To Festool or not to Festool !

[ramp34]

Hi everyone, are festool the best power tools around. The prices seem to say that they are. Im intrested in the guided saw, is there much difference between the two? Also whats the thoughts on the domino, I use my biscuit jointer alot at the moment. Many thanks.

 

[Chems]

Theres always a lot of heated discussion when Festool is mentioned, they are much more expensive than the competition, but my personal opinion is they are worth every penny.

The TS55 track saw is brilliant, its like a panel saw for the home workshop!

I've had the domino for nearly a year now, I bought it cause there wasn't an equivalent around, its a brilliant time saver, well worth the money.

 

[Dibs-h]

Hi everyone, are festool the best power tools around. The prices seem to say that they are. Im intrested in the guided saw, is there much difference between the two? Also whats the thoughts on the domino, I use my biscuit jointer alot at the moment. Many thanks.

There are folk on here without Festool and they make some impressive stuff. Some like me have some Festool and there are others who have almost everything Festool (or so it seems).:lol:

The Domino (in my mind) is a loose tenon m\c - the biscuit jointer isn't really an equivalent machine. Yes the Dom can use the smallest doms and allow you to glue up wide boards but it does so much more.

For a hobbyist - it's a trade-off between time and money and whether it's any concern to you that it's not a traditional M&T. For a TS55 (+rails) and a Full Dom - you wouldn't get much change out of something like £1300.

HIH

Dibs

 

[Steve Maskery]

You don't need Festool. But you may well want Festool, as it is excellent. Whether you think it is worth the high price is simply a matter of opinion. I have lots of Festool, most of which I have bought myself. I don't regret a single penny, and I'm grateful for the pieces I have been given as presents of one sort or another. There are other good tools on the market, but if you do buy Festool, I suggest that it is very unlikely that you will be disappointed.
S

 

[Paul Chapman]

are festool the best power tools around.................Im intrested in the guided saw.

Where saws are concerned, you might want to look at Mafell as well. I reckon they are as good as Festool.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Chems]

There are folk on here without Festool and they make some impressive stuff. Some like me have some Festool and there are others who have almost everything Festool (or so it seems).:lol:

Thats so true, I made nice things long before I had festool. The difference is less the outcome, more how easy it is to get there.

 

[Henning]

Hi everyone, are festool the best power tools around. The prices seem to say that they are. Im intrested in the guided saw, is there much difference between the two? Also whats the thoughts on the domino, I use my biscuit jointer alot at the moment. Many thanks.

I can only say DON'T buy any Festool!

Before you know it you end up here:

All joking (And gloating) aside, you will very much wonder why you didn't buy the domino before when you get it. My biscuit jointer is but a distant memory since i got mine!

 

[cjp]

I have never used the Festool track saw, but I did buy the DeWalt version. I honestly don't know what else I could ask for in such a tool. But I do know the DeWalt version I bought was one hell of a lot cheaper than the Festool!

For a good comparison of the two, watch this video from The Wood Whisperer: http://bit.ly/bUzsb2

Cheers,

Charlie

 

[woodbloke]

Personally, I wouldn't bother. There are other makes around which are half the price and do job equally as well ('cept Dominating) If you actually 'need' a Domino as opposed to just fancying one, then it's a good piece of kit, but difficult to justify in a hobbyist 'shop IMO - Rob

 

[Steve Maskery]

Rob, you might be surprised to know that to a pretty large extent I agree with you. There are other good makes. But one has to admit that Fs are usually darn good at what they do, and they have been instrumental at raising the game of power-tool manufacturing.

For example, what major manufacturer is going to launch a new range of SCMSs that relies on having a foot or two of space behind the saw? Bosch have a new design about to be launched in the US and is going to be a contender against the Kapex. I don't believe that would have happened without the groundbreaking work of Festool.

They have their faults, and I say that as someone who has been the recipient of Festool's hospitality, but the technical ethos (if not the actual retailing ethos) is difficult to criticise.

CHeers
Steve

 

[woodbloke]

Steve, being a fickle sort of bloke, I may change my mind if I get hold of the 1400 EBQ router :wink: :lol: - Rob

 

[Steve Maskery]

Steve, being a fickle sort of bloke, I may change my mind if I get hold of the 1400 EBQ router :wink: :lol: - Rob

Well, it certainly is excellent. JUst make sure you are comfortable witht the ergonomics of a jigsaw-type style rather than the more prevalent two-ears design. It does take a bit of getting used to, but it is worth it. I particularly like the fact that it stops virtually instantly.

Go on, you know you want to.
S

 

[ramp34]

I see alot of people talking about the TS55 saw but does anyone have the TS75 saw?? Whats the difference between the two (apart from £100)?

 

[Steve Maskery]

20mm.

S

 

[neel]

And 1,7 kg difference and that is a lot for a hand sawing machine
6,2 kg for the TS75 against 4,5 kg for the TS 55

 

[houtslager]

main difference is the with the 75 one can saw through fire doors in one swipe and have to turn the door over and swipe through from the other side, without the problem of lining the cut up to the saw guide.

hth karl

 

[Chems]

Steve, being a fickle sort of bloke, I may change my mind if I get hold of the 1400 EBQ router :wink: :lol: - Rob

You have to have a go with that in the flesh, its so small in reality and very nice to use.

 

[OPJ]

For example, what major manufacturer is going to launch a new range of SCMSs that relies on having a foot or two of space behind the saw?

Did you see Henning's post in this forum, the other day? It looks as though some of Metabo's new saws still have those space-wasters sticking out the back...

On the other hand though, they also claim to have 'cracked' dust extraction with their latest designs.

I actually wish that more manufacturers (including Festool!) would take note of the use of the induction motor on some of the Metabo saws, for those of us who like to use these in our workshops! :wink:

 

[chippy1970]

main difference is the with the 75 one can saw through fire doors in one swipe and have to turn the door over and swipe through from the other side, without the problem of lining the cut up to the saw guide.

hth karl

They must be extra thick fire doors then ? as standard fire doors are only 44mm thick , my TS55 cuts them easily in one go.

 

[p111dom]

It's a tricky question to Festool or not. I know there are those on this forum that won't have a bad work said against them but they have been a mixed bag for me. Firstly, their products are excellent without question but their service its poor. I have had the need to send on of my tools off for repair which was away for a week after which it was returned with "no fault found" despite having a clear flaw. I sent it back again and it was returned again saying the same. I'm not sure they even tried it. In the end, the rep cam out to me and resloved the issue but it took weeks and Had I been relying on the tool for an income, this would have been a problem. Last week I went into my local supplier for some 6mm Domino's. They had none in stock and it would take a week for them to arrive direct from Germany. In the end I found a lace on the net to order from but I could onlu find one supplier who had the smaller (300 or so) bag quantities in stock. I tend to use every size equally so spending £50 on a large box of each size would have been a pain not to mention storing them in an airtight (ish) container. A premium brand should also come with a premium service and I'm afraid that my experience is that they just don't. That said both my Domino and 1400 router are seriously impressive bits of kit. My Trend T11's speed controller went a few months ago. I took it to the local dealer who ordered a new part on the Tuesday, it arrived the next day and I got the router back by the close of business Wednesday. This machine is essentially the same as the Dewalt 625 in fact the part in question is identical. That's what you want if you're in the trade. Reliable but quickly repairable tools when required. Festool only meets one of these criteria.

Forunately I'm not in the trade so losing the tool for a few weeks wasn't critical. If I were though I think I'd be plumbing for a more mainstream brand like Makita or Dewalt because of this. That said I own a few Festool tools but no Makita or Dewalt at all. Wierd!!!

It is true though that there is no competitor for the Domino. Things like this would have taken ages without it.