Festools - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Michaeljp86 · 10-20-2007, 09:48 AM

Anyone ever use any of their tools, they seem very expensive.

I noticed Tom Silva on this old hous uses one all the time.

http://www.mcfeelys.com/festool-drills

floorinstall · 10-20-2007, 10:15 AM

they are worth evey dollar spent

lee · 10-20-2007, 10:32 AM

Good points: Throw your circular saw and planer to the dark place in the back of your van. Plunges and gives a perfect machine cut for doors, countertops, anything. Idiot proof.

...but you pay for it. Quite a lot.

You got to weigh it up. How many dead straight cuts do you actually do day to day that aren't scribed? How good is your freehand circular sawing? Can you just use clamps and a straightedge for dead straight edges?

I've always wanted one, but don't cut enough countertops or melamine to justify it.

Michaeljp86 · 10-20-2007, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by floorinstall

they are worth evey dollar spent

Are they better then panasonic? I was told they were top of the line.

daArch · 10-20-2007, 11:41 AM

For what hearsay is worth, I've heard nothing but raves about Festool. Worth the extra $$. But when you're making a living with your tools, can you really NOT afford the best ??

Tmrrptr · 10-20-2007, 11:54 AM

My selection of tools has been bought and refined over many years.
Some things just didn't work suitably, or burned up.
Some have limitations and I rarely use them.

I really don't know anyone who could have gone out and bought a complete system, like Festool, from the gate.

It might be a good idea to have their system for interior work, though.

I prefer a clamped straightedge to a table saw for just about every situation except actually build cabinets.
r

Michaeljp86 · 10-20-2007, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daArch

But when you're making a living with your tools, can you really NOT afford the best ??

Thats what I was thinking which is why I asked about them since I never seen any before.

In this old house magazine Tom silva was working on some stairs and I seen festool on the drill that I couldnt figure out what brand it was. I figured it was more of a pro tool line since lowes doesnt have them.

What makes festool so great?

PrecisionFloors · 10-20-2007, 01:26 PM

Best power tools money can buy imho. I own the plunge cut saw, medium duty router, dust extractor, and small table. Worth every single penny spent and I expect they will be handed down to my sons at some point. They are one of the few tools out there that will do everything they advertise and more. The only downside is cost but when you factor in the build quality and versatility (one tool replaces several others) they are actually a bargain over buying multiple cheaper tools that WILL be replaced in a few years.

Michaeljp86 · 10-20-2007, 02:46 PM

How long do the batterys last? Thats the only problem Ive had with the craftsman is the batterys dont hold up like the old ones did. And when working overhead its to heavy.

I was also wondering about the power of their cordless tools. They dont have any higher voltage tools that I seen, I think 14 was the highest.

MikeNeufeld · 10-20-2007, 04:44 PM

the only issue i have with festool is the cost, really expensive, and when you can buy 2 or 3 of the same style tool, length of run time is not an issue. 1 drill or 2 other brand related drills... to me, I can't justify dropping huge dollars on a single drill persay, whne i can get 2 for the same price...

but other than that, they are fabulous...

Michaeljp86 · 10-20-2007, 09:32 PM

I want this, Its only $415

A W Smith · 10-20-2007, 10:10 PM

They are great. At least the plunge saw and the guide rail system are. My ex partner has the system. Sorry to see his saw go with him but the partnership ran its course. I plan on getting one over the winter. Just plop the guide rail down on a pair of tick marks and make a factory cut in anything. No need to clamp the guide rail. it wont move because of its rubber bottom. The rubber chip guard on the rail edge needs to be replaced after a year or so mostly from banging around in the truck or trailer then you make a cut on scrap to get a new edge. I warn you. If you ever use this system you will be wanting to buy it. They are also great for a quick door cut.

ApgarNJ · 10-21-2007, 01:40 PM

I have the dust extractor with the model 75 plunge saw. i got an extra straight edge and it does wonders for installing kitchen cabinets, when one needs to be cut perfectly to the wall. i didn't like the cost, but i needed it for a specific large job involving a lot of other work, so the job paid for it in the end. I love the saw. part of me says the 55 would have been just fine, but the power tool guy in me said get the one with the larger amp motor.
I would love to get that domino jointer they came out with recently. but for now, my portercable biscuit jointer will do just fine. i don't use that all the time either.
i like to have the tool i need when i need it. and i need the job to look perfect every single time. so doesn't matter to me when buying the right tool if i need to use it every day or not, to justify buying it.

you can't go wrong with the festools. i am not sure i'll get the drills and all the other tools they sell, but as far as the plunge saw and vac, you can't buy a better setup for making perfectly straight, accurate cuts in the field.
no need to even clamp that straight edge down unless the piece is really small.

Greg Di · 10-25-2007, 11:10 AM

The Festool system is like crack. Once you get a taste, it's all you'll want.

I used to use the EZ Smart rail system for cutting down plywood and sheet goods. For $200, it was OK, but it was not accurate and was very slow and time consuming to setup and break down.

One day, I was using the EZ Smart and ruined some nice material. I got in my truck and bought the Festool TS55 with CT22 dust collector. It was almost $1000.

I haven't looked back. That thing is THE best tool and is so damn accurate it's scary.

Yesterday, I was beveling 3/4" MDF to make an interior column wrap. There is no way to make a consistent bevel on a portable table saw along 8 feet. Believe me, I've tried. You can get close, but not perfect and it's awkward as hell to do.

The TS55 makes short work of it. Perfect miters along 8 feet. No wrestling, no binding, and NO DUST!!!!

I thought I could get away with the EZ Smart and save $800. I couldn't. The Festool is worth every penny.

One caveat is that everything Festool is proprietary, from blades to sandpaper, to clamps. But...their stuff just works better than anything else.

There is rumbling that the new Fein shop vac with triggered start is actually better than the Festool CT22 at collecting dust and it's cheaper. Just so you know...

Michaeljp86 · 10-25-2007, 10:24 PM

You guys convinced me, Im going to try to get a good collection of their tools over my lifetime.

jiffy · 10-28-2007, 10:57 AM

From what I have read they make great saws and bigger tools like tables , but I haven't heard anything extraordinary about their battery powered tools.

Greg Di · 10-28-2007, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiffy

From what I have read they make great saws and bigger tools like tables , but I haven't heard anything extraordinary about their battery powered tools.

I think their drills would be passable in a nice quaint shop, but they have no real place "out" at a site. You would cry if you dropped that type of drill off a ladder. Plus, they are light on torque.

XanadooLTD · 01-20-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michaeljp86

How long do the batterys last? Thats the only problem Ive had with the craftsman is the batterys dont hold up like the old ones did. And when working overhead its to heavy.

I was also wondering about the power of their cordless tools. They dont have any higher voltage tools that I seen, I think 14 was the highest.

Not to be an idiot and i really don't want to upset you. But if you are using craftsman, and panasonic at this point. You should really either step up to dewalt or bosch before you make a huge jump to festool. I also think that festool is more of a true woddworkers tool. Also not stuff you would want a laborer fooling around with everyday.

XanadooLTD · 01-20-2008, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Di

I think their drills would be passable in a nice quaint shop, but they have no real place "out" at a site. You would cry if you dropped that type of drill off a ladder. Plus, they are light on torque.

Perfectly said. I didn't see what your thread said when i wrote my post. I agree with you 100%

XanadooLTD · 01-20-2008, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanadooLTD

Not to be an idiot and i really don't want to upset you. But if you are using craftsman, and panasonic at this point. You should really either step up to dewalt or bosch before you make a huge jump to festool. I also think that festool is more of a true woddworkers tool. Also not stuff you would want a laborer fooling around with everyday.

Sorry but when you are talking tools like that. Festools 14v is probably better than any dewalt 36v Lithium Ion. I know that hows my Hilti 18V drill is. Packs a better punch than Bosch 24V