The ideal Festool workshop ??

[Kev]

This may attract a lot of opinion based on preferred approaches, but please consider the question in terms of not being able to complete typical woodworking projects unless you have these tools.

Over and above anything Festool (assume CMS & PRECISIO are available), you still need ...

Bandsaw
Jointer / Planer
Thicknesser
High volume DC
Pedestal Drill

Potentially also ...

Edgebander (bench top)
Scroll Saw

Plus if you're so inclined ...

Lathe

Obviously this is ignoring hand tools, maintenance, finishing, etc.

I feel there's an elephant in the room and I can't see it. Any thoughts?

Please keep in mind my thinking is if a task can be performed reasonably with a Festool tool, you would and I also realize there's the option of getting the big stuff done "somewhere else" for a fee.

I'm considering space long term at home and what I should/shouldn't plan for in the future.

... Really kicking myself for selling my pedestal drill, compressor and scroll saw a few years ago. [embarassed] But life looked very different then.

BTW, I'm talking home workshop - not production workshop and primarily concerned about the BIG things I may need space for.

 

[sancho57]

Ok

TS 55 w/ associated guide rails
LR 32 w/ guide rails
850 planer with cradle for jointing.

CMS with router and TS75 modules

Thickness planer,

Drum sander

finishing area  spray booth.

edge bander

1010
2200
Kapex w dedicated CT 26

4 MFTs with CT 36 with WC and Boom arm

Various hand planes

air filter

Ill more more as I think more about it.

 

[mouppe]

I have been selling off all my unused and unwanted tools over the last few months, including a chop saw, sanders and a very good PC router. I am down to the bare bones of what I think I need to make fine furniture based on my experiences over the last few years. I have much more space, less things collecting dust, and I sold the tools really cheaply to people getting into the hobby- so a plus for them and a plus for me. I also told them that they were wasting money in the long run and should just buy Festool but it's a hard sell to a newbie!

It should be added that I have access to a bandsaw (although I usually use a jigsaw instead) and I usually ask the timber yard to joint and plane my stock close to dimension leaving me just hand tool work where necessary.

This is what I have left (as far as I can recall):-

Power tools

Thicknesser (planer for the US folks) connected to a shop vac and cyclone.
TS55
MFT 3
2 x MFT 800
CMS router module
OF1400
Trion jigsaw
Rotex 125 and ETS 125
Air purifier
CT22 Dust extractor
Domino
C12 drill and centrotec set

Hand tools

Jointer plane
Jack plane
Block planes
Various other beading tools, router plane, shoulder plane, plough plane etc.
Scrapers
Chisels
Saws

Other tools

The best measuring tools you can buy- quality not quantity
Vacuum press
Small lathe- rarely used but worth having from time to time
Clamps
Sharpening station- I use a diamond plate and waterstones
Workbench

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Kev

Amongst the non Festool items you may need...

  Compressor
  brad nailer
  one or two staplers
  heavy duty nail gun if you do barns/roofing etc

  Solid bench (for hand work)
  Trestles for handling sheet goods with the TS+rails
  Bessey Clamps
  Radio

I am getting ready to start some reviews of Wera products and, for me, I would have to have their screwdrivers and bit sets.

Peter

 

[ScotF]

Hi Kev,

Here is my list of the big stuff:

-Bandsaw -- the bigger the better IMHO -- I have an 18 inch and it is too limiting -- I want a 24 inch or even a 28 inch or 32 inch -- not so much for Resaw height, but for a bigger table and throat depth -- I would buy the biggest one you can afford/fit in your space/have the power to run.  The good thing with a bandsaw is that it does not take that much floor space to have increased capacity

-Jointer/Planer Combination -- I know that some folks prefer separates and if you have the room, then go for it...but I find having one machine in one footprint makes a lot of sense and have 310mm jointing capability in my machine is a dream

-Dust collector for these machines -- Cyclone or single-stage with enough CFM, static pressure and proper filters to get all the dust and chips before it is airborn. 

-Solid workbench with good front and side vises -- can be used with and without power tools and a must for hand-tool work

-Optional - tablesaw (although your CMS serves this purpose)

Based on your other posts, I think that you already have an awesome collection of Festool stuff already and probably have your bases covered there.  I have some other big tools like an air compressor, lathe, drill press, etc... but I seldom use them for anything woodworking related since turning to Festool...I do turn now and again, but aside from that my Festool drills or router with template have worked for most of my drilling needs and I do not think I have used my brad nailer in years. 

For hand-tools:

-Quality chisels
-Mallets in different weights (I turned my own)
-Jointer plane
-Low-angle Jack Plane
-Smoothing Plane
-Block planes
-Shoulder Plane
-Router-Plane
-Sharpening Guide -- I really like the Lee Valley version
-Sharpening stones -- I prefer oil stones, but ceramics and water stones work well

Scot

 

[Stone Message]

Kev - I forgot the big HVLP extractor for the planer/bandsaw and the cyclone. My Cyclone Central 100mm cyclone is perfect for me.

Peter

 

[Timtool]

I would suggest a European combination machine, place it strategically and you have all the basic stationary tools needed, planer, jointer, shaper and table saw, and next to that a good bandsaw.

 

[mattfc]

I am getting ready to start some reviews of Wera products and, for me, I would have to have their screwdrivers and bit sets.

I have some Wera bits, but also have some screwdrivers and allen keys from here.. I have yet to find better
http://www.pbswisstools.com/en.html

 

[Stone Message]

I have some Wera bits, but also have some screwdrivers and allen keys from here.. I have yet to find better
http://www.pbswisstools.com/en.html

Thanks - I will take a look.

Peter

 

[John Bates]

Bondhus for hex keys, have a look at Witte for screwdrivers and bits, also US made Magna bits, not the far eastern versions that they market in Europe via Bosch.

 

[Vindingo]

If you are concerned with space, and this is a hobby shop, you can scratch edgebander off of your list. 

A $10 drugstore iron can do the same thing, and be thrown in a drawer when not in use. 

 

[John Bates]

Or buy Fastedge in real wood, self-adhesive.

 

[Kev]

I think I'd certainly try the "iron on" approach before I spent up big. My guess would be there's little to gain with the bench top units that cost a few hundred dollars ... for any benefit you'd probably need to fork out thousands of dollars.