After listening to various discussions here and there, I was hot to get a new Tablesaw. My `1st thought was a Grizzly and then I read about the amperage draw of the motor (24 amps starting), which then led me to look further and became interested in General after reading a near ecstatic review on epinions.com by a guy who sounded like he was knowledgeable. So off to the only place in Northern VA that sells ’em – only to find they don’t sell ’em anymore, only Delta, AND the salesman absolutely trashed the General, Jet, Grizzly, etc, etc. Well, clearly I am now confused and diffident about making a decision. So we are talking tools and he wants to show me some new stuff from the German Co., “Festool”. (caveat: I am not a salesman and I have not used these tools.) Well, I don’t think I have seen a more thoughtful systems approach to power tools anywhere. All the tools fit into a system. They all come in a similar case that stacks and latches together. They fit on top of the Shop VAC and latch together and then the wheeled shop vac is the roll around tool caddy. The shop vac hooks up to virtually every tool they make (a bunch) and it is very quiet (I saw them using it in a demo in the store). Their jigsaw is reputed to cut a perfect curved cut in an oak bannister with NO blade twist. In addition to the roller, it has two carbide steel guides down low on each side of the blade. There is not faster blade change system anywhere that I am aware of. Great guide system for their plunge circular saw and router. Lots more stuff – check out their website (www.festool.com) – Even if you are not in the market for a new tool or two, you should see how a 1st class tool maker can make their tools into a really 1st class system that greatly benefits a user.
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Replies
I can only comment on my experience of using the Festool ET2e eccentric (random orbit) sanders (replaced by the ES150/3 last year). I have two of these in my shop, they work well, they are reliable in a trade environment (I make furniture and do some joinery) and the dust extraction is the best of any sanding machines I've ever owned. Expensive, true, but when I replace my Metabo jigsaw I'll probably be looking to the Festool.
Scrit
I have been using my festools since I purchased them in the summer of 1999. I own the atf55 saw, table, vac, router and several guides. I used them in my work as a flooring installer of laminate and hardwood floors, as well as to build a couple of captain style storage beds for my kids. They make ripping a 4x8 sheet a simple job, as you move the saw, not the material. I do hobby type building of these type of things, and the festools take up very little space, and perform many functions. A table saw with out feed table would be faster, but takes up more room, and is not as portable. Trimming doors, making tapered cut from sheet goods, or squaring an edge of a board or sheet goods are quick and easy. The router is a little light weight, but has been fine for me, and does the job at least as well as comparable 1 hp routers.
Hi JB.
I just got a Festool, plunge cut saw with a 55" guide track this week.
I only took a few test cuts with it & plan on playing with it this week end. The test cut were pretty impresive, I tried cross cutting oak veneer plywood, not one chip or splinter. The main reason I bought it was for cross cutting large panels for cabinets.
Ripping full sheets on the table saw for me isnt to bad for me, its the cross cutting.
PJE
Good luck with your plunge saw/track combo. Personally I have the Bosch Industrial version of the same set-up (the saw is called a GKS86B) and it works pretty well. I've used it on several plywood flooring jobs (small retail stores and a couple of workshops) and it has been an absolute godsend. The plunge facility together the ability to straight edge what the mill delivers as square cut 8 x 4s (of 25mm Verola plywood) on the last job saved my bacon.
Scrit
Hi Scrit,
I just check into the Bosch , GKS86B on the Bosch web site & no products found came up, Is there a discription of the saw you have or do I have the wrong part #
Thanks
PJE
Sorry, mistyped the number. It was GKS68B. There is a basic description here (scroll down the page) although I couldn't find the saw on the Bosch web site.
Regards
Scrit
You must be from the east side of the big pond.
Correct. I've live your side, but these days I'm back this side - in the land of warm beer and cool summers
Scrit
I'm sorry, I can't do warm beer. Where about do you live? & what part of the US did you live?
I'm in the Pennines, north of England. And I've lived in Columbus, OH and Mountain View, CA
Scrit
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