Where to begin...

[GhostFist]

First off, Hi gang! Been lurking on the forums as a guest for a while drooling over Festool gear.
As i'm just starting to do my own little projects, hoping to get more into furniture/ custom cabinet builds I need to upgrade my tool kit.
Been interested in a number of Festool products, I need a jigsaw, router, new go to drill, wouldn't mind that multifunction table at all, and I need dust collection. As I'm just starting out on my own I'm also near broke and can't afford all this business in one shot so here's my question to you. What do you feel is your most worth while tool? What can I get the most use out of to start until I build up my empire? I've been looking at other makes and I really want something of a quality build that's going to last, with minimal messing about, something Festool boasts, and what makes me interested in their products.
Thanks for your advice and I'll post reviews when I muster the treasure hoard to own my first Festool!

 

[GhostFist]

Oh ya this is kinda similar to the fella's post below, I'm looking for Festool stuff in specific. Don't mean to flood the boards

 

[Alan m]

this depends on what you are going to build. from what you say i understand that you have already got tools that you are not happy with.

i waould first buy a mid sized router then a ts 55 with rails and vac . then a mft and domino

 

[GhostFist]

Good advice I was thinking along similar lines. Is the ts 55 enough or should I grab the larger model instead? I Figure the 1400 router would be most versatile to start. Agree?

 

[AlexThePalex]

The first thing any man should have is a cordless drill/driver, it's the most versatile and most used tool of all.

If you're near broke, Festool certainly isn't the best brand to start out with.

 

[GhostFist]

Ya that was also what I was considering, I've got a Bosch 12v that I tend to keep in my pouch and actually do a good deal of my screwing with it, then I've got a massive 24v Ridgid which I hate, mainly because of the finicky batteries with it. I'd like to put the 24v to sleep personally, while it comes in handy every now and then it's too unreliable and large for the work I'm doing now. Just for the record I currently work as a film carpenter building sets and the like, striking out on my own is something to fill the gaps during downtime.

 

[EcoFurniture]

I would start the collection in the following order:

1. MFT/3, TS55, CT

2. Domino

3. any of the sanders

4. Drill

5. Kapex

 

[Alan m]

if you need cheap dont look at festool. they re expensive but very well made. i have a ts 55 and think is perfect for what i do and would not get the 75 as it is heavier and more akward for no reason.
forget the dust colection buy a good brush and pan , this is how everybody started . put the money into something that will make dust instead.
i would get a good cordless drill and impact driver set as these will be your work horses .
buy a desent circular saw and make a plywood guide rail for it.
i would still buy a good mid sized router and a set of bits.
then buy other tools such as jigsaws when you need and can aford them.
as your jobs get bigger and more precise you can upgrade to the festool models and leave the others there for rougher work.

this is  the way i did it

 

[mouppe]

TS55 and CT dust extractor without doubt the first and most useful purchase. Then the OF1400. Then a Rotex sander. Domino. Drill and Kapex would be last on my last when starting out. Drill is isolated from the rest of the Festool system and the Kapex is very expensive and not a necessity at the beginning.

 

[GhostFist]

if you need cheap dont look at festool. they re expensive but very well made. i have a ts 55 and think is perfect for what i do and would not get the 75 as it is heavier and more akward for no reason.
forget the dust colection buy a good brush and pan , this is how everybody started . put the money into something that will make dust instead.
i would get a good cordless drill and impact driver set as these will be your work horses .
buy a desent circular saw and make a plywood guide rail for it.
i would still buy a good mid sized router and a set of bits.
then buy other tools such as jigsaws when you need and can afford them.
as your jobs get bigger and more precise you can upgrade to the festool models and leave the others there for rougher work.

this is  the way i did it

Oh I know all too well the price difference between Festool and other makes, I already have a compliment of tools sans jigsaw and router. My thing is I'd rather spend money on tools that are going to last, everything wears down in time I just want the most bang for my buck during that time. My thought on purchasing a Festool drill would be its build quality and later compatibility with the carvex if and when that eve becomes available here in sunny Toronto. Right now it's a toss up between the OF 1400 and the TS 55 with an MFT to follow shortly after

 

[MrToolJunkie]

If you do not have a router or jigsaw, then I would start there first.  The router is one of the most useful tools you can own.  If you do not have a good circular saw, then I would start there with a 55 or 75.  I would try and add a CT to whatever you buy to get the benefit of Festool's amazing dust collection. 

Scot

 

[dltflt]

I definitely would start with a router it is the most versatile tool in the shop.  Then a TS55 or TS75, I have the TS75 because I want to be able to cut 8/4 hardwood.  Next would be MFT/3, Rotex sander, C12, then all the peripheral accessories.

I started with the RO150 but I have 3 PC routers, tablesaw, RO sander, and all other large shop tools.

 

[GhostFist]

ya that's why I was thinking the 75, more cutting capacity. You like the c12 eh? What makes it better than another drill, besides the awesome chuck attachments? As far as first tool goes I'm thinking that router might be the smart route. I have a portable table saw and a decent circ saw that should get me by until i get one of the T series.

 

[nickao]

On a budget I look at it totally different. For me Festool is about sanders and dust collection first.

You state you don't have many funds so I would get stuff others don't make or stuff that is far and above . The sanders are far and above and so is the dust collection.

Save your money and get a drill somewhere else. For that drill cost you can get a nice drill and two more tools that are nice as well.

A domino? I still do not have one and they are way expensive, just starting out or upgrading, I fail to see the point until you have other basic tools that can get you to where you even need a domino.

For someone with little money I say get the Festool sanders and dust collection and get the rest of the tools elsewhere. Come back for more when the funds are available.

PS I saw the De Walt track saws on sale new for 200.00. Look around a bit.

 

[fdengel]

A domino? I still do not have one and they are way expensive, just starting out or upgrading, I fail to see the point until you have other basic tools that can get you to where you even need a domino.

The Kreg Jig can handle a good number of the situations you might consider a Domino for, at a MUCH lower price...

Better to start with that and use the savings to get you some of the other Festools...

The dust extractor should be considered a requirement for the other tools, not just a nice bonus.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

If you plan to stay in the business for a while, the least expensive way to do it is to buy tools once, not to be bargain tools that need to be replaced/upgraded every year or two.

There are many on this forum that know much more about cabinets and trim work than me, so I'll focus on furniture.

If you are serious about furniture, you will need some stationary machines: a jointer and a planer, probably a bandsaw.  Unfortunately, Festool doesn't sell those.  Look for good used old iron.

Next, the most important thing is your health.  First Festool purchase should be a CT combo with a saw or a router or an MFT.

If you cut wood thicker than two inches, get the 75, otherwise the 55 is fine.  The 1400 is a great general purpose router and really shines with the mft.

Can't go wrong with either a Rotex 150 or the ETS 150.  But go for the 150 (6 inch) format - much more area than a 5 incher and it gets the job done faster.  You may need a detail sander, depending on your work.

If your work can use a Domino, get it.  The time savings will pay for it quickly.

The drills and the Kapex are great tools, but they can wait.

This is my two cents worth, there are lots of other answers that work just as well for others as these do for me....

 

[nickao]

No one starting out can afford to buy tools just once. That is just not feasible unless you are really well off financially.  I say get ALL the tools you need, not a drill and a saw that last a lifetime and then have no funds for anything else. After awhile you will find what tools you need the most quality out of.

I buy the best tools, BUT when I first started out making 4.60 an hour I wanted tools so I bought what I could afford and really got good at using those tools. When I started making more money I got better tools. It really is not smart for someone just getting into the hobby to buy all these super expensive tools.

I have tools other than Festool that have lasted 20 years. Inexpensive does not necessarily equate to the tool breaking down in 2 years. Actually,  there are loads of issues with Festools. All the Kapex issues, the drill issues, the jig saw issues. Who is laughing now the guys with the new Bosch jigs that have an absolutely perfect record and leave money left over for another tool or the guys that got the Carvex and the tool works like crap. There are no guarantees that buying an expensive brand is the answer. Do your homework and you can get loads of tools for a great price and many of them will probably not be Festool and that's okay at first.

Get what you can afford now. I know guys that have tool shops filled with Harbor Freight  tools. I personally hate them, but these guys have been making projects and money for 20 years using these crap tools and have gained skills using these tools, even supported their families with them!

If you can make a crappy tool work well when you get the funds for a great tool you will be that much better. When I first started I would not have even known whether the tool was good or not. You need to get experience to even know what the tool does, how it should and could feel and gain the experience to say to yourself, hey this tool should be acting like this, not that.

If you go out and try to buy the best tools right off you may never even get a shop full of tools.

Get the tools you can afford rather than one or two or even nothing at all. When the projects are done no one knows or cares what tools you used to make them! I have seen museum pieces to multimillion dollar homes and seen the tools they were made with and NONE were ever Festools. Mostly De Walt, Bosch and Milwaukee actually.

My point here is its better to have all the tools you need so that you can enjoy the hobby rather than have a sander and saw that are the best quality and no money left for other tools. So the sander and saw sit while you dream about saving more money for the next tool while all the while you could be making full projects with less expensive tools and getting experience with those tools and having massive fun.

If you are a tool collector go ahead and buy one great tool at a time.

If you are a woodworker get many good  tools at once that will allow you to make woodworking projects now.

 

[jmbfestool]

if you need cheap dont look at festool. they re expensive but very well made. i have a ts 55 and think is perfect for what i do and would not get the 75 as it is heavier and more akward for no reason.
forget the dust colection buy a good brush and pan , this is how everybody started . put the money into something that will make dust instead.
i would get a good cordless drill and impact driver set as these will be your work horses .
buy a desent circular saw and make a plywood guide rail for it.
i would still buy a good mid sized router and a set of bits.
then buy other tools such as jigsaws when you need and can aford them.
as your jobs get bigger and more precise you can upgrade to the festool models and leave the others there for rougher work.

this is  the way i did it

A yeah but!  Not using the dust collection on the TS55 is pretty annoying!  I

My first buy was just the TS55 I used the TS55 LOADS it is definitely the first tool you should buy it comes in use the most! When I finally convinced my self to buy a Vac! (Im site so dust collect isn't a concern normally its kinda workshop thinking) I wish I had bought it sooner and bought it with TS55!

You dont have the wear an annoying dust mask all day when cuttting MDF. The dust flies onto your rail you then have to either wipe the dust of or tip the rail to clean the dust off as their is so much dust on it it stops the saw from sliding across the rail. Also you get dust all over the sheet which again gets in the way as the rail does not stay in place very well on dust so you have to brush it off ever time and if your wearing a mask you cant blow it off lol.

A drill is a drill you can buy any drill doesn't have to be festool to keep cost down! A TS55 special! (well Mafel and Makita do one but they arnt cheap either so you might as well go with festool)

JMB

 

[GhostFist]

Dust collection is kinda a big deal for me, I'm really tired of all the MDF and what have you dust in my lungs and skin. I have to admit, watching a demo of  the of 2200 with dust collection gives me goosebumps
the more dust free i can make stuff the happier I get.