Before beginning this review, I wish to provide the disclaimer that I received the TS-06 free from Festool. After I had purchased approximately $3000 worth of tools.
The TS-06 arrived in a plastic covering, rather than the usual Festool Systainer. I found this somewhat disappointing, as it makes storage more difficult.
The TS-06 comes with a brief manual - curiously written in only one language (this was pointed out by Brice in a post below). The manual reads:
Warm wash
Dry low
Do not bleach
Made in USA
Warm wash, dry low. Words to live by! Unfortunately, like other Festool manuals, it does not really describe the tool and its uses adequately.
The TS-06 has four circular openings, two small ones located laterally, one medium-sized one near the top, and a large one at the bottom (see image below).
[attachimg=1]
In reading reviews of other Festool products, you will discover that they have a wealth of uses besides those that seem obvious. That is certainly true in this case. The TS-06 is clearly designed for dust collection, consistent with the full line of Festool woodworking tools. In my tests, while it was not up to the level of, say, the CT Mini, it performed well for collecting dust on both flat and convoluted surfaces. A simple shake, and it's ready for use again - much faster than changing a bag on the CT.
A less-obvious use, perhaps, was demonstrated to me by my 10 year old daughter, who, when playing with the TS-06 actually placed it over her head! This unorthodox use of a tool (which, but the way, does not have UL approval, though is still available in North America) surprised me at first. But I began to see the possibilities. I found, after some manipulation, that I could put my arms through the lateral openings, and my head through the medium-sized one at the top, and actually wear it for protection from flying debris!
The ingenuity of Festool never ceases to amaze me!
The TS-06 is constructed of high-quality cotton, and formed to quite high tolerances. I could detect no run-out, and its operation was whisper-quiet.
One feature that was particularly remarkable about the TS-06 was its durability. Trying to be objective about this, I tested it by dropping it from a set height above a concrete floor. For comparison, I dropped OF1010 routing aid (part number 492037). I was considering dropping the TS-06's close cousin, the TS-55, but I didn't have one handy. Perhaps Festool could supply me with one for future tests. In any case, I was amazed at how well the TS-06 survived the drop test. Every single time it landed softly, with NO APPARENT DAMAGE! Every time! Here is what happened when the OF1010 routing aid was dropped:
[attachimg=2]
(Thanks to Eiji for unwittingly lending me the image above).
Clearly this is one of Festool's more durable tools. I commend their engineers on a job well done.
The TS-06 comes in several sizes: the TSSM-06 is smaller than the TSXX-06, which isfucking huge. I tested the TSLG-06, which had more surface area than necessary for my scale (which, we established in previous posts, is small).
While I did not compare the TS-06 to similar products from other manufacturers (and apparently there are some), I would generally recommend it for woodworkers of any level of expertise. At $3000 it was somewhat higher-priced than I might have hoped for. But we've come to expect that quality equipment costs money - and is worth every cent.
Poto
The TS-06 arrived in a plastic covering, rather than the usual Festool Systainer. I found this somewhat disappointing, as it makes storage more difficult.
The TS-06 comes with a brief manual - curiously written in only one language (this was pointed out by Brice in a post below). The manual reads:
Warm wash
Dry low
Do not bleach
Made in USA
Warm wash, dry low. Words to live by! Unfortunately, like other Festool manuals, it does not really describe the tool and its uses adequately.
The TS-06 has four circular openings, two small ones located laterally, one medium-sized one near the top, and a large one at the bottom (see image below).
[attachimg=1]
In reading reviews of other Festool products, you will discover that they have a wealth of uses besides those that seem obvious. That is certainly true in this case. The TS-06 is clearly designed for dust collection, consistent with the full line of Festool woodworking tools. In my tests, while it was not up to the level of, say, the CT Mini, it performed well for collecting dust on both flat and convoluted surfaces. A simple shake, and it's ready for use again - much faster than changing a bag on the CT.
A less-obvious use, perhaps, was demonstrated to me by my 10 year old daughter, who, when playing with the TS-06 actually placed it over her head! This unorthodox use of a tool (which, but the way, does not have UL approval, though is still available in North America) surprised me at first. But I began to see the possibilities. I found, after some manipulation, that I could put my arms through the lateral openings, and my head through the medium-sized one at the top, and actually wear it for protection from flying debris!
The ingenuity of Festool never ceases to amaze me!
The TS-06 is constructed of high-quality cotton, and formed to quite high tolerances. I could detect no run-out, and its operation was whisper-quiet.
One feature that was particularly remarkable about the TS-06 was its durability. Trying to be objective about this, I tested it by dropping it from a set height above a concrete floor. For comparison, I dropped OF1010 routing aid (part number 492037). I was considering dropping the TS-06's close cousin, the TS-55, but I didn't have one handy. Perhaps Festool could supply me with one for future tests. In any case, I was amazed at how well the TS-06 survived the drop test. Every single time it landed softly, with NO APPARENT DAMAGE! Every time! Here is what happened when the OF1010 routing aid was dropped:
[attachimg=2]
(Thanks to Eiji for unwittingly lending me the image above).
Clearly this is one of Festool's more durable tools. I commend their engineers on a job well done.
The TS-06 comes in several sizes: the TSSM-06 is smaller than the TSXX-06, which is
While I did not compare the TS-06 to similar products from other manufacturers (and apparently there are some), I would generally recommend it for woodworkers of any level of expertise. At $3000 it was somewhat higher-priced than I might have hoped for. But we've come to expect that quality equipment costs money - and is worth every cent.
Poto
