The Works Of Chris Vesper

Hi All

As a woodworker for over 20 years I, as many of us do, have an appreciation of finely made hand tools. They seem to make a job flow a bit easier and a quality tool feels “right” in your hands. About six years ago during my time at Festool I had the chance to get to know an up and coming toolmaker by the name of Chris Vesper. Over the next few years and countless working with wood shows I came to know Chris fairly well and purchased a number of tools from him which I used in the training sessions I ran for Festool.

My undoubted favourite would have to be the sliding bevel ( pictured) which still sees regular use most weekends setting out dovetails.

After I left Festool lost touch with Chris but caught up with him again at this years Working with Wood show. It was great to see that Chris’s range is still expanding and his reputation as a quality toolmaker is still growing.

I was delighted to see a feature length article on Chris in the December 2013 issue of Popular Woodworking magazine which was written by the hand tool maestro Christopher Schwarz, of “Lost Art Press” fame. It’s outstanding to see a local Aussie toolmaker featured in an international magazine of this standing.

You can see more of the tools made by Chris on his Vesper Tools website. Please keep Chris in mind if you need to update your layout tools and lets support Australian made tools.

As always, be safe and have fun

Cheers

Bryan

November 19, 2013 1

Festool sale Days

Hi Guys,
Just a quick post to let you know that Just Tools is having a Festool Sale , this Friday and Saturday.

There will be loads of specials and demos so I hope to see you there.
For my interstate and overseas readers call just tools or email them at tools@justtools.com.au to take advantage of the special sale pricing.
I’ll be on hand both days so I hope to see you there.
Be safe and have fun
Cheers
Bryan

November 13, 2013 0

The Festoolisation of Protool

Hi All,

I recently came across a new You Tube video from Festool in Germany which I thought you all might find interesting. Titled “Festool Rhythm & Tools (gb)” its a marketing video to promote the Festool brand in a very interesting way. The link to the video is here,

and while is a little bit cheesy in parts, I’d recommend you have a look as it has some particularly good vision of the inside of the Festool factory.

I was intrigued the first time i watched the video as there were some tantalising glimpses of what looked like new Festool product and what got me really curious was that they looked like crossover products from the Protool range.

Have a look at some screen grabs from the video here:

Now due to some commission work over the last couple of weeks I hadn’t had a lot of time to investigate this further but thanks to a dose of the flu courtesy of my 10 year old, Im off work for a couple of days and have managed to do a bit more research.

On the Slingers Ironmongers website, ( a UK based Festool Dealer)
I found a listing of New Festool Tools which are due out in the UK this September. Here’s some photos to wet you’re appetite!

Festool Duradrive Collated Screw gun 769205

Festool Sword Saw 769211

Festool MFT SYS 500076

Festool C17 Extractor 768472

Festool Quad Drive 769202

Festool Quadrill 769198

All bar the MFT SYS box appear to be direct crossovers from the Protool range so question now is Why?
Is the Protool range going to disappear, or are Festool, Festoolising Protool products so our Festool brothers and sisters in the North American can finally get their hands on these fantastic products. Only time will tell.

As always, your questions and comments are appreciated.

Be safe and have fun!
Cheers

Bryan

September 3, 2013 1

This little gem was created by Steve Liston, my former Festool Rep and Luke Skilton of Carba Tec in Adelaide during a quiet patch at a recent Festool event at Carba Tec’s Adelaide branch.

Well done gentlemen!!!!

If you’re interested in finding out how they did it drop me a line and I’ll put you in touch with Steve

As always, be safe and have fun.

Cheers

Bryan

August 1, 2013 2

The Festool APS 900 Jig, making a masons mitre joint.

The Masons Mitre,

With its roots in stone masonry the masons mitre joint has evolved a commonly used joint in kitchen renovation where it is used to join bench tops together at a 45 degree angle

The masons mitre was originally used where two stone members met at a 45 degree angle and it was created by removing a small section of material from one part, thereby creating a socket for the other.
In masonry terms, this allows the bond of the masonry courses to to continue around a corner without a staggered vertical joint and and allows the mortar to truly bed into the corner of the joint.

In the cabinetmakers world the masons mitre allows for a strong and attractive joint, particularly on bench tops with rounded edges, and saves on the wastage of materials and additional labor costs that would result from the removal of large triangular sections that need to be cut in a traditional mitre joint.

The masons mitre joint can be a it of a challenge, but with a bit of practise and good jig for your router it’s quite achievable.

One of the best jigs I’ve used to achieve this joint is the APS 900 jig which is made by Festool. Whilst it looks a bit complex it’s actually fairly straight forward and gives you accurate and repeatable results.

Have a look at the video here from Festool TV where Festool demonstrator Frank Jaksch shows the how to use the APS 900 along with a Festool OF 2200 router to create a masons mitre joint.

It is dubbed in English and the picture is a bit dodgey at times but please persist, it is worth watching.

Anyways guys, I hope you enjoyed the video and if your not using it already, will soon be adding the masons mitre to your arsenal of joinery.

Thanks for reading and as always your comments and feedback are appreciated.

Be safe and have fun,

Cheers

Bryan

July 4, 2013 1

Fitting an I.A.S module to a CT26 Extractor

Hi Everyone,

The opportunity came up last week for me to fit a IAS module to a CT26 extractor so I thought, as it’s a very uncommon request i’d take some photos to show you how it’s done. For those of you who are scratching their heads and wondering what the hell i’m talking about, let me take a moment to explain.

The IAS, (integrated air supply) module is part of Festool’s pneumatic sanding system and allows you to hook up a air operated sander to your CT 26 or 36 extractor for tool actuated pneumatic sanding. Once the module is installed you can decide on wether you go the hole hog and use the Festool IAS adapters and hoses which connect to the LEX range of Festool Pneumatic sanders or simply connect an airline to the port on the extractor and use the the standard CT hose to connect to your non Festool air sander.

The beauty of the Festool system lies in the IAS hose. It is a complete unit which incorporates a central air line in which is surrounded by another hose which removes the excess air. Both of these hoses are encased in a 36mm antistatic hose which removes the sanding dust from the sander.

My client had been given a LEX 150/7 sander so he opted for the whole Festool setup.

Have a look at the photos for the set up process.

Whilst primarily designed for the automotive industry my client, who’s a furniture finisher is using the sander with a great deal of success as a coarse sander to cut back rough surfaces on timber slabs prior to finishing with his electric sanders.

If you’re thinking of going this way just keep two thing in mind; firstly, for air sanding operations you need a big air compressor. The module does not turn the extractor into an air compressor, (and yes i’ve been asked on more than one occasion). The second thing to take into consideration is the cost. it’s bloody expensive.

As always guys, thanks for reading. Your questions and comments are always appreciated.

Be safe and have fun!

Cheers

Bryan

May 29, 2013 3

Festool Sale Day, Getting Ready

Well, after a full on day we’re ready for the Festool sale days on tomorrow and saturday.

What I know so far is that the TS55 will be $898 with 2 guide rails and a bay, CT26 $955 with a free box of bags, 20% discount on all accessories and a further 5 % off our already discounted prices except for those products listed as Nett Lines.
Remember that the boys from Festool will be on hand to help with your questions and to demo these outstanding tools

A small selection of the stock we have to sell.

Anyway Guys, it should be a good couple of days so I hope to see you there.

Cheers

Bryan

The balloon boys!!!!!!!!

May 2, 2013 0

When the Kapex Attacks

BEWARE THE PLASTIC STRAPPING

Hi Guys,
Had a bit of a problem with a Kapex today. Not with the saw itself but with the bloody packaging.
My first sale of the day was a KS120 to a new customer and while helping him put it into his car he gave the box an unexpected twist which caused my finger to slide under the plastic strapping and before I could do anything I had dislocated the top joint of the ring finger on my left hand.
My customer didn’t notice so once he was on his way I popped the joint back into place and headed off to the emergency department of the local hospital. I ended up snapping the tendon as well as damaging a few muscles so I’m looking at 10 weeks in a cast.

Bugger

My advice to you all is beware the box, and those bloody black plastic straps. They’ll get you when you least expect it!!!!!!!

Cheers

Bryan

http://www.tutorwood.com

November 9, 2012 4

Do the working with wood shows have a future?

I’m not one for re blogging articles on my site but this excellent post from Stu of Stu’s Shed raises a lot of very good points which will be echoed by woodworkers such as myself who despair over the future of the working with wood shows in Australia

Cheers

Bryan

Stu's Shed

To start, (and in part because there are a number of sites linking to this page), let me again show you the essence of the current show, as experienced October 2012

Episode 89 The Future of the Woodshow

The full 20 minute feature of just some of the cool things you get to experience at the current wood show can be seen by following this link to Episode 90

For the customer/visitor to the wood show, the show has 100s of years of combined experience, and all very approachable people who are only too happy to share their knowledge with you. The following article is not condemnation of the show, nor should be taken as being negatively critical of any group (exhibitors, organisers, visitors). It is, in my humble opinion some observations on how we may make the show even greater, in financially tumultuous times. I don’t want to see…

View original post 1,854 more words

October 28, 2012 1

Merry Christmas

I’d like to wish all my regular readers and subscribers a very Happy and safe Christmas and a prosperous and enjoyable 2012.

Bugger the end of the world, let’s have fun

Cheers

Bryan

December 24, 2011 1