The All Festool Shop

[woodshopdemos]

For months, I have been mentioning the "All Festool Shop." I even sold my Unisaw to make me "honest." And to answer my own question: "Is it really possible to make real furniture without the TS and with just the Festool tools.
  I am happy to inform you that Sal and I are just now completing a 12 drawer sideboard. It has been a fun project and we did miss the TS occasionally but were able to do well without it and with as much accuracy.

He is no Elena but a great worker none-the-less.

Story starts here:http://www.woodshopdemos.com/sidebd-two-1.htm

 

[Les]

John,

I guess it's safe to say you like the rip gage.

Thanks for posting more good ideas.

 

[Spike]

I could never be without my PM66. I have damn near everything Festool makes but the PM66 is the heart.

 

[woodshopdemos]

I could never be without my PM66. I have damn near everything Festool makes but the PM66 is the heart.

I hear you. My Unisaw was same to me. Bought it in 93 when I started new business and it was always right on...but taking to much floor space for my present direction. Found a better home for it and have visiting privaleges.

 

[fidelfs]

I don't mean any offense but I don't see anything extraordinary about it.
Woodworking existed before power tools were invented, at that time woodworkers created magnificent pieces of arts.  

It is great he can accomplish building furniture without the Tablesaw and using only festool tools but my point of view is that is not surprising he can do it. His skills as woodworker its what allow him to do that, If I try it, probably I would make only saw dust  ;D.    Festool has great tools and if you have the right skills you can build heirlooms as well.

He is a magnificent woodworker, the challenge will be if I am able to do it as well  

Congrats John!!. Hats off.

 

[BarryL]

I believe what John has accomplished is free up much needed floor space....which I have found to be my number one goal as of late....I am in a 24 x 24 garage which I have completely converted over to a shop.  I keep looking for new ways to clear up floor space and Festool equipment does just that.  Organization becomes much easier for me with the systainers as well.

 

[honeydoman]

John,

thanks for taking the time to take pic and post this story I really enjoyed it..... one mistake you made.... the all festool shop + the kreg jig!

questions.  the razor blade trick... was that a single edge that you push into the wood?  great idea.
questions: was that the pinuckle router table with that you put into the mft? or what...

I have the sommerfeld router top and it is a great top, but I was looking at the pinuckle seems smoother.  what is your take.

thanks again.

 

[John Stevens]

Hi, John.  As usual, you've given us a very educational and entertaining story.  At the risk of causing some thread drift, I'd like to take this opportunity to publicly thank you for all you've done to provide a free education in furniture-making to anyone with internet access.  I was fortunate to have a step-dad who was a talented artist and a pretty good furniture maker, too.  I learned the basics from him, but four years ago, when I decided to get serious about making furniture (however humble my ability) your web site taught me a wealth of information.  My step-dad passed on last March, and unfortunately I didn't have an opportunity to thank him for all he did for me, woodworking and otherwise.  Life is unpredictable--I could have passed on suddenly last spring and he could have lived, and I would still have missed having one last opportunity to thank him.  So now I don't wait, because there never will be a perfect moment, nor should there have to be.  Thanks, John, you've done something that has made many people happier and helped them make things of value.

Regards,

John

 

[Eli]

Thanks John. I love your stories. Thanks for having the patience to document and upload everything for everyone's education and enjoyment. (And thanks to Sal, even though he's no Elena) ;D

 

[Bob Marino]

John,

As someone equally challenged with limited shop space, I appreciate what you have done here. Looking forward to the next instalment. As others have stated, thanks for sharing this and other tutorials.

Bob

 

[Tinker]

John,
As others have mentioned: You have been an inspiration. i remember when your site was small enough you had no categories.  i think half a dozen pages.  Now, it is mind boggling how many pages in how many categories.  So many times i have come up against a problem.  i think about it for a while.  sometimes even fudge my way thru.  If it works, fine

If not, i go to John and search thru his many pages.  Somewhere in there is the answer.

How many times have i sent you an E and gotten a reply almost as soon as I have sent it.  You are always there
And I know I am not the only one who knows.  You are there fro all

THANKS

Tinker

PS  I fully appreciate your fine helpers  :

 

[clintholeman]

I've had an all FesTool shop for a long time now.  Guess I don't see what the issue is and handtools have been around for quite a while and managed to make some decent furniture and cabinetry along the way.

The reason I use FesTools is simply that they work - and work efficiently and well.

 

[nickao]

I have an all Festool shop PLUS many other tools. All Festool is not ONLY Festool. A person could have every Festool made, but is having that table saw in addition make it NOT all Festool, I think not.

I for one like my table saw and would be lost without it and though low on space I can't spend the time involved just to keep to ONLY Festools. For certain operations there is nothing like a Table saw and a Band Saw for that matter.

The Band Saw first, then the table saw are the heart of my shop with mostly every other task done on an mft with Festools.

So I consider myself to have an ALL Festool Shop, but not an only Festool shop.

Nickao

 

[woodshopdemos]

Thanks all for your comments and kind words.

Nickao -- I  agree particularly with the work you do.

Honeydokreg -- yes a single edge blade. Here is one mention of it on site:

And by the way, I dont remember where these things are on site, I google - in this case "woodshopdemos raazoor blade." I will be offering a pdf cd for the whole site. I use one and it really speeds thru all the pages (about 2300)

as to router table tops. Sommerfeld should be baby butt smooth. The Pinnacle is way larger and I am enjoying using it.

Thanks again.

 

[Jim Becker]

John, I have to admire you for taking this "drastic" step and I use that word lightly. While I personally wouldn't want to give up my larger tools, I really do appreciate the fact that you took the idea of an all-Festool (and complimentary tools, I'm sure) shop and implemented it despite the fact that it brings some risk...risk of doing things differently, of course. I'm glad it's worked out as I do believe there are a whole lot of folks that could be well served with this kind of arrangement for space and portability reasons.

 

[woodshopdemos]

John, I have to admire you for taking this "drastic" step and I use that word lightly. While I personally wouldn't want to give up my larger tools, I really do appreciate the fact that you took the idea of an all-Festool (and complimentary tools, I'm sure) shop and implemented it despite the fact that it brings some risk...risk of doing things differently, of course. I'm glad it's worked out as I do believe there are a whole lot of folks that could be well served with this kind of arrangement for space and portability reasons.

Jim, you have the large slider, don't you?  It was a drastic step but the space in the shop is way too limited. Woodworking was getting to be a chore and no fun. I can always get a new TS in but right now I am finding the "All Festool Shop" is quite practical.

 

[Toolpig]

John, did you only get rid of the Unisaw due to space considerations?  I can't imagine life without my tablesaw (and I do have the TS55).  Some operations seem so much faster and more convenient with the tablesaw. 

I think it's great that you can live without a tablesaw, but why would you?

JW

For months, I have been mentioning the "All Festool Shop." I even sold my Unisaw to make me "honest." And to answer my own question: "Is it really possible to make real furniture without the TS and with just the Festool tools.
  I am happy to inform you that Sal and I are just now completing a 12 drawer sideboard. It has been a fun project and we did miss the TS occasionally but were able to do well without it and with as much accuracy.

He is no Elena but a great worker none-the-less.

Story starts here:http://www.woodshopdemos.com/sidebd-two-1.htm

 

[Jim Becker]

Jim, you have the large slider, don't you?   It was a drastic step but the space in the shop is way too limited. Woodworking was getting to be a chore and no fun. I can always get a new TS in but right now I am finding the "All Festool Shop" is quite practical.

Yes, S315WS slider from MiniMax which I love. Despite the fact that I'm not an "all Festool" shop, Festool has made a big impact on my ability to do my work, both in the shop and outside the shop...the latter meaning, "in the house". My MFT really doesn't get used in the shop, but it was my main workstation in the house when I was building my daughter's new bedroom and doing a bunch of trim work in our great room after the completion of our addition. The only Festool that I own and haven't used very much is RTS/DTS sander. (I have both pads). I always forget I have it and it's not as vibration free as the 150/3 I use 95% of the time. Both of my Festool routers (1010 and 1400) are my go-to routers for hand-held outside of dovetailing. The 12 TDK drill/drive is like another hand at this point. You get my drift...

 

[rnt80]

John, if you've answered this already I apologize - are you using the Pinnacle top in the MFT for you router table?  I'm thinking of going this route.  I like the size of it for doing large pieces and the ability to switch out the tops as needed is intriguing.  I saw on your site what looks to be the Pinnacle coping sled, is that correct?  If so how do you like it?

 

[woodshopdemos]

John, if you've answered this already I apologize - are you using the Pinnacle top in the MFT for you router table?  I'm thinking of going this route.  I like the size of it for doing large pieces and the ability to switch out the tops as need in intriguing.  I saw on your site what looks to be the Pinnacle coping sled, is that correct?  If so how do you like it?

My fault...I missed it. As to the router table top, yes it is the Pinnacle top designed for the MFT but I couldn't spare my MFT (any of them) so I swapped out the CMT for the Pinnacle. I did it mainly so that I could use the Pinnacle Coping Sled. This item couldn't be used with the CMT top because the miter slot wasn't spaced right.  As to how I like them. The large top, I love the coping sled is nice for coping short rails and tasks of that sort.

Sal placing the CMT on top of the Pinnacle to drill the mounting holes. You can see the difference in size.

and here is the maiden voyage of the Pinnacle coping sled used when coping a rail. My hand are where I want them and the rail is held securely: