Festool is Doing Their Recondtioned Tool Deals Again.

[DR99]

I don't know how popular Festool is on the Garage Journal Deal forum, but I figured it might benefit some people here.
http://www.festoolusa.com/power-tools/reconditioned/

 

[Crown Imperial]

Hmmm. Do you use anything from them? Even discounted it seems very expensive. Can't see what makes the cordless power tools so special compared to say Milwaukee or Bosch.

 

[stonesfan68]

You're paying for German currency (Euro), engineering, design and usually manufacturing.

I've never used the tools, either, but that is one explanation of the higher cost.

 

[eeprete]

I worked for their US HQ (FESTO, the parent of FESTOOL) years ago. Very strict as far as quality, workmanship and attention to detail. They make a lot of the parts that drive assembly lines worldwide as well. I never used their tools but I'm sure the quality is exemplary.

 

[monomach]

Hmmm. Do you use anything from them? Even discounted it seems very expensive. Can't see what makes the cordless power tools so special compared to say Milwaukee or Bosch.

Entirely different market. Milwaukee/Bosch is intended for guys in construction. Festool is for real craftsmen.

Think if it as a really nice, strong, all-purpose knife vs a surgical scalpel.

I wouldn't want all Festool tools if I were building houses all day, but I would if I were spending my time working very expensive hardwood that I couldn't afford to waste.

 

[Crown Imperial]

Ok, thanks for the analogy.
I am no Picasso so not for me.

 

[volleyball]

Darn, no track saw

 

[monomach]

Darn, no track saw

That's what I was hoping for when I saw the thread, too.

I've been checking pawn shops for a second circular saw to try this out with:

 

[Horseman]

Darn, no track saw

The TS55 shows as available.

 

[robotrigger]

The track saw is technically referred to as a "plunge saw".


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[trogo]

Those prices are nuts.

 

[Kouryu]

I'll be perfectly happy with a Makita or Dewalt, thank you

 

[icecactus]

For the past 4 years or so, I said i would never buy festool...to expensive and I don't agree with the fixed pricing.

This past march I purchased quite a bit of their stuff before the price increase. I am not disappointed. Their sanders have almost zero dust when combined with their vacuum. And the granat sand paper last forever! The domino is freakin amazing, and so is the track saw. I am kicking myself for not purchasing the track saw earlier.

So, festool is not for everyone. I decided to take the advice of many of those older then me and purchase high quality tools to begin with.

There is a video somewhere of festool testing their sanders. Its pretty wild. Let them run for 30 days non stop with a weight pushing down on them. Blasting them with arizona sand etc...

 

[macgee]

For the past 4 years or so, I said i would never buy festool...to expensive and I don't agree with the fixed pricing.

This past march I purchased quite a bit of their stuff before the price increase. I am not disappointed. Their sanders have almost zero dust when combined with their vacuum. And the granat sand paper last forever! The domino is freakin amazing, and so is the track saw. I am kicking myself for not purchasing the track saw earlier.

I have to chime in and totally agree with the above comments except the fixed pricing comment. While I hate there high fixed prices, the tools have proved to be worth their money compared to my other comparable tools. Because of the fixed prices, I get amazing service support at any store I walk into that sells Festool. The service and support is exceptional, completely the opposite to a big box store or the internet. I don't mean trying to return it 10 days after receiving it, I mean real service if something goes wrong.

My six inch orbital sander started making bearing noises after beating this thing up for six years day in and day out. I thought it should have died three years earlier like my Dewalts and Porter Cable did. Short story: Festool quickly rebuilt it and replaced the motor out of warranty for $60 and works and sounds like new. The thing is so smooth and there's no dust. I love it.

If you only use your tools part time or occasional weekends, then yes they are too expensive but if you make a living with them or need repetitive precision with excellent ergonomics then yes Festool are worth the price and you'll laugh on why you didn't get one sooner.

The fixed prices really helps you in the long run, you'll have great local service and you can run into any local store and get exactly what you need at the same price as the internet.

When you want to sell your festool you will get top dollar for it, totally unlike big box tools; most people sell there festool at about 30% below retail after using them for years so your not really losing money after your done using it. It's an investment, not a throw away like big box tools.

I would love to see lower prices but you should jump on the the 30-20% discount because you won't likely see them again selling that low and Festool can be worth every cent.

 

[rice rocket]

So aside from replacing every single item, what's a good entry level Festool item? Also what are they known for specifically?

 

[icecactus]

That depends on what kind of work you do...festool is most known for its tracksaw and the Domino joiner. They invented both.

btw..I don't use my tools to make a living, only personal use. In fact I only build maybe 2-3 projects a year. So festool is not just for professionals. I wanted a quality tool that was precise and made my little shop time more enjoyable. That's the key, more enjoyable. I can do things much quicker and more accurately.

For average homeowner, I would say start with tracksaw/MFT combo so you get the 10% off the mft. Then for your second festool (domino, sander etc), purchase the vacuum combo so you get 10% off the vacuum.

The vacuum is worth every penny. It starts when you turn the tool on, shuts off a few seconds after you turn the tool off. The antistatic hoses are great too. My shop vac had so much dust on the outside of the hose it was ridiculous. Now, I have none.

 

[Makapuu]

Festool is top notch, especially their plunge saw with the guide. If you want to fit your door, perfectly, it is the best tool out there. For the bucks you spend anyhow to buy their tools, I would want a new perfect one so I can mess it up all by myself!

 

[robotrigger]

Honestly any comparison between the festool plunge cut track saw and the absolute garbage dewalt model is not applicable. I've heard good things about the makita model but it still clocks in close to $4-500 bucks.

Don't get me wrong I own dewalt tools, but they don't touch finish trim, expensive flat stock or the like.

I can't argue enough for the value of these tools over a lifetime, up front cost being what it is. Isn't everyone on this forum all about super high end american made hand tools? SK and the like? same argument here.

 

[cheechi]

The vacuum is worth every penny. It starts when you turn the tool on, shuts off a few seconds after you turn the tool off. The antistatic hoses are great too. My shop vac had so much dust on the outside of the hose it was ridiculous. Now, I have none.

Their sanders have almost zero dust when combined with their vacuum. And the granat sand paper last forever!

Well, any of the HEPA dust extractors will do it. Fein, Bosch, Dewalt, or Festool will give you those same features and the HEPA certification means they're all at least the same high baseline performance for filtration. A few features are different among them but basically any of them will get you those results.

 

[rice rocket]

FYI, they just released a whole bunch more a few days ago, all the popular stuff went pretty quick (Domino, and apparently the routers are sought after as well).

That depends on what kind of work you do...festool is most known for its tracksaw and the Domino joiner. They invented both.

I picked up the track saw, it'll be my first Festool product. Now I'm really thinking hard about the Rotex and a CT MIDI now, I have some sanding to do on my stairs, and dust everywhere would be a huge inconvenience (versus a bedroom, where you could just shut a door).

 

[66dave]

FYI, they just released a whole bunch more a few days ago, all the popular stuff went pretty quick (Domino, and apparently the routers are sought after as well).



I picked up the track saw, it'll be my first Festool product. Now I'm really thinking hard about the Rotex and a CT MIDI now, I have some sanding to do on my stairs, and dust everywhere would be a huge inconvenience (versus a bedroom, where you could just shut a door).

Just wondering why the midi vacuum? I have the 36HEPA (love it), and was looking at another, so wanted to know your motivation on the midi. I have many Festool pieces, love them all and would recommend to anyone.

 

[onuxis]

I have the Festool OF2200 router and a TS55 track saw. Yes they are expensive although the design and precision are not matched. Festool for woodworkers is like Snap-on for mechanics in the terms of brand commitment.

Nothing wrong with Dewalt, Milwaukee, or Bosch as they all will get the job done.

Oh and the Festool Systainers that all the tools come with are nice too

 

[rice rocket]

Just wondering why the midi vacuum? I have the 36HEPA (love it), and was looking at another, so wanted to know your motivation on the midi. I have many Festool pieces, love them all and would recommend to anyone.

My motivation to get the MIDI is that it would be great around the house at ~9 lbs less since I'm doing a lot of hardwood floor sanding currently. I don't think I'd mind having to empty the bag a few more times (okay, twice as often) as long as it's doing its job.

But in the end, it's the $200 difference in price of entry mostly (even though I'd pay more for consumables...I need to figure out how to make my own reusable bag). Between the TS 55 REQ and the RO 150 FEQ this morning w/ some abrasives, my tool budget is being blown rather quickly this month.

I don't *think* I would use the workstation stuff that's non-MINI/MIDI compatible, but maybe my tune will change in a year as I'm slowly digesting all of this new equipment.