Systainer mod for router bits.

[FestFan]

Finished a systainer III modification today to store up to 138 router bits (shaft=8 mm) of different sizes.

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I made a two level storage facility that has rails to enhance the search ability.
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The rails can be slided both inside and outside the systainer in order to be able to reach all the router bits.
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[Rob-GB]

Very nice  ;D Makes my effort look C.R.A.P.
Here's the proof.

I am now inspired to do better, thanks.  [big grin]
Rob.

 

[mouppe]

That's a really nice setup. Freud must love you!

Do you have the foam insert to lay on top and keep them from moving about?

 

[Frank Pellow]

Festfan, that's a great job!  [thumbs up]

It looks like you cut out a portion of the two sides of the systainer in order to make this work.  I have made several systainer inserts, but a never thought of doing this.  Doing so certainly opens up more possibilities.  I would appreciate it if you could give more details of this aspect of the design.

 

[jmbfestool]

Nice !  I like it I mite steal the idea! I only have the festool router bit systainer with foam insert but you cant have large router bits the lid wont close.

Are the side cut outs solid or a bit flimsy?!

Do you have any trouble closing the lid because you have to make sure the sides are tucked in so the lids traps them dont you?!

JMB

 

[Brice Burrell]

Very cool. [thumbs up]

 

[Alaska Ranger]

OK Festfan, I'll bite:

That's a REALLY nice set-up, but.........

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HOW on earth do you find the bit you're looking for?!?!?! [big grin]

 

[FestFan]

Do you have the foam insert to lay on top and keep them from moving about?

Nope, no need I guess. I drilled out all the holes with an 8.2 mm drill and all the bits are kept fairly nice in place. Unless I put the systainer completely upside down, I think I'm pretty safe. I choose to drill with an 8.2 since all the shafts are exactly at 8.00 mm and this will give them some slack. I've tried to use an 8.0 drill; but I cut my fingers too many times trying to pull out the bits, especially the straight ones.

 

[FestFan]

It looks like you cut out a portion of the two sides of the systainer in order to make this work.

Correct. I just cut out the side parts that are more or less flat. This also most easy to do since you can then let the saw blade lean to the sides.

I would appreciate it if you could give more details of this aspect of the design.

I used my Fein multimaster to cut out the sides of the systainer with a segmented saw blade (http://astore.amazon.com/fein-multimaster-tool-saw-blade-supercut-fine-feinblade-20/detail/B0000223OY). This blade makes a very, very, very thin saw slot due to the heat development however the plastic of the systainer tends to melt a bit around the blade during the cut and makes the slot a bit bigger.  I then filed off the notches to allow the rail slide to move inside the systainer as well.

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I only have the festool router bit systainer with foam insert but you cant have large router bits the lid wont close.

I know what you're talking about; this motivated me to make my modification and throw away the foam insert.

Are the side cut outs solid or a bit flimsy?!

They are bit flimsy actually. I put in 4 screws to regain as much strength as possible again, but the top end of the cut out parts will stay a bit bendable. Just make sure the rails work smoothly and then should be nothing in the way.

Do you have any trouble closing the lid because you have to make sure the sides are tucked in so the lids traps them dont you?!

All systainer lids have three small self-aligning bulges on each side that push the vertical sides into the systainer a bit. This property was very helpfull with this modification.

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Also the maple wood (which came from a cut out for a sink in a kitchen top) I used is centered. Both top parts close in the middle of the systainer.

HOW on earth do you find the bit you're looking for?!?!?! [big grin]

You're right on that part; the only way to know for sure is to take out the bit and look on the shaft for the specifications of the router bit. I did do some organizing though:

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[image132]

I'm a fan of your work. This is another great invention! I especially love the sliding rails.  [thumbs up]

Now lets see you do it with T-lock

 

[Alan m]

love the idea of router bit systainer and will probable build something similar sometime .

could you not have made the top bit holder the same as the bottom and just lifted it out with a handle. 4 spacers in between would keep them appart.

i would not want to compomise the integrity of a systainer by cutting it like this as it cannot be used for any thing else only as bit storage.

only my 2 cents worth

 

[Frank Pellow]

Thanks for the details, FestFan.

Now, I need to decide if I want to give it a try.  [scratch chin]

 

[image132]

Does the bit classical cove set go right to the back underneath the top set? If so is it not difficult to get them out?

 

[FestFan]

That's a really nice setup. Freud must love you!

As I were not familiair with the 'Freud' you mentioned I first thought you mentioned this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freud
After reading and following some links from this post: http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/does-anyone-know-what-this-profile-is-called/msg116677/?topicseen#msg116677; I now know you mention this one: http://www.freud.ca/English/English.html

[laughing] [laughing] [laughing]

 

[justinmcf]

great idea fest fan.
i will have to copy your idea!

justin

 

[FestFan]

Does the bit classical cove set go right to the back underneath the top set? If so is it not difficult to get them out?

At first I figured that I would have some trouble getting the bits in and out too, which is the 'core business' of this systainer obviously, but by aligning both decks in the center (don't forget to route away the cross in the middle of the systainer)

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The longest bit I have is about 70 mm in total. As the picture below shows there will be some room spare even for this size router bits.

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I'm a fan of your work. This is another great invention! I especially love the sliding rails.  [thumbs up]

[thanks]

Now lets see you do it with T-lock

I have my first one on order; but I don't think I'll get to like them since they don't match the classical ones (I happen to have about 50 now) for only the half of the system. And by half I mean that only the bottom part of the new systainer can be attached to the older systainers. I strongly believe that Festool is really missing the boat here. They push a new setup into the market and leave the consumer, that'll be us, without a choice.  I first started buying Festools after Makita put a sys 3 around a cordless hammerdrill (http://www.makita.nl/machine/BHR241RFX.html). I then decided to putt all of my tools into systainer and from there I got the fever... And now they pull a stunt like this... :'( They could at least keep the old systainers on the market. 

 

[image132]

Thanks for the great explanation. It's good to see you put thought into it. Although I would expect nothing less from you.

I have my first one on order; but I don't I'll get to like them since they match the classical ones (I happen to have about 50 now) for only the half of the system. And by half I mean that only the bottom part of the new systainer can be attached to the older systainers. I strongly believe that Festool is really missing the boat here. They push a new setup into the market and leave the consumer, that'll be us, without a choice.  I first started buying Festools after Makita put a sys 3 around a cordless hammerdrill (http://www.makita.nl/machine/BHR241RFX.html). I then decided to putt all of my tools into systainer and from there I got the fever... And now they pull a stunt like this... :'( They could at least keep the old systainers on the market.  

Are you being serious? So when I go and buy a new Festool in a years time I won't be able to get it in a classical systainer?!

I seem remember Shane or someone saying that Festool would be continuing support for the "Systainer Classic" for at least 7 years.

 

[FestFan]

Are you being serious? So when I go and buy a new Festool in a years time I won't be able to get it in a classical systainer?!

I seem remember Shane or someone saying that Festool would be continuing support for the "Systainer Classic" for at least 7 years.

During the last 'bouw relatie dagen' (translated it is something like: 'construction network days') at Gorinchem here in the Netherlands, I talked to a Festool rep and he told me that Festool is introducing their T-loc's size by size. First all the tools in a sys I will get a new box, then the ones in a II and so on. Finally, when all the new T-loc's have been introduced; the classical ones will be pronounced redundant and production of them will seize. This will be done within a year, if not months. Unfortunately.

He also explained to me that the latest inlays that were put into the systainers have a precut line in them that are supposed to come of easily and will support the newest T-loc curved front. I received a voucher with my latest purchase that gave me the opportunity to buy a new T-loc for 20 Euro only with it. I checked my Domino inlay (which was my latest buy) and it does have some curved cut on the bottom.

And that's what pisses me off good. Festool has made their systainer a part of the "system" ideology. By changing just a part of that ideology, the whole system collapses. For example: I happen to have a RO 125 and a RTS 400 with two accompanying systainers filled with sandpaper. I usually put all four of these on top of a CTL Midi vac. Interchangeably I put the one systainer containing the sandpaper of the machine I'm working with on the very top of the stack. How am I supposed to do this when I would buy a RS 200 (which is quite high on my wishlist) with 2 new T-loc's?

Currently I'm using trolleys (http://www.festoolusa.com/products/systainers/sysport-cart/systainer-cart-492388.html) and not the sysports because I like my systainers to move around since I need them on different locations. I have divided my 50 systainers over 8 of these carts. With the new T-loc I can only make use of them if they were put on top of the stack.

And in addition; Metabo (http://www.toolsxl.nl/metabo-toebehoren-m-36.html?filter_id=1223&sort=4a), Makita (http://www.toolmax.nl/gereedschapskoffer-systainermbox-lboxx-c-263_258_686.html), Bosch (http://www.toolsxl.nl/opbergen-systainer-elektrisch-gereedschap-c-1000_1196_1223.html), Knipex (http://www.tooler.nl/cat/32-handgereedschap/knipex?sort=price&order=desc), Fein (http://www.freessjabloon.nl/Webwinkel-Product-3022099/FEIN-MULTIMASTER-FMM-250-Q-Systainer.html), Mohawk wax (http://www.cleho.de/), Ironside (http://shop.claerbout.be/product.php?catno=95&articleno=299&lang=NL), Panasonic (http://www.gereedschappelijk.be/accu-gereedschap/accu-boormachine/14-4-v-accuboormachine/panasonic-ey7440ln2s-ey4541-in-festool-systainer.html), and Bessey (http://www.toolmax.nl/bessey-kliklamp-lijmklemmen-in-systainer-16-stuks-p-14325.html) are using the same systainers. Also recall this post: http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/systainer-variations/. What about them?

 

[image132]

Can any Festool Reps or employes confirm or deny this because if this is the truth that is very depressing. Festfan maybe you should start a new thread with that post as the opening because I sure wasn't aware of this and it worries me a lot. Means I might have to start buying these new ones  [sad]

He also explained to me that the latest inlays that were put into the systainers have a precut line in them that are supposed to come of easily and will support the newest T-loc curved front. I received a voucher with my latest purchase that gave me the opportunity to buy a new T-loc for 20 Euro only with it. I checked my Domino inlay (which was my latest buy) and it does have some curved cut on the bottom.

Any chance you could take a photo of this so I could have a look at mine?

 

[mouppe]

What's the big deal? No company can be reasonably expected to endlessly produce all the models in its product line. Festool are supporting the old systainers for 7 years or so. That's reasonable.

If a user has a particular situation which calls for using the old systainers, such as in Festfan's case, they could put the new tool in an old systainer. I think dealers over here are willing to sell new tools in old systainers.