Should I buy the Festool 498979 10-piece router bit set?

[wow]

I have a 'CARE Package' coming from the UK, and I have a little bit of room left in it. I can add up to 5kg of 'stuff' for the same shipping cost, i.e anything I add will ship for free.

I don't specifically NEED any of these bits, but I can always use good quality router bits and I don't own ANY with 8mm shanks.

Is this a good value? Not asking so much about the price as I have researched that already, but about the general usefulness / quality / selection in this set:

http://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product/4014549177891

It's a fair amount of money, so if it's not likely to be used a LOT I would pass. But if somebody has one of these sets and tells me it's their 'most-used' or 'go to' set I might try to fit one in the box.

 

[CO_JCD]

wow,

The set is very good - the cutters are first quality ones and I have used the majority of the cutters over the last few years.

This is not like some of the 'value' sets full of useless profiles - it has three straight cutters of different dimensions that are my goto cutters plus two bearing cutters that can be used for a variety of tasks.  The rest clearly depend on your needs.

I vote to get it as I did myself some years ago - this set seems to come and go in availability, i.e. at one point I believe it was part of a promotion rather a fully stocked item.

Hope this helps.

John

 

[SittingElf]

What John said...AND....

The price on the site you referenced is inclusive of UK VAT (20%). Even WITH the VAT the price is about $50 lower than I paid for the same set in Germany WITHOUT VAT.  Great deal! (I paid right at about $300 for the set).  If you get it, and don't want it, you won't have a problem selling it! [smile]

Cheers,

Frank

[attachimg=1]

 

[CO_JCD]

The picture Frank has posted above seems to be a slightly different mix, albeit with a significant overlap.  From the colour of the label on the box, probably a newer edition.

The message is the same though…

John

 

[festoolviking]

Hi

There is at least two versions of this set. I got mine included with my OF-1010 about 4 years ago. The number on mine is 495478. Here is a link to a discussion about it:

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/box-with-10-router-bits/msg143046/#msg143046

I really like my set and think the bits are really good quality.

Festoolviking

 

[jonny round boy]

Wayne,

FWIW, the description of the contents on FFX (the link given above) differs from the contents as listed on the Festool UK page for that item, even though the part numbers are the same.

Festool UK:

•  Flush trim cutter HW D12.7/NL25 KL 
•  dowel drill HW D5 x 30 Z 
•  groove cutter HW D18/30 with drill point 
•  Groove cutter HW D10/20 with drill point 
•  Roundover cutter HW D16.7/R2 KL 
•  classic ogee cutter HW D25.5 R6.3 KL 
•  Roundover cutter HW D31.7/R9.5 KL 
•  Chamfer cutter HW D36/45Grad KL 
•  Disc groove cutter HW D40 x 4 
•  dovetail cutter HW D14.3/15°

FFX:

•1 x 461739 Trimmer Bit HW C12.7/NL25 KL
•1 x 461740 Trimmer Bit HW C19/NL25 KL
•1 x 461689 Groove Cutter HW D6/14
•1 x 461691 Groove Cutter HW D8/20
•1 x 461693 Groove Cutter HW D10/20
•1 x 461722 Ogee Cutter HW D16.7/R2 KL
•1 x 461722 Ogee Cutter HW D18.7/R3 KL
•1 x 461722 Ogee Cutter HW D31.7/R9.5 KL
•1 x 461738 Chamfer Bit HW D36/45GRAD KL
•1 x 475281 Slitting Cutter HW D40.0/4 KL

Obviously there are a few different versions of this set; I don't know which listing is correct for 498979.

The listing on Festool UK seems to tally with the set that Frank pictured, so I wouldn't be surprised if that listing is for the older set, and the Festool UK page is wrong. But don't quote me on it!

 

[GarryMartin]

Obviously there are a few different versions of this set; I don't know which listing is correct for 498979.

The listing on Festool UK seems to tally with the set that Frank pictured, so I wouldn't be surprised if that listing is for the older set, and the Festool UK page is wrong. But don't quote me on it!

The listing on FFX appears to be the circa 2007/2008 set. Unfortunately, in their wisdom, Festool used the same part number for the set but changed the actual cutters included. It could be that FFX have stock that old, but I doubt it. You'd need to check with them direct.

The Festool UK listing is correct for the sets shipped from Festool - I have the set and the cutters are very good quality.

I've added the individual part numbers below as further information;

•  Flush trim cutter HW D12.7/NL25 KL    P/N 491027
•  dowel drill HW D5 x 30 Z    P/N 491066
•  groove cutter HW D18/30 with drill point    P/N 490969
•  Groove cutter HW D10/20 with drill point    P/N 490959
•  Roundover cutter HW D16.7/R2 KL    P/N 491009
•  classic ogee cutter HW D25.5 R6.3 KL    P/N 491013
•  Roundover cutter HW D31.7/R9.5 KL    P/N 491015
•  Chamfer cutter HW D36/45Grad KL    P/N 491025
•  Disc groove cutter HW D40 x 4    P/N 491059
•  dovetail cutter HW D14.3/15°    P/N 490992

To put it into perspective, if today you bought all those cutters individually from my favourite supplier, they'd cost £312.84 incl VAT.

 

[wow]

I was kind of having trouble comparing these sets, so I put them in excel and here's how they compare:

[attachimg=1]

Not that it matters much, since the ones FFX have appear to be the current offering, right?

 

[CO_JCD]

Not that it matters much, since the ones FFX have appear to be the current offering, right?

My guess is that FFX are listing the new part number and this is what you would get, FFX are simply showing an old picture & (incorrect) listing of contents.

You would have to check with them on Monday to be sure.

John

 

[wow]

Not that it matters much, since the ones FFX have appear to be the current offering, right?

My guess is that FFX are listing the new part number and this is what you would get, FFX are simply showing an old picture & (incorrect) listing of contents.

You would have to check with them on Monday to be sure.

John

OK - I'm officially confused. Which list is the correct/current offering - the one from Festool or the one from FFX?

 

[CO_JCD]

Festool will be correct in my view.

The FFX picture is definitely the old version as is their listing of contents.  The old set had a different part number.

John

 

[sancho57]

I for one dont buy "sets" per se. I buy individual bits based on need at the time. Other then say a door set for example.

I just dont like p
utting out money for bits I may not use.

But thats just me.

 

[VW mick]

I think I agree with jobsworth .i tend to buy cutters for specific jobs have never bought a set .and I don't think I would use that box either

But having said that I looked at the price on FFX and that looks reasonable ive never bought a festool cutter yet  .not sure what they are like

 

[GarryMartin]

OK - I'm officially confused. Which list is the correct/current offering - the one from Festool or the one from FFX?

The "correct" current offering is the one listed on the Festool UK pages.

FFX may well be selling an old version - if not, they have the wrong contents and photo to go with the "current" part number.

Phone them and ask for confirmation.

 

[sancho57]

I think I agree with jobsworth .i tend to buy cutters for specific jobs have never bought a set .and I don't think I would use that box either

But having said that I looked at the price on FFX and that looks reasonable ive never bought a festool cutter yet  .not sure what they are like

The only festool cutter Ive bought is the rebate cutter and spindle. it haas been doing a awesome job for me. All of the 5 times Ive used it so far.