“I started woodworking about 16 years ago and ended up teaching in Woolwich and started running the workshops four or five years ago”.
Teaching people the basics gives them the opportunity to be creative, this is what Richard enjoys the most. Teaching, being your own boss and Festool organisation provides Richard with a perfect work-life balance.
Festool with you everyday: Richard's Story
Richard Wagner has been working in the construction and woodworking industry for around 16 years. Over the years he’s worked in a wide variety of different roles. Working for a company building outdoor play areas to studying fine joinery furniture making, then on to owning his own construction business alongside running his own woodworking workshop. At the River Shop he teaches others and shares his passion for carpentry with the general public.
“I have a lot of students come in that have small workshops giving compliments about all the tools on the shelves, but I haven’t met anyone as enthusiastic as me about Festool. I hope to pass the enthusiasm to my students.”
“By using Festool Systainer system, it makes me organised, and everything is put away in the workshop and your home on time – even if it’s not a power tool it is stowed away in a Systainer with the SYS roll, doesn't even break a sweat” says Richard.
“Work life balance is absolutely essential because when you come home you want to be 100% present.”
“Work life balance is absolutely essential because when you come home you want to be 100% present.”
“I started using Festool for its durability. On the construction site I saw tools breaking almost every day, Festool was different. My first few purchases were the track saw and a dust extractor. This was to keep clients happy and have a safe working environment”.
Richard continues to use the Festool system and dust extraction in his studio and say this is a centric part to his workshop, there’s no atmospheric dust or wood chips when working with people standing next to each other, everyone is protected, and the space is kept tidy. “I provide all my students exclusively with Festool.” Want to know Richard’s top picks for The River Shop?
Richard continues to use the Festool system and dust extraction in his studio and say this is a centric part to his workshop, there’s no atmospheric dust or wood chips when working with people standing next to each other, everyone is protected, and the space is kept tidy. “I provide all my students exclusively with Festool.” Want to know Richard’s top picks for The River Shop?
Here's a list of Richard's favourite Festool products:
- Vacuum clamping nozzle CT-W – “This is something that doesn’t leave my toolbox often. But when it does, it is a knight in shining armour. Great for long fiddly bits that need securing or even just when you’re using an 8ft spirit level on the wall.”
- Joining machine DOMINO XL DF 700 EQ-Plus 230V – “The domino was the biggest woodworking innovation in generations. It was a tool I incorporated into as many projects as I could as soon as I got one.”
- Cordless hammer drill BHC 18 HPC 4,0 I-Plus – “I never thought a cordless SDS would cut it. Let alone such a small one. Now, I couldn’t imagine ever having to plug an SDS drill into the wall again.”
- Eccentric sander ETS EC150/3 EQ-Plus 230V – “I think the nicest thing about this sander is how comfortable it is to hold while using it. You’re not really holding the sander, rather you guide it along with your hand while it sands.”
- Cordless plunge-cut saw TSC 55 KEB-Basic – “I’ve found the cordless track saw to be more powerful than the mains powered one. I’m not sure how to quantify that, but it just feels like it has more torque and oomph. I have 2 of these and if my wife isn’t looking, I’ll probably buy another one.”
- Drinks bottle TFL-FT1 1,5L – “I know this is not a tool or accessory, but this water bottle is with me everywhere I go, in the workshop, at home or on the beach.”
- Mobile dust extractor CLEANTEC CTL SYS 230V – “The extractor inside a Systainer means we have multiple students all sanding, constantly, within proximity of each other and almost entirely dust free. That’s why I have 5 of them!”
- Roll board SYS-RB – “These are so nice to have in the workshop just to shuffle your tool collection around.”
- Cordless percussion drill QUADRIVE TPC 18/4 I-Basic – “The way this drill sounds, feels and looks make it a pleasure to use every time you pick it up.”
- Sword saw UNIVERS SSU 200 EB-Plus 230V – “I only get the chance to cut with this a few times a year, but it has made results on large timber framing jobs so much more accurate than when you haven’t got one!”
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Thanks to Richard your shopping list is ready! Discover Richard’s story on our Festool UK YouTube Channel
and look out for more of our customer stories coming soon.
