A Festool Gloat

[Tim Malyszko]

My new Festool 150/3 sander and CT-22 arrived today. Unfortunately, I had to spend the evening shoveling snow, so I didn't get to really use it.

Anyway, I ordered it on Monday morning from Bob Marino and it arrived at my door at noon today - 27 hours after ordering. I couldn't have picked it up quicker if I purchased it locally.

I ended up purchasing the 50 packs of the 80, 120, 150 and 180 grit paper. Its probably overkill for now, but I won't have to worry about running out for years.

Thanks again for everyone's input and thanks to Bob for the phone support and quick turn-around.

I look forward to using it this weekend.

[Paul Kinneberg]

Nice Haul!! I have the vacum you will love it!

[Don Bullock]

Tim, congratulations. Let us know how you like your new sander and dust extractor.

Bob's a fantastic resource for us here on Sawmill Creek. I bought a RO 125 from him this year. It's a great sander.

[Gary Keedwell]

My new Festool 150/3 sander and CT-22 arrived today. Unfortunately, I had to spend the evening shoveling snow, so I didn't get to really use it.

Anyway, I ordered it on Monday morning from Bob Marino and it arrived at my door at noon today - 27 hours after ordering. I couldn't have picked it up quicker if I purchased it locally.

I ended up purchasing the 50 packs of the 80, 120, 150 and 180 grit paper. Its probably overkill for now, but I won't have to worry about running out for years.

Thanks again for everyone's input and thanks to Bob for the phone support and quick turn-around.

I look forward to using it this weekend.

I bought the same combo form Bob last year....ya gonna love it!
Gary

[Gary Herrmann]

Heading over to Tim's house...

Tim, I'll be very interested in hearing what you have to say about your Festool. Been thinking about that for awhile now.

[Bill Wyko]

Congradulations Tim. My BIL let me use his particle counter to test my Festool vac. It only raised it maby 50 points using a sander. You're gonna love this thing. Check out Boom for your vac too.

[Dan Clark]

Congrats Tim!

BTW, you think you'll appreciate it now, but you won't. I know you'll like it and think you appreciate it when you get a nice finish pretty easily with little dust. But you still won't really appreciate it.

So when will you REALLY appreciate it? When the hose slips off by accident and you get sawdust all over the your clothes, up your nose, in your hair, and all over the floor in the few seconds it takes you to shut off the sander. THAT is when you'll REALLY appreciate how good it is!

Dan.

p.s., don't ask me how I know this!

[Jim Becker]

Congrats, Tim. You'll enjoy these tools a lot.

[Tim Malyszko]

I finally had a chance to use the new sander tonight and my only regret is that I didn't purchase it sooner!

I had to sand a couple of walnut and poplar drawers before assembly/glue-up and I was completely amazed at how comfortable the sander was and how new the sandpaper still looks after about 30 minutes of sanding with 120, 150 and 180 grit paper. Also, it was so nice not being covered in dust after using the sander. This was the first time I've actually walked away from sanding without experiencing that numbing feeling in my hands and forearms. The 150/3 was actually a pleasure to use.

On paper, its really hard to appreciate the difference between my old Dewalt sander and my new Festool sander, but after using it, I can understand why there are so many Festool junkies out there.

Also, I can see the benefits of the boom arm since the hose and cord can get in the way. I may end up ordering it down the line, but this is by no means a major priority for me. I'd rather spend my money on the Festool Jigsaw or a Festool Plunge Saw.

Thanks again for introducing me to Festool.

[Jesse Cloud]

Hey Tim,
You know how people who used to smoke are now totally grossed out when someone is smoking.... thats how you will be when you go into a shop where people are sanding with no protection.

Anyhow, congrats on the haul. You will be amazed by how long the paper lasts and how long it takes to fill up the bags.

[J. Z. Guest]

Phew that's a lotta bread!

However, sanding without having to inhale it is a pretty neat idea.

[Dennis Meek]

You will love the setup you have. I have the Rotex 150 and the CT 33 and it is just plain awesome!!! I get absolutely no airborne sawdust when sanding in conjunction with the CT 33. Their sandpaper is the best quality I have found in a long time.

The same observations above apply to my Domino and TS75.

Dennis

[William Nimmo]

We have you hooked. Just like a pusher gets someone to try some drugs and then he is hooked for life. I love it.
You just got the sander and the vac. Immediately you want more. First its the boom arm, then the saw, then what? the routers, oh my, the routers.
How can anyone in their right mind use a router without dust control.
Love that 1400.
You know you can't live without the domino, no way no how.
Sorry to say
There is no turning back

(insert evil laugh here)

[Jamie Coffman]

Being an admitted, though as yet still untreatable, tool junkie I realized that it was only a matter of time before I succumbed to the siren song of the black and green. Time that is to find a buyer for my first born so that I could afford the fix. Having recently left the booming home building industry to take up a new direction as a plywood mechanic ..er cabinet maker I had a lot to learn and many new and strange tools to buy. Square, plumb and level were all familiar enough but I had to buy a new pair of bifocals to realize that my Starrett rules had 32nds and 64ths...and the guy that was breaking me in actually used them. Cordless driver/drills that had seemingly been wonderful were all of the sudden being accused of horrible run out and uncontrollable screw setting. Wonderful miter cuts of my previous life were the now the stuff of ridicule and disdain. Then it happened. I was down to my last driver/drill and had managed to booger it up pretty well while attempting to replace its chuck. I was also finishing a basement for some side money and couldn't find my drywall screw gun. Out of need, here's the start of my junkie like rationalizations, I drove 35 miles to the nearest Festool retailer and asked for the 12v set I'd been jonesing for. They were of course out of the complete set so I had to wait while they pieced one together. I quickly paid and dashed back to the drywall job with my new fix, becoming steadily more over wrought with buyer's remorse with each passing minute. Because I live in the great socialist state of Maryland my total for the C12 w/ 1.3 batteries and chucks was just shy of $600. I felt like Jack returning home after that whole bean for a cow thing, but that was soon to change.
Arriving back at my side job I had to charge the new batteries...not even 15 minutes. The screw setting nose piece was put to good use and very quickly I found myself wishing for a leash since every time I put the drill down somebody was picking it up and trying to make it their own. When it came time to stir up the joint compound we realized that the D-handle 1/2" corded drill hadn't made the trip and as Murphy would have it there was nothing to do but deflower my new cordless. Having chucked up the 2' mud paddle I prepared to burn up my baby and test the Festool warranty. Much to everyone's amazement it tore through a fresh bucket of spackle like warm butter!
The following day back in the shop I got plenty of weird looks as I walked in with my new Systainer box in hand, they carry as though the handle was mounted 90 degrees from where you'd expect to see it. Amid numerous taunts about my new toy and the acquisition of a piece of junk, DeWalt and Porter Cable prevail in our shop, I unsheathed Excalibur and proceeded to make envious drooling slobs of all of my detractors. Inside corners and previously inaccessible screws were but child's play. Every screw and hole were handled with precision and quiet confidence. I almost looked as though I knew what I was doing.
That was a couple of weeks ago and since then our shop has taken on a decidedly green glow. First a couple more C12's appeared, then my new dust extractor (to call it a shop vac would be heresy), and more recently the 1st jigsaw on the planet that actually cut without any blade deflection. My bench is a long haul from the slider so I've already decided on the new modular work table / plunge saw system as a necessity of life. All I need now is a good price on Ebay for another one of my kids...sure hope the wife doesn't notice.
There is without a doubt little left in power tool retailing that represents a true investment. Since Porter Cable became fodder for the marketing wizards at B&D, who see nothing but orange, tools like the 310 trimmer and the 503/504 belt sanders have become collectibles. Regardless of the cost Festool has IMHO positioned themselves uniquely as one of the few manufacturers to present quality that is worthy of the tag professional. Not only do their tools work flawlessly but they are one of but a handful that seem to be capable of constant daily use. While the orange Borg has twisted B&D into a maker of disposables the true cost issue becomes less and less of a real concern.
When looking at new driver drills I could expect to fork out close to $300 for a traditional DeWalt or P/C cordless. A right angle cordless driver from DeWalt or Rigid would set me back another $150 or so. Offset chuck and drywall adapters another $150+ from third party developers. When all is said and done I would end up with two or three boxes of tools that were all inferior in performance, ergonomics and size that would all likely fail to last half as long for about the same money. While there are a few things I'd like to see done differently, like being forced to use an adapter for all of my non-metric hex shanks & the cheesy Systainer liners, I've found little or nothing else that comes close. Sell the family cow and take the plunge, you won't regret it...unless your wife finds out.

[William Nimmo]

Jamie
Only the enlightend of us who have been exposed and succomb to the evil temptation of the green and black, understand that these tools are no way overpriced. I don't know anyone who is into wood working in my area.
So I can't share experiences with other woodworkers.
I do it semi professionally,and sometimes when using my festools to do something that should be challenging, I want to call my wife and kids down to the shop and show them how easy and great these tools are. They just smile and kind of laugh at me...O.k. dad nice dad...I am glad you like your nice tools dear...
They just don't get it.

Hey , I just talked myself back into buying the Kapex.