, CT26, RO150 and MFT/3 and I'm glad I did, because when I see the $3400 in my pocket I wonder to myself....what was I thinking!

I will be keeping the TS55 and Domino.  The Domino is my favourite tool, there is nothing out there that compares to how easy and quick it makes mortises. 

 

[Stephen B]

[size=10pt]

How disappointing for you!  [sad]
If you are to get maximum performance and a dust free environment when using the Domino and T55, there is one tool you should not have returned -

[size=14pt] the CT 26.  [eek]

 

[Mitchy5104]

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

 

[Birdhunter]

Just curious what you didn't like about the MFT/3 and the other tools you returned.

 

[Throwback7r]

To each their own, I guess. For me every time I cut something with the carvex I wonder to my self why did I struggle so long with my DeWalt.

 

[Rocky]

+1 on curious.

 

[grbmds]

Sounds like a reinforcement for acquiring the Festools as you need them or at least gradually. The saw and MFT are a big change from doing work with a table saw. However, after about a year and never finding a job I can't do with the TS55 and MFT (or at least a longer track on another surface) I'm starting to be convinced that the table saw may not be needed and the TS55 and table are certainly safer and, to my experience, more accurate.

 

[peter halle]

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

 

[Mitchy5104]

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.

 

[woodie]

I'm surprised on the RO150, CT26, and Carvex...

I do have to agree on the MFT/3 though, it's a bit underwhelming.  Play in the vertical rail supports, slop between the guide rail and the indexing pin on the non pivot side, excessive play in the angle unit (uses cast indexing positions not machined), constant re-calibrating if your using it in mobile applications, etc.

 

[bwiele]

Blasphemy!!

(oh well.  To each his own.  I must say I don't share these feelings...)

 

[CharlesWilson]

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

The shop vac will work ok with the tools you kept. It won't work so well with any of the sanders.

Charles

 

[Timtool]

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.
The RO150 is a also one of those tools you love or hate, i used to hate it but learned what it was good for and what it was bad for, IMO many make the mistake of buying it as a super sander to do anything with, but i think it's terrible for normal sanding tasks compared to what else festool offers.
I'm surprised though at the OF1010 and CT26, i don't think there is any better in that class on the market.

But in general it's also the price you pay for innovative tools and that are not made in the far east.

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

Make sure it's hepa certified! That money in your pocket won't do you any good if some day you have a problem ( i wish nobody ever has, but get all chances on your side)

 

[Paul G]

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

The shop vac will work ok with the tools you kept. It won't work so well with any of the sanders.

Charles

I use a shop vac/dust deputy on my Rigid RO sanders with great extraction results, the attaching is pretty ghetto though, but no one to impress but myself

 

[CharlesWilson]

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

The shop vac will work ok with the tools you kept. It won't work so well with any of the sanders.

Charles

I use a shop vac/dust deputy on my Rigid RO sanders with great extraction results, the attaching is pretty ghetto though, but no one to impress but myself

I wasn't referring to extraction as much as I was referring to resulting finish. Being able to dial down the suction during finish sanding reduces swirl marks with the Festool sanders.

Charles

 

[promark747]

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

The shop vac will work ok with the tools you kept. It won't work so well with any of the sanders.

Charles

I use a shop vac/dust deputy on my Rigid RO sanders with great extraction results, the attaching is pretty ghetto though, but no one to impress but myself

I wasn't referring to extraction as much as I was referring to resulting finish. Being able to dial down the suction during finish sanding reduces swirl marks with the Festool sanders.

Charles

There are ways, albeit somewhat low-tech, to reduce suction on a shop vac.

 

[Julian Tracy]

I had a Rotex for year and finally sold it off a while ago.  I found it to be a pia for general sanding, and a niche tool for the heavy duty gear driven mode unless you have a very specific need for it.  Also have the RAS as well as a belty sander, so figured I have other means to do rough sanding if the need arises.  For finish sanding, have the ETS/3 and that's a joy to use and I find it pretty darn aggressive when it needs to be with lower grits to be a great general finish sander.  Had the ETS/5 bought sold that to buy the 3 because my Rotex had the 5 mode, but regardless of the 3 or 5, the ETS 150 sanders are very nice to use.

I'm thinking of selling my OF1010 too, mainly because I have the Dewalt 621, which is a near match in terms of dust collection ease as well as being able to handfle 1/2" bits.  Though differnet in design compared to the 1010, it's also a joy to use.

I'm keeping my TS55, probably won't get rid of that, same with the Domino, though with all of the price increases, it's worth more than what I paid new by now.

Have recently sold off the MFT/3 as I made a shop version after using the top as a template (1/2 straight plunge bit followed by 1/2" template bit).  Sold off the 1/2 sheet sander as I never really used it, sold the large planer because I have a Bosch planer that's pretty decent as well as a portable Delta 6" jointer which is much better as a jointer than the 850L planer was in it's inverted stand.

Had a few Trions, but like the Bosch 1590 better as it requires no adjustment screw for blade thickness and the dust collection is a match for the Trion's.

I don't like keeping them unless there's a clear and present need and value in line with their $$ cost.  Helps that most of my Festools have been bought used, so you never lose money selling them as long as they were bought right.

Will agree that the TS saw and Domino will work just as well with any shop vac, though I do appreciate good quality quiet shop vacs and have a couple, a CT22 included.

JT

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I sand with 150g rubin in rotex mode and then apply finish.  it never gets used as a random orbit sander.  I rarely have a need for my ets 125, it sands more drywall mudd then anything else. 

 

[grbmds]

I'm always amazed at the comments that indicate inaccuracies in the Festool equipment. It's like these people are using different tools. I only have the TS 55REQ and 1400 router, the CT48 vac and the MFT/3 but find the tools to be extremely accurate. I'm sure most can make the table and there are certainly sites out there that make the tops cheaper than Festool, but inaccurate? I don't get it. The one thing I found is that working with Festool in my shop is a learning experience to get used to using the table and saw instead of a table saw. However, I've found the tools to be more flexible that the table saw and, in my case, at least as accurate and more in some cases. As true with all tools, we all need to think through what we buy and to what use we are going to put the tools we buy. I know I've bought my share of cool tools because they seemed to be something I'd use. The problem is that they were suited to specific types of uses and tasks which I did not do very often. I think things through much more carefully before buying now to avoid buying tools which I can only rarely use. The MFT/3 table, TS55REQ, and OF 1400 router are all tools which, for me, have a wide range of uses even in the workshop. The vac, of course, just can't be beat for efficiency and low sound level. I love my Festools and I have not had them very long.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

It would take me an hour or two to find the fence parts for my mft/3.  Never liked cutting on it with those parts.