I wanted to start my first post by thanking this community of Festool users. I have read and searched this forum for a few months. I found the information and tips to be very valuable as I searched for some new tools. I appreciate everyone taking the time to answer questions from other members and offer suggestions.
Given I am posting here you might conclude that I ended up with the Festool system. This conclusion is correct. I researched online and in a local woodworking store to decide how to more forward with my tool selection decision. In the end I wanted tools that were very accurate, flexible and took up minimal floor space. I am a DIYer/hobbyist and did not want to dedicate space to floor standing tools. I also wanted tools that would last. Festool provides, in my opinion, the best overall solution.
For my first drink of the green kool aid I ended up with a CT36, TS55, Rotex 125, OF1400, MFT/3, misc rails and an assortment of clamps/abrasives. I used the TS55 first and found its accuracy, ease of use and quality of cut to be every bit as good as any table saw I have used in the past. The Rotex 125 was everything I wanted it to be ---- quick removal of material and a quality finish sander. The MFT/3 gets used nearly every weekend. Once I got a good square (Woodpeckers 1281 as suggested on this forum) I have been able to set it up quickly and get amazingly accurate cuts for me. The OF1400 is my first plunge cut router and it is fabulous. When I first got the router I used it to cut some dados for shelves on my MFT/3 and it worked great. The CT36 is a great compliment to all these tools and dust collection is better than I would have expected.
Next up for me is to figure out how to attend a Festool essentials class and maybe the cabinets /doors & drawers classes. Every time I look these classes are full. Next tool is likely a CMS to raise some panels or maybe a Domino.
Thanks again to this group for the suggestions and insight and thanks to Festool for building these quality tools.
Given I am posting here you might conclude that I ended up with the Festool system. This conclusion is correct. I researched online and in a local woodworking store to decide how to more forward with my tool selection decision. In the end I wanted tools that were very accurate, flexible and took up minimal floor space. I am a DIYer/hobbyist and did not want to dedicate space to floor standing tools. I also wanted tools that would last. Festool provides, in my opinion, the best overall solution.
For my first drink of the green kool aid I ended up with a CT36, TS55, Rotex 125, OF1400, MFT/3, misc rails and an assortment of clamps/abrasives. I used the TS55 first and found its accuracy, ease of use and quality of cut to be every bit as good as any table saw I have used in the past. The Rotex 125 was everything I wanted it to be ---- quick removal of material and a quality finish sander. The MFT/3 gets used nearly every weekend. Once I got a good square (Woodpeckers 1281 as suggested on this forum) I have been able to set it up quickly and get amazingly accurate cuts for me. The OF1400 is my first plunge cut router and it is fabulous. When I first got the router I used it to cut some dados for shelves on my MFT/3 and it worked great. The CT36 is a great compliment to all these tools and dust collection is better than I would have expected.
Next up for me is to figure out how to attend a Festool essentials class and maybe the cabinets /doors & drawers classes. Every time I look these classes are full. Next tool is likely a CMS to raise some panels or maybe a Domino.
Thanks again to this group for the suggestions and insight and thanks to Festool for building these quality tools.
