“Stop complaining; start hammering” 🔥🔥🔥🔥

I'm a hobbyist that loves woodworking. After a couple of years I have started to buy a few Festool products and I love them. Professionals buy them to be effective, I buy them because I like the feeling of using really good tools. I do woodworking for pleasure and I don't want to ruin that with cheap tools. I love your videos by the way!

I was a cabinet and furniture maker for 56 years, and now just a hobbyist. If you make your living working with wood you will naturally gravitate to the most efficient methods you can afford because time is money and money spent on seemingly expensive tools is quickly amortized by your production rate. For hobbyists the same is true on a smaller scale. As for the “woodworking purists” that bad mouth the use of power tools, especially expensive ones, I’ve always said this; If the cabinet makers, furniture makers, pattern makers, and wheel wrights of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries would have had access to power tools, and in that vein Festool tools, they wouldn’t have thought twice about using them. Then as now time is money. There’s nothing wrong with using hand tools and hand planes to build a project, it’s very satisfying, but ….. it’s not as profitable as the alternatives if you are trying to earn a living. The best part of this is that there is plenty of room for the use of both old and new technology. For me that mix is what keeps me involved in the craft. Thanks for the insightful video.

I get it, on every level, that a circular saw can act as a track saw… however once u use a real track saw there is no way that you go back.

Appreciate that you still actually make things. Several woodworking KZfaqrs I’ve been watching for years has gone strictly “content”, aka videos with top 10 lists and no actual building or woodworking anymore. I watch these videos to learn and be inspired.

A huge difference between a track/plunge saw versus a circular saw and straight edge is dust control. The circular saw is going to leave dust everywhere and the track saw is going to direct most of it to the vac. The huge difference between the dust extractor and broom is the amount of airborne dust which settles on everything.

Beautifully done. I am at the hobbyist stage of woodworking and I find refreshing to see the professionals telling us that we really don't need the most expensive tools. Use what you have and enjoy the process.

I love your approach to the subjects at hand. I've been wood working since trees where invented and love learning new stuff. Keep it up.

I’m a professional carpenter and have made quite a few custom doors for people over the years. All day spent with a plunge router is a killer on the back, so I stumped up the $1500( this was 8 years ago so cost more now) for the big domino. Well I’m making an 8 panel door now and it took roughly an hour to cut in 48 mortises!! The domino and track saw are a must…..yes you can alternate but the dust collection is something that should be highlighted. Great video, I’m gonna subscribe mate so keep ‘em coming.

As someone who has learned this entire hobby by watching KZfaq it is so refreshing to find someone who cuts through in the KZfaq bs and just says “just make a thing” and stop farting what others have or don’t have. My philosophy is just to “ use what you have until you get to where we want to be.” Thank you so much.

Stellar post, information, AND hands on examples ... and "Just Do It"! Many people in the early learning stages of - a variety of creative actualization - get stuck unnecessarily. It is very easy to see why you would be/are great teacher and inspiration!

I am truly very happy for those who have the budget to buy Festool and Sawstop, etc. Thanks for the reminder from a skilled professional that we don't have to have that budget to get joy from woodworking :)

THIS video is why I subscribed. I love the sense of humor and the attitude. "Stop complaining; start hammering" indeed!

Here’s my two penneth. I am a self employed joiner of 43 yrs! I have done the job the hard way- cutting mitres by hand, pushing a handsaw down the length of architraves and sanding timber by hand coming close to choking from the dust. Festool absolutely changed my career. Their dust extraction, their track saw, their domino, sanding, need I go on! They were the first people to think about my lungs. I’ve inhaled too much dust in my time but it stopped once I jumped on the Festool system. I have a smug grin on my face when I’m planing 4mm off the edge of a door in a lived in bedroom. The air is that of Switzerland. I absolutely salute Festool. They will ALWAYS get my vote and get my money! If you want to piss about improvising with bits of straight wood and dowels then crack on. I have, with all my years, found the best power tool manufacturers and the best way to do the job.

God bless you for making this video! Everyone on YT is all about Festool, but they are pros and they are usually sponsored. Thank you sir, great relief!

You knocked this right out the park and then some. Very lighthearted and funny, and right up my street. Never been a "must have it because its the best, chaser" So the points you make resinate very well with me. Thank you for your point of view and input and for sharing your content. Keep up the great work. Love and Respect from North London UK.

OMG !!!!! Thank you for this post!!!!!! I never understood the obsession with the tracksaw. It's nice but just feels like everybody is making this a must have. I absolutely love this post. tks.

Your a pro I’m a hobbyist I enjoy making with hand tools and I also enjoy your tips and tricks I don’t care how expensive your tools are,thanks for sharing.

One of the reasons I subscribed was because of your background. I like how it’s uncluttered and organised with the things that are needed. And for the newbie’s to woodworking I think it also looks like an achievable armoury. Some people just love to complain about nothing 😂

The tsc 55 is straight gangster 😎 The hkc55 is just as good on a smaller scale, with the fsk track even better. The cxs and c18 are so sensitive yet strong it’s unbelievable I’m entirely cordless out of my van with the exception of my tablesaw, I’ll buy the new festool tablesaw day 1 if I can get one. The systainers fit better in a stack or side by side, rather than the ridiculously sized pack outs The Bluetooth of the midi vac in conjunction with the tools is ultra clean and the remote for the end of the hose saves countless trips walking back to your vacuum I could go on about the routers and vecturo but yeah. You get the point

Thanks for bringing us back to earth as new woodworkers. It's overwhelming seeing all these guys on KZfaq buying up Festool and SawStop.

Have to say I really appreciate your passion for the craft and you must have been an excellent teacher. I had a great woodworking teacher in a boss I had almost 30 years ago. I let that part of my life slip away when I had to concentrate on Raising a family but in the past year or so I have began again to "make a Thing" Thanks for your content.

Thanks Eric - this video definitely made me think and question. Keep them coming please. 👍

Great comments in the intro about using modern (and quality) tools. Just as in woodworking and accounting, the same applies in making artwork (I’m a painter/illustrator). Many amateurs in painting are caught up in nostalgia to an absurd degree, and put so many obstacles in their own way that (especially if they are getting a late start) they will literally DIE before they achieve any kind of proficiency.

I retired from an unrelated industry and took up woodworking with zero experience. But I liked technology so I bought a nice CNC that had many more capabilities than I “needed”. My lack of experience has many times caused me to question what heck I was doing. On occasions I lost the enjoyment of it. Your comment about “just make something and enjoy it” really hit home. I am blessed that I can afford nice equipment. But I do get frustrated that I am not able to get the results the equipment has the ability to achieve. Gotta get back to “having fun” even if the outcome is firewood.

I love the video. I recommend Festool to anyone who can afford the tools. I was a production woodworker for 30+ years. Now I’m partly retired, so still woodworking as a hobby. And yeah I would recommend Festool. Have a great day.

Great video, man!, I enjoyed it!

appreciate your content, great work @ENcurtis, here is a question, from the using experience point of view, does it worth to buy battery powered Festool, or are the corded Festool more practical? due to their fantastic vacuum system and the design of detachable cord.

Absolutely spot on! Some people just need to work with what they can afford and take pride in getting around issues!

Loved the video. As a former carpenter/contractor, my garage is full of tools more suited for carpentry than cabinet making. Over the past 5 decades, I've built a few pieces of furniture, but trim work was my specialty. I've been without a shop for the past 5 years after building and moving into our new home. I am currently considering what I need for furniture building, as if I need more tools. Your video is helpful in reminding me that there is always a work around, even if I can afford the fancier tools to add to an already crowded shop. Looking forward to watching your other videos.

I actually love the fact that your KZfaq background is your true workspace, not some ad driven marketing for woodpeckers or festool or any other tool brand. I get so disheartened by people who launch KZfaq as content creators being makers, then get the sponsor bug, or the need to tell you the 7 tools you need in your shop and have completely strayed away from the roots of why they started. THANK YOU for being true to your craft and not succumbing to the majority. I prefer makers who make content, rather than content creators who "sometimes" actually make things. Keep being true to your craft, thank you for the education you provide.

So glad, I accidentally found you. Definitely will subscribe. Keep up your inspiring work.

There are lots of options between the festool vacuum and the broom, having an immensely better, not only quality/price ratio, but also quality and performance than those shown.

Hello, great videos. I just found your channel and really enjoy it. I wanted to comment on the router section, when referencing an edge of the router you showed. Do you typically use the flat section, or the round section? I have found using the round side is more forgiving in human error. You can rotate the router a little bit and it won't vary off of the intended path. Where on the straight side if you rotate a little then the bit will move of the intended path.

Great information, thanks for sharing!

Thanks for sharing! You are absolutely right: Just enjoy making things. And as a professional, of course you should strive to save time by being more efficient.

Your background is perfect! Screw the “ KZfaq” set up! You have channels out here that play woodworkers on KZfaq and all they do is tool reviews and have built a few coffee tables out of 2x4’s and shill tools with affiliate links and lie to ppl! Oh and try to spread the gospel lol! Unreal dude. I love your channel because it’s NONE of that! Your SKILL is the reason I watch brother! Keep up the great work! Sorry I don’t usually comment that was a bit of a rant I’ve been holding in! Shout out from NYC!

I enjoyed every second of it. Great tips (or no brainers for some) but the style they are presented is the what makes them stick. “Stop complaining, start hammering.” I loved it.

I love your work! Your youtube videos are very informative

The last bit of advice was priceless. Thx.

Brilliant! Still love my Festools. Back in the day we fixed a piece of ply to our circ saw fence thus making a 'rail' of sorts, also loose tenon joinery is not a new thing, it's been around for years, great video thank you , subscribed look forward to more, keep ,em coming, cheers

Just found your channel, love it!

Eric, thank you so much for your down-to-earth explanation of everything you talk about and demonstrate. Even as an 87 year old retired pipe organ builder, I find something in each of your videos - which inspire me to get out into my old workshop and work on something new. Especially, thank you for shoving aside all the BS about Festool - which, I realize are high quality tools, but so expensive that most people who really want to express themselves through woodwork, feel that the expense is not worth it. Keep it up - and continue to keep us all informed - whether in how to do something within the area of woodwork, or what to avoid by all the rumor mongers.

Thank you for this. Yes, I like Festool but I only have a tracksaw and a sanding set up (ETS 125 sander & CT 15 E HEPA). Got the tracksaw for the same reason you stated in your content and I also have a very small shop. I do a lot of live-edge work, table mostly and on the small side, coffee and entryway tables. And I did not have a table saw when I started back woodworking 2+ years ago. The sanding system is a recent addition was mainly for health reasons and my shop vac/dust collector did not work to keep the smaller particles out of the air. The smallest HEPA system from Festool (CT E 15) was the most logical choice and so far I love it! I will likely never buy the domino system as I have dowel systems and a biscuit system, which works just fine for the type of joinery I need for my projects. Oh, I love your background! Again thank you for the content and keep it up.

I think your background looks awesome!!! Very well done sir !

Highly amusing video, very encouraging & informative, thanks wise guy. Sup w wooden scowling Frankenstein in our top left corner of your shop wall?

Great video! I've been a cabinetmaker for over 20 years. And never bought into the green cool-aid. Then last summer. I was cutting a lot of white oak 1.75" thick was using the straight edge and circular saw technique. And no matter what the cuts were not square or straight. Bought the Mafell mt55 and the cuts were so smooth and straight. Next was a ct26 vac for my shop at home and then ro 150 and of 2200. And now I see why these tools are so great. Does a hobbyist need these tools no. But if you're making a living these professional tools are worth the investment.

Brother, I love this video! Everything you mentioned is absolutely true!

Great video as always. I just checked your website…. You have really nice pieces there! Found your channel a couple of months ago and subbed. I have been wood working for almost fifty years and have upgraded equipment over the years. I started out with a handsaw, hammer and nails and upgraded when needed or could afford it. I have been looking at Festool recently and have used some of a friends Festool tools. They are quality and enjoyable to use. What drill was that you showed at the 11:24 mark. I didn’t recognize it. Keep up the quality content. Ron

I recently found your channel and I have been enjoying the videos. I like that you are a professional woodworker doing youtube, vs a professional KZfaqr doing woodwork. I have a question about one thing you mentioned in this video. When you were talking about using the router with the straight board as a fence you mentioned the distance from the center to the flat edge of the router plate. I had seen it suggested to use the rounded part of the plate against the fence because if it rocks against the fence while cutting it doesn't affect the cut, but if using the flat side it would. Intuitively it seems like flat surface should be against flat surface. Is that a thing or does it matter?? Thanks again.

@ENCurtis I have to say that, since I found your channel you have become my favourite woodwork content creator - not only is your work amazing but your philosophy is inspiring. My late Father was a true craftsman who created beautiful perfect scale models of Napoleonic era cannons and flintlock pistols - his most beautiful creation was a working reproduction of a Queen Anne Dragoon officer's flintlock pistol - perfect in every detail right down to the coat of arms on the escutcheon plate which he crafted by melting brass key blanks onto a plate and then hand filing the design. He worked in the evenings after his day job as an industrial engineer in a 10'x8' brick outhouse using mainly hand tools that he collected over 30 years. His two pieces of technology were a hand-held black and decker drill, and a small bench top bandsaw. Oh, and he also had a sort of cradle thing that he could attach his drill to that became a small wood turning lathe. If he had the resources I'm sure he would have embraced much of the technology we take for granted today, although I'm pretty sure that he would have taken a pretty jaded view of much of it. As a boy he used to take me fishing and I was constantly browsing fishing tackle catalogues, imagining what I might catch if only I had that new reel, or this latest rod but, as he used to say 'most fishing tackle catches more fishermen than fish'. I think that kind of sums it up. It's worth thinking about some of the greatest names in furniture design - from Chippendale and Hepplewhite, to Hans Wegner, and remembering the level of technology they had available to them, yet both their designs and the craftsmanship have stood the test of time. (Incidentally I have actually seen close up an original Thomas Chippendale chair (that isn't actually listed in the known commissions - it is the seat of the Grand Master in a Masonic lodge!). In 2003, after around 250 years, it was being sent for its first ever restoration! Now that's 'heirloom', and not a domino in sight!

Right on!! Thank you!

Love this!! Thank you!

Some things Festool improves on is occupational safety and health, noise and dust control. Definitely worth considering. Professional tools are more expensive for a reason.

Very entertaining, love the channel!

Loved the video. I've been honing my craft for decades and i get paid lots of money to do everything for the customers and when building fancy stairs or cabinets I need better equipment so it is easier to do a better job and do it faster so finally festool is slowly replacing all fine wood crafting tools and I will still have the DW tools for the outside rain days and other places that are not going to see fine finishes. I have subscribed to enjoy your ideas on the craft we all have something to share. Thanks for sharing.

As an occasional DIYer, so not even a hobbyist, it is extremely important to me that a maximum of safety features are build in the tools that I buy for a certain project. An example, I bought a cheap table saw a decade ago. Using that thing made me break out in sweat, because I felt it was hella dangerous. I never touched that cheap table saw again and bought myself a Festool jigsaw, for building garden beds and the likes. Now I am faced with a big renovation project and will be faced with larger sheets to cut and I have been educating myself on saws for a while now. Mostly because I don't want to buy something I will be too afraid to use again. So a regular circular saw is just not an option for me as a risk conscious beginner. I need a tool that has the latest safefeatures the market is offering, a tool that will correct or prevent most mistake I might bring to the table. So yes, I am looking at the latest festtool track saw with kickback prevention and I will not buy another tool. I will be saving up for that. Because if I hurt myself with a cheap tool and land in hospital, it will cost me a 1000 times more in medical expenses, revalidation and lost income. But what I will do to cut costs, as I don't yet need it right away (I am guessing I have about a yea) I will be at the lookout for a used one and pay only 2/3rd of the price or 1/2 if I am lucky.

A touch of sanity in a sometimes insane world. Right on brother 👌

This candid video made me subscribe. The hammer hand waving at the end got me lol

It was a fun video. I'm a sort of pro too and have one festool machine, the ro150 sander. I saw a demo and realised that it would save me a ton of time. That has proved true. The other ones aren't necessary for me based on the amount of use that I have for them. If I had the work to justify them, hell yes, I would buy them. There are alternatives for the ro 150 now and I have the Bosch one at home and it is good but it vibrates more than the festool. If it had been available when I bought the festool, I may have bought it for the workshop

Quick comment about your router demo, turn it around to the curved side, flat side is prone to errors if you cant keep it perfectly flat on the fence. With the curved side, it should all be the same radius so you can focus on just keeping any contact with the fence.

Great video! Loved it.

Having upgraded from a Milwaukee cordless and Makita corded sander, I will say a Festool finish sander is 100% worth the price jump. Dust collection, vibration, and braking when you turn it off really make it a huge improvement.

Agree with you 💯 Was working on two 10ft live edge slabs when i decided maybe i wanted one. I pushed them together and cut both at the same time that really was perfect but just had it in my head i needed the track saw lol

Nice end credit music too , can’t beat a resonator

Well said! Your shop looks fantastic to me, especially on the intro when you're walking in. It looks like a fully functional shop, not a backdrop for the purpose of product placement. Those channels are fine if you're looking for new products. It seems to there's a more hands on approach to your channel. Keep up the great work. 👍

Nice, I really enjoyed this. Agree - JUST MAKE THINGS! Cheers!

You got my like with the Kreg jig and explosion scene. You got my subscribe with, "Stop complaining; start hammering." Awesome video!

My favourite jig is the simplest,a plywood base with a second straight piece glued on top for the skill saw track,BUT on the other side is a jointer to clean up the edge. Just always use the same router and bit and same edge of the router. Can be used on thick slabs or sheet goods. Cheers

I have a DeWalt circular saw I purchased in 1984. Just changed the blade the other day. I have used biscuits.with a DeWalt trim router. I have the Skil 300 buck table saw and love it.

I love this guy........well ...like him. Practical, hilarious, informative and heck, he teaches a lot.

I agree. Whatever it takes to build efficiently. BUT don't tell me to buy a cnc machine, or a Festool etc. As long as you and the client are pleased with the end result. Thanks for a cool video!

I love this video. It made me think that I already have the tools I need to do the things I want.

I laughed out loud in the office when you pulled out the “old school” track saw alternative. 😂

As usual another great video funny and informative so very true use what you have and be happy for the people that can afford and make a living with great tools. Also love your background

Great video, important perspective. Learn to do the most with the least FIRST.

Your introduction here was [chef's kiss]! Bravo! So well reasoned and funny! But overall, continue to be yourself/"keep it real" as the kids say.

I believe Krenov used dowels to line up boards as a glue up tool. Makes glue up easier and lines up boards so there is very little creep. Does the same thing as a biscuit although the dowel is way stronger than a biscuit. Do thIs make sense?

Masterfully done by a true professional!! ☕️👍

Where I live, people won't pay for hand made high quality wood work. You could put your heart and soul into a beautiful work of art and people would rather go to hobby lobby and buy mass produced crap.

Thank you. When I was taught (way too many years ago to mention) I was not allowed near ANY power tools until I could use the hand tools with my eyes shut. The dustpan and brush being the most important tool in the workshop.... After the coffee pot that is 😊

As a follow up I find you a spectacular host and teacher. I enjoy your content, I like your rants, I see humility in your teachings as well as thought provoking intent. What you actually did is make a seriously good video for Festool not bash them. Festool should be paying you. Happy sawdusting………..

End grain to long grain (as discussed in Domino vs Dowel) is actually very strong in shear though not so good in pull-out. However, even in the latter, I’ll bet the dowel breaks before the glue to parent wood let’s go.

Spot on video. The ending summed it up perfectly. I still want the OF1400, Just saying. Thank You Sir!

Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not really a woodworker, but when using a router along a fence board, wouldn't you keep the rounded part of the plate along the board, if you use the flat side it takes only minor uneven places in the board to make it "tip" and change distance, resulting in a not straight cut?

I'm a studio assistant for a wood sculptor and we primarily use Festool sanders. Those are cool machines. But I'm thinking maybe Saburrtooth sanding discs may be a better work-around, since you've got to change out the sanding pads and pad nose on the Festool.

I really like your perspective. A corded track saw is definitely on my near future tools definitely not buying a cheap one. I usually buy the best tools within budget. There are many high quality tool manufacturers, many tools down to are personal preference and perception. My current table saw is a 50+ year old contractor stile with a cast iron top and wings it has been significantly modified I will match it’s precision, and performance against any current table saw running on 110vac, there are budget choices. I spent a long time as a low budget woodworker, inexpensive tools can good buys or dumpster fill.

Got it! Thanks

I got a Milwaukee track saw recently and it has made a huge difference. It's so much easier to break down sheet goods than having to do offsets and clamp down guides for my circular saw. Not to mention how much less dusty it is.

I love your candor. The other good news is there are alternatives to Festool that are well made and cost less (minus some of the frills, but...). The bigger issue is buying into the "System". Just like choosing your battery platform, you have to look at the brand at large. Will you be able to grow with the brand as your skills improve. As much as i hate the current number of tool brands and new tool announcements, this is probably the golden age for choice.

For years I used a section of engineered flooring as a straight edge for my circ saw to cut a line, if I wanted a repeatable cut in use a pair of vice grips on the edge of the saw plate

I like vidoes and I like your style and agree make the thing with whatever you have. Enjoy the process and the problem solving that may be involved in getting it done. I really enjoy making the jigs to make that happen.

You had me at “furniture nerd-dom” 🥰. I didn’t know that was a thing, but I’m in! I’m a current teacher & I am just starting my woodworking journey. Thank you for explaining what & why 🤓 ❤️ ✊🏼 Also, great content for not being “KZfaq-y” enough 🙄 Fortunately you seem to be the type of guy who is open to feedback 😆😂

Great video. I don’t own a Festool product. I don’t foresee my self buying one any time soon. Not because I don’t want one. It’s because what I am making my current tools can handle. When my DeWalt sander finally dies I might consider upgrading to the Festool Sander depending on my need at the time. Same with the domino. As of right now I work mostly in sheet goods. If I start doing a lot of joinery or glue-ups I might consider purchasing one. Until then I will stick with my Kreg K5 Jig thank you very much. Once again thank you for this video.

As a painter we've used metabo 3" sanders for 15 years. Great on ladders but they have been breaking and their prices have almost doubled in recent years. We realized they are only lasting 1-2 years each! So we just bought a festool sander, the Rotex 90. It was more than twice the cost but if it lasts it will be worth it. It's ridiculously smooth and works great. That's my only experience with festool and so far i like it.

Not a fan of Festool but you be you. I am retired, so don't need to worry about production rate. You make the point well for your own case. For me, after six decades of woodworking of one type or another in the nooks and crannies of life, I enjoy the Paul Sellers approach. Not to say I'm a Luddite, nor is Paul; I do have and use a Sawstop, I use a band saw for resawing and my lathe is the powered variety. But I can't recall exactly how long it's been since I used one of my electric routers. And my most used tool is a bench chisel. You add a reasonably balanced discussion and thanks for that. I just worry about newbs who might shy away from the 'entry costs' of woodworking because of the Festool (and others) hype. Thanks again.

You're right with your video. I do own Festo machines, but I also like to use the other brands, too. If I wouldn't use all of my machines for my hobby and I had to rely on those machines, I'd definitely go with Festo, they have a very good service and them machines are so well designed. But since I just like to work with wood and enjoy the ways of it, time is not a primary concern to me. And so I use what I have, and if I don't have the specific machine to do a job, I just find a way to work around. And sometimes that is just as much fun! But, hey, dude! "Two and thirteen sixteenths from the centre to the edge?" LOL! Use Millimetres instead! You can then measure that precisely! Liked your video!

My favorite is all these fellow DIYrs who post how-to videos for noobs then quickly bust out a tool that cost 1000's. Thanks for offering alternatives to those just starting.

So I purchased a Dowel-Jointer from Grizzly $100USD and have been very happy with using that as an alternative to the dominos. Just mark the joint on both pieces, line it up with the mark and plunge. As fast as a biscuit, but puts in 2 perfectly located 5/16 dowel holes. Has alot of the same qualities of a biscuit, depth and height adjustable and works on meiters or angled surfaces great. Hope this reaches some folks looking for a cheaper alternative

I only have a couple things Festool. One being a "track saw" and I absolutely love German engineering! I would love to be able to afford much more Festool. However, I use Makita, Dewalt, Bosch and a few others as well.