Is Festool Worth the Money?
As a hobby-level woodworker certain Festool products have drastically improved my woodworking and are worth the money. Festool offers numerous innovations such as the domino jointer, Rotex sanders, and dust extractors that will enhance your woodworking skills, save you time, and provide a cleaner working environment. However, I don't believe all Festool tools are worth the money, and the next few sections will help you decide which tool is worth the money for your type of woodworking.
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Festool Ecosystem
Festool is known for its ecosystem and changed the way other power tool brands looked at storage systems. All Festool machines come with Systainers, their version of an interlocking storage system that is integrated with all their tools. This is one reason Festool is worth the premium price because if you were to purchase a separate storage system it would cost a lot, and not be very efficient. They also designed their power cords and dust collection hoses to work with different tools saving you setup time and frustration. Festool like other brands is starting to shift its ecosystem towards cordless options while still producing high-performing tools. I believe the Festool ecosystem is worth every penny for professional woodworkers who are looking to save time or primarily do site work.
Warranty, Support & Service
One reason why the Festool brand is a cut above the rest is its customer service. Festool power tools come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, even refunding you the money for the simple reason of not being satisfied. Festool also includes with their new tools a 3-year comprehensive warranty that includes wear and tear, as well as shipping to and from Festool USA. Festool is a great choice if your tools see heavy use and are prone to breaking down. Over 3 years the warranty alone could save you a lot of money in repairs. Festool also guarantees that spare parts for available for a 10-year period so you'll have long-term support from the company. If you need a dependable, reliable tool the warranty and customer support are of great value in comparison to other companies' tools.
Health & Safety
When it comes to your health and safety in the workshop I would argue Festool products are worth the price. Woodworking creates a ton of wood chips and fine dust which is a major respiratory health concern for even a hobbyist. The primary reason I started buying into the Festool line of products is for dust control. I first purchased a Festool dust extractor and sander which has made a huge difference and outlined my experience in this article here. Festools' focus on dust collection is unparalleled and makes their tools definitely worth the money if you're concerned with dust control. I think it's a good idea to invest in a dust extractor even for a small shop so you can stay healthy and stay woodworking for a long time.
Festool Tools
Is the Festool Domino worth the money?
Is the Festool Domino worth the money? The Festool Domino is in my opinion, the best tool available on the market for joinery, which I explain in more detail in my full review of the DF 500 Joiner. The Domino joining system has been a game changer in the woodworking industry. They have been able to bring the ease of use of a hand-held power tool to the complicated traditional loose mortise and tenon joinery. For me, the Domino Joiner completely replaced the need for a biscuit joiner and I would argue provides better results due to its precision. The Domino also gives you the ability to quickly create complex structural joints in only a few minutes. The Domino Joining System also comes in 2 sizes, the DF500 and the XL DF700 which I have compared in detail here. The Festool Domino is one of the most expensive woodworking tools, yet the speed, accuracy, and use cases of the Domino Joiner make it a good value and worth every penny. If you are a professional woodworker or looking to save time when building furniture the Domino is a must-have tool. If you are just getting started in woodworking I would highly recommend an alternative which is why I created a list of the best domino alternatives here.
Are Festool sanders worth the money?
The Festool collection of sanders is by far the best at dust collection and has some very unique features, making them in my option worth the money. Their sanders are engineered for dust collection, minimized vibration, and ergonomics whereas other tool manufacturers ignore those aspects. My first entry into the world of Festool was an ETS 125 REQ sander, which has been a great tool and made my time in the shop more enjoyable. In my review of the sander, I go through how it improved my finish quality, eliminated nearly all sanding dust, and reduced fatigue. Festool also offers a line of Rotex sanders that have a unique dual mode that combines the functionality of a finish sander with a belt sander or grinder using a gear-driven mode. The powerful gear-driven mode can be used for aggressive stock removal and quickly create flat surfaces and save a lot of time. With the level of performance, dust collection, and time savings the Festool sanders are worth the extra money over traditional random orbital sanders. To find the best Festool sander for your needs you can check out my full comparison of the current lineup here.
Are Festool dust extractors worth the money?
Festool dust extractors offer unparalleled dust collection, standard HEPA filters, and numerous features making them worth the money. Working in a commercial environment or home wood shops, safety and health risks need to be a top priority. Most dust particles are between 1 and 5 microns which are not filtered out of the air in most dust collection systems, the only way to adequately capture such small dust is with HEPA filters. Festool offers quite a few models that I have compared in another article, but all of them come standard with a HEPA filter whereas most other alternatives don't. Their line of CT Vacs is excellent at dust extraction and comes in various sizes, including a smaller and cheaper CT Midi version. I personally have a CT 36 dust extractor and did a comprehensive review after 3 years of ownership. In another article, I also explain how it was worth every penny and completely changed my experience in sanding. Festool dust extractors are definitely worth the money, can improve your woodworking experience, and minimize negative respiratory health risks.
Are Festool routers worth the money?
It truly depends on the type of work that you do, if you need a powerful router or extreme precision their routers may be worth the money. Festool has a line of handheld routers from a small handheld trim router to a very powerful plunge router. They don't have any unique functionality or innovations, but the Festool routers are engineered for precision. I personally have the MFK 700 trim router which has seen very little use, but I felt I needed the precision when working on a very expensive build. The router performed flawlessly and the dust collection was a nice change from my Dewalt plunge router. I believe you can find better value in buying a good router from Dewalt, Porter Cable, or even buying a quality router table. However, if you need extreme precision, dust collection, and integrated storage for site work, the additional cost for a Festool router may be a good idea.
Are the Festool track saws worth the money?
Festool has set the standard of manufacturing for tracks saws by inventing the idea over 40 years ago. Festool track saws are some of the best available on the market and are worth the money if you require accurate cuts. They completely replace a circular saw for woodworking and produce incredibly clean cuts in sheet goods. If you are a cabinet maker or need to break down sheet goods, Festool track saws will make your life easier and save you a lot of time. The only downside is the tracks for Festools' track saws are very overpriced. In the past few years, there have been a few competitors introducing track saws with comparable features, and performance at similar prices. Festool track saws in my opinion are still the best, most dependable, and high quality justifying the difference in price.
Is the Festool Kapex miter saw worth the money?
The Festool Kapex miter saw clearly set the bar for the best saw available when it was introduced 15 years ago. However, today there are some worthy competitors at nearly half the cost like the Makita LS1219L or the Bosch GCM12SD. The Festool Kapex is hands down the best miter saw for dust collection, so if you are working indoors at a job site it may be worth the money. Most of the features that made the Kapex the best have been integrated into newer saws, making it hard to justify the $1,599 cost. Besides dust collection, for all other use cases, the Makita or Bosch is the better option and costs much less.
Are Festool drills worth the price?
For most people, the Festool drills are not worth the extra cost, but if you use a drill on a daily basis the Festool drill may be the better choice. Some of their drills are more ergonomically designed and weight balanced to be used for extended periods, whereas other models are similar to regular drills. I personally can't justify the extra cost and a regular drill and driver set does a great job for the price. However, Festool does build a better quality product and includes a Systainer storage system, right angle attachment, and other accessories not typically included. If you use your drill daily I could see a benefit of a Festool drill, but if you are a typical hobby woodworker it's not worth the extra money.
Conclusion
Festool price tags are usually at the top of the range for a tool category, but some of them live up to their price. I personally think the Domino Joiner, their sanders, dust extractors, and track saws are worth the money for most woodworkers. In some cases, the other Festool products can be a good choice for seasoned professionals depending don't the type of work they do. In woodworking, the brand of power tool doesn't determine the outcome of a project but the skills of the craftsman do. Festool is expensive but their tools make joinery, sanding, dust collection, and cutting much easier making them worth the money.
FAQs
Which Festool products are worth the money and why?
The main tools that a woodworker will benefit from and are worth the money are the Festool Domino, Rotex sanders, and sanders paired with dust extractors. These tools are revolutionary and offer benefits that other companies cannot match. The Domino can quickly and easily produce loose mortise and tenon joints with ease, compared to using traditional methods on a table saw or mortising machine. The Rotex sanders are very efficient at removing material quickly while other manufacturers don't offer anything comparable. Also, as I detail in another article that when you pair any Festool sander with a dust extractor you are able to eliminate nearly all dust from sanding.
Should you buy a Festool Product?
Buying Festool products obviously depend on your budget, and is designed to make woodworking easier with higher-quality tools. If you are new to woodworking, I would recommend that you start with cheaper alternatives to hone your skills and eventually upgrade to Festool products. If you are a woodworking business or professional woodworker you will notice Festool eliminates nearly all frustration with your tools.
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