What to buy next?

[Kev]

You have a good point Scot. I am lucky to have a dedicated workshop but the MFT3 does make a great workbench - especially if you need to pack it away at the end of the day. It also travels well - even in the back of my Toyota Yaris! Mine occupies centre stage in the workshop and gets moved around to suit the task. It is also the ideal outfeed table for my CMS-TS55R combo.

** I went from BMW 5 Series Estate to Toyota Yaris nearly 3 years ago and I have still not recovered! **

Peter

I have driven a Yaris on a few different occassions and you can pack a surprising amount of stuff in that car!  And you are right, the MFT/3 folds flat and makes it very convenient to move about or transport.

Scot

Peter's Yaris goes really fast - he's fitted a cyclone on the bonnet  [eek] [big grin]

 

[Stone Message]

Peter's Yaris goes really fast - he's fitted a cyclone on the bonnet  [eek] [big grin]

Hi Kev

During the fuel crisis in the early 70's I had a 1959 Wolseley 1500. As petrol was in short supply I converted it to run on propane. I had a cylinder behind the driver's seat and a rubber hose went under the bonnet. The hose was connected to a pipe fitting drilled into the inlet manifold. When I wanted to run on gas I had to get up to speed, turn off the petrol pump and turn on the gas behind me. I had to keep the accelerator pedal at the right point as I had no way of regulating the gas flow. I could tell if the engine was running lean or rich and I adjusted the pedal accordingly.

I am not so sure I could do that on my Yaris!

Peter

 

[Kev]

Peter's Yaris goes really fast - he's fitted a cyclone on the bonnet  [eek] [big grin]

Hi Kev

During the fuel crisis in the early 70's I had a 1959 Wolseley 1500. As petrol was in short supply I converted it to run on propane. I had a cylinder behind the driver's seat and a rubber hose went under the bonnet. The hose was connected to a pipe fitting drilled into the inlet manifold. When I wanted to run on gas I had to get up to speed, turn off the petrol pump and turn on the gas behind me. I had to keep the accelerator pedal at the right point as I had no way of regulating the gas flow. I could tell if the engine was running lean or rich and I adjusted the pedal accordingly.

I am not so sure I could do that on my Yaris!

Peter

[eek] HOLY COW [eek]

How did it run when you doubled up? Was it like a nitro boost ?  [big grin]

I'm glad you didn't try to convert the Wolseley to electric, the coal powered generator would have taken up the entire back seat.

Was it a '64 ?

My dad dragged a '64 Humber Super Snipe out with him to Australia in 1965 when we immigrated. I loved that car!

Kev

 

[Stone Message]

Oh Kev - it was a 1959 model. It did go quite well and the engine was very easy to work on - same as the Morris Minor. Rust was an issue though. I assume you still all drive around in these cars in Australia as the climate must suit the older buggies  [wink]. I remember going to that huge aircraft storage area in Arizona - they were in amazing condition because it was so dry - a great place to park an old Wolseley.

Peter

 

[Kev]

Oh Kev - it was a 1959 model. It did go quite well and the engine was very easy to work on - same as the Morris Minor. Rust was an issue though. I assume you still all drive around in these cars in Australia as the climate must suit the older buggies  [wink]. I remember going to that huge aircraft storage area in Arizona - they were in amazing condition because it was so dry - a great place to park an old Wolseley.

Peter

I live in Rustralia !!! Particularly where I am [sad]

I have such a soft spot for old jalopies, My son is 17 and were looking at cars for him ... I'm trying to convince him that something "classical" will fit his needs. All he ever talks about - yep, Skylines and Supras.

Kev

 

[JLB builders LLC]

It doesn't end. Last year I bought the TS75, CT26 and Kapex all in one shot. Last night I bought the Domino, tradesman clean kit, 118" rail/track and lifetime bag for the CT26. But I haven't been happier to go to work Luv me sum green kool aid  [tongue]

 

[cliffp]

Yesterday I ordered a TS55R + 1400 rail plus CT Midi. I intend to buy the MFT and OP1400 next. I placed my order with Arden Power Tools (no affiliation) and highly recommend them as providing excellent customer service.

Thanks to everybody who has helped me to make this decision!

 

[sancho57]

(In my best Darth Vader)

Now your addiction is complete

 

[SFAVGUY]

What to buy next? Well my route was a little odd....I got the Ct mini first, returned it and got the CT26E...then the 18 +3, then the centrotec bit set, Zobo bit set, then the RO 125 followed by the TS55 and guide Rail followed by the OF 1400 Router with half a dozen systainers thrown in throughout. Next will be the Domino Xl....the soon to be wife keeps commenting on how many of the green boxes we have in the garage, my only hope is I can get everything Festool makes before she catches on to there slightly higher than usual prices. I bought my first piece a few months ago and figure 6 more months and I will have it all, then I only have to worry about new releases.....that will be a good thing for me, and my wallet. [big grin]

 

[cliffp]

I took delivery of my OF1400 today. Its a beautiful piece of kit though I haven't used it yet as I am waiting for my router bits (I bought a 7 piece 1/2" starter set from Whiteside along with an additional 6mm radius roundover, 6mm diameter upspiral, slotting cutter and arbor, 10 deg dovetail and bearing set - this choice was based on the article in Fine Woodworking that recommended 10 essential router bits).

I am now agonising about whether to buy an MFT/3 or a domino next (I already have a traditional woodworking bench). The MFT will have to be folded up after each use due to lack of space.

 

[Kev]

I took delivery of my OF1400 today. Its a beautiful piece of kit though I haven't used it yet as I am waiting for my router bits (I bought a 7 piece 1/2" starter set from Whiteside along with an additional 6mm radius roundover, 6mm diameter upspiral, slotting cutter and arbor, 10 deg dovetail and bearing set - this choice was based on the article in Fine Woodworking that recommended 10 essential router bits).

I am now agonising about whether to buy an MFT/3 or a domino next (I already have a traditional woodworking bench). The MFT will have to be folded up after each use due to lack of space.

Domino 500, then MFT/3, then Domino XL - with some other Festools mixed in between ... later the OF 1010. Then spend some time playing with the OF2020 and plan it's acquisition too.

 

[mouppe]

Congrats on the purchases. It's a slippery slope but it ends well.

Honestly, I think you can give the MFT a miss until you have a tracksaw. Yes, it's useful for holding wood in place while you use the router, domino etc., but it's real value comes when it is combined with the TS55 or TS75.

You already have a workbench so I would jump straight for the Domino- XL or 500 depends on what you need it for. You also did not mention whether you have a CT dust extractor, if not, THAT should be your next buy.

 

[cliffp]

Thanks Kev and Richard

I already have a TS55R and rail and CT Midi. My gut feeling was to get the Domino next but it is good to have that confirmed by those with more experience.

Soon I'll have to actually make something! I have bought several books which I am studying and I am trying to design an AV unit - there is SO much to learn!

 

[mouppe]

In that case get the domino. The smaller one is probably best for furniture I think.

A great project to get started is a sysport to hold your systainers. It's a good exercise in basic joinery, fitting shelves for different-sized systainers and you can experiment with different finishes as well. And if it all goes pear-shaped...well it's only shop furniture.

 

[cliffp]

Thats a great idea Richard! I'll have to create some space in the garage to put it (but at least I will be able to shift out of the way my 5' high pile of systainers and be able to get at things without having to dismantle the tower every time).

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Thats a great idea Richard! I'll have to create some space in the garage to put it (but at least I will be able to shift out of the way my 5' high pile of systainers and be able to get at things without having to dismantle the tower every time).

Unless you get very ambitious, your sysport should have a footprint only very slightly larger than your systainer stack - no new space needed!

Search the forum for 'sysport' - there are lots of examples of what folk have done!

@Richard "Its a slippery slope, but it ends well"  - Well put!!  [big grin]

 

[Kev]

Thats a great idea Richard! I'll have to create some space in the garage to put it (but at least I will be able to shift out of the way my 5' high pile of systainers and be able to get at things without having to dismantle the tower every time).

Unless you get very ambitious, your sysport should have a footprint only very slightly larger than your systainer stack - no new space needed!

Search the forum for 'sysport' - there are lots of examples of what folk have done!

@Richard "Its a slippery slope, but it ends well"  - Well put!!  [big grin]

I think "end" is a myth ... I believe it goes on forever !

 

[Birdhunter]

After reading about it for years, I finally broke down and bought a Domino kit; Domino with vac, 5 cutters, tons of tenons.  It makes me cringe to think how great it would have been to have had it for so many projects for which biscuits or dowels worked poorly. I attended a Festool demo event and ended up with 2 MFTs, TS55 kit, CXS kit, Syslite, 1010 router, and ETS125 sander. Bought a full set of Centrotec drills and drivers. This Festool stuff is addictive, but I have renovated a 13 year old shop and replaced some worn out tools.

If you buy the MFT, order a bunch of QWAS bench dogs, rail dogs, and speed dogs. The MFT becomes an incredible tool when paired with the QWAS dogs. I also highly recommend the cross braces for the MFT. They add a lot of stability to the table.

If I had a "do over", I would have bought the TS75 saw as the TS55 is a tad weak for cutting thick hardwoods.

My only complaint is that I have not yet found a way to set up my woodworking vise in parallel with the MFTs.

 

[sancho57]

Thats a great idea Richard! I'll have to create some space in the garage to put it (but at least I will be able to shift out of the way my 5' high pile of systainers and be able to get at things without having to dismantle the tower every time).

Unless you get very ambitious, your sysport should have a footprint only very slightly larger than your systainer stack - no new space needed!

Search the forum for 'sysport' - there are lots of examples of what folk have done!

@Richard "Its a slippery slope, but it ends well"  - Well put!!  [big grin]

I think "end" is a myth ... I believe it goes on forever !

In my best Al Pachino

" Just when I think I got out….

They drag me back in….."

 

[Kev]

Thats a great idea Richard! I'll have to create some space in the garage to put it (but at least I will be able to shift out of the way my 5' high pile of systainers and be able to get at things without having to dismantle the tower every time).

Unless you get very ambitious, your sysport should have a footprint only very slightly larger than your systainer stack - no new space needed!

Search the forum for 'sysport' - there are lots of examples of what folk have done!

@Richard "Its a slippery slope, but it ends well"  - Well put!!  [big grin]

I think "end" is a myth ... I believe it goes on forever !

In my best Al Pachino

" Just when I think I got out….

They drag me back in….."

[thumbs up]

I feel like a bad movie every time I walk into my local dealer. Imagine how may stories we could start here with "A man walks into a Festool showroom ..."  [eek]