Used Festool

Why Festool holds value

Festool — the pro brand of the German TTS group — builds tools with a parts catalog that goes back decades and a service network that will rebuild almost anything. That's why a ten-year-old TS 55 still sells for a large fraction of a new one: buyers know it can be brought back to spec. The green paint is also a collector signal in the woodworking world, which keeps demand high.

For a used buyer, this cuts both ways. You won't find Festool at half price unless something's wrong with it. But you also won't overpay much for a used tool in good order, because the depreciation curve is so shallow — and if you sell later, you'll get most of it back.

Generations and suffixes

Festool revises tools without renaming them, so a "TS 55" can be several different saws. The suffix is the tell:

In the suffixes, E means electronic speed control, B means brake, Q means Plug-it (removable cord), R marks a revised generation, F the current one. So a TS 55 REQ is a mid-generation saw with brake, speed control and Plug-it cord.

The Kapex note: early KS 120 EB units had a reputation for motor failures. Festool revised it (REB). A used KS 120 EB with a replaced motor is fine; one with the original motor is a risk. Ask.

Systainers

Festool tools come in Systainer cases, and the cases have a used market of their own. Three generations: Classic (older, four-latch), T-Loc (single rotary latch, the most common used), and Systainer3 (current, compatible with Tanos and Milwaukee Packout adapters). T-Loc and Systainer3 stack together; Classic doesn't stack with either without an adapter. A tool listed "in Systainer" is worth more than one without — factor the case in.

Warranty

Festool's US warranty is 3 years, requiring registration within 30 days by the original purchaser, and it doesn't transfer. That said, Festool's service center will repair anything for a fee, and parts availability is unusually good. Budget for service, not warranty.

What to inspect

• Plunge action on track saws. Smooth, no binding, returns fully. Sticky plunge usually means dust in the pivots; grinding means worn bushings.
• Riving knife and splinter guard. Present and unbroken. Both are replaceable, both cost money.
• Rails. A track saw without a rail is half a tool. Check whether one is included and whether the splinter strip is intact.
• Domino fence and cutter. Fence locks square, cutter is sharp, plunge returns. Ask which cutters are included.
• Sander pads. The hook-and-loop pad is a wear item. A worn one is a modest cost; check anyway.
• Plug-it cord. Q-suffix tools use a removable cord. Confirm it's included — they're sold separately.
• Extractor filter and hose. A CT without a hose needs a hose. Festool hoses aren't cheap.

Where the value is

Previous-generation tools when the new generation has just released — REQ track saws after the F came out, for example. The market drops them a notch for being "old," but they're the same excellent tool. Sanders are the other place: the ETS and RO lines are so common used that prices are reasonable, and they're simple machines that rarely have hidden problems.

The worst value is anything listed without a Systainer, rail, cord, or cutters — the accessories add up fast, and a "bargain" bare tool often isn't.