OT Porter Cable Router $99.00 Amazon.com

[Robatoy]

The profit margins C-less thinks are so high are in reality nowhere near that range. Festool annual sales currently run about 200 million. They have to compete with the big dogs and insane margins simply won't let them compete. I would be surprised if they made 10% on their gross turnover. I am also willing to bet that the margins are way higher for HF shit. Their router, for instance, maybe costs them 15 bucks to make because they spend bugger-all on R&D (They steal all ideas), use inferior materials and pay their workers dick-all in wages. Those commie bastards are ripping you off, C-less! $ 59.00 for that router? Guess who's screwing who here?

[Larry Jaques]

How many people are pushing (or even mentioning) Bentleys around here on almost a daily basis, hmmm? If they were, some gripes might come out in the wash.

Do I complain when people diss my HF line?

-- "A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." --Edward Abbey

[Larry Jaques]

Do you realize that the Red Dragon Noodle and Machine Tool Factory is also paying its laborers at much higher rates than other industries? Workers in those factories are VERY happy to be working there. Googlit.

I think mine cost $32 or thereabouts.

(See, Leon? People diss HF, too. Get over it.)

-- "A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." --Edward Abbey

[Robatoy]

People who buy HF tools support communism.

[Leon]

> That's not a jewelery box. Admit it, you were making a tool box for all

That why I built 2 ;~)

[Leon]

Get over what Larry, I am not the one complaining? I'm perfectly happy with my Festool tools and that brake adjusting tool I got from HF.

[Leon]

How many here are actually pushing Festool other than reporting first hand knowledge about the product and the value of the product. I seriousely doubt any one here that uses Festool benefits a whole lot from a Festool sale.

I guess the point I'm trying to make here is that just because you don't see the value, it does not mean that value does not exist. No need to cannibalize the name or criticize the brand unless you have first hand experience with the product and have a legitimate complaint.

[Scott Lurndal]

My 7336 ROS (1991) and two 690 Routers (1993 and 2002) are rock solid.

Have had to replace the PSA pad on the 7336 once, just this year.

scott

[Upscale]

Unfortunately, one doesn't need that first hand experience to complain about Festool prices. I admit to not liking them at all, but I don't complain about them because I do have first hand experience with several Festool products. And since my initial foray into Festool territory gave me what I wanted most which was dust collection, I've reconciled myself to those prices. Coupled with Festool's 30 day, no hassle, full refund if you're not completely satisifed with their products, there was really no risk for me to take that first step into Festool territory to see if the tool met my needs.

There's a special type of satisfaction in buying and owning a tool that in most cases, you know it will do what it's supposed to do first time and everytime. Yeah, that satisfaction usually costs extra money. But for me anyway, I'd much prefer that to buying some tool really cheaply that I'm less confident about and always have the thought in the back of my minding wondering if or when it was going to fail.

[krw]

I've lived with crappy tools for many years but didn't want to replace them because they still "worked". When I finally did replace the original Sears crap the difference was amazing and I promised myself that I'd never buy a cheap tool again (unless it was a one-job throw-away). If I couldn't afford the "best", I didn't buy anything. Now that I'm in a position where I can buy pretty much anything I want, I do. The Kapex (or a Laguna BS, for that matter) is still beyond what I'm willing to pay.

[Larry Jaques]

That's just low, bananaboy.

-- "A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." --Edward Abbey

[Larry Jaques]

Aw, c'mon, Leon. You three -gush- over Festools, every time.

I am familiar with the products. They just didn't let the vendors plug anything in outside the store that day, so I can't judge performance.

I'm good at judging the quality (or lack thereof) of tools from their feel and action, even unplugged, so I was disappointed when I didn't feel the silky smoothness of Festool when I did pick them up and run them through their ranges of motion and such. I couldn't tell any difference from their Bosch, DeWalt, Ridgid, or Makita counterparts, and that really surprised me. THAT is why I say "Festering" when I see their prices.

From what you converts say, they probably perform much better with power. I wish I knew someone local who would let me play with their agro-colored toys sometime.

-- "A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." --Edward Abbey

[krw]

One thing that surprised me about their track-saw (TS-55) is the lack of power. It's great for panels but forget it as a circular saw. I think my 18V DeWalt has more power.

[Bill]

I bought the bird bath HF had on sale this week (aluminum with a "virdigris" finish and a cast iron base, 22 pounds). The "equivalent" at Sears/Kmart was plastic. I amused myself by thinking about what could possibly go wrong with the purchase. Wife is pleased. So far, so good.

Bill

[Lobby Dosser]

The profit margins C-less thinks are so high are in reality nowhere near that range. Festool annual sales currently run about 200 million. They have to compete with the big dogs and insane margins simply won't let them compete. I would be surprised if they made 10% on their gross turnover. I am also willing to bet that the margins are way higher for HF shit. Their router, for instance, maybe costs them 15 bucks to make because they spend bugger-all on R&D (They steal all ideas), use inferior materials and pay their workers dick-all in wages. Those commie bastards are ripping you off, C-less! $ 59.00 for that router? Guess who's screwing who here?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I only paid $29 or so. So complete a rip-off of a Makita, it had to be made in the same factory. Yes, it has an inferior motor and a fair amount of fettling was needed but my time fettling wasn't worth the difference in price with the real thing. Plus it works better than my off the shelf DeWalt and I can buy Makita parts, if needed.

[Lobby Dosser]

People who buy HF tools support communism.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not now, nor for the past couple decades. Don't you get news in Canada?

Only real Commie Bastids left are North Ko-rea and Cuber.

[Lew Hodgett]

---------------------------------------- All you need now are some pink flamingos and your landscaping will be complete.

Lew

[Bill]

Yes, there were a couple of flamingos in our yard in the late 60's (too)! The "virdigris" finish should complement our tan bricks--I actually decided that was what the color I wanted before I even saw the one in the HF advertisement. Here's a link to the item (in case you want to get one):

'm not sure if they are still $39.99.

I wouldn't consider my landscaping complete though--even with the flamingos. So I'll save them for last! : ) After I tend to everything else, I may build some trellisi. Coming around to year 2 in the house, I am getting better at coming up with ideas.

Bill

[Larry Jaques]

OK, boys, proof that U.S. manufacturing is not yet dead:

vay!

-- "A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." --Edward Abbey

[Lobby Dosser]

How do you plan to Clean it?