What Festool Item Is the best Value

[Throwback7r]

Just like the title says, What tool do you think is the best Value? I think it is the Track saw and guide rail.

 

[Billedis]

agree

 

[peter halle]

Personally I would agree about the TS and rail system whereas it gets frequent use.  But before someone else says it I will add:  Any Festool that gets used versus just sitting in a Systainer.  Use brings value.

Peter

 

[Roseland]

I agree - the TS55 is a brilliant bit of kit.  It's my first and most used Festool tool.  But other people make track saws too (although the DeFault one I had before was dreadful).

Just to be controversial, I'm going to nominate the MFS400.  It's relatively inexpensive but sooo versatile.

Andrew

 

[RC]

I'd like to nominate the DF500 domino with the tennon systainer. Timewise I use the Domino more than my TS saw.

 

[jamanjeval]

I think it really depends upon what you do with it. The value in Festool comes from the ecosystem: how the tools work together (with a few caveats like the plug it cords). If you are asking what is a good Festool to start out with, then I would say that for most people the track saw is a good first purchase. Don't forget to add the cost of accessories: dust collector, clamps etc.

 

[NHSP759]

Mine response is the TS55REQ. But.....like the other post says it's part of the whole system....MFT/3 and my Midi and....

 

[jonny round boy]

I'd describe 'value' as being amount of use I get out of it vs the cost, and on that basis the best value Festool for me is this one.

 

[John H]

Definitely the track saw

Regarding the domino - I continually see people using dominos where they really are not needed  just to justify their purchase (IMO).  A biscuit or pocket screw would be just as good, if not better and per Fine Woodworking pocket screws are about 10% stronger the dominos and the lowly biscuit is about 10% weaker

 

[stvrowe]

I'd like to nominate the DF500 domino with the tennon systainer. Timewise I use the Domino more than my TS saw.

+1, the Domino is my go to joinery tool and is used much more than a track saw in my shop.  The DF700 is a relatively new acquisition and will only supplant the 500 for larger projects.

 

[JPF Woodworking]

Track saw, domino, every tool I ever purchased have been excellent. But the real go-to are the dust extractors, the tools I truly use on every job, everyday (CT-22, CT26)

 

[tiralie]

The best Festool is the last ones I used...I actually think Ekat and parts availability are the most value to me. You can order parts from other manufacturers but in some cases it's so much of a time suck, it's easier to buy a new tool.

... best value Festool for me is this one.

Just got one of these, great review, thanks!
Tim

 

[jmbfestool]

Definitely the track saw

Regarding the domino - I continually see people using dominos where they really are not needed  just to justify their purchase (IMO).  A biscuit or pocket screw would be just as good, if not better and per Fine Woodworking pocket screws are about 10% stronger the dominos and the lowly biscuit is about 10% weaker

Thing is with a domino it actually aligns the faces of the timber where as a biscuit and pocket hole DONT.

A pocket hole actually will pull the timber out of alignment if you don't clamp the timber up enough before screwing.

Regards to strength.  Depending on size and direction of force dominos are much stronger than pocket holes.

 

[tbellemare]

I'd nominate the dust extractors.

Tom

 

[Jaybolishes]

Cxs

 

[tiralie]

Regarding the domino - I continually see people using dominos where they really are not needed...

Agreed 100%.
The domino is fantastic for end grain to long grain or end grain to end joints, miter joints etc., but using it for long grain panel glue ups seems like a waste of time to me. Properly jointed boards don't need the strength of the domino. Yes it does help with alignment but for me that is not enough of a reason to use it just for that. By the time you have setup the domino and cut the mortise you can have the panel glued up.

Tim

 

[SoonerFan]

TS55 is what I consider the best value.  Close second would be the MFT/3 followed in third place by a RO.

 

[Mickfb]

ALL OF THEM  [big grin] Each tool is the best when I am using it

 

[ccarrolladams]

I agree with all the positive comments about the value of the track saws and the dust extractors, especially the CT22, CT36 and TS55. It is hardly a secret that I largely earned the money to build my current large shop based on the value and efficiency of my first TS55 and CT22 combination. With the guide rails I was able to accurately process plywood parts in a fraction of the space I would have needed to be as effective using any form of table saw.

However, for the the most outstanding Festool value is the OF1010. Even when I bought my first OF1010 just to drill LR32 holes I gladly would have paid 15% more for the OF1010. The day I decided to buy that plunge router, two holy rails and the LR32 kit I had budgeted the purchase of a traditional line drilling machine at several times the investment. Previously I had owned several line drilling machines. They are just swell in a factory production situation where the same part will be drilled for a long time. But in 2006 I was only making custom cabinets. I knew from the past that the time involved in un-screwing certain bits to skip holes was a total drag on efficiency. Also, remembering to re-install those skipped bit was a problem.

Back then the choice of holy rails was 1080mm and 2424mm. I was making a series of tall media storage cases more than conventional cabinets, so the long holy rail was a game changer for me. I could have made those parts with a line drilling machine, but doing so is a royal PIA. The first day I used the OF1010 with the LR32 kit and that 2424mm holy rail I finished what would have been an 8 hour job in 4 hours. As I gained experience and found shortcuts with the LR32 and OF1010 system I saved even more time per job.

Is there any wonder that before te end of 2006 I owned a total of 3 OF1010s?

Yes, the MFK700 costs more than many other trim routers. Still, I also find the MFK700 to be value priced relative to its efficiency. However, to realize that value you need to trim a whole lot of edging. I do trim a lot of edging so it worked out for me when the MFK700 reached the USA. Before that one of my OF1010 was devoted to edge trimming, a set up I still use when the edging is thicker than practical to trim with the MFK700.

Best of all, all of those tools work so well with a CT22. Festool really is a system.

 

[jacko9]

I like the Domino/Dust Extractor combination which gives me a tool capability at a great value compared to a horizontal slot mortising machine with dust extraction added on as extra cost.

Jack