Festool saw and rails purchase? And claiming back VAT?

[gidon]

Ok thanks Si - v tempting ...

Roger I did have that in my "basket" but the total price scared me so I tool them off!

Thanks for the VAT advice Roger and Mrs O - much appreciated.

Just a quick go on the Festool - first challenge - trimming the splinter guard! Not so impressed it wasn't stuck on properly - was coming off one end and at the other end was in the wrong place. Still reattached at the ends and seems to have stayed stuck. Hard to get a neat cut of the plastic at the start (and end) when the saw isn't all the way on - but guess that prolly isn't going to matter in use. Also stopped mid cut which I read afterwards I shouldn't have done!

But quick cut with trimmed guide rail - lovely! Looking forward to using in anger. The clamps are very clever and the rail grips very nicely even without them.

Cheers

Gidon

 

[RogerS]

I bought the clamps. Still in their box as I foud that I never needed them even on slippy stuff like MFC.

 

[Oryxdesign]

Just a quick go on the Festool - first challenge - trimming the splinter guard! Not so impressed it wasn't stuck on properly - was coming off one end and at the other end was in the wrong place. Still reattached at the ends and seems to have stayed stuck. Hard to get a neat cut of the plastic at the start (and end) when the saw isn't all the way on - but guess that prolly isn't going to matter in use. Also stopped mid cut which I read afterwards I shouldn't have done!

But quick cut with trimmed guide rail - lovely! Looking forward to using in anger. The clamps are very clever and the rail grips very nicely even without them.

I think you are being a little over cautious, the ends of the rails don't really matter as you don't use them as the end guide of the saw becomes disengaged. The clamps are most useful when trimming thicker items like doors as then the guides tend to walk a little.

 

[chippy1970]

when you get more rails you can use the old rails to run the saw on to the new rails when cutting the splinter gaurd for the first time then it cuts perfectly.

 

[RogerS]

Don't forget...if you're going to be making angle cuts then get yourself some spare wee green thingies. When you make an angled cut, you cut into the gren thingie which means that the width of your zero clearance has increased and so you might start to get chipout.

 

[Oryxdesign]

Don't forget...if you're going to be making angle cuts then get yourself some spare wee green thingies. When you make an angled cut, you cut into the gren thingie which means that the width of your zero clearance has increased and so you might start to get chipout.

Are you sure?

 

[RogerS]

Don't forget...if you're going to be making angle cuts then get yourself some spare wee green thingies. When you make an angled cut, you cut into the gren thingie which means that the width of your zero clearance has increased and so you might start to get chipout.

Are you sure?

Doh..you;re right. It was different thicknesses...see here

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?p=113805&highlight=festool+green#113805

 

[Oryxdesign]

When you do a bevel cut you have to remove the green splinter guard to allow the saw to tip over. If you don't you might damage a guide rail of course I always remember to take it of now.

 

[gidon]

Yes -was nervous about the first cut but as you say no so important.
Good solution Chippy.
I don't get that on the offcut splinter guard - that sounds quite a faff changing it for different depths of cut.
My challenge at the moment is working around 8x4 boards in a very cramped shed - when I've done this before with my homemade guide I've been lucky enough to do it outside - but it's chucking it down here!
Cheers
Gidon

 

[chippy1970]

Yes -was nervous about the first cut but as you say no so important.
Good solution Chippy.
I don't get that on the offcut splinter guard - that sounds quite a faff changing it for different depths of cut.
My challenge at the moment is working around 8x4 boards in a very cramped shed - when I've done this before with my homemade guide I've been lucky enough to do it outside - but it's chucking it down here!
Cheers
Gidon

I must admit I dont use that green anti splinter foot all the time its only when you need your offcut to be splinter free too. When you lower the saw deeper it cuts more off the splinter foot (length ways) but width wise it stays the same so it still works if that makes sense :lol: they are only cheap so you could have a few for different thicknesses of material as some people do.


My workshop is only 4m x 4m thats why I bought the TS55 and stopped using my tablesaw for sheets. I have planned to make a cutting table, I bought two Triton stands last year or maybe the year before and still have not made one below is a link to what I am talking about.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=1004.0

You can load up a sheet then flip it up, makes it easier to work in a cramped shop.

 

[gidon]

Well worked brilliantly with a load of Walnut veneered MDF!
Like the look of those Triton stands.
I used a sheet of Xtratherm as recommended here and on Workshopdemos - best £11 I've spent for some time!
Cheers
Gidon