Craig1961 said:
Good evening, I hope this finds you well. I am new to the woodworking community, ~ 24 months and continue to add tools to my shop as my skills increase. At my age of 58 i am attempting to purchase the right tool one time. At this time i do not own any Festool products. As i continue to grow in the hobby and learning more about the equipment and tools i am looking more into the Festool products.
Currently i am considering a new sander and dust extraction system. My current thoughts are the rotex 125 or 150 along with the appropriate dust extraction system. Currently my only sander is a Makita which has worked well to date; however, i would like to upgrade. I also am hopeful to purchase a domino and track saw in the months to come that i would also use the dust extraction with. I continue to enjoy all aspects of woodworking that i have tried so far and want to continue to attempt to make good purchases.
Thank you in advance for any guidance you can provide for this purchase or future tools that i should consider as i add to my shop.
Craig
Hi Craig,
I can tell you my experiences. Note: I work for a Festool dealer and have helped many customers through the decision process. WRT, a sander....IMO, spend the money for an ETS EC 150/5 upfront. Here is my reasoning. The Rotex 150 is a great sander but the ergonomics of it are that you actually have to use both hands on it because of the way it extends from the center of the tool. That makes it a more challenging to keep the pad flat to the surface. The ETS EC 150/5 has a 6" pad (essentially) and provides 44% more sanding surface than the 125s. This makes a difference when you are sanding large surfaces. Regardless of which sander you choose of the ROS, turn your dust extractor all the way down when sanding (exception being Rotex in gear driven mode where that does not matter). The reason for this is that the rotation aspect of the ROS can be impaired by too much suction, leading to swirl marks. In any case, as a one time purchase of your first Festool sander the ETS EC with the low profile is, to me, the most comfortable option. If you can justify the extra expense, I chose to also get an ETS EC 125/3 as a finish sander. Beyond these considerations, it makes sense to standardize on Granat as your abrasive. A little pricier than Rubin, Granat is more appropriate for surfaces other than raw wood. Finally, if you are sanding large, flat surfaces, consider purchasing a hard pad. My final piece of advice is, go to a competent Festool dealer and ask for a demo. If you are ever in Chattanooga, come to Woodcraft and we can show you the ropes.
WRT the domino, I'd ask what your potential uses are. The D500 is a great machine but it is a little limited for large applications. For casework, however, it is a great choice. If your intent is to build external doors or farm tables, the D700 will fit your bill. The Domino machines are pricey but they really do excel at their intended purpose. As another person posted, you can do M&T joints with a router (I have for years), but the Domino makes the job much faster and potentially with much more precision and accuracy.
The same goes for the track saw. If you are doing primarily casework in solid wood or sheet goods, I'd think the TS 55 would be a good match. If you want to glue-line rip 2.5" slabs, the TS 75 would be a good fit. Like with the sanders, proper use of the appropriate accessories is helpful. For ripping operations, use the 28tooth blade for the 55 and the 36tooth blade for the 75.
I hope this is not overwhelming but if you have any further questions, let me know. FWIW, I was around your age when I purchased my first Festool tool.