Welcome Aboard Proxxon

It’s been a while now since Bosch Australia pulled the pin and removed themselves and their subsidiary brands such as Dremel from the bulk of specialist tool stores in Australia. They aimed to focus on the big box outlets and while their corded and cordless tools were easy to find replacement brands to cover; the problem we’ve had, was to find a suitable replacement for the range of Dremel rotary tools that we had sold.

Part of my job in the store I work at is to source and evaluate new product lines to enhance and expand our range, so the demise of Dremel created quite a headache. I looked at some alternatives but found that on the whole, they were only offering a tool, with just a few accessories. While the tools on offer were adequate, I was looking for something better.

My idea was to replace the Dremel range, which was a good DIY product, with a selection which was exceptional.

A few months ago one of the sales reps that visit our store mentioned that his boss had the opportunity to secure the distribution rights to Proxxon in Australia, and wanted my opinion. While I hadn’t heard of the brand for years, I was familiar with it as I had a 12v Proxxon rotary tool back in my early woodworking days in the mid-’80s. I remember it was a robust little unit so my recommendation to him was to go for it.

Proxxon began in the small German town of Nierbasch in 1977 and has grown to become one of the worlds leading manufacturers of precision power tools. Specialising in high-quality power tools for model builders, precision mechanics, mould makers, tool makers, opticians, goldsmiths, watch-makers and more; Proxxon is giving users high-performance power-tools in a size never offered before. The Proxxon Micromot system offers tools ranging from benchtop table saws and thicknessers to small angle grinders and polishers, as well as an extensive range of rotary tools and bits.

If you have a delicate and detailed project, then Proxxon have the tools to help you make it happen.

After a month of negotiation, they managed to secure the rights and I was delighted when my boss gave me a catalogue and price list and told me to choose what I wanted, (sometimes I love my job!).

For our initial offering, I decided on two rotary tools, the FBS 240E, and the IBS/E, the power carver, MSG, the awesome micro belt sander BS/E and the Long Neck angle grinder, LHW, as well as the full range of accessories for all these tools.

The FBS 240/E Rotary Tool

The IBS/E Precision Drill-Grinder

The BS/E Belt Sander

The LHW, Long Neck Angle Grinder

The MSG Power Carver

Given the extensive range offered I felt that this was a good beginning to our relationship and I’m certain the range will grow when I get more of a feel for what our customers require.

In the following posts I’ll go into the more details of the features and accessories of the individual tool, so please watch this space.

Thanks for reading, and as usual, your questions and comments are appreciated.

Bryan

October 7, 2018 0

The General Digital Sliding T-Bevel.

Hi All,

One of the projects that I’ve been putting a lot of time into recently is a book on pushing the boundaries on router trammel work so you can create pieces such as the Septafoil frame shown below.

(Please keep in mind the frame in the photo is a draft piece cut out of a 25mm thick MDF sheet and was created to test the process i’ve developed. The next one will be in hardwood)

The frame is trammel routed using the Festool MFS routing template long with my trusty Festool OF1010 router.

Frames like this are an exercise in geometry and begin as a design on my sketchpad which is where I create the form, and work out the angles and measurements so I can transfer them to my full size panel.

A couple of months ago I discovered the General Digital sliding T bevel and since then my design work has moved forward in leaps and bounds.

I use the general to set angles in sketches, to assess how a variation in angle changes the structure I’m developing and when I’m happy with a design, to quickly and accurately transfer the design onto a panel.

Please take the time to watch the video here which shows more applications for this awesome tool.

The General has four buttons next to the digital display which you use to operate the tool.

They are;

Power, the red one.

Zero, to zero the tool for use

Hold Flip, which either lock the current measurement on the display or flips the display so you don’t have to look at it upside down.

Reverse, Which changes the display from an reflex angle , (between 180 and 360 degrees) to a an acute angle.

All in all this is one of the most useful tools I’ve come across recently and I am certain you’ll find it a worth addition to your toolbox.

Want one – Click here

As always, your questions and comments are appreciated.

Be safe and have fun.

Cheers

Bryan

September 23, 2014 0

ETS EC 150 Festool Brushless Sanders

Hi All,

Recently released in Europe Festool’s new sanders the ETS EC 150/5 and ETS 150/3 are sure to be a hit when they reach the Australian market. With the latest in EC brushless motors these sanders have a host of new features to make the onerous task of sanding quicker and easier.

Some of the new features are a vibration sensor which automatically adjusts the sander speed when not under load to protect the user from excess vibration, constant speed under load, and a suction detection system which stops the sander if the dust extractor hose comes out, (this feature can be deactivated if you’re using a dust bag).

The new sanders have a height of 113mm including pad, compared to 185mm on the old ETS sanders and a weight of 1.2 kg which is 600 grams lighter than the old ETS sanders

Have a look at the video below to see the ETS EC 150 in action and watch for a cameo appearance by Blair, one of the principals of Festool Australia

Please watch this space and as more information comes to hand I’ll post it here

Be safe and have fun

Cheers

Bryan

September 23, 2014 5

The Profi Scale Moisture Meter

Hi All,

Sadly, I had a death in the tool box last week. after one too many drops, my old moisture meter finally gave up.

So after a suitable period of mourning, (about 12 seconds) I decided to update to to the new Profi scale moisture meters by Burg Wachter that arrived in the shop last week.

Whats cool about these meters is that as well as measuring the moisture level of wood you can quickly change the settings so you can measure the moisture content of plasterboard, (drywall) screed and gypsum as well as ambient temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit.

The tech specs for the moisture meter is shown here:

Technical data

Measurement range Wood: 4 – 60 %
Solid materials: 0.2 – 3.0 %
Resolution Wood: 1 %
Solid materials: 0.1 %
Accuracy Wood: < 30 %: ± 2 % ≥ 30 %: ± 4 %
Solid materials: < 1.4 %: ± 0.1 %
≥ 1.4 %: ± 0.2 %
Power supply 4 × 1.5 V (e. g. LR44)
Optimum ambient conditions 0 °C – 40 °C, air humidity: < 85 %
Storage temperature -10 °C – 50 °C,
air humidity: < 85 %

When I use a moisture meter I’ll always take a number of readings from different points on the timber then work out an average. The meter was simple to use and when I measured the same point in the
timber 4 times I got the same read every time, ( unlike my old meter)

Also in the manual is this handy table which give you a rough idea of how to interpret the data from the meter.

Humidity content in weight percent
Humidity status Wood Screed, gypsum, plaster
Inoffensive 2 – 15 % 0,2 – 0,3 %
Borderline 15 – 19 % 0,4 – 0,9 %
Too humid > 20 % > 1,0 %

Please keep in mind when using this scale that it’s only a general idea. Moisture content varies between species and where you are in the world. Remember to take multiple readings and work out an average.

What I also love about this meter is the size, (See photo below), and the price.

At under $40.00 (AUD) its an absolute bargain for all the features it has. If you’re in the market for a new meter have a look here.

Thats all for now guys, as always be safe and have fun,

Cheers

Bryan

June 29, 2014 0

The Festool BHC 18, Cordless Rotary Hammer Drill

Hi All,

Another new tool to the Festool cordless line up is the new BHC 18 rotary hammer drill. This 2 mode rotary teams a festool brushless motor, with a 4.2ah battery which produces 1.8 Joule of power and has the capacity to drill 18mm in concrete, 13mm in steel and 25mm in wood.

The first video is from Festool and even though it’s in German, it’s one of the first videos i’ve seen that clearly shows the piston and hammer action which gives the rotary hammer drill its power. Try to pause the video at about the 33 second mark to get a good look at the guts of the tool.

Also worth noting is the anti vibration system which is essential for continual and safe use of this style of tool.

The next video is from Peter Parfitt’s New Brit Workshop and gives a really good overview of the tool including demonstrating the interconnect ability of the BHC 18v batteries with the 15.6 batteries from the standard Festool range. Make sure you pause the video around the 10min 40 second mark so you can have a look at new dust adapter which fits on a standard Festool hose and will give you dust free drilling for rotary hammer drilling for holes up to 12mm in diameter

I haven’t got a firm release date for this yet but anticipate it being released around August 1 to coincide with the release of the TSC 55.

As more info comes to hand I’ll post it here to keep you up to date.

As always, be safe and have fun,

Cheers

Bryan

June 18, 2014 1

Festool TS55C Australian Release Date !!!!

Hi All,

Following a random post, by Blair Brydon, one of the heads of Festool Australia, on the woodwork forum website, it’s now confirmed that the Australian release for the TSC 55 is August 1 2014.

I’ve found a couple of new videos which you may of may not of seen which will give you a bit more info on the new Cordless TSC 55 prior to its arrival.

The first video is from Festool USA’s connect 2014 event which was held in March this year and features Festool USA Application Trainer Brian Sedgeley demonstrating the TSC 55

The second is from ITS in the UK and is an in depth look at the tool, covering battery compatibility. accessories, the new Fastfix 2 mechanism reveals that the TSC55 is a brushless saw .

As more information becomes available closer to the release date, particularly the shelf price, I’ll post it here.

As always, be safe and have fun.

Cheers

Bryan

June 18, 2014 0

Festool Vecturo OS 400 Update

Hi All,

I’ve had a couple of days off work with a rotten dose of the Flu and now that my brain is beginning to work again I’ve had a chance to trawl the web to come up with any info I could find on the new Festool products that will potentially be hitting our shores this year.

The Vecturo OS 400.

From discussions I have had with both Festool (Aust) and Fein (Aust) I can now confirm that the Vecturo is a joint venture between Festool and Fein and is a Fein Supercut that has been “Festoolized”.

Have a look at the video below that’s presented by Frank Jaksch, from Festool Germany for a good overview of the tool and make sure that you pay particular attention to the depth stop accessory and the positioning aid that are shown in the video. The positioning aid looks particularly interesting to me as it looks to solve the challenge of getting a square plunge cut which is a problem with any oscillating tool.

I’ll be interested to see how Festool market the Vecturo in Australia as any Fein stockist will confirm that the Fein Supercut is a bloody hard tool to sell owing to the price and the requirement for different blades. ( The Supercut can use multimaster blades with an adapter)

As yet there is no firm release date for the Vecturo in Australia but given that it has not hit Festool UK yet I think that it’s fairly certain that we wont see it here till the first quarter of 2015.

Anyway, thats all I have on the Vecturo. As more information comes to hand I’ll post it here.

As always be safe and have fun,

Cheers

Bryan

June 18, 2014 1

The Festool CT 17E Extractor

Hi Guys,

I’ve finally had a chance to put pen to paper and complete my write up of the new CT 17E extractor.

It’s one of the Protool to Festool conversions and has evolved from the Protool VCP 170E. I found to be an excellent and highly efficient machine and to date has performed all the work I’ve expected of it with no hiccups at all.

Click on this link The CT17E Extractor to read my full review of this awesome little machine.

One of the best features of this machine is the price. at under $450 (AUD) with a 36mm hose and cleaning set it’s an absolute bargain. Click Here to check out the CT 17 on the Just Tools website.

In all honesty, if you’re on a budget an want a small fully featured extractor for under $500 you cant go past this!

As always, thanks for reading and feel free to post any questions of comments.

Be safe and have fun.

Cheers

Bryan

April 2, 2014 1

The Festool Vectro OS 400

Hi Guys
Another new Festool product came to my attention today. The OS400 Vectro is an oscillating tool which looks to me to be modelled after the Fein Supercut. I must admit that this one caught me by surprise and I’m intrigued to see this tool and see how it compares to the Fein Multimaster and Supercut range. The marketplace for this type of tool is pretty crowded but i’m sure that having “Festool” stamped on the side will drive sales.

At present I have no further info as to release dates, price and English Info or videos. The Product pdf which you can view here ( VECTURO) comes from the Leza tool company in Belgium.

I’ll investigate further and post any further updates as they come to hand.

As always, be safe and have fun.

Cheers

Bryan

March 19, 2014 2

The New TSC55, Cordless Plunge Saw

Hi Guys,

Well,the rumours are true, Festool today have announced the release of the TSC 55, the cordless version of the ever popular TSR55 plunge saw. Due for European release on the 1st of April the TSC 55 is powered by two 18 volt lithium Ion batteries which will cut in excess of 30 meters of 35mm benchtop

Please watch the video here to give you more of an idea of this exciting new addition to the Festool range.

At this stage there is no information available as to ETA, Price or scope of delivery. My best guess is that we’ll see it sometime later this year, possibly around October.

Please watch this space. As more information becomes available I’ll post it here.

As always your comments and questions are available.

Be safe and have fun..

Cheers

Bryan

March 19, 2014 0