What is the most indispensable Festool?

[Stephen B]

I found out the answer to this yesterday afternoon. Fortunately I was working close to my favourite dealer., rather than home base over an hour and a half away.

Think further, what item is integral to the Festool System?

Yes the Festool vac.  After 12 years, the brushes finally were warn on my Ct 22. Anyway that's what the dealer thinks.

I needed to work, mainly sanding down old window frames and resizing awning windows and doors. Phoned 'senior management' and she agreed that  a Midi would be good to have. When fixed the ct22 can stay in home base workshop,  'and the Midi would be easier for her to use in the house!!'  [wink]

 

[GhostFist]

They are good vacs, despite the recall shenanigans I have to go through up here. I also love festool routers and drills. Praying that quadrive comes sooner than later

 

[bkharman]

There's a reason the CT is in every piece of Festool marketing....

It is the basis of the "system"

 

[MrToolJunkie]

I found out the answer to this yesterday afternoon. Fortunately I was working close to my favourite dealer., rather than home base over an hour and a half away.

Think further, what item is integral to the Festool System?

Yes the Festool vac.  After 12 years, the bushes finally we're warn on my Ct 22. Anyway that's what the dealer thinks.

I needed to work, mainly sanding down old window frames and resizing awning windows and doors. Phoned 'senior management' and she agreed that  a Midi would be good to have. When fixed the ct22 can stay in home base workshop,  'and the Midi would be easier for her to use in the house!!'  [wink]

Wow -- how many hours of use did the vac have to wear out the brushes?  I think that Frank Pellow is the only other user I know of who has had to replace brushes on a Festool tool. 

 

[Frank Pellow]

...

Wow -- how many hours of use did the vac have to wear out the brushes?  I think that Frank Pellow is the only other user I know of who has had to replace brushes on a Festool tool. 

I have had to replace brushes twice.  Once on my first Rotex 150 sander (I have two of them) and once on my PS2 jigsaw. 

Since I have had to replace brushes on two different Festool tools, there must be many others out there that have also had to do so.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

...

Wow -- how many hours of use did the vac have to wear out the brushes?  I think that Frank Pellow is the only other user I know of who has had to replace brushes on a Festool tool. 

I have had to replace brushes twice.  Once on my first Rotex 150 sander (I have two of them) and once on my PS2 jigsaw. 

Since I have had to replace brushes on two different Festool tools, there must be many others out there that have also had to do so.

I am sure you are right...I am envious that folks to get to use their tools enough to even warrant a brush replacement.  I think you sanded your cabin with one and that probably took hours to complete.  I have bookmarked your thread about it for when the time comes that I have to replace my brushes.  It was very informative.

 

[ThomasC]

Turns out that little 110v pigtail is pretty indispensable, too (depending on where you're working). I forgot to bring that one time. Still not sure why I unplugged it from the cord in the first place...

TC

 

[Julian Tracy]

Cut that silly thing off of there.  Plug a 15amp standard plug end and never worry about it again.

JT

 

[ThomasC]

Cut that silly thing off of there.  Plug a 15amp standard plug end and never worry about it again.

JT

Good thinkin'

 

[Stephen B]

One day later and I am very impressed with the Midi.

Today it was plugged into my RO 150, ETS125, DX93 and T55REQ.

Have noticed it runs on slightly longer than CT22, and appears to have more suction. But it is new! An example was when I used the T55,there was very little saw dust spray at beginning and end of first cut. Then I looked at the vac and noticed the power setting had been left down low after using my ETS125. Simply remarkable.  [smile]

Only down side is the 'off gas' of a new vacuum!! Cannot remember this when CT22 was new.  [unsure]

 

[Michael1960]

Stephen - totally agree Festool vacs are the most indispensable tool.  The midi is a real winner!  Last week I tried using it with my Rotex 150 while starting to sand back a badly damaged table top.  The dust collection was outstanding!

 

[AlexThePalex]

Of course must be me going against the grain again.... no tool is indispensable. If I don't have one, I find some other way to do the job.

I find the vacs one of the least indispensable tools of all. I mean, if I can't bring it with me, a brush and dustpan will do just fine. I still get the job done.

 

[mouppe]

I would have to say the domino. All other Festools have alternatives- they may not be as good in many cases but they do a similar function- but the domino is unique.

And yes, I can use dowels or a chisel to get the job done but the domino is so fast and versatile.

 

[ccarrolladams]

For me the heart and soul of the Festool System is the range of dust extractors! Long ago I decided I only wanted to stock a single size of bag and I did not want to strain my back lifting full bags. So I bought nothing but CT22s from 2006 until I opened my new shop in 2010. About the same time the CT36 was introduced in North America and I wanted a couple of pristine brand-new vacs to take to customer sites.

All of these have served me well and faithfully.

Good luck to those who believe they can be competitive using a brush and dustpan to clean up, be that in their shop or on job-sites.

Frankly I do not have clients who would stand the mess during the work period. I could not compete if I had to add the additional labor of using a brush and dustpan. In the shop dust collection is vital for safety. Working in an environment free of dust makes the work time so much nicer.

But of course others will have different experiences. Still, think about this: tools such as the Domino will not function without dust extraction!

 

[JoggleStick]

Q) What is the first tool I carry into the client's house in the morning?

Clue: it is also the last tool I carry out; at the end of the day?

You guessed it; my Festool vac.

I'm famous for it...

More than one client has said to me, "our friends told us you were the cleanest tradesman they'd ever had do work. They told us the story about your vacuum being first in, last out."

My friends, that right there is pure gold!
It's called 'referral work' and there ain't no better kind.

Love my Festool vac... Makes me lotsa money...

What are you famous for?

 

[Michael Kellough]

Don't know how you define "heart and soul" but I'd think that would have to start with tools designed and built by Festo. Both vacs and routers were by others until a decade or so ago. I think Festo invented the random orbit sander but to me the tracksaw is the essential tool and I wouldn't want to be without the MFT. It would be like having a race car without a race track.

 

[Michael Kellough]

For me the heart and soul of the Festool System is the range of dust extractors! Long ago I decided I only wanted to stock a single size of bag and I did not want to strain my back lifting full bags. So I bought nothing but CT22s from 2006 until I opened my new shop in 2010. About the same time the CT36 was introduced in North America and I wanted a couple of pristine brand-new vacs to take to customer sites.

All of these have served me well and faithfully.

Good luck to those who believe they can be competitive using a brush and dustpan to clean up, be that in their shop or on job-sites.

Frankly I do not have clients who would stand the mess during the work period. I could not compete if I had to add the additional labor of using a brush and dustpan. In the shop dust collection is vital for safety. Working in an environment free of dust makes the work time so much nicer.

But of course others will have different experiences. Still, think about this: tools such as the Domino will not function without dust extraction!

It will work, but not without some issues.

 

[sancho57]

all the ones I own.

they are all indispensable as soon as I need them

 

[Laminator]

JoggleStick must be my unknown twin from halfway around the world... Reading his post felt like Dejavu lol. First tool in and last tool out on every job with smiling customers.  The vac is the common denominator to me.  I should keep count of the numerous folks who think the ct26/wcr1000 is some kind of medical equipment.  If I had to go back to the "never heard of dust collection" era, I'd just quit and go into the cleaning business.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

I think it is the CT as well...it is used on every single project, even if I am just drilling some holes.  The MFT is a close second.

Scot