Questions for Festo Owners
Recently, I saw a demonstration of Festo tools. The demo had the saw, the router, and the Multi-Function Table all set up. To say the least, I was immensely impressed. Decided I wanted to get it for my own shop.
But I have some questions, which I failed to remember when visiting the demonstration:
1. Do you HAVE to use a different guide rail for the router and the saw? I would think so, since the splinter guide would be sliced at a different spot for each tool. By the same token, do you need a different guide rail for each size router bit you use?
2. Does Festo make 1/2″ collets for the router, or are we limited to 1/4″ and 8mm bits?
3. Has anyone figured out a way to expand the Multi-Function Table to rip full 4×8 sheets?
Also, please feel free to comment on general quality and other opinions about Festo
Hoping there are some Festo owners out there!
Thanks very much.
Edited 3/18/2003 11:45:22 AM ET by Matthew Schenker
Replies
1. No, you use the same guide rail on all. The router is basically adjustable so you could match it to the cut line of the saw (which is what I did). If you are using the hole guide with the router then it isn’t an issue at all.
2. The of1000e router cannot take ½” bits – period.
3. You can rip a full 4x8 sheet without the MFT, all you need is the guiderail(s)
I have more festool info on my site if’n you are intersted.
PMB
http://benchmark.20m.com
I just got the multi-function table, so can't say a lot about it. The saw (ATF55E) and vacuum (CT22) have been great, though. I cut up Baltic Birch plywood (5x5, but 4x8 would be easy) for cabinets with the Festo saw and guiderails on a sacrificial table - basically another sheet of plywood with legs underneath. Clean cuts, no need for another pass through the table saw.
I don't have the router so I can't speak to your concerns about the guides. The guide system is mighty impressive, though!
You don't use the router quite the same way as the saw. With the saw, you make an initial cut into the splinter guard that establishes an edge you can use to align your saw cuts. Since the router uses bits of varying sizes and profiles, this feature is really not practicable. I don't want the router to cut my splinter guard, so I set the guide rail to leave me a little clearance. Then I use the center mark on the router to align my cut.
You can get longer rails for the MF table.
No 1/2-inch bits. 1/4-inch and 8mm only. Festo has a decent selection of 8mm bits. This is a nice size--a little heftier than 1/4-inch. I believe Eagle America makes 8mm bits to use with the Leigh dovetail jig.
I bought the smaller of the two circular saws. It works great for 3/4-in ply. Not so good on hardwoods. Bogs down on long crosscuts. I wish I had purchased the larger saw.
Overall I have been very happy with Festo quality and service.
Thanks everyone for your replies so far!
I think I am probably going to go for Festo's "package deal" with their dust collector, plunge-cut saw, and extra saw blade. I'll get the larger saw. The difference in price between the small saw and the large saw is $110, but Festo includes a limit stop and a saw table support with the bigger saw (worth about $30), so the different is really more like $80.
I'm also going to get the Festo router. This will be my third router, after a Bosch 1617EVS and a Porter+Cable. One of those routers will have to go!
I really would like to get the MFT also, but I am trying to figure out how well, if at all, it handles ripping 8' lengths. It seems like it would be a great tool even if I did cross-cutting and routing on it, but if it could handle full-length ripping that would seal the deal for me.
Nick, you said I can get longer rails for the MFT. Have you seen this setup anywehere? Does this mean I would be able to do full-size ripping of 8' lengths?
Please send along any other suggestions and opinions you have.
Matthew
Festo does make a 1/2 in router - model OF 2000 E/1 according to the catalogue I have.I've been thinking of getting the OF 1010 to use when I don't want to lug the big Makita (1/2 in) arround and I can see a use for the hole drilling guide rail. I don't mind being limited to 1/4in and 8mm bits as I figure that - until you have more than 4 - you can not have too many routers ;-) I also like the idea of variable speed on a 8mm router.
As for long ripping using a sacrificial table and guide rails the longest you can rip with one rail is about 16ft (5.0 metres) - joining rails together allows you to go longer.
I've had one of Festo's dust collectors for years - it's superb, I can sand in the house with almost no mess hooked up a Bosch sander - have used their cordless drills and sanders - bought my dad a cordless drill at a wood show last year - he loves it.
I can't get the US distributor's site at http://www.festool-usa.com/portando/index.cfm to work but the Aussie site at http://www.festool.com.au/ may be useful.
Ian
Ian,
I just checked the Australian Festo site, and there are a tremendous number of tools available there that are not listed on the American site. One of the ones that looks interesting is a sort of table saw with a sliding table -- the "Basis" system... Also, there are a few other plunge-cut saws and other routers. Very interesting.
I wonder why there are so few of these tools available for the American market?
I'd personally be very interested in purchasing a 1/2" router, but would they ship it to me from the Australian site? Probebly I would be hammered by shipping and handling!
You can get a kind of FESTOOL "tablesaw" !! It is called PRECESIO and can be found on the international, Australian and some of the other pages but not the American.
I use this saw and it is really precise !! The fence - CS 70 LA - clamps at both ends of the table, the setting of the tilt angle is also perfect. I checked it and the 45 and 90 dgr is dead on. Even though it is aluminum and comes with a 3 HP (adjustable speed) engine it does not vibrate. It is equipped with a electronic brake that stops the blade in 3 sec. when turned of, dustextraction and other nice features.
My general impression of FESTOOL products is that they are of great quality and VERY precise in their settings and adjustments - best European quality..... I Love the smell of sawdust in the morning....
I was looking at the Precisio saw on the Australian site. That, as well as the full range of circular saws, looks very exciting! I still don't understand why Festo doesn't sell these products in the USA though? I believe there would be a great market for them here, since most Americans are used to sub-par table saws. I for one have long wished that an affordable European-style table saw would be made available to me.
I'm going to contact the comppany to see how much it would be to ship one of those saws on the Australian site to me here in America!
I'll let you know what I find out.
Thanks again for all the input.
I need help with something....
Having been completely sold on Festo tools, I am a bit puzzled over their current Spring sale package pricing on four power tools, vaccuum and table and guide rail system for around $2,000.
Why is it they are bundling the Rotex and the RO sanders together when the Rotex is suppose to be a multi-function unit ?
I am not sure if I need both the Rotex as well as the regular RO sander (that costs $225.)
I definitely want the saw, rotex, guiderail, router and vac.
For the package deal, the table is nice as well.
Been reading the PDF files on all the tools - the hold drilling guiderail may need to be added to the list.
Thanks for any clarification on the RO sanders.
Alan
I'm looking into the very same thing! I want to get one of the Festo "package deals" but I wish they had more combinations. Maybe one sander, the MFT, plunge-cut saw, router, and accessories. Or a variety of other combinations.
I also was wondering about the need for two sanders. The price for that system is very good, keeping in mind that it includes $300 worth of accessories/consumables.
I'm going to be looking into Festo combinations this week. I'll keep you posted.
By the way, it looks like you have to buy combinations from one of the Festo distributors. I have a distributor about 1.5 hours north of me, in New Hampshire.
All Festo orders come out of one of their distribution warehouses no matter where the order is placed, so none of the "distributors" warehouse the stuff.
Also, the $300 worth of accessories may end costing little more, so the final talley will be higher then the amount stated on the $1,900 package deal. You have to order at least $300 to qualify for $400 discount.
And, finally, sales tax will apply if you live in one of the distribution center states. Unfortunately for me Virginia is one of them.
Called Festo several days ago with these questions.
They stick with only their published package deals and sales.
Yes, there should be more combinations offered.
The distributor near me, in Exeter, NH, is Minute Man Tool Repair & Supply Company (http://www.minutemantool.com/). I'm not from NH, so I would not have to pay tax. Minute Man has the best shipping rates I've seen. They say, "We add an extra year to all of the manufacturer's warranties," which would mean a 4-year warranty on Festo. It also seems that they are offering some kind of general discount right now, but I need to check this out today.
Also, they say there is a 10% discount on reconditioned Festo products, or 15% off on used ones. The reconditioned models come with the original 3-year warranty. According to them, most "recons" are actually not used at all. Anyway, Festo inspects the recons before they are sold. This might be a great choice.
I'm going to be calling them today to see what kind of deal I can work out on several Festo tools: the AT 65E saw, OF 1000 router, MFT 1080, and a bunch of accessories.
I'll keep you posted.
Matthew - thanks for the tip on reconditioned units.
Thus far I've only visited the Festo U.S. site for pricing and recons are not mentioned anywhere.
I would, however, wait until you get your deal first :-)
There can't be too many reconditioned Festo tools out there.
re - The distributor near me, in Exeter, NH, is Minute Man Tool Repair & Supply Company (http://www.minutemantool.com/). I'm not from NH, so I would not have to pay tax.
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Let me clarify....we don't even have a distributor in Virginia.
But because one of Festo's distribution center is in Virginia, I would be stuck with having to pay taxes even if I order it from out of state.
Maybe I can get around this somehow by checking with Minute Man.
Matthew -
As a followup on where to order Festo -
At this point, there is no advantage in ordering from a distributor.
Although Minute Man is a source, they are not set up as a repair facility (yet) and any refurbished items are available only through Festo and are very limited in quantities.
You have to call Festo to find out what's available even if you place the order through Minute Man.
The ONLY advantage with dealing with Minute Man will be quicker turnaround time for repairs (if ever needed and when they are ready as a service facility) but only for items ordered through them instead of directly from Festo.
Direct purchased orderes will have to be sent to Festo/CA facility.
Festo had one ATF55/1400 at 10% off for 337.50 with 3/yr warranty.
Another one for 20% off with 1 yr warranty.
Information based on calls made today and could change tomorrow.
You're probably right.
But one advantage of buying from Minute Man (or another distributor) is that I won't have to pay taxes, and shipping might be less. I don't understand how Minute Man can charge me so little in shipping. They have to pay taxes to Festo when they order the tools, don't they? They also have to pay higher shipping rates to order the tools from Festo. Don't they lose money when they turn that over to me with no tax and lower shipping rates?
I also learned that there are not many used or reconditioned tools available from Festo. This is a good sign!
You may want to double check with Minute Man on the sales tax....
My conclusion, for myself, is to order direct from Festo.
Only thing I wish for is more package deals.
I verified why they are bundling both RO sanders in the 2G package.
The ES150/3 EQ sander has a finer (3mm) rotational increment vs. the Rotex. I guess for much finer finish.
The Rotex specs are about the same as other brands in RO mode, I think 6mm ?
After looking into this a little more, I agree with you. The best way to go about this is probably to just order it directly from Festo. If you order from a distributor, there is an additional time lag to deal with as well.
I am very impressed that the people at Festo say there are not many reconditioned or repaired models for sale! It means that the company is either not making bad ones, or people don't want to get rid of them, or both.
I do wish Festo sold their products through places like Woodcraft and Lee Valley Tools, and places like that. Wouldn't that make everything so much easier? Their sales would probably pick up also.
But I'm sure they've heard it all before.
I kinda like dealing direct and hearing it straight from the horses' mouth. More control with their operations and the way their products are handled. For a low-volume (so far) operation it's probably not a bad way to do things for the time being.
Matthew -
If you're being notified of this thread, ordered the Spring Package today (last day) along with the hole drilling guide and hole drilling set in the systainer...
If you really want one of the tools, you could always try getting it direct from Europe.
I think one of the reasons teh range is so large in Australia is that we don't have a domestic tool manufacturing industry - therefore there is no Aussie made tool for Aussies to prefer (ie no porter Cable, etc) - to compete against, just the cheap Chinese stuff, middle and upper range Japanese and European tools.
You don't need the MFT for ripping. I use the long guide rail with the circular saw. I just set the panel on sawhorses, line up the guide rail with the marks, and cut. The MFT is nice for crosscuts and routing across a panel. Easy to keep square, and easy to do repetitive cuts. Back to your ripping question...I find it easier to move the saw, rather than move a 4x8 panel. And I get outstanding accuracy with the Festo system--at least as good as a panel saw.
Nick,
What would you say to someone who wanted to use a Festo for finish work. In other words, not use a table saw. Could this system succesfully be used to build a piece of furniture without a table saw?
Sure you can build furniture with the Festo system. You'll miss the table saw if you have to rip several pieces to exactly the same width--Let's say you're doing some frame & panel work, and you need 20 8-foot lengths of 3/4-in hardwood ripped to 2-1/4 inches for rails and stiles. The table saw will be faster and more convenient. But suppose you're building an entertainment center, and you need to accurately crosscut some 20 inch panels. Now the Festo MFT and circular saw combo outshines most table saw setups. So the only realistic answer is : it depends what you're building. Personally, I use the Festo system and I have a very modestly sized table saw. If the workpiece is small, I like to move the wood (table saw); if the workpiece is large, I like to move the saw (Festo).
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