Setting up Second Shop -- Which Tools Would You Outfit it With?

[ScotF]

OK - hypothetical for many, perhaps a reality for some...but, I have been thinking about getting a weekend home at some point down the road and it got me thinking - if you had to set up a secondary shop, what Festool's would you buy? I would really not want to transport too many things back and forth - maybe the odd specialty tool or accessory, so this would really be a shop outfitted for a variety of tasks and projects from construction (rough to finish work, hardwood floors, etc...) to making fine furniture. Shop space would likely be at a premium so let's keep this discussion to tools Festool sells in North America only (no stationary tools, no table saw, etc...). Also, I would like to hear thoughts/comments on a more minimalist approach - what are the essentials/basics you would have and what key accessories?

But, this is what I would consider buying as a pretty well outfitted shop:

1. TS55REQ and MFT/3 Combo with cross-members (with LR32 rail for saw) -- I already have a TS75 and this is one tool I could schlep back and forth between shops as needed
2. Parallel Guides for TS55
3. Assorted blades for ripping and cross-cutting solid wood and sheet goods
4. Two MFT/3 Basic tables with cross-members
5. OF1400 Router and CT48 Combination
6. Edge guide for router
7. Guide Rail Stop for router
8. MFS400, MFS 1000 rails and MFS Routing Slide- for jigs, surfacing rough stock
9. 3000mm guide rail
10. LR32 Kit
11. Domino 500 -- I love the XL, but the 500 seems more practical for cabinets and many furniture projects
10. OF1010 Router and edging accessories
11. RS2E 1/2 Sheet Sander (such an awesome sander and needed for flat work). Can be fine or aggressive with different grit paper.
12. Rotex RO90 Sander & CT Mini combination (since lugging a 48 around would be a hassle and it is nice to have 2 extractors)
13. ETS 150/3 with hard pad
14. PDC Drill
15. C18 Drill
16. CMS GE Router Table
17. Extra 1400 LR32 Guide Rail
18. 1900 Guide rail
19. HL850 Planer with Bench accessories
20. Sortainers - Two 4 Drawer, two 12 drawer, one 9 drawer and one six drawer
21. Kapex with UG Cart and wings (debated adding this since the MFT can handle most cross-cutting tasks, but would be handy for lots of tasks).
22. Trion jigsaw - I just like it a little better than the Carvex for some reason

If I had to cut this list down I would scrap the Kapex, 150/3, C18 and OF1010.

Looking forward to hearing other "hypothetical" thoughts - what would you do if given the chance to build a second shop?

 

[Kev]

What about one set of tools, but all in a mobile workshop / trailer?

Otherwise ...

DC ??

Boom ?

PDC & C18 ? ... But no BHC ?

I certainly wouldn't duplicate compact special use things such as LR32 set in a SYS1.

 

[live4ever]

If trying to save $, I'd scrap the MFT(s) and go with a Paulk workbench.  I'd build it with additional half-horses to easily use the 2x8' halves separately.  I'd put a router in the Paulk workbench.  I've not used the CMS though so maybe that's the bee's knees.  I would build additional MFT-style workbenches (perhaps portable e.g. MFTC or MPT) as space and needs required.

In a minimalist setup, I'd rather have a smaller trim router (e.g. Dewally 611 or Bosch Colt) to pair with the OF1400 and not bother with the 1010.  The 1400 works fine with the LR32, not to mention either trim router could also be made to work with the LR32 with minimal effort.

Probably go with an Incra t-track plus-based setup (e.g. Seneca, Precision, Rip Guides) over the Festool parallel guides.

3000 guide rail?  I guess if I was going to be doing lots of cabinets, otherwise I'd just connect two 55".  Not to mention that 3000 has to be stored somewhere and it's not that easy to transport.

If you envisioned doing a lot of remodeling at the other home, e.g. doors, gates, deck/pergola, etc., I'd opt for the larger Domino.  Otherwise the DF500 would be grand.

Sanders...everyone has their faves.  I'd go with ETS 150 and RO90 as minimal setup.  If a lot of remodeling work on the property was involved (refinishing floors, refinishing deck, stripping/painting house,etc.), I'd consider adding a RO150. 

Can definitely get by without a Kapex/miter saw, but if there was a heavy dose of trim work to be done in the new place, I'd want it there.  And if no miter saw, I'd want a tablesaw with a crosscut sled.  One or the other.

I realize this is a Festool forum and we should want everything to be green including the toilet paper, but I don't see the value in having the drills, handheld planer, or jigsaw be Festools.  That's just my opinion and those are places where I'd look to save.  Just my opinion.

I know you said no stationary tools, but I'd add a portable planer.  I'm not seeing a way to accurately and efficiently thickness stock in your list.

 

[jbasen]

If you are really trying to not drag any equipment from your main house to your weekend home then the Domino 700 with the Seneca goodies gives you a single machine that can do anything.  If you just have the Domino 500 you may find you run into projects where you would really like to use a larger tenon. 

From your choices it appears you are comfortable using a Festool track saw for all your cutting.  Personally, given the constraints of no stationary tools, I would include a Sawstop jobsite saw as I simply find a table saw to be a better solution for some tasks. 

A Dewalt 735 planer with a shelix cutter head would give you a nice, portable, planer. 

Hope this helps

 

[Sparktrician]

If you're getting the LR 32, you'll need some "holy rails", so you might consider getting two 1400mm holy rails with connector bars and not getting the 3000mm rail.  The Betterley Straightline Connector would be a good accessory for these rails.  YMMV... 

 

[sancho57]

I'd bring the tools with me that I needed to do the work in the allotted time I'd have at that particular visit to the second home.

Then as I finished that portion, when I return I'd bring the tools I needed for the next phase of work.

Beauty of Festool is the ability to be mobile.

So in that light, I'd buy a vehicle such as a van, SUV truck etc that I could use to haul my festools to the 2nd home and back again. It would be a lot cheaper then buying a 2nd set of festools.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

I do have a "second shop" and it consists of:

Kapex120
MFT1080
CS50 with extension wing and some add ons
Rotex 150
RTS400
RouterOF1010 w LR32
C12/T12 pair with chucks
OFK500
CTL22
+ Bosch GKT55CE on the MFT1080

All the above are also used as on site tools.

And for on site work but between jobs parked in the second shop:
DRC18/4
EHL65
PSC420
CTL SYS
BHC18
Bosch GTS XC10 table saw
Mafell KSS300

Domino DF500 gets hauled between shops - it is too expensive to "double up on".

I use the second shop every now and then and for some jobs I actually prefer the small shop but I have a two of some of the above items and other stuff permanently in the larger shop as I don't want to leave tools on site that I might need in the shop. The small shop is also like the gear nest for on site work and stuff in transit but it works as a small shop too.