I’ve read a fair bit about the Festool TS55 plunge cut saw…most of it quite positive. I am embarking on a project that will require a large number of parts to be cut out of 3/4 inch plywood. My current plan is to prepare templates from 1/4 ” ply or hard board, cut the parts out of the thicker material with a jigsaw and flush trim them to the templates. Many of the parts have curves, so that would still be the plan.
For the parts that have straight lines (albeit angled), would one of these plunge cut saws be a good alternative? It seems like the guide rail would allow angled cuts to be made easily and precisely. How precisely can you gauge the starting and stopping point for the cut? With my current 1980s vintage circular saw, I can gauge the cut to within 6 feet….not quite good enough.
Any input would be appreciated.
Rick
Edited 4/27/2007 12:56 pm ET by Astro
Edited 4/27/2007 12:56 pm ET by Astro
Replies
Astro,
You can see the line, and control beginning and ending points much easier than with a traditional circular saw. However, from my understanding of what you describe, this is still not an ideal job for a circular saw. Since you have a template, can you use it as a giude for a piloted router bit?
How much of an "angled cut" are you needing? Is it required along the entire edge or just along the straight portion of cut?
I'm actually trying to avoid the need to create templates for the parts with straight lines. Since I'm only going to be making one of these, the templates aren't going to be useful later. For the curved parts, I am resigned to making templates and using piloted bits.
I'm not making beveled cuts, if that's what you mean. Just cutting out shapes with angles other than 90 degrees.
Rick
You can accomplish what I understand your needs to be with the TS55 and the MFT1080 with the accessory package (it contains a protractor).
Do you own a tablesaw? If so, why not get a good miter gauge to handle the angled cuts.
The Festool system is incredible. If you are attempting to justify the purchase and you want to invest in it for this project, go for it. Not only is it well engineered and well-built, it holds fairly good resale value if well cared for.
If you are looking for less costly options, they exist.
Yes, the festool saw makes odd angled cuts easy. Mark the ends, lay the guide on the sheet, and cut. That's it. You can back up the saw with care to cut a line internal in the sheet. How accurate you can cut the ends points depends on the material - any material that splinters makes it hard to see the marks on the sheet. You can certainly cut to 1mm, maybe as good as .2mm in the right material. If you can mark it that well! However, of course, the saw cut is an arc, so it won't be perfect, no matter how accurately you cut it.
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