Rory Parker is the Festool With You Everyday winner. Professional Builder visits a carpenter for whom a sophisticated level of site work is matched by his premium power tools
If there is a true multi-tasker in the building industry then it’s the kitchen fitter and it’s a status that is exemplified by the thoroughly well stocked vehicle of Rory Parker. The eponymous half of Cambridgeshire-based ParkerRose owns a van that features a machine for every interior fit out eventuality you could encounter.
That includes a considerable arsenal of Festool equipment, which was recently given a boost by the addition of no less than £10,000 worth of new kit. Last year Rory won the German manufacturer’s Festool With You Everyday giveaway and the reward was a whopping £8,000 in power tools, together with £2,000 of bott Smartvan racking to help keep it all in the right place.
Investing in yourself
We caught up with Rory on a high-end extension job in an affluent corner of the east of England, where he explains his brand loyalty. “Buying Festool is all about making an investment in yourself because it will help you achieve a better finish and work more efficiently,” enthuses the 32 year-old tradesman. “The kind of work we’re doing demands that you’re meticulous, where you’re constantly thinking about the detail, and having the right tools is a part of that.”
ParkerRose has been trading since 2016 and specialises in kitchens and cabinetry. The quality work accomplished on site is complemented by an impressive showroom and workshop facility in St Ives, as Rory explains: “It’s an invaluable resource for us because we can meet clients there, go through every aspect of the job, and show them samples.” The team can plan projects themselves or collaborate with interior designers with bespoke elements generated by ParkerRose staff using SketchUp and AutoCAD software. Rory will travel from his Cambridgeshire base around the surrounding counties, and into North London, with much of his work won through recommendation.
“I started working for my Dad installing timber windows and we were using a lot of Festool sanders even then, so I’ve always been aware of the quality,” he recalls. “The first tool I actually bought was a Festool TS 55 Plunge-cut Saw, along with a couple of drills. I now use the cordless TSC 55 K all the time and its performance easily stands up to a mains machine. That comparable power output is actually the case with the entire cordless offering today and it’s such a convenient development. I also like the KickbackStop safety system, and it’s really smooth in operation. We’re mostly cutting 18mm panels with it and it goes through them like butter.”
So, what would be the Festool kit that Rory couldn’t do without? “With the kind of work we undertake I’d certainly need my CXS and TXS compact cordless drill drivers. We use them in the workshop on cabinets and they are small enough to get into confined spaces but still have plenty of power and versatility. I’ve had them seven or eight years now and they’re so reliable. Added to those are the new 18 volt CXS 18 and TXS 18 compact screwdrivers which I use for site work.”
One solution that has impressed Rory amongst the hugely generous Festool freebies is the CSC SYS 50 Cordless Table Saw, as the Cambridgeshire carpenter explains: “It’s been brilliant, especially when we’re trimming units, making infills panels and scribes. You can’t really believe at first that it fits into a Systainer, which makes it super portable. It takes up hardly any room in the van and you can set up pretty much anywhere on the Multifunction table, or on the floor, so it’s ideal in tight spots.”
“What really makes it unique for me, however, is the digital controls, which means you can adjust the height and angle and you know you’ll be accurate to a tenth of a millimetre. I’ve used other saws where the dial will slip in use but that’s not possible with the Festool.”
The big prize
We asked Rory what was his reaction on finding out he won the Festool With you Everyday prize? “You enter these things without any real anticipation of ever winning so it was certainly a surprise, and I couldn’t really believe it at first.” Rory was invited to visit the company’s UK HQ in Bury St Edmunds to look at what he’d won and receive some product training. The prize included the before mentioned Multifunction table, CSC SYS 50 cordless table saw, the Festool 1400 EBQ Router, an angle grinder, the PSC 420 Cordless Jigsaw, the Cordless Delta Sander DTSC 400, and the GHS 25 Bluetooth Ear Defenders and a new light.
“One thing that I really like about Festool is how they look after you as an end user. Their service department is very good and the theft cover is unique. All you need to do is register the tool online on your MyFestool customer portal and, as part of the three-year warranty, it’s protected against theft. Simply pay a £100 excess and it will be replaced. I had my van broken into in 2018, and know what it’s like to be robbed, so that’s very reassuring.”
“You can tell that every feature on Festool products has been really well thought out and tested,” concludes Rory. “If you add the level of service to the quality of the kit then they really are the best in the market.”
For further information on ParkerRose visit Bespoke Kitchens & Bathrooms in Cambridgeshire | Parker Rose (parker-rose.co.uk).
If you would like more information on Festool visit Festool United Kingdom.
