Festool

[Jimmy Harris]

I had occasion to look at some Festool products on a recent trip. Nice stuff. I knew they were expensive but I had no idea . I'm no stranger to paying for quality, and I generally advocate for that approach. That said, is their stuff worth the dough or is it just for cork sniffers?

Festool is aimed at the professional market, not the average hobbyist. Most of their tools are unique in some way that differentiates them from other offerings on the market. Superior dust collection is kind of their calling card. But they also offer several tools that don't have an exact or near equivalent on the market, like their Domino machine. For a professional woodworker, sometimes these unique features can present enough savings in labor costs that over time, these tools will pay for themselves. So a Festool might be cheaper in the long run for them. And for someone working, or attempting to work, as an influencer, having drool-worthy tools can increase views, income, and prestige. So they might benefit more from the name association than the physical tool itself.

But for the average hobbyist, you're not likely to ever recoup the cost differential. This is because you can easily get a quality that does what you need and lasts just as long as a Festool for a lot less from a different brand. So they don't make sense for everyone in every situation. And some of their tools aren't even as good as some other offerings on the market from different brands. Not everything Festool is superior, like their miter saw. Buying quality tools doesn't automatically mean buying the most expensive tools.

And yes, cork sniffers love Festool too, and probably account for a pretty significant portion of their sales. Some people, if you can believe it, actually spend more time collecting tools than using them. But it's their money, and perhaps they get more joy from buying things than doing things. And as long as they're not hurting us by doing that, it wouldn't be right for us to judge.

[Jay Rasmussen]

I think the Domino and Rotex sanders fantastic. Track saw is very nice it's the only one I've ever had. Kapex KS120, excellent precision but the controls are funky. All these worth the money.
I also have a router, kind of underwhelmed with that tool.

[Rob Luter]

Festool is aimed at the professional market, not the average hobbyist. Most of their tools are unique in some way that differentiates them from other offerings on the market. Superior dust collection is kind of their calling card. But they also offer several tools that don't have an exact or near equivalent on the market, like their Domino machine. For a professional woodworker, sometimes these unique features can present enough savings in labor costs that over time, these tools will pay for themselves. So a Festool might be cheaper in the long run for them. And for someone working, or attempting to work, as an influencer, having drool-worthy tools can increase views, income, and prestige. So they might benefit more from the name association than the physical tool itself.

But for the average hobbyist, you're not likely to ever recoup the cost differential. This is because you can easily get a quality that does what you need and lasts just as long as a Festool for a lot less from a different brand. So they don't make sense for everyone in every situation. And some of their tools aren't even as good as some other offerings on the market from different brands. Not everything Festool is superior, like their miter saw. Buying quality tools doesn't automatically mean buying the most expensive tools.

And yes, cork sniffers love Festool too, and probably account for a pretty significant portion of their sales. Some people, if you can believe it, actually spend more time collecting tools than using them. But it's their money, and perhaps they get more joy from buying things than doing things. And as long as they're not hurting us by doing that, it wouldn't be right for us to judge.

Thanks for the thoughtful response.

[Jim Becker]

I have the TS55, CT-22, 1400, 500 and finish sander. The 55 & 22 are about 17-18 yrs old now and keep going. Thankful for that as replacement cost of a 22 is pretty stiff. My work has improved with the 1400 and still getting close to the domino. While very pricey, I have gotten good value out of all the purchases. Working toward another sander but Festool purchases have long term plans attached.

I use the CT-22, also Jack. It just keeps chugging away and other than a coat of dust, it's kinda sorta "new like". LOL And we can still get bags for them, too, which is pretty impressive for a vac I bought in about 2005 or so.

[William Hodge]

My 40th wedding anniversary was two years ago. Wanting to get my wife something special, to show how much I value our 40 years of matrimony, I bought her a Festool Suction Hose D27/32/3, 5m-AS/CTR. I also thought of getting a fernco plumbing adapter to make it work with our central vac. When she opened it, my wife started crying. Wait wait wait it was OK they were tears of joy.

[Derek Cohen]

My 40th wedding anniversary was two years ago. Wanting to get my wife something special, to show how much I value our 40 years of matrimony, I bought her a Festool Suction Hose D27/32/3, 5m-AS/CTR. I also thought of getting a fernco plumbing adapter to make it work with our central vac. When she opened it, my wife started crying. Wait wait wait it was OK they were tears of joy.

I used to buy windsurfing gear for my wife. She did not windsurf, but let me use hers.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Edward Weber]

Festool is aimed at the professional market, not the average hobbyist. Most of their tools are unique in some way that differentiates them from other offerings on the market. Superior dust collection is kind of their calling card. But they also offer several tools that don't have an exact or near equivalent on the market, like their Domino machine. For a professional woodworker, sometimes these unique features can present enough savings in labor costs that over time, these tools will pay for themselves. So a Festool might be cheaper in the long run for them. And for someone working, or attempting to work, as an influencer, having drool-worthy tools can increase views, income, and prestige. So they might benefit more from the name association than the physical tool itself.

But for the average hobbyist, you're not likely to ever recoup the cost differential. This is because you can easily get a quality that does what you need and lasts just as long as a Festool for a lot less from a different brand. So they don't make sense for everyone in every situation. And some of their tools aren't even as good as some other offerings on the market from different brands. Not everything Festool is superior, like their miter saw. Buying quality tools doesn't automatically mean buying the most expensive tools.

And yes, cork sniffers love Festool too, and probably account for a pretty significant portion of their sales. Some people, if you can believe it, actually spend more time collecting tools than using them. But it's their money, and perhaps they get more joy from buying things than doing things. And as long as they're not hurting us by doing that, it wouldn't be right for us to judge.

Best description of Festool I've ever heard, well said.

[mark mcfarlane]

I have maybe 8 or 10 Festool products. The ones that get the most love are the dust extractors, sanders, Domino, and CXS drill. The tracksaw has awesome when I need to build something remotely but in the shop I use a sliding table saw.

The CXS drill, although grossly underpowered for many tasks, is the one I always grab first and hope it works. Really comfortable, light weight, and I love the 90 degree attachment. Great drill if you stay within its power range, otherwise I grab a Makita 18V.

The Kapex is also underpowered, actually horrible to cut 8/4 material, but if you go slow it works fine. It has been accurate and easy to maintain and works fine on 4/4 material.

Oh ya, Festool's scroll saw also gets a good workout in my shop and works well. I don't like the way it turns on and off but otherwise it has been flawless.

The only Festool thing I regret buying is the LR32 system. It takes too long for me to setup and you have to change setups to register right and left sides. I suspect if I used it everyday on a job site it would be amazing but for occasional use I have to restudy instructions,... so it's been sitting in a systainer for 5 years.

I, like many, started with a dust collector and a couple sanders. Vibration-free and almost dust-free sanding was life changing. You still kick up some dust when you go off the edge of a board.

[James Jayko]

Interesting point that I think many, myself included, would fail to see without you mentioning it. Certainly this has a "cost" benefit to it. Thanks for the comment James.

Yeah, even if I still had my shop I'd probably still get it because I like it and it is really well made. But few companies do "modular systems" well. I think the best example was the DeWalt midsize router I had. By the time I had both bases and the edge guide and the (enormous) ABS plastic case for it, the difference in price was probably ~$100-150? But the case was terrible, none of it worked as well (I'm really talking about fine tuning and adjustability; using the router as a router was totally fine once you got it dialed in), and the massive case was absolute garbage, designed with zero thought (because 95% of people probably stick it in a closet or dumpster), and made as cheaply as possible. None of these would be issues really in a proper, permanent shop. But the Systainer holds all the same things (well, no standard base...but why would you have one, other than for a homemade router table?) in a much smaller form factor, and the quality of the storage solution is not even comparable. So if you're one who has to transport tools for use a shared shop or make due in a parking lot or on a deck, its 100% worth the premium price, IMO.

[George Yetka]

Pre wood-working, I poo-poo'd the green stuff to friends that were already into wood working. But once I tried them I quickly changed my tune. I suggest you hit a demo day and try some stuff. A couple of guys above spelled it out. They are expensive but for half of what they make they are the best. The other half they are up there. "The system" is where you really benefit. Once you have an extractor all of their stuff works with it, Their tracks interact with saw/router/jigsaw. Domino is a quick system.

There are others in their field that can be competitive but in the system steered me back to them.

I do like Mirka sanders but I put a festool Plugit on mine.

[William Robert Davis]

A very experienced woodworker friend clued me to the green koolaid with their orbital sander and dust extractor. His words were "Bob, you have to get one of these". Now I have a very tall stack of systainers with their tools. There is one tool that stays out and creates a rush of excitement everytime I use it. I have a pair of their Vac sys vacuum clamps complete with two of every shape clamping head they make. There is nothing like them. Oh there are other much cheaper vacuum clamps, but they do not have the incredible rotation and tilt flexiblity of the festool system.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Festool also has really good resale value and it sells really quick.

Not that most people are concerned about that - - but - - as a fella gets longer in the tooth and his time in the shop is shorter - - it's something to consider.

[Jack Frederick]

Jimmy, you are correct on all counts. But, as a hobbyist over the years, cost effectiveness falls pretty far down the line in satisfaction. So far, for me, every Festool has represented an upgrade from the preceding tool which it replaced. So cost effectiveness vs value, eh? I then cast my eye around the shop and see the Lie Nielsen pile and all cost effectiveness thoughts are right out the window, but every one of them makes me smile when in hand.

I enjoyed your “cork sniffer” analogy. it kinda cut close to the bone. From ‘77-85 I lived in the Napa Valley and diletante cork sniffers drove me nuts. It is a beverage. Drink it, like it, love it, hate it, just don’t sniff the damned corks.

[Jimmy Harris]

Jimmy, you are correct on all counts. But, as a hobbyist over the years, cost effectiveness falls pretty far down the line in satisfaction. So far, for me, every Festool has represented an upgrade from the preceding tool which it replaced. So cost effectiveness vs value, eh? I then cast my eye around the shop and see the Lie Nielsen pile and all cost effectiveness thoughts are right out the window, but every one of them makes me smile when in hand.

I enjoyed your “cork sniffer” analogy. it kinda cut close to the bone. From ‘77-85 I lived in the Napa Valley and diletante cork sniffers drove me nuts. It is a beverage. Drink it, like it, love it, hate it, just don’t sniff the damned corks.

Ha! Yeah, you're right. I didn't include product satisfaction in the equation. There are probably some other reasons I missed.

My point is, there are lots of valid reason to own a Festool. But there are also lots of valid reasons not to. Either way, no one should make us feel guilty for either buying a Festool, or NOT buying a Festool. No two people's situations or needs are identical.

[Edward Weber]

Ha! Yeah, you're right. I didn't include product satisfaction in the equation. There are probably some other reasons I missed.

My point is, there are lots of valid reason to own a Festool. But there are also lots of valid reasons not to. Either way, no one should make us feel guilty for either buying a Festool, or NOT buying a Festool. No two people's situations or needs are identical.

Again, well said.

Also those who own and love your Festool purchases and everything in the Koolaide pitcher, don't' get so defensive about your tools. It's just a tool, they make tons of them everyday.
Whenever this subject is brought up, Festool owners defend them as if they're their children or as if they built them themselves. You just don't see this as much with other brands.
Festool makes some really excellent tools, they also make some things that are ridiculously expensive, which feeds the ridicule from some non owners.

I'm in the camp of, it really doesn't matter what you use, as long as the end result is what you want it to be.