Iceclimber
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2014
- Messages
- 504
In the last few months i have taken the plunge down the slippery Festool slope of tool addiction. When tools work so well as Zanex does to calm the nerves it seem Festool has a recipe for much success.
Yesterday while using my Kapex i did think to myself look at all that bleeping dust GRRRRR! Thanks to the FOG at least i know I'm not the only sucker willing to pay $1600 for a stupid miter saw lol
I had my Dewalt rigged with a dust shield and auto switcher and it did just as good a job collecting dust, "really it did"!
I then thought but man those sanders really collect so much dust I almost cant believe its true. And the cut quality of the Kapex is so nice you would have to pry it out of my cold dead hands at this point "stop complaining and being such a little bleep ". The next though i had was the Kapex may not be all its marketed to be with regard to dust collection but now that i have enough of these tools operationally working has become much more efficient hence enjoyable. Because as others have said Festool really is a system. You really cant grasp this till you have the guts and core of the system at your disposal. A simple thing like having a full length TS guide rail to rip sheet goods vrs making the 75 rail that came with your saw is priceless. As is just throwing a board down on a bench to sand it and having every option easily available to you with regard to clamping and accessing the proper surface. They sound like little things but they all add up to much more enjoyable working and a much higher quality finished product.
Thats right this is about sanders. They rock so let's stop complaining about the dust collection and cost of the Kapex
I went back and forth what to buy for my first sanders and what not to. All the time knowing sooner or later i will surely just own one of each for the most part as projects called for them. The question was but what would get me through right now till i was ready to buy the full lineup and get me sanding dust free,
After taking into consideration what those whom have used the sanders had to say and factoring the projects i can foresee in the next 3-6 months and well $$$$ and other tool purchase needs i decided to first give the DTS400 a go. The first thing i used it for was to bring a 16/4 laminated teak and mahogany bench top edge flush with the MDF bench top.
I kinda figured no way this thing will do this "its a overpriced palm sander" well was i ever wrong. Armed with only 120 grit sandpaper i got through about 18 linear feet of this rock hard edging in a couple hours. Sure another tool could had done the job much more quickly. Or the same tool with even 80 grit lol.. In the end i was really happy as my bench top edging came out a perfect 90% the face to the top and i did not put one single ding or dip in it from slipping the router might i had i gone the router route.
The next thing i used it for was sanding some mahogany bungs flush to a surface. Again with only 120 it made quick beautiful work of what had prior been a nightmare with my old Dewalt palm sander. And all dustless to boot! I still cant really get over that the sanding really is dust free. For years i have been turning my shop and job sites into giant dust bombs as i walked by Festools in stores and laughed at the fool whom would buy into such a scam. Well shame on me and i appolagise.
After the DTS worked so well i just had to have another sander. I wanted something at least RO that i could move a bit more quickly with when need be. I went back and forth between the RO150/RO90/ETS125/150. In the end i took a gamble and went with the RO90. Here is why. I was nervous to go with the 90 as just as many people that say they love it say they hate it because it hops all over the place. That sounded no good and was a big deterrent at first. To solve the hop problem though it seemed going up to the RO150 was the only real solution and a 150 was just too big a sander for much of what i need a sander for. People also spoke on not caring for the 125 so i had kinda ruled that out also. Would it be nice to have the 150 sure, and would i use it "yes I'm pretty sure" but would it be the right tool for 90% of what i do? I did not think so.
So this is what i have to say about Festool sanders. They bleeping rock! I am 110% satisfied. Nor do not feel ripped off at all or like i have had the wool pulled over my eyes by a bunch of suits in a board room that all want to make at least 500k this year. Working dust free is priceless. My work environment is so much more enjoyable and the time and aggravation i save not cleaning up ever single time i make a little mess adds up to being so much more efficient and generally just enjoying my work more.
If you are not yet into festool and are contemplating the hype vrs reality and dust collection and a tool that produces seamless quality results matter to you go purchase as many festool sanders as you can afford and a CT to keep them happy!
You will not think twice after the fact if it was a good or bad decision. I cant say that 110% for every Festool i gave purchased but i will admit I'm not about to return them either. For whatever its worth im in looooove with my festool sanders and cant wait to get my hands on the brushless 150/3 and hose cover!
Yesterday while using my Kapex i did think to myself look at all that bleeping dust GRRRRR! Thanks to the FOG at least i know I'm not the only sucker willing to pay $1600 for a stupid miter saw lol
I had my Dewalt rigged with a dust shield and auto switcher and it did just as good a job collecting dust, "really it did"!I then thought but man those sanders really collect so much dust I almost cant believe its true. And the cut quality of the Kapex is so nice you would have to pry it out of my cold dead hands at this point "stop complaining and being such a little bleep ". The next though i had was the Kapex may not be all its marketed to be with regard to dust collection but now that i have enough of these tools operationally working has become much more efficient hence enjoyable. Because as others have said Festool really is a system. You really cant grasp this till you have the guts and core of the system at your disposal. A simple thing like having a full length TS guide rail to rip sheet goods vrs making the 75 rail that came with your saw is priceless. As is just throwing a board down on a bench to sand it and having every option easily available to you with regard to clamping and accessing the proper surface. They sound like little things but they all add up to much more enjoyable working and a much higher quality finished product.
Thats right this is about sanders. They rock so let's stop complaining about the dust collection and cost of the Kapex
I went back and forth what to buy for my first sanders and what not to. All the time knowing sooner or later i will surely just own one of each for the most part as projects called for them. The question was but what would get me through right now till i was ready to buy the full lineup and get me sanding dust free,
After taking into consideration what those whom have used the sanders had to say and factoring the projects i can foresee in the next 3-6 months and well $$$$ and other tool purchase needs i decided to first give the DTS400 a go. The first thing i used it for was to bring a 16/4 laminated teak and mahogany bench top edge flush with the MDF bench top.
I kinda figured no way this thing will do this "its a overpriced palm sander" well was i ever wrong. Armed with only 120 grit sandpaper i got through about 18 linear feet of this rock hard edging in a couple hours. Sure another tool could had done the job much more quickly. Or the same tool with even 80 grit lol.. In the end i was really happy as my bench top edging came out a perfect 90% the face to the top and i did not put one single ding or dip in it from slipping the router might i had i gone the router route.
The next thing i used it for was sanding some mahogany bungs flush to a surface. Again with only 120 it made quick beautiful work of what had prior been a nightmare with my old Dewalt palm sander. And all dustless to boot! I still cant really get over that the sanding really is dust free. For years i have been turning my shop and job sites into giant dust bombs as i walked by Festools in stores and laughed at the fool whom would buy into such a scam. Well shame on me and i appolagise.
After the DTS worked so well i just had to have another sander. I wanted something at least RO that i could move a bit more quickly with when need be. I went back and forth between the RO150/RO90/ETS125/150. In the end i took a gamble and went with the RO90. Here is why. I was nervous to go with the 90 as just as many people that say they love it say they hate it because it hops all over the place. That sounded no good and was a big deterrent at first. To solve the hop problem though it seemed going up to the RO150 was the only real solution and a 150 was just too big a sander for much of what i need a sander for. People also spoke on not caring for the 125 so i had kinda ruled that out also. Would it be nice to have the 150 sure, and would i use it "yes I'm pretty sure" but would it be the right tool for 90% of what i do? I did not think so.
So this is what i have to say about Festool sanders. They bleeping rock! I am 110% satisfied. Nor do not feel ripped off at all or like i have had the wool pulled over my eyes by a bunch of suits in a board room that all want to make at least 500k this year. Working dust free is priceless. My work environment is so much more enjoyable and the time and aggravation i save not cleaning up ever single time i make a little mess adds up to being so much more efficient and generally just enjoying my work more.
If you are not yet into festool and are contemplating the hype vrs reality and dust collection and a tool that produces seamless quality results matter to you go purchase as many festool sanders as you can afford and a CT to keep them happy!
You will not think twice after the fact if it was a good or bad decision. I cant say that 110% for every Festool i gave purchased but i will admit I'm not about to return them either. For whatever its worth im in looooove with my festool sanders and cant wait to get my hands on the brushless 150/3 and hose cover!
