What disappoints me in Festool

[Daver]

Sorry I didn't get that you were trying to stroke the wallaby, or toss the wombat pebbles, or whatever sarcasm is called in marsupial land. A "T" joke probably wouldn't have been adviced given the Hillaryously Grumpy climate in the USA at the current moment.

It was a dingo that ate my baby. [eek]

 

[AlexThePalex]

What disappoints me in Festool is their service. It is absolute crap here in The Netherlands.

 

[Kev]

What disappoints me in Festool is their service. It is absolute crap here in The Netherlands.

[member=5277]Alex[/member] here I was under the impression that you probably perform 50% of the Festool service work in the Netherlands [big grin]

 

[ear3]

Razor meet razor blades.

This is really a small thing, but when you spend $500 or $600 for a sander, it would be nice if Festool included the same kind of sample pack of abrasives that's included with the $99 Pro 5.  The single sheet of abrasive paper included with their sanders is almost an insult, especially considering the price of the tool.

Just my two cents....

 

[tony_sheehan]

"Razor meet razor blades."

Spot on, Edward

 

[AlexThePalex]

What disappoints me in Festool is their service. It is absolute crap here in The Netherlands.

[member=5277]Alex[/member] here I was under the impression that you probably perform 50% of the Festool service work in the Netherlands [big grin]

Yes, yes, you're right, I have to because there's a huge gap to fill.

 

[jeh]

One more point.

(I've took Seneca's photo but here isn't about their cool devices)

About quality of aluminum casting...

These broken-off pieces and visible jagged edges on the base platform. Such roughly removed casting intakes we can find everywhere. Why wouldn't grind them?

That is not an issue of the Mafell products.

 

[mwahaha]

One more point.

(I've took Seneca's photo but here isn't about their cool devices)

About quality of aluminum casting...

These broken-off pieces and visible jagged edges on the base platform. Such roughly removed casting intakes we can find everywhere. Why wouldn't grind them?

That is not an issue of the Mafell products.

Grinder n paint makes me the caster I aint

 

[nickao]

What disappoints me in Festool is some of the tools take way to long between major updates, up to 10 years.

After taking the Rotex sanders apart my 2007 model appears identical to my 2107 model. And in my heart I believe the 2007 works a bit better and I dont think it's in my mind(whyy I took them art in the first place). The 2007 seems to spin ever so slightly faster than my new one.

Regardless, it's time for a revamp for the Rotex sanders. The Rotex in regular mode is not a very good sander and the reason many send it back. A great finish is very difficult to achieve with it. Hogging off lumber and getting it ready for the next phase of sanding is what a Rotex excels at. If it didn't have regular mode I wouldn't even care. I would rather see all the tech go into the rotary mode, put the money there and just let us buy the ETS EC for the next sanding passes. Or get that regular mode up to the sanding quality of a 150 ETS EC.

The routers need updates badly and are getting stale as well. What is it 7 or 8 years already?. They all need LED's and all need a new 4 point contact to hold the bars for accessories.

I am hoping updates come out for these routers soon. I will buy a new updated OF 2200 the first day.

 

[grbmds]

Why would you take them apart? Was there something wrong with them?

 

[chesterdad]

I have a bunch of Festool equipment, but I hate that Festool hides behind UL certification for not bringing more products to the US.  More specifically, the fact their isn't an adapter for the plug-it system for their older tools.  This isn't acceptable, IMO.  We pay lots for their vacuums and accessories, and the inability to simply adapt all our equipment to use the vac plugs is crazy, specifically on the expensive hoses with the cord and sleeves.

 

[Maximus]

FILTER AVAILABILITY!!

A thing that really bugs me is that the stuff is made in Germany, but Festool refuse to sell me a HEPA filter for my Mini vac because I don't live in the US  [blink] [mad]

How come America can buy HEPA filtration and I can't, eh??  Are my Euro lungs not worthy, or are the Yanks just fragile?  [scratch chin]

I contacted Festool UK to ask about availability and they began by denying the part even existed.  They acted like I was asking the DoD about aliens at Area 51 or something.  Several emails later they grudgingly admitted to a rumour of such a thing when confronted head-on with the actual product code, but insisted it was no longer made.

I ended up importing mine direct from America, and even though I was gouged on the price it's still a worthwhile upgrade imho.  HEPA grade filtration in a compact form factor is just what I need for the fine sanding I do, and Festool needs to offer the Mini and Midi with HEPA option.  My guess is they don't in order to force users towards the much pricier M class CTL's

Incidentally, if any friendly US dealers are reading this post and would be happy to send me more mini HEPA filters in future I'd be grateful if you'd drop me a line.  I expect others over here in Europe-shire would be interested also.

 

[Bohdan]

We have them in Australia part #496752.

 

[Kev]

How come America can buy HEPA filtration and I can't, eh??  Are my Euro lungs not worthy, or are the Yanks just fragile?  [scratch chin]

Well ... John Wayne did convince everyone that smoking Camel cigarettes was good for you [sad]

I think you just need to talk to different sources! I can't possibly imagine that you couldn't get a HEPA filter in Europe if you can get them in US and Oz.

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

FILTER AVAILABILITY!!

A thing that really bugs me is that the stuff is made in Germany, but Festool refuse to sell me a HEPA filter for my Mini vac because I don't live in the US  [blink] [mad]

How come America can buy HEPA filtration and I can't, eh??  Are my Euro lungs not worthy, or are the Yanks just fragile?  [scratch chin]

I contacted Festool UK to ask about availability and they began by denying the part even existed.  They acted like I was asking the DoD about aliens at Area 51 or something.  Several emails later they grudgingly admitted to a rumour of such a thing when confronted head-on with the actual product code, but insisted it was no longer made.

I ended up importing mine direct from America, and even though I was gouged on the price it's still a worthwhile upgrade imho.  HEPA grade filtration in a compact form factor is just what I need for the fine sanding I do, and Festool needs to offer the Mini and Midi with HEPA option.  My guess is they don't in order to force users towards the much pricier M class CTL's

Incidentally, if any friendly US dealers are reading this post and would be happy to send me more mini HEPA filters in future I'd be grateful if you'd drop me a line.  I expect others over here in Europe-shire would be interested also.

When the smaller Festool vacs were fist sold in the USA, Festool didn't offer Hepa filters for them, the vacs came with the standard 1 micron filters. I'm not sure when festool started offering the Hepa filters, but there was legislation passed in the USA, requiring contractors to use certified Hepa vacuums, and other precautions when doing work anywhere there might be lead paint. Either Festool started offering the filters to meet the regulations, or enough customers requested the filters, that Festool started offering them.

 

[Maximus]

....
I think you just need to talk to different sources! I can't possibly imagine that you couldn't get a HEPA filter in Europe if you can get them in US and Oz.

You'd think, Kev.  But just you try convincing Festool UK of that !!!  [mad]  [dead horse]

 

[semenza]

    I don't really know the full Festool vac line or the regulations and such for UK. But I do know  there is a broader range of specialized vacs intended for the purpose of hazardous material / HEPA work, right?  is the lack of a HEPA filter for the Mini possibly because the Mini would not meet the requirements just by adding a HEPA filter?

Seth

 

[Maximus]

    I don't really know the full Festool vac line or the regulations and such for UK. But I do know  there is a broader range of specialized vacs intended for the purpose of hazardous material / HEPA work, right?  is the lack of a HEPA filter for the Mini possibly because the Mini would not meet the requirements just by adding a HEPA filter?

Seth

There is indeed Seth, but they cost a great deal more and they're way bigger than the Mini.  My point really boils down to this - if it's available in the US then why not here in Europe too? Obviously the Mini has the ability to be made to HEPA standards.  Unless we're suggesting that the US HEPA standard is inferior to the EU Class M.  But then, Festool sell the larger CT vacs in both the US and Europe, in both HEPA and non HEPA (Class M and Class L) models - hence proving it would be possible to do the same for the Mini.

 

[Paul G]

I have a bunch of Festool equipment, but I hate that Festool hides behind UL certification for not bringing more products to the US.  More specifically, the fact their isn't an adapter for the plug-it system for their older tools.  This isn't acceptable, IMO.  We pay lots for their vacuums and accessories, and the inability to simply adapt all our equipment to use the vac plugs is crazy, specifically on the expensive hoses with the cord and sleeves.

I suspect it's all about insurance cost and liability protections, especially in our litigious nation.

 

[MichaelB]

ill add my 02 cents and would like to see a dedicated pocket in all the sustainers for the manuals.

also why does my track saw have a different plug than my sander and domino?