Your Festool Purchases (FIRST Purchase Only)

[johnvelazquez]

my first purchase was long thought out and well worth the wait! Ct33, TS55, rotex 125, OF1400, 2 x MFT 1080, domino with cutter kit, RTS 400, FS 2700 & 1400, sytainers for both sandpapers & screw bin, 2 dollys, Trion barrel grip jigsaw. I was instantly addicted and been purchasing smaller add ons ever since. I will post photos of my shop shortly.

 

[AlexThePalex]

The Rotex 150 FEQ.

I wanted the 125 because I thought that would be enough for my needs and 125 size sanding paper is cheaper and better available than 150 size. Turned out God or fate wanted me to have the 150 because I got a deal on it that was too good to let go. Really, half price on a machine that was only used for 3 days on one single project.

I was immediately impressed by the power of the rotary action of this machine. This made work so easy. I was equally impressed by the excellent dust collection. And as a result of that, the long time the paper lasts. I have worked with many different brands and types of sanding machines but none of them made it so easy and clean as this one.

Best sander ever!

So this machine got me hooked on Festool right away, and as it stands for now, at least for sanders, I'm not considering any other brand any more.

Only thing I don't like now, is the terrible availability of Festool sanding media.

 

[clev1066]

My first purchase was the TS75.

I had been using the EZ Smart rails on a Porter Cable 325mag with pretty good results; but the dust collection was lacking and I liked my PC free of the base for framing and rough use.

I didn't fall in love with the 75, and actually returned it within a week. I got the TS55 and have loved it ever since. I initially used it with a Ridgid w/d and a Mr. Nozzle hose. It worked quite well.

As you all know, it doesn't take long to add to the madness. I got very lucky on a used deal to get a ct22 and an OF 1000, but the router doesn't have the rail stops, steel bars, or edge guide. I also picked up an MFT1080 on closeout. I paid retail for a ETS 150/5, and it hasn't hurt my feelings a bit.

I'm torn over what is next. Most likely the Domino, but I keep eyeing the OF 1400.

I like my OF 1000, but without the rails stops and bars, it really only sees roundover  and edge trim duty. In that regard, it isn't much handier than my Bosch kits. OTOH, I could easily see the OF 1400 used with the tracks getting me off the table saw for dado and rabbet cuts.

Then the Domino.... I could see it changing the way I do a lot of things: from traditional mortise and tennon joinery to reducing, and in part replacing, pocket hole screws. Heck, I can think of two projects I gotta get done before the end off summer that I could finish in literally 1/4 the time with a Domino.

 

[hrsm3]

My Very First Purchase was for ?3500 My Second was for ?2600 and to date have not used them due to in the process of building new workshop
Can't wait to play with my toy's

 

[Frank Drebin]

I didn't fall in love with the 75, and actually returned it within a week. I got the TS55 and have loved it ever since. I initially used it with a Ridgid w/d and a Mr. Nozzle hose. It worked quite well.

Mind sharing why?  Is the 75 too big/heavy for everyday use?

I haven't bought a single festool tool yet.  Honestly I just discovered the Kreg pocket screw system a couple of weeks ago and have since got the woodworking bug.  I've made some hybrid cabinets/shelves for my garage using a circular and a 4' level as a fence, held together by pocket screws and lots of glue.  Nothing to look at but do the trick.  My house is low on storage and I now see quite a few places where I could stick some storage cabinets.  I would like to try my hand at some cabinets for inside the house that acutally look decent, so I will definitely look into the proper tools.  I don't have a lot of room in my garage (20'X24', + a car and a Truck) to build a shop either so that is definitely an issue when it comes to getting a track saw over an expensive table saw.

Likely my first purchase will be the TS55 or 75, depending on user feedback for my application, and the domino joiner.  I have neither the financial means nor can I justify spending that type of money on my skillset to be a strictly festool guy.  I've got a decent collection of yellow cordless tools and a makita LS1016L miter saw, which will have to work for now.

 

[nickao]

Funny, that is the exact opposite of what I thought and did.

The TS55 is underpowered and I can't stand a 500.00 saw bogging down or even completely stopping.

I can zip through 2" Wenge, Brazilian Cherry, Ipe, etc with the TS 75, can't do it with a TS 55. I guess I just am in a hurry all the time.

If all you are cutting is 3/4" ply the 55 is fine. I would rather have the 75 or one of each, but just a 55 can't handle everything I throw at my saws everyday.

For me the weight is irrelevant. The saw sits on the rail, the weight is nothing like holding a skill 77 worm drive free hand off your foot. Man that worm drive used to hurt my wrists.

You have to find a way to get a CT and a sander at least a 150/5, preferably a 150/3 and a Rotex. Sanding becomes fun once you get the Festool sanders so put it high on your list. I would not rule out putting the sanders above the saw purchase, actually I did. The sanders and dust collection is what really made my work more enjoyable much more than the TS saws.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Funny, that is the exact opposite of what I thought and did.

The TS55 is underpowered and I can't stand a 500.00 saw bogging down or even completely stopping.

I can zip through 2" Wenge, Brazilian Cherry, Ipe, etc with the TS 75, can't do it with a TS 55. I guess I just am in a hurry all the time.

If all you are cutting is 3/4" ply the 55 is fine. I would rather have the 75 or one of each, but just a 55 can't handle everything I throw at my saws everyday.

For me the weight is irrelevant. The saw sits on the rail, the weight is nothing like holding a skill 77 worm drive free hand off your foot. Man that worm drive used to hurt my wrists.

You have to find a way to get a CT and a sander at least a 150/5, preferably a 150/3 and a Rotex. Sanding becomes fun once you get the Festool sanders so put it high on your list. I would not rule out putting the sanders above the saw purchase, actually I did. The sanders and dust collection is what really made my work more enjoyable much more than the TS saws.

What exactly makes a sander better than another, aside from the dust collection?  Thanks for the advice on the 75, seems to be more of a future proof saw.
Sorry for the extremely newb questions, just trying to learn as much as I can.

 

[pnwradar]

What I see is that approx 50% of the 1st time purchases were b/w $400-$1K, which if I had to guess is a vac + 1 tool. No real surprise there. 12% of the 1st timers purchased more than $2K. What isn't known is if these large purchases were by pros or hobbyists, which would be worth knowing as a dealer.  You really need a bit more info to come to any meaningful conclusions.  As a dealer I think you would rather want to know what specific tools were purchased 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc, vs how much was spent.

As a hobbyist, I thought Festool were pretty cool, but couldn't ever justify the upfront cost, especially when I already had a Skilsaw, some cheap RO sanders, etc. to get stuff done.   If I made too much dust in the shop, I just left and did something else until it settled and could be shop-vac'd.  A few years ago, I did talk myself into spending a bonus check on a Cleavue cyclone and a truckload of metal 6" ducting to hook up all the stationary tools, but just didn't worry about the sanding or benchtop power tool work.

When I started getting paid for my woodworking, and began spending whole days in the woodshop to meet schedules, justifying the ergonomics and dust collection became a little easier.  One drizzly day I had to section a whole sheet of veneered 3/4" MDF into 13" squares with my Skilsaw and homemade rail jig, and the rain meant I couldn't work outdoors on sawhorses.  Halfway through that horrible task, I went up to the house (well, the wife made me keep my dust-covered carcass out on the porch) to order a TS-55 and CT-33.  After a glass of iced tea and a phone chat with the dealer, I had added a 1400 router, a 150/3 sander, and the CT boom arm to my first order, along with a variety of consumables (sandpaper, CT bags, etc.) -- pretty much everything I needed for benchtop flatwork, even if the final pricetag did made me choke a little on the iced tea.  Having used them now for about two months, I couldn't be happier.  As a side benefit, visiting hobby woodworkers have nearly all remarked they can see I'm a pro/serious woodworker from the systainers (funny, but I suppose a little bit truthful).

-jon-

 

[Kevin D.]

1st. time 3K,2nd purchase over 4K.  Third just under 3K.  All since last fall.

 

[tbellemare]

What exactly makes a sander better than another, aside from the dust collection?

That's a good question...

We could start by the ease of use, which includes things like:

• Quick abrasive changes so you don't waste time "going through the grits". This saves time two ways - you don't waste time changing abrasives and the whole job takes less time because you didn't skip grits.
• Quick pad changes that allow you to move about a task or work piece with ease and always have the proper pad.
• Cleaner work piece because of proper airflow through the pads and the abrasives.
• Cleaner work place because of proper airflow through the pads and the abrasives.
• Cleaner lungs because of proper airflow through the pads and the abrasives.
• Non-tingling hands, wrists, and forearms because of properly balanced tools. Depending on what you use your hands for after the task, it makes a real difference.

These and other things add up to a better, longer lasting tool. Better means that it works better as a machine and feels better.

Machines last longer if they feel better for a reason and the reason isn't based on marketing, but usage. There are a lot of companies that base their strategies on marketing and not utility. Some of them have perfectly good, utilitarian products but have been led astray by "Marketing Geniuses", especially in our recent, tough economy.

You mention proper dust collection as if it is marginal. It isn't. It is an essential part of the value of the Festool system.

I can go on and on...

I'm going to stop now and let you fill in the blanks.

Tom

 

[Corwin]

What exactly makes a sander better than another, aside from the dust collection?

That's a good question...

We could start by the ease of use, which includes things like:

• Quick abrasive changes so you don't waste time "going through the grits". This saves time two ways - you don't waste time changing abrasives and the whole job takes less time because you didn't skip grits.
• Quick pad changes that allow you to move about a task or work piece with ease and always have the proper pad.
• Cleaner work piece because of proper airflow through the pads and the abrasives.
• Cleaner work place because of proper airflow through the pads and the abrasives.
• Cleaner lungs because of proper airflow through the pads and the abrasives.
• Non-tingling hands, wrists, and forearms because of properly balanced tools. Depending on what you use your hands for after the task, it makes a real difference.

This and other things add up to a better, longer lasting tool. Better means that it works better as a machine and feels better. This also causes machines to last longer if the better feel factor isn't achieved by soft spots that absorb the other problems but by more balance and higher tolerances. Festool machines are not compromised of "soft spots".

You mention proper dust collection as if it is marginal. It isn't. It is an essential part of the value of the Festool system.

I can go on and on...

I'm going to stop now and let you fill in the blanks.

Tom

Tom, I really like item 3 and 4 in your post above.  [tongue] 

Also, I never liked sanding before I owned my first Festool sander.  Now, I always seem to have a smile on my face as I sand.  [big grin]

 

[Frank Drebin]

What exactly makes a sander better than another, aside from the dust collection?

That's a good question...

We could start by the ease of use, which includes things like:

• Quick abrasive changes so you don't waste time "going through the grits". This saves time two ways - you don't waste time changing abrasives and the whole job takes less time because you didn't skip grits.
• Quick pad changes that allow you to move about a task or work piece with ease and always have the proper pad.
• Cleaner work piece because of proper airflow through the pads and the abrasives.
• Cleaner work place because of proper airflow through the pads and the abrasives.
• Cleaner lungs because of proper airflow through the pads and the abrasives.
• Non-tingling hands, wrists, and forearms because of properly balanced tools. Depending on what you use your hands for after the task, it makes a real difference.

These and other things add up to a better, longer lasting tool. Better means that it works better as a machine and feels better.

Machines last longer if they feel better for a reason and the reason isn't based on marketing, but usage. There are a lot of companies that base their strategies on marketing and not utility. Some of them have perfectly good, utilitarian products but have been led astray by "Marketing Geniuses", especially in our recent, tough economy.

You mention proper dust collection as if it is marginal. It isn't. It is an essential part of the value of the Festool system.

I can go on and on...

I'm going to stop now and let you fill in the blanks.

Tom

Thanks Tom, makes a lot of sense.

 

[tbellemare]

Thanks, Corwin and Frank. I edited it slightly, Corwin. I think the last part makes a little more sense now.

Tom

 

[netcastle]

First Post!

I've been lurking around here for quite a while and thought this would be an appropriate place to make my introduction as I recently sold the farm to become a Festool junkie.  I dropped a chunk of cash on a TS 75, OB 1400, MFT/3, and mfs 400.  I concure with what almost everyone else says around here.  Once you go Festool, you don't go back.

My first purchase wasn't an impulse.  I have been a hobby-ist woodworker for several years and have an addiction to building speakers.  It is a pretty precise sort of woodworking for which I used a tablesaw, chop saw, router, etc...  The problem is that I live in a townhome with a basement for a shop and these large tools, with their lackluster dust collection became a much bigger issue when my daughter was born.  Before I bought any of my big saws I remember looking at Festool and wondering how anyone could justify paying so much for such diminutive looking tools.  If I had only known then what I know now...

I sold my saws, scrounged for some extra cash and now feel like I can accomplish just about anything.  But, like everyone else, I spend 1/3 of my time planning, 1/3 working, 1/3 dreaming about how to afford a domino.  

One caveat:  I love Festool, but don't ever ask me to part with my Fien Multitool and dust extractor (though I would like a CT 36 when it arrives).  And, when it comes to the sander discussion in this thread, I can't wait to get my hands on a Festool sanding system.  I use a Rigid right now.  Used to use a Craftsman (threw it in the trash this morning).   I can't wait to sand without that annoying numbness.  

Nice to meet you all [cool]

 

[peter halle]

Netcastle,
[welcome] to the forum.  You can relax now that thou art a lurker no more.   [big grin]  There have been several threads over the years from speaker builders and hopefully you can add to them!  There are many Multimaster fans here - myself included.  The Domino is cool!

Dustless sanding will permanently send you over the edge and you will never be able to go into the big box stores and look at tools in the same way you did before!  Tread carefully my friend, and we are here to help you in any way we can.  Don't be bashful!

Peter

 

[Wood_Junkie]

I sold my saws, scrounged for some extra cash and now feel like I can accomplish just about anything.  But, like everyone else, I spend 1/3 of my time planning, 1/3 working, 1/3 dreaming about how to afford a domino.  

Welcome netcastle! 

Dunno if you have time or cash right now, but you should take a close look at the Milwaukee craigslist.  Search for Festool...    [eek]
Specifically here:  http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/tls/1911513298.html

You're juuust in range that the drive might be worth the savings.

There are also some sanders on there... The Festool sanders really are the absolute cream of the crop.  If you value your lungs and your work.. well, you're here now.  You don't need convincing.  [wink]

 

[netcastle]

[eek]

I sold my saws, scrounged for some extra cash and now feel like I can accomplish just about anything.  But, like everyone else, I spend 1/3 of my time planning, 1/3 working, 1/3 dreaming about how to afford a domino.  

Welcome netcastle!  

Dunno if you have time or cash right now, but you should take a close look at the Milwaukee craigslist.  Search for Festool...    [eek]
Specifically here:  http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/tls/1911513298.html

You're juuust in range that the drive might be worth the savings.

There are also some sanders on there... The Festool sanders really are the absolute cream of the crop.   If you value your lungs and your work.. well, you're here now.  You don't need convincing.   [wink]

[eek]

I might go there!  Then I'll have to start posting in the second purchase thread.

 

[ClydeMB]

My first purchase was a mft/3 and the 55. I am currently setting it up

 

[peter halle]

Clyde,

I hope you enjoy your new toys tools!

[welcome] to the FOG!

Peter

 

[BigHonu]

First Festool purchase was the ETS125.  While I was considering returining it for one of it's bigger brothers, I decided to hang on to the little guy just because it is such an easy sander to use.