The plunge mechanism in this machine has a lot of play, and the machine cut very loose slots that didn’t allow me to get an accurate reading during the parallel test. It’s heavy but well balanced, and features a comfortable pistol grip; however, the grip makes the tool harder to use in the vertical orientation. The fence is large and has an easy-to-grip handle in front that I like. But it was hard to keep the fence parallel when locking it after adjustments.
The Festool Rotex is a top-of-the-line choice. On its coarse setting, it removed stock nearly twice as quickly as the second-fastest model. But that speed doesn’t mean you’ll have to wrestle with it. It’s no huge task to control it with two hands, and its long body gives you plenty of room to find a sweet spot while holding it.
The clear winner here is Festool’s CT 48 Dust Extractor. It has amazing capacity relative to its size, and unmatched suction power. It packs in a number of subtle but very helpful design touches, like a clever foot brake and easy hose and cord storage.
With its graceful curves, cabriole legs, and ornamental back splat, a Queen Anne side chair is a bucket list build for many woodworkers. Dan Faia had a very specific Queen…
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