Hi everyone, I havent been on here much lately, been way to busy.
I have been studying the plan and elevations for a large reception desk that I have been approached to build. The architect has spec’d that the unit be built out of mdf and appears to be inspired by ikea type furniture. Sprayed finish to be done by others and laminate tops, cam type assembly hardware, etc.
This would be worth me finally getting to invest in a festool saw and possibly some other tools. I am eyeing the saw especially for breaking down the sheets of mdf, as I have a very limited garage shop. I breifly looked at the dewalt track saw, but festo has so many satisfied customers its almost a no brainer.
My question is the 106 inch guide rail needs shipped by truck. Would two 55 inch rails serve me well enough joined together or should i go ahead and order the 106 inch rail? Are two 55’s solid enough to give me hassle free results?
I don’t have any festo equipment so far, just the usual pc, delta, dewalt, and freud, I was thinking about a the package of a 55 saw and 22 or 33 dust extractor, the guderail acessory kit, and the extra 106 inch or 55 inch guide rail. or to save money, just the saw, and acessory kit, and the extra 106 rail or 55, depending on the sturdiness of the rail splice.
Thanks for any advice.
Replies
Festool joined 55" guides
Webby,
The 55" joined guides work just fine. Sheet break down accuracy is exceptionally good.The cost of the joining bars to make a 110" guide is a PITA but they produce a very acceptable straight line cut over the 97" of MDF sheet length. Retighten them after handling the full length assemmbly as they can slip out of alignment. I found that wrapping some duct tape around the nozzle of 1 1/4" shop vacuum hose provides a very tight joint with the 35mm dust collection outlet on the TS55 and this will be an absolute requirement for cutting MDF. I use a 10' 2 1/2" hose from the large shop vac and an adapter to connect to a 5' 1 1/4" extension. There is still some dust escape on the bottom side of the cut but without some form of collection you'll be breathing a lot of not so pleasant MDF dust. Hanging the hose system above the cutting table with some bungee cords is another low cost alternative the the Feestool kit. The Fesstool vacuum system is just too expensive but the TS55 and guide system, even without the underside clamps which I now rarely use, is a true bargain; especially now with the soon to end 10% discount. For cross cuts with a clamp&guide type bar, use a 6 7/16" spacer and you will have a dead on length to the inside of the offcut. BTW I prefer the Shopvac from Lowes over the Ridgid from Home Depot as the former is so much quieter.
Regis
webby:
I agree with reg66 in that the two 55" guide rails will work very well. That's what I use when things are too big for the MF table.
I do however think the Festool dust collection system is worth the money, especially as a package with 10% off. I have the TS 55 and I use the CT Midi. That works well for me. The saw plugs into the vacuum for auto start-up, it's quiet and it's efficient. The Midi requires a dust bag and in 3 years I've replaced the bag once. I usually take it out and shake it over the trash can and put it back in the vacuum.
Also if you plan to get other Festool products in the future you'll be glad you got the vacuum, which ever size you pick.
Good luck with your purchase,
Jim
My memory's good, it's just short.
Festool guide rail
I agree that the two 55" sections joined together, work just fine. But - be sure the fasteners remain tight.
I would go with the Exctractor. It is a dream: bags need changing VERY infrequently and the hose just seems to coil and uncoil itself merely when you think about it. The variable 'suction' on the vac is a big plus when hooked to a sander.
I just broke down a sheet of 3/4" mdf and had virtually no dust. That is a blessing - I hate brown flour.
Frosty
dust collector
FYI, The CT's 22 and 33 are going bye-bye and will be replaced by CT's 26 and 36. Not to worry though. They all have the same power unit. And there are going to be, I believe, two units larger than the 36. Unfortunately the older CT's will not be discounted due to popularity. I plan on getting a CT22 ;-)
Be carefull of the green light!
Be carefull what you start! Once you have the green you will loose the other green! :). I have quite a bit of festool and swear by it. I have several rails. I just ordered the 2700 mm and it came by UPS (the 3000 will come common carier) and shipping was free. I assume you are looking at the TS55 not the TS75. If you get the 75 you need the 3000mm rail (assuming 8' sheets is what you want to cut). Now's the time to buy as the 10% discount is in effect till the end of the year. I can reccomned Bob Marino as a dealer. I might also suggest you go over to the FOG (Festool Owners Group) and register. You will get a wealth of information and support there.
You can joint the two smaller rails with connectors, but to make sure its exactly right you will need to do a lot of fiddling and have a strait edge to double check. If you want it for basic frame carpentry that's ok, but if you need a perfect line. I'd reccomend getting at a minimum the 2700mm. You will love the saw it's awsome. I would also reccomend the MFT/3 table simply a great tool and with the TS55 I use my TS a lot less. If you want Festool dust collection is one of the great features. I have the CT33e and together with the hepa filter, dust is a non-issue.
Like I said be carefull of the green!
Take care and have a good one!
Lower cost vacuum options
Jim and Frosty are very happy with their Festool vacuums and Bruce S is planning to acquire one. Retired folks like me are looking at every dollar out the door. If you combine a $45 iVac Automatic Vacuum Switch with an $80 Shopvac (12 gal) or even a 3 peak hp 6 gal unit for $50 you have an automated dust collection system, with dispoable paper bags, for about $100-125 (+tax of course). The lowest cost Festool is ~$345 + tax(and Bruce is right, no discount on Festool vacs). The iVac allows connection to two separate circuits if the total load of tool +vac =/>15amps, HOWEVER, each circuit is limited to 12 amps and this switch will not operate a medium sized dust collector like a Delta 50-580 (1 1/2 hp, 12 amp running load but ~ 16amp starting load). The iVac runs the vacuum for 6 seconds after the power tool is shut off to clear the hose line.
Regis
Will work but!
I have that setup you speak of and it works. I use my old 5 gal shopvac with the ivac attached to my Kapex SCMS. It's location is too far away in the shop to be served by my central DC and I'm lazy and did not want to wheel the CT33e over there for the very few times I use it. However, there is a huge differnce between the CT33e and the shop vac. The shopvac does pick up the dirt, but it spews almost as much out the back (and it does have a filter). The thing is a jet engine as well. The 33e with hepa filter is quiet as a churchmouse and kills the dust and has variable suction. BTW it sets next to my air filter system from delta that I run to suck up ambient dust in the shop. If I were to go with a cheaper alternative the fein vac is decent with auto on capability built in. I've also noticed that oneida is selling hepa filters for shop vac's now and paired with the dustdeputy could be a good alternative, but that cost added together gets real close to guess what a festool vac.
Ok, thanks all for the good info, I really appreciate it.
TS-55 and Festool Vac
Hi Webby,
Maybe too late - but my 2-cents.
The TS-55 is super - perhaps the one Festool worth its obscene price. I have had one for 2 years, and use it for almost everything - all wider than 12" crosscuts, and most all rip cuts. Also for breaking down all sheet goods. It is FAR more comfortable to use than my cheap Ryobi BTS 10" table saw - a POS in my opinion. Yet I cannot afford a SawStop. You will not be dissapointed if you get a TS-55.
The 22 - 33 dust collectors? I see no reason to pay Festool obscene prices for those. You can get a RIGID 1450 - a really quiet machine IMHO - at HD for $99. Add the Grizzly 5Gal pail 'cyclone top' for $20 or so - and I have a pretty decent dust collection vacuum - per machine only - again IMHO - for less than $150.
The JPG shows my 1450 w/cyclone duct taped contraption hooked to my router table. Ugly - but it works great.
BTW - there is no problem using shorter guide rails connected together with the Festool 'connector bars' - whatever they call them.
Chris
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