Originally Posted by
Michael Van Voorhis
Hello all!
1) I am a VERY occasional woodworker without a dedicated workshop. I have to pull my cars out of my garage just to set ANYTHING up to work. (It's why I have chosen the EZ over the Festool system)
Michael,
Both systems have their benefits, but I chose Festool because it fit my needs better. And that's where I'm confused...
One of my primary needs is the same as yours - the need to quickly set up, use, and then store my garage "woodshop". That's one of Festool's greatest strengths!
Festool tools are stored in Systainers. Festool Systainers provide a compact, integrated storage system that is very portable and stackable. Festool makes accessory Systainers for router bits and Sortainers for parts and accessories storage. The make a special abrasives systainer with multiple inserts for storing sand paper. They even make systainers with diced inserts for storing non-Festool tools and one with a tool insert for storing tools.
With Systainers and Sortainers, you can stack a whole workshop of tools, accessories, and parts in about 4 square feet. They snap together to move them and for safe secure storage. For portability and access, Festool makes a cart for moving a stack of systainers around and a mobile "Systainer Port" with drawers for quick access to Systainers.
While Dino makes a good system of rails, he doesn't make tools. So you have to buy tools from some other company. And that means...
You're stuck finding a place to store tools with multiple, incompatible cases and boxes. AFAIK, Festool is the only vendor in the US to provide an integrated, stackable storage system for their tools.
Besides the systainers, all of the Festool work tables and work stands are compact and portable. Take a a look the Festool CMS and Precisio systems available in the rest of the world - completely portable. Take a look at the new Kapex SCMS - it's made for portability and uses a portable MFT for it's base.
Bottom line - besides dust collection, portability is one of the key underpinnings of the Festool system.
So I'm confused... Why do think EZ is better than Festool for a portable workshop?
Regards,
Dan.
It's amazing what you can accomplish in the 11th hour, 59 minute of any project. Ya just have to keep your eye on the goal.