Folks,
I own a half dozen Festool tools, and agree with the consensus that they are well made and durable.
However, the ergonomics are often wanting, and many use cheap zinc castings where American-made tools would use aluminum castings, stainless steel, or brass. (I’ll note that Tormek also uses cheap zinc.)
I’ll grant Festool some benefits. Mine all work well with my Festool dust collector and overhead boom. I like that. But take the Domino machine (the smaller one). There is no handle and you need to engage the tool and move it forward by pushing the on/off switch as if it were a handle. Or my router requires twisting the right-hand handle several turns to tighten at a particular plunge height. My Dewalt plunge router just requires releasing a spring-loaded handle, which engages instantly. I prefer the latter.
I could go on, but let’s hear it from the cofraternity!
Replies
I only have one piece of Festool gear, an ETS 125. In comparison to other similar tools I've been able to try (although admittedly at lower cost) I think the sanders are worth it. Dust collection (and I don't have their vac system, and am just using my dust collector with adapters) leaves next to nothing, and the vibration is so much less than I'm used to. I was able to demoed a rotex and would have the same thing to say.
I can't speak to the other tools, but I'd struggle to get any other brand of handheld sander.
I have a couple products, ETS125 and T55 track saw. I sold my Domino 500 for $200 more than I paid for it back when Festool was shut down.
The dust extractor is excellent but I think Fein and Bosch have equally good products. I strongly recommend anyone using a shop vac with small hoses to save up their pennies and buy a HEPA extractor. They are NOT shop vacs.
That's probably all I'll ever buy.
Are they worth it is an individual decision to make.
It depends on what the tool offers you in return for the price you pay and the usage you get from it.
Many people buy them based on reputation alone, whether they need them or not. If you can get the same job done with a less expensive tool without, sacrificing anything. then the purchase may not be worth it to you.
If they offer something you can't get in another tool, they may very well be worth the price.
I've got the small domino, FT tracksaw & bosch sanders. I tried the Festool & non-Festool for the tracksaw & sanders and chose based on value (to me). The Festool tracksaw came off as superior, the sanders as expensive. The domino is a thing in its own category. I use my dust collector for all of them in the shop, and the shop vac if I'm breaking down sheet goods out in the garage.
I've never given a thought to the castings on any of them.
NO!
Worth it, used to bother me that festool would use plastic where others cheaper saws would use metal, for example the trunnions on the track saw are plastic and every cheapo saw I’ve ever seen has metal, buuuuuuut I’ve had my ts75 for 9 years(?) with out ever having to adjust anything, so I’d say it’s as strong as it needs to be. Also own the hk55, great tool no one else makes an equivalent saw/track that I’m aware of, the big domino which is a game changing tool, I’m a production woodworker it saves soooooo much time, also have 5” and 6” rotex, hurt to buy (about 600cdn) but used to use the makita equivalent (400cdn) with the forced rotation switch and I killed 3 of those in 3 years, rotex is still going after 5 years. Aaaand I have a carvex fine jig saw….not worth it, circle guide cool idea never worked right for me tape always buckles, tilt base seems cool, but in real life I prefer just a normal tilt base.
I’ve yet to actually kill one of these tools and most of them are used everyday
I’d considered moving to Festool as needs/wants arose. Bought the CTL SYS dust extractor which drove me from any further consideration - just a horrible design and materials (I’m maybe being harsh, but it did drive my decision not to purchase more of their product).
When comparing Festool products using their router is a little unfair. Their router routinely falls short in the bake offs except where dust collection is considered. Their sanders work with unequaled dust collection capability. Additional tools make sense if you are going the full Festool route as there are compounded benefits to the system. JMHO as an owner.
Thanks for the comments. I pretty much agree with everything that was said. The consensus seems to be that it has an A+ reputation but not an A+ in real life. And very expensive. Still great tools and, as pointed out, durable. I just wish they would pay more attention to the ergonomics and the materials they use, which seem cheap. I have a longer list of specific complaints, but I would only give up my Domino (for instance) over my cold dead body. It's a game changer and I use it in a lot of applications. But it's not as accurate as I would like, but neither are my mortise and tenons done with a router and a dado blade. And the Domino is 10 times faster than doing normal M&T construction. The track saw system is great--I agree with that too. I love their overhead boom, which comes up from the back of the dust collector and routes the hose and power cord to the tool. That makes worrying about those inputs a thing of the past.
I am a 3rd generation pro who demands a lot from his tools and you won't find any Rigid, Royobi, Black & Decker or any other of the homeowner brands in my shop and if you even mention Harbor Freight in my presence we are done talking. My shop is filled with Porter Cable(the old PC not what B&D sells today) Dewalt, Milwaukee (the old stuff before the Chinese bought it), some Bosch and Makita and yes a number of Festool products. Do I think Festool is worth the money, the answer is sometimes. Their sanders are generally as good as it gets and seems to be able to stand up to hard use. The Domino is, well, there is nothing to compare it to and for those who need it is a godsend. The tracksaw is quite good but it's main advantage is it has become the standard and many aftermarket accessories that can improve the accuracy and versatility of track saws are designed around the Festool. While my Dewalt cuts just as straight as a Festool it's proprietary track does not get any support. The Festool 3¼ hp plunge router has become my favorite heavy router and I find it the much more ergonomic than my big Dewalt which I always felt like I was fighting with to use, even though I love my 2¼hp ELU which is the design that B&D folded into the DeWalt plunge router lines but if you look close you can see areas of penny pinching.
To wrap this up, I think it needs to be judged on a case by case basis and an individual preference, ergonomics are a personal thing many times and budgets are very personal. I am fortunate that after 60 years I can splurge a bit if I feel a reason too. Will I be buying more Festool products? That will depend if I see one that offers an advantage over another brand but I can't think of one at the moment.
I think these decisions should always be looked at as in "worth it to you". I'd love to have a Domino, but I'd only use it once or twice a year (a hobbyist) so no, its not worth it. How many hours do I run my ROS? Probably less in a year than a pro does in a week. If money is not an object, maybe I'd buy Festool, but I don't need to be a power tool collector.
Are Festool Products worth it...
Too broad a question, really. They have tools that change the game (Domino, for example), and others that compete on integrated dust collection, longevity, or being part of their system (rails and 32mm cabinet system, for example). Their worth comes from a specific tool being the go-to in your type of woodworking and your shop environment (Festool makes an excellent tracksaw, if you need something to breakdown sheetgoods, otherwise it will sit on your shelf, and you're out $1,000).
The Domino is the most used tool in my shop - therefore it's worth it to me; for someone who relies on Biscuits or integral tenons, the Domino is a waste.
The OF1400 is my go-to router; while my large Bosch sits idle and my smaller Bosch does router table duties. The 1400's dust collection, smooth operation and ergonomics make it an easy choice, eventhough it is much more expensive than a similarly powered Porter-Cable or Bosch.
As a society, we are driven more by price than quality; as a practice, I like to buy-once - whether it happens to be a Festool or Mirka or other higher-end manufacturer. No one comes into my shop, so I'm long trying to impress people with tools.
I have their jigsaw, tracksaw, small Domino and the sander that does both circular and random orbit. I bought each one because it did something competitive products didn't or was one of a kind, like the Domino. The jigsaw is far more powerful and accurate than most -- I was able to rapidly cut through 2" oak with the jigsaw and get a straight smooth cut, for example. I think if you have a need that their tools fit, go for it. I haven't seen the point of buying into their whole system -- maybe if you are a contractor who needs a portable shop (like doing a lot of work on customer sites), maybe that would be justified.
The best tool for the job is the one that meets your needs. I have looked at dominos but wouldn't use them enough to justify the investment. The Festool shelves in the tool store are always an interesting look, but I haven't been prepared to buy a ticket on the Festool train (yet).
I have a lot of their gear and have had great luck. That said, I agree that the decisions should be made on a tool by tool basis. Example, their drills are no different and overpriced. The Domino is a game changer.
I purchased the STM 1800 table this weekend and had a broken part. I was on the phone with them this morning and was done within a couple of minutes. Great service. I’m older and wrestling sheet goods is getting harder so this made sense for me.
The "system" aspect of Festool is appealing to me. The tracksaw, domino, MFT/3, routers, and LR-32 hole drilling system make 32mm cabinet construction much easier for weekend hackers like me. While many of their tools are fiddley to set up, when you get a small amount of training (available on You Tube) you discover that many of the tools have very nice features that aren't apparent on first view. For instance, the festool routers all have clearly marked lines denoting the center of the bit. Using the router guided by a guide rail and using scales on the tool, very precise stopped dados become a piece of cake. While I know that it might be faster to just use a router table, drop the piece to start, and rout to marked lines on the fence, I like the extra precision that the Festool approach brings without undue effort.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled