5 ms·

Dowelmax is 1/4 the cost and makes a stronger joint. (https://vimeo.com/339631122 https://vimeo.com/339631122) Woodworking metamorphosed at some point from "bas

Dowelmax is 1/4 the cost and makes a stronger joint. (https://vimeo.com/339631122 https://vimeo.com/339631122) Woodworking metamorphosed at some point from "basic life skill" to "rich old guy money sport". Festool exploits the latter market masterfully.

mauvehaus 4y ago
I'm sorry, but you're just wrong about who uses Festool tools. Yeah, some people with a boatload of money buy it because it's the most expensive tool. You primarily see their tools in the hands of pros, because their tools are, in many cases, better than the alternatives. The value prop on the Domino isn't that it's the strongest joint, it's that it's strong enough for the application, fast, and repeatable. When you build furniture for money, that matters. You don't have to build too many frame and panel assemblies to make it pay for itself. The dust collection on their sanders is outstanding. I don't do site work that involves sanding, but if I did, you'd better believe that I'd make that investment in a heartbeat. Not getting fine sanding dust all over your client's space is worth every penny of the cost.
- eropple 4y ago
  For me, dust collection on sanders was really nice but it really was how much less of a beating on my hands that the ETS dishes out. I went from a DeWalt to a Bosch, and the Bosch was somewhat better (and actually had excellent dust collection on its own when using a sanding mesh) but the Festool ETS125 is so much more comfortable. If I didn't have the money to upgrade the Bosch would be fine, but I do, and if I did this professionally I would absolutely find the money for my own health.
- hyperbovine 4y ago
  Sure, but this does not contradict what I said. I strongly suspect that the bulk of Festool’s revenue comes not from selling tools to pros, but rather from selling pro-level tools amateurs who have have convinced themselves that the having the green tools will somehow improve their woodworking. Add up all the “pros” you know, extrapolate that figure wildly, and it still doesn’t get you close the nearly $500M in revenue that they make every year. IMO.
  - walterbell 4y ago
    Do professionals benefit economically or quality-wise from the increased demand by would-be prosumers, similar to photography? Some industries rely on volume sales from lower priced and lower quality products, to justify the development of a few high-end halo products that sell in much lower volume. Apple phones (and Festool?) are relatively rare in offering relatively unsegmented products at high prices and profit margins, where most buyers have access to similar product features.
moistly 4y ago
Dominos aren’t about strength so much as accuracy. The tool makes it dead easy to align edges with faces near seamlessly and squarely. It’s a helluva improvement on biscuits or dowels.

mauvehaus 4y ago

I'm sorry, but you're just wrong about who uses Festool tools. Yeah, some people with a boatload of money buy it because it's the most expensive tool. You primarily see their tools in the hands of pros, because their tools are, in many cases, better than the alternatives. The value prop on the Domino isn't that it's the strongest joint, it's that it's strong enough for the application, fast, and repeatable. When you build furniture for money, that matters. You don't have to build too many frame and panel assemblies to make it pay for itself. The dust collection on their sanders is outstanding. I don't do site work that involves sanding, but if I did, you'd better believe that I'd make that investment in a heartbeat. Not getting fine sanding dust all over your client's space is worth every penny of the cost.

eropple 4y ago
For me, dust collection on sanders was really nice but it really was how much less of a beating on my hands that the ETS dishes out. I went from a DeWalt to a Bosch, and the Bosch was somewhat better (and actually had excellent dust collection on its own when using a sanding mesh) but the Festool ETS125 is so much more comfortable. If I didn't have the money to upgrade the Bosch would be fine, but I do, and if I did this professionally I would absolutely find the money for my own health.
hyperbovine 4y ago
Sure, but this does not contradict what I said. I strongly suspect that the bulk of Festool’s revenue comes not from selling tools to pros, but rather from selling pro-level tools amateurs who have have convinced themselves that the having the green tools will somehow improve their woodworking. Add up all the “pros” you know, extrapolate that figure wildly, and it still doesn’t get you close the nearly $500M in revenue that they make every year. IMO.
- walterbell 4y ago
  Do professionals benefit economically or quality-wise from the increased demand by would-be prosumers, similar to photography? Some industries rely on volume sales from lower priced and lower quality products, to justify the development of a few high-end halo products that sell in much lower volume. Apple phones (and Festool?) are relatively rare in offering relatively unsegmented products at high prices and profit margins, where most buyers have access to similar product features.

moistly 4y ago

Dominos aren’t about strength so much as accuracy. The tool makes it dead easy to align edges with faces near seamlessly and squarely. It’s a helluva improvement on biscuits or dowels.