Question for tool addicts

[Dan McCosh]

Is Festool the fentanyl of tool addiction, or more like cocaine?

[McMike]

Like any other tool manufacturer . . .it depends. Their screw guns and track saws are second to none. But I'd never spend that kind of scratch for personal use. I've used them professionally and if that's you use case . . . go for it. Other stuff . . . Meh, I could take or leave it. Generally, I'm a Makita fan-boy.

[SaltyD from BC]

I'm just chipping with my Milwaukee stuff I can quit any time. i don't trust myself trying Festool though it just seems and sounds too good. I mean it must be for that much money right?

[Paul Pless]

[Jfitzger]

The sanders are really nice. Great dust extraction with minimal vibration. The real game changer are the Domino joiners. They're a huge time saver. I've used it them to make all kinds of furniture, exterior doors and pergolas. I even throw a tenon into cope and stick cabinet doors. Not really necessary but, why not? It's so easy.

[Ian McColgin]

I've had a Fesstool rotary/vibrating sander and a Fein triangular (and more) detail sander. Both great and up to long hard use.

[David G]

One has to decide what sort of tool buyer/user one is.

I've gotten to know the owner of our local woodworker's boutique over the years. As a Festool dealer, he loves them. Markups are sweet. His take on the users is they come in three flavors.

First - the hobbyist with a lot of money who always thinks throwing more money into 'the best' of everything will translate directly into the excellence of their work. Not true... but better than having HF tools and not being able to tell if the issues are yours or the tools.

Second - professionals who need some specific Festool gear because it is, indeed, the best... and they use that type of tool (sander, tracksaw, etc.) a LOT. In which case the premium price is understandable and appreciated... and the excellence utilized.

Third - professionals with a rare high-margin niche (one custom Japanese Shoji Screen I know comes to mind). Their genius tends to be in finding the niche and marketing it more than a high lever of overall woodworking craftsmanship. And they don't know much about tools, but don't want to take any chances.

I would fall into the second category. Except I own none. Turns out, the tools I'd be interested in - like a Rotex 125 or 150 - don't really fit my hand all that well. The other tools they excel at, I don't use (eg. tracksaw) or already own and am happy with, or prefer, in other brands (eg. Bosch jigsaw).

[McMike]

The sanders are really nice. Great dust extraction with minimal vibration. The real game changer are the Domino joiners. They're a huge time saver. I've used it them to make all kinds of furniture, exterior doors and pergolas. I even throw a tenon into cope and stick cabinet doors. Not really necessary but, why not? It's so easy.

Yeah, I forgot about the dominos. They are gooood.

[MushCreek]

It starts at Harbor Freight, and the next thing you know, you're hooked.

[McMike]

It starts at Harbor Freight, and the next thing you know, you're hooked.

HF, the gateway drug.

[wizbang 13]

Hobbyist with too much money … that’s me .
I got hella too much time as well.

[Paul Pless]

^ pity festool doesnt manufacture an angle grinder, eh?

[McMike]

^ pity festool doesnt manufacture an angle grinder, eh?

Don't they?

[Jim Ledger]

^ pity festool doesnt manufacture an angle grinder, eh?

Wiz doesn't use an angle grinder.

I have their Domino, which I used constantly when making cabinets, but not quite so much anymore. Thing is, there's nothing else like it and it allows me to think in terms of it's capabilities.

I once bought their electric plane, which is a beautiful thing. Mostly I use a Makita planer for the everyday and rough stuff. The Festool sleeps in it's box most of the time and only comes out for the important cuts. It's bigger than the Makita and not so handy, as you have to use both hands.

Jim

[Peerie Maa]

This thread is mis named. It should be called "Brand Loyalty"

This is tool addiction
P1060493.jpg
P1060495.jpg
planes.jpg
Sholder plane.jpg
Spar plane heel.jpg

[Paul Pless]

Wiz doesn't use an angle grinder.

I have their Domino, which I used constantly when making cabinets, but not quite so much anymore. Thing is, there's nothing else like it and it allows me to think in terms of it's capabilities.

I once bought their electric plane, which is a beautiful thing. Mostly I use a Makita planer for the everyday and rough stuff. The Festool sleeps in it's box most of the time and only comes out for the important cuts. It's bigger than the Makita and not so handy, as you have to use both hands.

Jim

have you seen the new bosch cordless plane?

[Jim Ledger]

This thread is mis named. It should be called "Brand Loyalty"

This is tool addiction
P1060493.jpg
P1060495.jpg
planes.jpg
Sholder plane.jpg
Spar plane heel.jpg

Those are lovely planes you have there, Nick, and I'm sure you that they work well for you. In my daily life, however, I often come across situations like the one pictured below, a lamination with plenty of glue squoze out, top and bottom. Before the piece can be run through the thickness planer it has to be all cleaned off, top and bottom. This is just the thing for the Makita, it chews it right up. The Festool planer, meanwhile, sleeps quietly in it's foam-lined box.

[Peerie Maa]

Those are lovely planes you have there, Nick, and I'm sure you that they work well for you. In my daily life, however, I often come across situations like the one pictured below, a lamination with plenty of glue squoze out, top and bottom. Before the piece can be run through the thickness planer it has to be all cleaned off, top and bottom. This is just the thing for the Makita, it chews it right up. The Festool planer, meanwhile, sleeps quietly in it's foam-lined box.

I do have one of those as well, but it is limited in what it can do. Nor is it addictive.

[Jim Ledger]

I do have one of those as well, but it is limited in what it can do. Nor is it addictive.

If it was limited to doing just what you see it doing, it would be worth it.

And I agree, it's not an addictive item in itself, but taken along with the rest of the collection it might raise a red flag.

Jim

[L.W. Baxter]

i don't own any festool, never have.

reckon i do treat it like fentanyl. "not even once!"

[ron ll]

[QUOTE=Paul Pless;6790869]have you seen the new bosch cordless plane?

[/ QUOTE]

What’s the advantage with cordless when you are still tethered to a vac hose?

[David G]

[QUOTE=ron ll;6790967]

have you seen the new bosch cordless plane?

[/ QUOTE]

What’s the advantage with cordless when you are still tethered to a vac hose?

I seldom use the vac with my power plane...

[Paul Pless]

me either, chips versus dust

[David W Pratt]

I got the sander about 20 years ago over concern about epoxy and antifouling dust. It has performed superbly and even convinced guys I lent it to to buy their own.

[john welsford]

Is Festool the fentanyl of tool addiction, or more like cocaine?

Yes.

John Welsford, who has four Festool tools among about 30 other power tools, and those Festool units get more use than all the rest put together.

[Dan McCosh]

What prompted this thread was a recent purchase of a Festool portable dust vacuum. We have two Festool sanders, and do about 500 sq. feet of sanding on the hull annually for painting prep. Already have several external vacuums for the sanders, which work fairly well, albeit noisy and prone to occasional bouts of blowing a cloud due to tipping over, etc. Or the years, we have collected a half dozen RO sanders, plus there or four disc sanders of various sizes. Several have gone up in smoke. Adding to the collection is not a case of either want or need. It is a sign that we are candidates for the 10-step program of Power Tools Anonymous (PTA). The Festools do work awfully well, though.

[john welsford]

[QUOTE=David G;6790986]

I seldom use the vac with my power plane...

"Let the chips fall where they may"

John Welsford

[john welsford]

What prompted this thread was a recent purchase of a Festool portable dust vacuum. We have two Festool sanders, and do about 500 sq. feet of sanding on the hull annually for painting prep. Already have several external vacuums for the sanders, which work fairly well, albeit noisy and prone to occasional bouts of blowing a cloud due to tipping over, etc. Or the years, we have collected a half dozen RO sanders, plus there or four disc sanders of various sizes. Several have gone up in smoke. Adding to the collection is not a case of either want or need. It is a sign that we are candidates for the 10-step program of Power Tools Anonymous (PTA). The Festools do work awfully well, though.

For hull sanding I have a Rupes High removal rate 150mm random orbital, it eats every other sander I've ever seen for breakfast.
It has a 9mm orbit, 550 watt 240 v motor, and they're not sold in DIY places, only for commercial work.

John Welsford

[jpatrick]

I can't answer the OP's question because although I own many tools, including Festool, I'm not addicted to any of them. I do seem to have a higher desire than most people to work on building stuff. Without a project, I'm nearly totally at loose ends. Many here are in a similar situation.

Jeff

[Jim Bow]

Being a person who is quite happy with Ryobi plastic, I’ve a question for the folks who make a living with tools. At tax time, are there deductions that make those prices palatable?

[Canoeyawl]

I've got it bad
But I can quit whenever I want...

[Dan McCosh]

For hull sanding I have a Rupes High removal rate 150mm random orbital, it eats every other sander I've ever seen for breakfast.
It has a 9mm orbit, 550 watt 240 v motor, and they're not sold in DIY places, only for commercial work.

John Welsford

What does it weigh? One of the Festool six-ins. models is 2 1/2 lbs. Mine is about a pound heavier, and I rig a counterweight on pullies from the deck that makes it effortless. There is no 240 v. available where I work anyway.

[cathouse willy]

I also have it bad, at the time this saw seemed to be an absolute must, now it looks nice sitting on a shelf. I'll get to it, I'm sure it has an important function that I've yet to discover.
Proxxon mini table saw, at 12x12x10 it's small

37070.jpg

[Peerie Maa]

I also have it bad, at the time this saw seemed to be an absolute must, now it looks nice sitting on a shelf. I'll get to it, I'm sure it has an important function that I've yet to discover.
Proxxon mini table saw, at 12x12x10 it's small

37070.jpg

Looks as though it was aimed at model makers who don't know better.

[skuthorp]

I have a questuin re tool addicts, having to dispose of 85% of my collection as we move to a smaller property.
You can fit a lot of tools in a 100ft shed.