Wood Whisperer moving away from Festool

[Vondawg]

Re:Rowe - It really isn't very relevant to me what brand Marc (or anyone else for that matter) uses in their workshop.  I believe that we all choose what is best for our individual needs and applications that also fits our budgets.  When someone appears to be promoting a tool/machine, full disclosure about whether they paid for the item out of their own pocket or if it was provided to them by their "sponsor" or advertiser is important to me.  Failure to fully disclose leaves an open question regarding whether the individual promoting a tool/machine has a financial stake in the products success.  I do enjoy watching Marc's videos as they are well done and provide useful information and will continue to watch regardless of what brand tools he uses. 

Totally agree....and choosing the best tool for the job at hand.

 

[charley1968]

Wow. Some infotainment bloke chooses to sport new tools in his show, despite telling us all these years that Festool is da shit.. Question: did you ever buy one machine because Marc Spagnolo made you do it? If so, you are gullible to the point of stupdity. Man's gotta make his income. That's all, folx.

 

[johninthecamper]

It had to be mental anguish to go from faster....easier.....smarter
to slower.....harder.....dumber

 

[tiralie]

As a side note, it is interesting that he has chosen to highlight his change from Festool to the "more accessible" brands of Bosch, Makita or others while simultaneously expanding his line of the mustard yellow machines.  If he really wanted to highlight the "accessible" brands to the masses, why is he not converting his stationary machinery to less expensive brands that might have more appeal to the masses?

Exactly!
While I may not be the target market for the Woodwhisperer, I do enjoy the podcasts, videos, banter with his wife and the information on his web site. He does provide some useful information which is helping to popularize and support woodworking.
Marc is well educated, he knows and has learned how to run his business, keep his target market happy and is supporting his growing family.
More power to him.
Tim

 

[Locks14]

I had to be mental anguish to go from faster....easier.....smarter
to slower.....harder.....dumber

An eloquent summation from a clearly impartial observer...  :

 

[Kev]

I feel sorry for people that find it hard to compartmentalise the commercial side of things, Where there's money, there's motivation.

Most dangerous is where you become lulled by what seems to be aligned values and you start "believing without thinking" ... we all do this to some degree, I'm not exception.

 

[promark747]

Festool backed out of a year-long advertising agreement suddenly and without notice

I'm interested in the back story here...the way it's phrased, Festool chose to exercise an opt-out clause to terminate their deal early.  Is this indicative of a larger strategy for Festool--perhaps phasing out of the US or NA market, or focusing more on the tradesman (i.e., Conturo, PDC, etc) vs. the furniture maker or hobbyist (which the Wood Whisperer is more geared towards).

 

[Gixxerjoe04]

If I were in his shoes trying to feed my family, if a reputable company was offering me money to showcase their tools, why wouldn't I do it.  Now if harbor freight came along and I was suppose to say how awesome all their tools were, then I'd think twice haha.  There are people out there making great things without festool, and there are people who are just getting into woodworking who can't afford the real nice stuff, Marc helps them get from point A to point B no matter the case.

 

[peter halle]

Festool backed out of a year-long advertising agreement suddenly and without notice

I'm interested in the back story here...the way it's phrased, Festool chose to exercise an opt-out clause to terminate their deal early.  Is this indicative of a larger strategy for Festool--perhaps phasing out of the US or NA market, or focusing more on the tradesman (i.e., Conturo, PDC, etc) vs. the furniture maker or hobbyist (which the Wood Whisperer is more geared towards).

I wouldn't be worried about Festool phasing out of the NA market, you can certainly find on the internet stories about their current expansion in Lebanon, Indiana.  Here is an image:  https://www.facebook.com/BooneEDC/posts/10154004481806494

Peter

 

[Motown]

Marc, thank you for all that you do! I have personally learned a ton by watching your videos and do not see any reason to comment on which tools YOU decide to use in YOUR shop. Seems like that is entirely your business. If you are ever in the bay area, ping me and we can grab a beer.

I would just say this to those who feel it necessary to make assumptions/judgements.....if you feel like your being sold to, and that bothers you, then don't watch or read the content. You can simply change the channel (so-to-speak).

Motown

 

[TylerC]

There's really very little drama here. Things between Festool and Marc are good. We've worked with him for a long time, and both his business and ours have evolved a lot since then. This is simply a matter of a change in marketing strategies from both camps. I certainly appreciate Marc's opinion that using a variety of tools is in the best interest of his audience. (Even though he'll always get the best results with Festool!  )  It's certainly feasible that we'll do more work with Marc in the future. Trust me: This is a very boring movie.

Also, I can guarantee you that Festool is not pulling away from North America. They're actually investing more here. The US is one of Festool's top markets, and both the US and Canada are growing at a very fast pace. As I write this, I'm watching a construction crew continue work on our large office and warehouse expansion. I'm not updating my resume any time soon.

 

[Stoli]

As I write this, I'm watching a construction crew continue work on our large office and warehouse expansion.

Any Festools visible?

 

[TylerC]

Ha! Good question. I'm mostly seeing aerial lifts, large beams and heavy machinery. Although now the blinds are closed, so I'm not seeing much at all.

 

[Tinker]

Ha! Good question. I'm mostly seeing aerial lifts, large beams and heavy machinery. Although now the blinds are closed, so I'm not seeing much at all.

Ah Ha, Warner Constuction must be working there. [wink]
Tinker

 

[CumminsDiesel]

And those additional specs are why we pay more for the tools in the first place. If they are not important to you, then obviously you'd buy a regular drill or router from the start. It's sort of a circular argument which has been rehashed over and over again.

Absolutely right!

And if not those additional specs I'll never buy Festool.

Dust collection,precision,quality,simplicity,service (don't forget it) - all those "small specs" make me move to the Festool.

I buy Festool not because Marc on somebody else use it,but because its BEST FOR ME!

Sold all my Dewalt's/Bosch's drills because Festool PDC/18/4 is MUCH better! (for me)

 

[Tinker]

I have watched many of Marc's vids and never gave a thought to what tools he was using. Unless I am looking to see how a specific tool is used for a specific type of project, i never really pay attention to the brand.  Certain procedures are the main interest to me.  One of the finest craftsmen i have ever worked with uses very old hand tools. For making flutes in a table leg, I have seen him take a couple of pieces of scrap, drive a tar-paper nail (big headed nail) part way, sharpen the exposed head with a fine fine file, tack another scrap to the side as a fence and stet scraping away.  He does work for very high paying customers. Another craftsman i worked with, many moons ago, did all the door hanging for the particular construction company he worked for.  His tool of choice for fitting those doors exactly was a hatchet.  I learned to paint (but never was able to copy) from an old time painter.  His brush of choice for doing window sash (in the days when a small pane of glass was a small pane of glass, not a very large pane with removable wood  frames to make it look like small panes) was a three or four inch brush.  He would load he brush with paint and do an entire window or two with one load of the brush.  When he was finished doing windows, there was about 1/16 inch of paint along every edge of the glass to seal.  Never more and never less.  I have tried doing the same, but when finished, there would always be a whole lot of scraping with a razor blade.  I have watched a lot of other craftsmen on YT do some of the same things Marc was/is/will be doing, but unless they were highliting a specific brand of tool , i could almost never take note of the brand. 
Tinker

 

[promark747]

There's really very little drama here. Things between Festool and Marc are good. We've worked with him for a long time, and both his business and ours have evolved a lot since then. This is simply a matter of a change in marketing strategies. I certainly appreciate Marc's opinion that using a variety of tools is in the best interest of his audience. (Even though he'll always get the best results with Festool!  )  It's certainly feasible that we'll do more work with Marc in the future. Trust me: This is a very boring movie.

Also, I can guarantee you that Festool is not pulling away from North America. They're actually investing more here. The US is one of Festool's top markets, and both the US and Canada are growing at a very fast pace. As I write this, I'm watching a construction crew continue work on our large office and warehouse expansion. I'm not updating my resume any time soon.

Thanks Tyler...good to hear.

 

[CumminsDiesel]

It had to be mental anguish to go from faster....easier.....smarter
to slower.....harder.....dumber

hahaha!

well said John!