There are some tools that are necessary, and there are others that simply make life easier. I'm here to show you a few workarounds for common machines so you can stop buying Festool (unless you really want to--then go for it).
As an aside note, I am actually a big fan of Festool. So do with that information what you will.
Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video please consider supporting my channel by subscribing and hitting that notification bell. It really helps small channels like mine.
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Items I keep on hand in the shop:
Glue:
Titebond I Wood Glue: amzn.to/3zRXHGv
Titebond III Wood Glue: amzn.to/3MVnG6j
Titebond Quick and Thick: amzn.to/42HGuMC
Power Tools and Accessories:
Table Saw Blade - Woodworkers II: amzn.to/42bIOLa
My favorite trim router: amzn.to/3LbCbTF
DeWalt Trim Router fence: amzn.to/43cYwr2
My Festool Router Setup: amzn.to/3ZPIQal
Extra Fence: amzn.to/3KHi9jI
1/2" dia Router bit: amzn.to/3UkRFYI
A Better Alternative (Spiral Up Cut): amzn.to/3mcPsSp
Sharpening:
Ohishi Waterstones: amzn.to/3TkoZhP
1,000/8,000 Combo (great budget option): amzn.to/3Lqj7Sh
Angle Setting Jig Plans: www.lie-nielsen.com/pages/dow...
Inexpensive Honing Guide: amzn.to/3Jo2Uub
Lie-Nieslen Honing Guide: www.lie-nielsen.com/nodes/423... guide
Sandpaper for Flattening: amzn.to/3Jor73F
My Finish Mix:
Minwax Polyurethane: amzn.to/3kPgpuO
Liberon Finishing Oil: amzn.to/3kXkIEf
Danish Oil (alternative): amzn.to/3Njlabs
Liberon Beeswax: amzn.to/3Jm2yFN
Turpentine: amzn.to/3SWFznB
Mineral Spirits (alternative): amzn.to/3oKU83h
For 5% off any TotalBoat product, visit www.totalboat.com/encurtis
You can stay up to date with my work here:
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“Stop complaining; start hammering” 🔥🔥🔥🔥
100%. Im not here for woodwork ethics lectures!
Get on that t-shirt design Erik! 😁
U dont need hammer … use forehead. Btw u can do excelent work with powertools for quarter of festool price.
I'm a hobbyist that loves woodworking. After a couple of years I have started to buy a few Festool products and I love them. Professionals buy them to be effective, I buy them because I like the feeling of using really good tools. I do woodworking for pleasure and I don't want to ruin that with cheap tools. I love your videos by the way!
Ha I love that. That's also my reason to buy them in the future. I apply that principle at everything. For example a Styrian Harmonica. The better the instrument, the better the sound. Less air is needed too to play a sound. Etc. All in all an awesome experience to play music. If it's sounding crappy, I'd loose interest in something I realy realy love. My granddad said "Buy cheap stuff, you buy it again and again. Buy high quality and you'll buy it once in a lifetime!" I also love well made and manufactured things. I prefer to buy few great products that serve multiple purposes and live a minimalist life, than having like 1,000 different things for everything, that I don't use anyway, because I don't enjoy them. Enjoy creating and woodworking 🤟
Complete ditto here!
Touche 👍
100% same here. You put it perfectly. This is a hobby for pleasure, and if it’s within my means, why not. Slowly building my Festool collection.
Yep, same here in all points. I also like knowing I have the most precise tools. I know that if my project wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t because I skimped on the tools. They are expensive, but it’s a “buy once, cry once”.
I get it, on every level, that a circular saw can act as a track saw… however once u use a real track saw there is no way that you go back.
Dust collection is far superior on a track saw
I was a cabinet and furniture maker for 56 years, and now just a hobbyist. If you make your living working with wood you will naturally gravitate to the most efficient methods you can afford because time is money and money spent on seemingly expensive tools is quickly amortized by your production rate. For hobbyists the same is true on a smaller scale. As for the “woodworking purists” that bad mouth the use of power tools, especially expensive ones, I’ve always said this; If the cabinet makers, furniture makers, pattern makers, and wheel wrights of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries would have had access to power tools, and in that vein Festool tools, they wouldn’t have thought twice about using them. Then as now time is money. There’s nothing wrong with using hand tools and hand planes to build a project, it’s very satisfying, but ….. it’s not as profitable as the alternatives if you are trying to earn a living. The best part of this is that there is plenty of room for the use of both old and new technology. For me that mix is what keeps me involved in the craft. Thanks for the insightful video.
Agreed 💯. Any old timey woodworker would absolutely embrace mechanized processes if they could. And to assume otherwise is silly. Cheers my man.
I hear your point and acknowledge that many would have chosen this path as you say, but speaking as a violinmaker and woodworker, I’d argue that many would still choose hand tools and the slower method. In the luthier trade you can find instruments made by cnc, in factories, with or without power tools, etc. If I were to make violins with a cnc machine, there’s no way I could charge what top violinmakers charge, because the end product, even if it seems identical, just simply isn’t. And at the end of the day, some out there are making stuff that people will one day throw in the trash or neglect and not even think twice about it, such as factory made violins or old kitchen cabinets . Now if one took their time, put honest effort and good craftsmanship, and charged a pretty penny, where the customer knows exactly how long it took, and how much care one took to make it (violins for example), they would value it their entire lives, which is why there are still so many good violins still around today. Just a different perspective for those who might want to take the slower road. More production is not always more profitable, and more profits do not always mean more production. But great video and I appreciate hearing the other side if things, as a person who recently started using festool. They make great products, but I’d agree not all are necessary or even desirable over other methods.
Absolutely agree. I use the point about dovetails. They were invented because adhesives were relatively weak and short lived; so it was necessary to have a mechanical joint on elements such as drawer fronts. Now, we don’t need that mechanical assistance. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t cut dovetails if you like that aesthetic; just that they are not needed structurally. I ran a sideline business making furniture; not big, just 2.5 FT equivalents. We made mainly pieces inspired by the UK Arts and Crafts with some having a lot of Greene & Greene touches. We had only a small number of quite well-off clients who appreciated this style but couldn’t find exactly what they wanted as an original. I was showing one lady some sketches of a small table to go alongside her favourite armchair. It had, as requested, a single drawer and it was bowed in line with the remainder of the table. I showed a quick sketch of the interior and was asked what were those arrow features on the sides of the drawers; why had I had put them in when the rest of the unit was curves. I didn’t have a good answer except I thought they inferred my skill. So, they were removed and the drawer built just with hidden domino’s. Lesson learnt for me on design.
Agree. The funny thing is that they did use the latest technology of their time.
@@AC_S007 absolutely. Throughout the ages, people who want to work wood for a living have always used the most modern, affordable methods available at the time. The progression from stone axes to bronze to iron to steel; the progression from man power to water power and then engine power all demonstrate this. There is a lot to be said for hand finishing as I don’t think you can beat that final manual finessing but as for rough dimensioning, it’s machines all the time for me. If doing everything without power tools is what you like doing, then good for you - but I can’t see how it might make the end product more authentic or superior to others. Just my take.
Here’s my two penneth. I am a self employed joiner of 43 yrs! I have done the job the hard way- cutting mitres by hand, pushing a handsaw down the length of architraves and sanding timber by hand coming close to choking from the dust. Festool absolutely changed my career. Their dust extraction, their track saw, their domino, sanding, need I go on! They were the first people to think about my lungs. I’ve inhaled too much dust in my time but it stopped once I jumped on the Festool system. I have a smug grin on my face when I’m planing 4mm off the edge of a door in a lived in bedroom. The air is that of Switzerland. I absolutely salute Festool. They will ALWAYS get my vote and get my money! If you want to piss about improvising with bits of straight wood and dowels then crack on. I have, with all my years, found the best power tool manufacturers and the best way to do the job.
A huge difference between a track/plunge saw versus a circular saw and straight edge is dust control. The circular saw is going to leave dust everywhere and the track saw is going to direct most of it to the vac. The huge difference between the dust extractor and broom is the amount of airborne dust which settles on everything.
Absolutely. Festool’s dust collection is the best on the market.
Would be interested in you trying mafell tools. At least equal quality, if not better on some products. But it's more designed towards traditional timber framing.
I have pretty much everything you could ever want for woodworking in my shop. For several months a year I work at the cottage. We can't keep much around as the shop floods every few years. About the only tool I have is an old table saw I have to recondition after every flood. But with that, a mechanic's bench vise, clamps, and basic hand tools I bring each year, I get by surprisingly well. A planer would be nice, but one year I didn't place it high enough above the water...
As a professional finish carpenter, nothing wastes time and adds potential for mistakes like using a fence and measuring to make long straight cuts. The track saw is a game changer for PROFESSIONALS. So as a woodworker who retired from professional carpentry to my own shop I am delighted to have many nice tools but if your just getting started the advice in this video is excellent!
Dust collection is important, but it can be added, or is available, on many saws other than track saws. Two separate issues.
Absolutely spot on! Some people just need to work with what they can afford and take pride in getting around issues!
The tsc 55 is straight gangster 😎 The hkc55 is just as good on a smaller scale, with the fsk track even better. The cxs and c18 are so sensitive yet strong it’s unbelievable I’m entirely cordless out of my van with the exception of my tablesaw, I’ll buy the new festool tablesaw day 1 if I can get one. The systainers fit better in a stack or side by side, rather than the ridiculously sized pack outs The Bluetooth of the midi vac in conjunction with the tools is ultra clean and the remote for the end of the hose saves countless trips walking back to your vacuum I could go on about the routers and vecturo but yeah. You get the point
Appreciate that you still actually make things. Several woodworking KZheadrs I’ve been watching for years has gone strictly “content”, aka videos with top 10 lists and no actual building or woodworking anymore. I watch these videos to learn and be inspired.
Thank you my man. I’m glad you’re enjoying the content.
Same. I moved here as I really get inspired by your "not typical" box builds, etc. Appreciate the content, and wish I had a woodwork teacher like yourself when I went to school.
And some of the newbies you can tell have never earned a living at it.
I’m a professional carpenter and have made quite a few custom doors for people over the years. All day spent with a plunge router is a killer on the back, so I stumped up the $1500( this was 8 years ago so cost more now) for the big domino. Well I’m making an 8 panel door now and it took roughly an hour to cut in 48 mortises!! The domino and track saw are a must…..yes you can alternate but the dust collection is something that should be highlighted. Great video, I’m gonna subscribe mate so keep ‘em coming.
Thanks man! I appreciate it!
Beautifully done. I am at the hobbyist stage of woodworking and I find refreshing to see the professionals telling us that we really don't need the most expensive tools. Use what you have and enjoy the process.
Glad you found some value in it my dude 🤙
Get Mafell instead.
@@farmcat3198right because festool isn’t expensive enough.
@@sz3231 Each Festool saw I have has some little quirk that requires you create a jig, buy an accessory, or buy an updated saw to overcome. Mafell tools have less of those quirks, so you aren't wasting your time or money building jigs or buying accessories. When you look at the whole equation, Mafell seems more efficient and cost effective overall.
I am truly very happy for those who have the budget to buy Festool and Sawstop, etc. Thanks for the reminder from a skilled professional that we don't have to have that budget to get joy from woodworking :)
If I have a message, it’s precisely that 🙂
Sawstop is an amazing technology and I would have it in a flash if I had employees and insurance. Because employees, not as people, but as risks, are morons. There is never any reason to be hurt by a table saw. Though I have been on two occasions... Moron! Basically get a not too powerful one if your workflow allows, I got hit by a 3HP throwing things around and that was horrible; Don't make the saw do everything, some of the things people try to push them to do are dangerous. For instance I almost never through rip any more. I don't recommend it for everyone, If I had to run quantity I would gear up for it. But for me, I just never pass my hands. even with a push device, past the blade. The problem is that the accident mode is very conditional on the set-up, and I have seen a new process go south twice. In a home shop it is a different cut almost every time. I will use other power saws, or hand saws if they are safer. SS does not protect against kick back which is a lethal threat. My current saw has a leeson 1/2 horse power motor on it. 3/4s is enough. This motor came off my small lathe. I would not recommend that small a motor, but it is fine with softwoods. I prefer staying within the 110V range of motor sizes.
As an occasional DIYer, so not even a hobbyist, it is extremely important to me that a maximum of safety features are build in the tools that I buy for a certain project. An example, I bought a cheap table saw a decade ago. Using that thing made me break out in sweat, because I felt it was hella dangerous. I never touched that cheap table saw again and bought myself a Festool jigsaw, for building garden beds and the likes. Now I am faced with a big renovation project and will be faced with larger sheets to cut and I have been educating myself on saws for a while now. Mostly because I don't want to buy something I will be too afraid to use again. So a regular circular saw is just not an option for me as a risk conscious beginner. I need a tool that has the latest safefeatures the market is offering, a tool that will correct or prevent most mistake I might bring to the table. So yes, I am looking at the latest festtool track saw with kickback prevention and I will not buy another tool. I will be saving up for that. Because if I hurt myself with a cheap tool and land in hospital, it will cost me a 1000 times more in medical expenses, revalidation and lost income. But what I will do to cut costs, as I don't yet need it right away (I am guessing I have about a yea) I will be at the lookout for a used one and pay only 2/3rd of the price or 1/2 if I am lucky.
I love your approach to the subjects at hand. I've been wood working since trees where invented and love learning new stuff. Keep it up.
The line at about 12:36 "it doesn't really matter what tools you have in your shop" reminded me of a bumper sticker I saw 30 years ago advertising a fishing-related business in CA's Central Valley: "it's not how deep you cast your rod, it's how you wiggle your worm". Still makes me laugh; thought it might amuse someone else here too. :)
Having upgraded from a Milwaukee cordless and Makita corded sander, I will say a Festool finish sander is 100% worth the price jump. Dust collection, vibration, and braking when you turn it off really make it a huge improvement.
Their sander is brilliant for sure… but I had nothing to comp it to really 😂
Piece of sandpaper wrapped around a block, been using it for years 😂
@@ENCurtis mirca ,Metabo if you need to compare .
Any sanding of volume needs Festool
I hear good things about the sander, but... If Ave is right about internals in Festool, I wonder if they will last. Air sanders if you have the air, have a lot more torque. What do car shops use? And if you really want to take a bit, I move up to a 7" polisher. Internet woodworkers aren't necessarily the pros.
Stellar post, information, AND hands on examples ... and "Just Do It"! Many people in the early learning stages of - a variety of creative actualization - get stuck unnecessarily. It is very easy to see why you would be/are great teacher and inspiration!
Thank you!
As someone who has learned this entire hobby by watching KZhead it is so refreshing to find someone who cuts through in the KZhead bs and just says “just make a thing” and stop farting what others have or don’t have. My philosophy is just to “ use what you have until you get to where we want to be.” Thank you so much.
Have to say I really appreciate your passion for the craft and you must have been an excellent teacher. I had a great woodworking teacher in a boss I had almost 30 years ago. I let that part of my life slip away when I had to concentrate on Raising a family but in the past year or so I have began again to "make a Thing" Thanks for your content.
Thank you my friend. Good teachers are invaluable, and I owe much of my career to a few key folks who were brilliant and patient teachers. Grateful that those people exist in the world.
Great comments in the intro about using modern (and quality) tools. Just as in woodworking and accounting, the same applies in making artwork (I’m a painter/illustrator). Many amateurs in painting are caught up in nostalgia to an absurd degree, and put so many obstacles in their own way that (especially if they are getting a late start) they will literally DIE before they achieve any kind of proficiency.
My friend, who cares what people’s judgments. Most people are so unhappy that trolling is therapeutic for them. You know, misery loves company. You’re awesome and I agree with you completely.
Thank you brother 👊
Your a pro I’m a hobbyist I enjoy making with hand tools and I also enjoy your tips and tricks I don’t care how expensive your tools are,thanks for sharing.
I got a Milwaukee track saw recently and it has made a huge difference. It's so much easier to break down sheet goods than having to do offsets and clamp down guides for my circular saw. Not to mention how much less dusty it is.
Loved the video. I've been honing my craft for decades and i get paid lots of money to do everything for the customers and when building fancy stairs or cabinets I need better equipment so it is easier to do a better job and do it faster so finally festool is slowly replacing all fine wood crafting tools and I will still have the DW tools for the outside rain days and other places that are not going to see fine finishes. I have subscribed to enjoy your ideas on the craft we all have something to share. Thanks for sharing.
You knocked this right out the park and then some. Very lighthearted and funny, and right up my street. Never been a "must have it because its the best, chaser" So the points you make resinate very well with me. Thank you for your point of view and input and for sharing your content. Keep up the great work. Love and Respect from North London UK.
Thank you! I'm really glad it resonated with you.
One of the reasons I subscribed was because of your background. I like how it’s uncluttered and organised with the things that are needed. And for the newbie’s to woodworking I think it also looks like an achievable armoury. Some people just love to complain about nothing 😂
That’s good to know, actually. Hadn’t considered how it would feel achievable to newer woodworkers. Thanks for pointing that out.
Great point! I spend a lot of time looking at the tools and the set up in the background rather than the speaker.
@ENCurtis I always look at the background. I have OCD and a messy room, cluttered tool cabinet, saw dust everywhere ~ I cannot watch the video no matter how good the info is. A clean shop is what I always had and my customers thought I hired a cleaning company. 😂 I messy shop is run by a messy person. Messy people make more mistakes. I subbed because of the clean workspace. Neat, organized, let's learn bro ! (I'm assuming it's not that hard. I'm a former custom car builder, sheetmetal fabricator/ current artist)
@@99sentcoins Yes everything has to have its place. I'm traveling since 3 years and sometimes where I stay I help people to organise. Once I put up a tool wall and hammered nails in it to hang all the tools. I hated it! For me it has to be organised and beautiful. Everything to be precise.
Great to hear from a practitioner rather than a bullshitter. I love my Festool sander with dust extraction. Makes a huge difference working on boats.
Your background is perfect! Screw the “ KZhead” set up! You have channels out here that play woodworkers on KZhead and all they do is tool reviews and have built a few coffee tables out of 2x4’s and shill tools with affiliate links and lie to ppl! Oh and try to spread the gospel lol! Unreal dude. I love your channel because it’s NONE of that! Your SKILL is the reason I watch brother! Keep up the great work! Sorry I don’t usually comment that was a bit of a rant I’ve been holding in! Shout out from NYC!
😂😂😂 I know who you speak of brother, couldn’t watch that anymore.
@@spycedezynuk Lol dude it’s gotten so bad! I can’t either! It’s like a cult!
Thank you brother! I appreciate that. Though now I’m curious who’s out there preaching 😂 but I won’t ask!
@@ENCurtis you’re the man bro! Lol ohhh I think you have an idea!
Where I live, people won't pay for hand made high quality wood work. You could put your heart and soul into a beautiful work of art and people would rather go to hobby lobby and buy mass produced crap.
Thanks for sharing! You are absolutely right: Just enjoy making things. And as a professional, of course you should strive to save time by being more efficient.
Not a fan of Festool but you be you. I am retired, so don't need to worry about production rate. You make the point well for your own case. For me, after six decades of woodworking of one type or another in the nooks and crannies of life, I enjoy the Paul Sellers approach. Not to say I'm a Luddite, nor is Paul; I do have and use a Sawstop, I use a band saw for resawing and my lathe is the powered variety. But I can't recall exactly how long it's been since I used one of my electric routers. And my most used tool is a bench chisel. You add a reasonably balanced discussion and thanks for that. I just worry about newbs who might shy away from the 'entry costs' of woodworking because of the Festool (and others) hype. Thanks again.
Thanks for bringing us back to earth as new woodworkers. It's overwhelming seeing all these guys on KZhead buying up Festool and SawStop.
"Buying"? *cough*..... Let me introduce you to the term "influencer"...
I retired from an unrelated industry and took up woodworking with zero experience. But I liked technology so I bought a nice CNC that had many more capabilities than I “needed”. My lack of experience has many times caused me to question what heck I was doing. On occasions I lost the enjoyment of it. Your comment about “just make something and enjoy it” really hit home. I am blessed that I can afford nice equipment. But I do get frustrated that I am not able to get the results the equipment has the ability to achieve. Gotta get back to “having fun” even if the outcome is firewood.
Agree with you 💯 Was working on two 10ft live edge slabs when i decided maybe i wanted one. I pushed them together and cut both at the same time that really was perfect but just had it in my head i needed the track saw lol
They absolutely have their place in the shop. I’m simply arguing there is always a workaround, too 🤙
appreciate your content, great work @ENcurtis, here is a question, from the using experience point of view, does it worth to buy battery powered Festool, or are the corded Festool more practical? due to their fantastic vacuum system and the design of detachable cord.
Some things Festool improves on is occupational safety and health, noise and dust control. Definitely worth considering. Professional tools are more expensive for a reason.
Agreed 💯. The dust collection on festool products is second to none.
I actually love the fact that your KZhead background is your true workspace, not some ad driven marketing for woodpeckers or festool or any other tool brand. I get so disheartened by people who launch KZhead as content creators being makers, then get the sponsor bug, or the need to tell you the 7 tools you need in your shop and have completely strayed away from the roots of why they started. THANK YOU for being true to your craft and not succumbing to the majority. I prefer makers who make content, rather than content creators who "sometimes" actually make things. Keep being true to your craft, thank you for the education you provide.
Another saying that should be added, "Stop buying equipment; start building". I work for a national woodworking chain (blue is their color) and I sell way too much expensive equipment to people that say, "I'm setting up my shop...". Dude, why are you spending thousands of dollars for "schtuff" when you don't even have a ruler or marking gauges! Great video and love the snark bathed in reality.
Ah, yes. You know the ravages of capitalism first hand 😂 I own a few items of blue equipment myself but certainly encourage learning folks to build these things themselves. That’s where the learning happens!
Brilliant! Still love my Festools. Back in the day we fixed a piece of ply to our circ saw fence thus making a 'rail' of sorts, also loose tenon joinery is not a new thing, it's been around for years, great video thank you , subscribed look forward to more, keep ,em coming, cheers
@ENCurtis I have to say that, since I found your channel you have become my favourite woodwork content creator - not only is your work amazing but your philosophy is inspiring. My late Father was a true craftsman who created beautiful perfect scale models of Napoleonic era cannons and flintlock pistols - his most beautiful creation was a working reproduction of a Queen Anne Dragoon officer's flintlock pistol - perfect in every detail right down to the coat of arms on the escutcheon plate which he crafted by melting brass key blanks onto a plate and then hand filing the design. He worked in the evenings after his day job as an industrial engineer in a 10'x8' brick outhouse using mainly hand tools that he collected over 30 years. His two pieces of technology were a hand-held black and decker drill, and a small bench top bandsaw. Oh, and he also had a sort of cradle thing that he could attach his drill to that became a small wood turning lathe. If he had the resources I'm sure he would have embraced much of the technology we take for granted today, although I'm pretty sure that he would have taken a pretty jaded view of much of it. As a boy he used to take me fishing and I was constantly browsing fishing tackle catalogues, imagining what I might catch if only I had that new reel, or this latest rod but, as he used to say 'most fishing tackle catches more fishermen than fish'. I think that kind of sums it up. It's worth thinking about some of the greatest names in furniture design - from Chippendale and Hepplewhite, to Hans Wegner, and remembering the level of technology they had available to them, yet both their designs and the craftsmanship have stood the test of time. (Incidentally I have actually seen close up an original Thomas Chippendale chair (that isn't actually listed in the known commissions - it is the seat of the Grand Master in a Masonic lodge!). In 2003, after around 250 years, it was being sent for its first ever restoration! Now that's 'heirloom', and not a domino in sight!
I have a DeWalt circular saw I purchased in 1984. Just changed the blade the other day. I have used biscuits.with a DeWalt trim router. I have the Skil 300 buck table saw and love it.
There are lots of options between the festool vacuum and the broom, having an immensely better, not only quality/price ratio, but also quality and performance than those shown.
OMG !!!!! Thank you for this post!!!!!! I never understood the obsession with the tracksaw. It's nice but just feels like everybody is making this a must have. I absolutely love this post. tks.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video! I've been a cabinetmaker for over 20 years. And never bought into the green cool-aid. Then last summer. I was cutting a lot of white oak 1.75" thick was using the straight edge and circular saw technique. And no matter what the cuts were not square or straight. Bought the Mafell mt55 and the cuts were so smooth and straight. Next was a ct26 vac for my shop at home and then ro 150 and of 2200. And now I see why these tools are so great. Does a hobbyist need these tools no. But if you're making a living these professional tools are worth the investment.
They are absolutely worth the investment… if you have the ability to invest. But worth it and necessary are different statements!
My favorite is all these fellow DIYrs who post how-to videos for noobs then quickly bust out a tool that cost 1000's. Thanks for offering alternatives to those just starting.
Great information, thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching, Jeff!
It was a fun video. I'm a sort of pro too and have one festool machine, the ro150 sander. I saw a demo and realised that it would save me a ton of time. That has proved true. The other ones aren't necessary for me based on the amount of use that I have for them. If I had the work to justify them, hell yes, I would buy them. There are alternatives for the ro 150 now and I have the Bosch one at home and it is good but it vibrates more than the festool. If it had been available when I bought the festool, I may have bought it for the workshop
Highly amusing video, very encouraging & informative, thanks wise guy. Sup w wooden scowling Frankenstein in our top left corner of your shop wall?
I was cutting plywood forms for concrete work using a 2 by 1 inch piece of aluminum channel and an old worm drive Skill saw, at least 40 years ago. Necessity is the mother of invention....
I love “stop complaining and start hammering” start making things… that is the beauty of woodworking… and I have to contradict you on one point… I love a piece of forniture even when is not perfect because that is the beauty of hand made woodworking that little mistake is unique and that what makes that piece so special! But for the rest I completely agree with your points. Especially stop complaining and start making!
I love the video. I recommend Festool to anyone who can afford the tools. I was a production woodworker for 30+ years. Now I’m partly retired, so still woodworking as a hobby. And yeah I would recommend Festool. Have a great day.
Personally I happen to like a working shop rather than a stage set background. Now to the Festool discussion, I think that comes down to a lot of us are hobbyists, not professionals making a living at it. Yet many "influencers" (I hate that term) imply that us amateurs need those expensive tools to do quality work, when as you just showed, there are many good alternatives that just take a little extra time. That time is important to someone who needs to make money, but isn't the biggest driver to someone doing it for fun.
Precisely. It’s all about identifying what your goals are. Efficiency? Buy specialized tools. Business? Buy the best tools you can afford to get the job done well. Hobby? Just play man!
I do get influenced by some of them . Do my own research and have to put away some money to get that or an equivalent tool . Had a look at Triton as some influencers use it and dismissed it as being mostly: crappy toys for boys. So had to put away some more money to get the Metabo , no regret at all. In my opinion Metabo is being underrated vs dewalt,Bosch ,Milwaukee etc
I laughed out loud in the office when you pulled out the “old school” track saw alternative. 😂
God bless you for making this video! Everyone on YT is all about Festool, but they are pros and they are usually sponsored. Thank you sir, great relief!
Thank you for this. Yes, I like Festool but I only have a tracksaw and a sanding set up (ETS 125 sander & CT 15 E HEPA). Got the tracksaw for the same reason you stated in your content and I also have a very small shop. I do a lot of live-edge work, table mostly and on the small side, coffee and entryway tables. And I did not have a table saw when I started back woodworking 2+ years ago. The sanding system is a recent addition was mainly for health reasons and my shop vac/dust collector did not work to keep the smaller particles out of the air. The smallest HEPA system from Festool (CT E 15) was the most logical choice and so far I love it! I will likely never buy the domino system as I have dowel systems and a biscuit system, which works just fine for the type of joinery I need for my projects. Oh, I love your background! Again thank you for the content and keep it up.
Hello, great videos. I just found your channel and really enjoy it. I wanted to comment on the router section, when referencing an edge of the router you showed. Do you typically use the flat section, or the round section? I have found using the round side is more forgiving in human error. You can rotate the router a little bit and it won't vary off of the intended path. Where on the straight side if you rotate a little then the bit will move of the intended path.
I enjoyed every second of it. Great tips (or no brainers for some) but the style they are presented is the what makes them stick. “Stop complaining, start hammering.” I loved it.
Right on!! Thank you!
I love your work! Your youtube videos are very informative
Thanks man!
My favourite jig is the simplest,a plywood base with a second straight piece glued on top for the skill saw track,BUT on the other side is a jointer to clean up the edge. Just always use the same router and bit and same edge of the router. Can be used on thick slabs or sheet goods. Cheers
I like vidoes and I like your style and agree make the thing with whatever you have. Enjoy the process and the problem solving that may be involved in getting it done. I really enjoy making the jigs to make that happen.
Thank you my man 🤙
Spot on video. The ending summed it up perfectly. I still want the OF1400, Just saying. Thank You Sir!
Thank you brother. And that 1400 is worth the investment, imo!
I agree. Whatever it takes to build efficiently. BUT don't tell me to buy a cnc machine, or a Festool etc. As long as you and the client are pleased with the end result. Thanks for a cool video!
Brother, I love this video! Everything you mentioned is absolutely true!
Thank you my dude!
As usual another great video funny and informative so very true use what you have and be happy for the people that can afford and make a living with great tools. Also love your background
Thank you!
The benefit of the domino over dowel is not the strength, but speed. The only factor - "loose fit in one direction" - allows fast hand-by-eye alignment of the tool over wood piece.
Thanks Eric - this video definitely made me think and question. Keep them coming please. 👍
I am a hobbyist woodworker n I own a few pieces of nice power tools including a festool track saw. As my go deeper in my journey I notice the real art and joy comes from making better quality products with the existing tools that I already have instead of wishfully relying on another new or better tool. I think I understand and appreciate good quality tools but the increase in speed does not warrant for buying one for since I am just a hobbyist.
Thanks for great input. Through history from the egyptian the tehnical development has offered the artisans better and better tools. New tools have always been welcomed in the industry becuase it allowed improved quality at lower cost. Im sure this development will continue.
Great video as always. I just checked your website…. You have really nice pieces there! Found your channel a couple of months ago and subbed. I have been wood working for almost fifty years and have upgraded equipment over the years. I started out with a handsaw, hammer and nails and upgraded when needed or could afford it. I have been looking at Festool recently and have used some of a friends Festool tools. They are quality and enjoyable to use. What drill was that you showed at the 11:24 mark. I didn’t recognize it. Keep up the quality content. Ron
haha thanks man. That's the old wackin' drill 😎
Sage advice:make things. As a commercial photographer for years, back when film was a thing, so many people asked for camera and lens advice. I'd tell them to master whatever potentially shitty camera they owned until they understood the limits of their current gear and principles of composition and exposure. This meant lenses, bodies, flash, light meters, even tripods. If you don’t know why your pictures suck even a Hasselblad won’t make you good photographer. Same with woodworking tools. Been a woodworker for 20+ years and I suggest that two things matter most there too: accurate measuring and proper clamping. Master those and you are on your way. Great video and advice.
I just got around to watching this episode. I'm a multi-year hobby wood worker working out of a two car garage in which we still park two cars. When I'm done for the day, everything is cleaned up and the equipment rolled back against the walls. I would love to have a jointer, band saw and drum sander, but I have no space for them. Therefore, I use work-arounds in every project. I can get a flat edge square to a flat face without a jointer. It just takes me much longer to do so. Getting a straight edge on longer boards is more difficult, but I can do that too with a jig and my tablesaw. That's just one example. I do have a lot of nice power tools which I love using. I have a lot of hand tools which I love using. If I were a production shop or even just a custom shop from which I made a living, you can bet your last dollar that I would be buying Festool and Sawstop because I would be safer and more productive/efficient. Thanks for a good video.
Very necessary and realistic view of Festool, as viewed by 50 year pro (and Festool owner.) Simple embellishment of the straightedges you show for saws and routers can raise their technical level much closer to Festool at very minimal expense: Make a two piece straightedge comprising a wide bottom piece of 1/4" ply or hardboard with a narrower 1/2" thick straightedge attached to top. Make sure the bottom piece oversails the straightedge by a little more than the offset between edge of machine base and the cut line. Make an initial cut (with saw or router with specific bit installed) right through the bottom piece of the straightedge. You now can place the cut edge of the straightedge directly onto your layout marks without any math to accommodate offset. Yet another step closer to Festool functionality can be achieved by installing anti-slip strips to the bottom of the DIY straightedge, thus eliminating need for clamping (as well as the possible interference of clamp heads discussed in this video.) In another lifetime as shopfitter, we ran miles of high dollar slatwall and laminates using such straightedges for perfect results, long before Festool had crossed the ocean. And we certainly did not invent these basic aids. Knowledge and logic have always been the fundamental tools of the trade --- for centuries before electricity got involved...
Ah hahahaha! Love this video. I could own Festool, but I'm a hobbyist at this point... we'll see in the future. BUT you made me laugh. Thank you.
THIS video is why I subscribed. I love the sense of humor and the attitude. "Stop complaining; start hammering" indeed!
Loved the video. As a former carpenter/contractor, my garage is full of tools more suited for carpentry than cabinet making. Over the past 5 decades, I've built a few pieces of furniture, but trim work was my specialty. I've been without a shop for the past 5 years after building and moving into our new home. I am currently considering what I need for furniture building, as if I need more tools. Your video is helpful in reminding me that there is always a work around, even if I can afford the fancier tools to add to an already crowded shop. Looking forward to watching your other videos.
Nice end credit music too , can’t beat a resonator
We need more KZheadrs who produce content that helps the average woodworker and fewer people that get paid to produce content pushing to sell gear. Ah social media, the biggest ad market there is. Great explanation of how we can get by with the basic tools we probably already have. To be honest, if I were made of money, I'd also buy all those fancy tools. I spend where needed... so I did buy a mid-range cordless track saw because I absolutely needed one to break down sheet goods to get them into my shop. It really does such a good job I don't have to re-cut the edges again on my table saw. My next major purchase... a mobile dust extractor so I can finish sand in my house (drywall, painting prep, etc.) and not make a huge mess. I'm leaning towards the Festool Ct Midi... as expensive as it is.
The broom got me bursting with laughter 😁👍🏼
Great video. Thank you for stating ( first video I have seen where it's pointed out) that the Festool domino is a hand held tool that does what other very high$$$$ doller tools do. When you look at what it can replace and what it does its really pretty amazing. FYI I do not have one. Can I afford it, yes. Am I going to get one... no, that's a lot of fishing gear😅 .
😂😂 see now THATS the point of this video. Allocate your funds where you want or need. A domino will do you no good if you resent it for keeping out of the River!
Thank you. When I was taught (way too many years ago to mention) I was not allowed near ANY power tools until I could use the hand tools with my eyes shut. The dustpan and brush being the most important tool in the workshop.... After the coffee pot that is 😊
The coffee pot takes priority for sure 😂
As long as it was on a wood stove, no electricity allowed, those fancy electric kettles make it too easy, that ain't real coffee making. 😮
Loved the presentation.....Very Entertaining!! Will be checking out your other content. Appreciate you making the point of distinguishing between a professional wood worker and the corresponding investment in tools and the needs of the hobbyist. Of course professional level equipment allows more speed and accuracy but at a significant investment which the average wood worker does NOT need to make to enjoy the craft and produce quality projects......It'll just take longer.
BRILLIANT and FUN as always... Hugs from Lisbon, Portugal, EU
Thank you!
Just found your channel, love it!
As a professional restoration painter….my festool gear is an absolute must especially in high end finishes.
I really like your perspective. A corded track saw is definitely on my near future tools definitely not buying a cheap one. I usually buy the best tools within budget. There are many high quality tool manufacturers, many tools down to are personal preference and perception. My current table saw is a 50+ year old contractor stile with a cast iron top and wings it has been significantly modified I will match it’s precision, and performance against any current table saw running on 110vac, there are budget choices. I spent a long time as a low budget woodworker, inexpensive tools can good buys or dumpster fill.
Quick comment about your router demo, turn it around to the curved side, flat side is prone to errors if you cant keep it perfectly flat on the fence. With the curved side, it should all be the same radius so you can focus on just keeping any contact with the fence.
Exactly.
assuming the round part is concentric to the bit... on some tool you get surprises...
Even if it isn't perfectly concentric, I think you're better off using the curved side. Let's say the outer perimeter is eccentric to the bit by 1/8", and while routing a dado you rotate the tool through 15 degrees. How far will the bit deflect? Now use the flat side that's ~3 inches from the center of the bit and ~3 inches wide. If the tool rotates even 5 degrees, how far will that deflect the bit? @@sergegostoli9524
The thing with me is if you’re a professional furniture maker then Festool is common sense. If your a hobbyist then it’s silly to use super expensive machines when your only making things for yourself or family and friends because you don’t have deadlines to meet. Thanks for the video.👍👍
Agreed 💯
Respectfully I disagree. Some buy boats, motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, mountain bikes, computers, video games, fix old cars, etc to live life and enjoy. A hobbyist woodworker is equally justified buying great tools that make them smile and enjoy the craft…period.
Well said! Your shop looks fantastic to me, especially on the intro when you're walking in. It looks like a fully functional shop, not a backdrop for the purpose of product placement. Those channels are fine if you're looking for new products. It seems to there's a more hands on approach to your channel. Keep up the great work. 👍
As a follow up I find you a spectacular host and teacher. I enjoy your content, I like your rants, I see humility in your teachings as well as thought provoking intent. What you actually did is make a seriously good video for Festool not bash them. Festool should be paying you. Happy sawdusting………..
Thank you 🙂
Masterfully done by a true professional!! ☕️👍
Thank you!
As a painter we've used metabo 3" sanders for 15 years. Great on ladders but they have been breaking and their prices have almost doubled in recent years. We realized they are only lasting 1-2 years each! So we just bought a festool sander, the Rotex 90. It was more than twice the cost but if it lasts it will be worth it. It's ridiculously smooth and works great. That's my only experience with festool and so far i like it.
Fun video.. I used to work as a Glazier. and was able to have great tools on hand. mostly the Festool track saw but then other brands. But now when i just do hobby stuff i use my dads old FESTO track saw from the early 90s... The fucked up thing with that is that i notice difference in quality from that to like a newer Makita track saw. I still enjoy the old Festo more. so lately i started looking for a new Festool track saw . also their PS 300EQ is so damn badass . i bought a second hand one that been to hell and back i think.. but hey.. hard to beat.
You nailed dude! When I see people criticizing and complaining about any machine or tool it is simply because they have never built anything before.
Eric, thank you so much for your down-to-earth explanation of everything you talk about and demonstrate. Even as an 87 year old retired pipe organ builder, I find something in each of your videos - which inspire me to get out into my old workshop and work on something new. Especially, thank you for shoving aside all the BS about Festool - which, I realize are high quality tools, but so expensive that most people who really want to express themselves through woodwork, feel that the expense is not worth it. Keep it up - and continue to keep us all informed - whether in how to do something within the area of woodwork, or what to avoid by all the rumor mongers.
I recently found your channel and I have been enjoying the videos. I like that you are a professional woodworker doing youtube, vs a professional KZheadr doing woodwork. I have a question about one thing you mentioned in this video. When you were talking about using the router with the straight board as a fence you mentioned the distance from the center to the flat edge of the router plate. I had seen it suggested to use the rounded part of the plate against the fence because if it rocks against the fence while cutting it doesn't affect the cut, but if using the flat side it would. Intuitively it seems like flat surface should be against flat surface. Is that a thing or does it matter?? Thanks again.
Truly entertaining! Thanks so much. I would value a Festool domino, if I had one, mostly for lining up boards in a panel glue up. For me, the genius of the design is that it permits lateral adjustment. The tenons are truly loose in a desirable direction. As it is, I made a jig that does the same thing with my trim router. Not as convenient, not as quick, but just as effective. So, I am not willing to pay the premium, that’s required for those advantages.
First of all your background is awesome….. period. And what you say about Festool can be said about Bosch Professional (better cordless tools) at slightly lower prices. I do think that often good tools make better projects….. great video.
I would agree with you statement about Bosh. There are lots of very good brands out there that are below the Festool price point. And thank you!
I’m a handyman I do not own any Festool products I wish I did but I cannot afford them because I’m a handyman lol but that being said quality tools speed your game up your accuracy up and just the overall quality of your work I do not use the words game changer very often but a track saw truly is a game changer in accuracy, speed and quality. PS, I just came across your channel and love the simplicity you have going on or should I say straight talk.
Dowels are very strong! My dad made furniture for 50 years and he glued a lot of joints together with dowels. I made 6 dinning room chairs 30 years ago all with doweled joints and they are as tight as they ever were. So don't think that dowels are inferior. We're you might use 1 domino, you can use 3 dowels. And the end grain in a dowel hole is not anything like trying to glue 2 boards end grain to end grain. But I do like the loose tenon joints. I don't have a domino but I made a tool using a router to do the same thing and it is how I make most of my joints. Mainly because it is 1 hole instead of three. I would love to have a domino but woodworking is a hobby for me, not a profession, so I can't justify the high cost. Thanks for the videos, they are of high quality.