Festool Tablesaw thingy?

[wizer]

I just caught a glimpse of Festool's tablesaw thing and I wondered why this doesn't seem to be popular? People rave about practically every other Festool product, but I don't recall seeing or hearing about these other than at shows?

What's the deal? Is it like a Triton Workcentre? You have to sling the circular saw under the table?

Perhaps I should buy one to find out, then sell it at a great loss? No, no I won't do that. That would be silly

 

[Chems]

I saw a video on it, its a TS55 or the other one upside down. Its part of the whole MFT thing. Looks pretty good an has a whole winding handle and NVR an everything. Doesn't look like something you'd switch back and forth thou. Think they had it at world of festool as well.

Reason people probably don't have them here is its 500 for the saw and the MFT costs again as does all the other accesories, you could buy yourself a big cabinet saw for less.

 

[wizer]

yes I suspect the main reason people haven't taken it up is the price. 1-2k depending on options.

 

[Jake]

It can't be that much, surely? Much better off with the CS50 or CS70 if it is in that price range. Then at least you can take off the cost of an SCMS off the total to help the mental* justification.


*mental indeed. Where's my straightjacket.

 

[wizer]

seems bonkers why anyone would buy it. I wonder if any one has ?

 

[Ed68]

I've thought about buying it, although it would be mainly for on the job use not in the workshop.

It would be another way to extend their use as they are costly to buy.

 

[CNC Paul]

I just caught a glimpse of Festool's tablesaw thing and I wondered why this doesn't seem to be popular?

Tom,

It's probable the price that scares people off

 

[Jake]

yes I suspect the main reason people haven't taken it up is the price. 1-2k depending on options.

Looks a bit toppy - the £1kish version seems to come with a TS55, so if you already have that you could do it cheaper.

I guess the modularity (router table etc) is a plus point, but at that price I still think that (keeping it just to Festool) the CS saws offer more.

 

[wizer]

It's too easy to compare it to the Triton Workcentre, but I guess they've designed it so the saw can be removed and replaced with accuracy. I still think that these modular 'system's don't always work. The only way I can see it working in a workshop environment is if space was seriously limited. As always, really depends on what work you're doing. I'd like to try it, for sure. Or at least hear a proper user review.

 

[chippy1970]

Theres a guy on the festool owners group who designed and made his own commercial version. He has basically made a plastic plate that will take the TS55 and you then rout the plate into your MFT table. It comes with a hight adjustment gizmo too. I have not heard much more about it but there were videos of it on You tube. I think he was selling them to other members then there was a lot of talk that it didn't meet safety regs as it didn't have a crown guard but he might have added that by now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMmfUaJE-sk

 

[woodsworth]

How much is it? I want it!!! I'm not big on Festool but that looks like the bee's knees. I already have the saw so if that was reasonable it would be lighter then lugging around my bosh.

 

[Chems]

I'd never use it in a workshop, I hate having to change modes of things, bogs down the making process.

 

[mailee]

Yep, I'm with you Chems, hate having to change things to do a job. I really can't see the use in this over priced half baked table saw! Be much better off with a table saw or a site saw IMHO. :roll:

 

[cambournepete]

OTOH it does give you a precision table saw you can easily carry from site to site...
I don't think it's really meant for shop use.

 

[wizer]

yes I agree but then is there a great need for an accurate table saw on site? I think most contractors need the rip facility, which a £200 Bosch TS can handle just as well. It's a toss up between the expense of the Festool and the space the Bosch would take up. I'm assuming the bosch would win in most cases. It's likely that most trades have invested in the saw and rails only and not bothered with the MFT etc.

I've lurked on the festool forums before and I do like the MFT system. But I'd want a workshop big enough to dedicate an area to it and still have all the normal stuff elsewhere. I'd like good health and a teenage wife too....

 

[Chems]

I dont think a CS and guide rail will ever replace a proper table saw. The cut is the same but its the speed of set up. Thats why you see guys with those bosch ones on wheels. 10seconds to set a fence, a lot longer to mark up and layout your guide rail and time is money.

 

[sometimewoodworker]

How much is it? I want it!!! I'm not big on Festool but that looks like the bee's knees. I already have the saw so if that was reasonable it would be lighter then lugging around my bosh.

it is a bit under$500 and can be had with a metric thread (that is a thread that gives a standard metric rise per wheel turn) the standard is imperial.

 

[woodsworth]

OTOH it does give you a precision table saw you can easily carry from site to site...
I don't think it's really meant for shop use.

And where did you find a Bosh for £200. Mine was closer to £600 with a stand, which you need for on site work.

 

[gasman]

I will 'fess up' to being an owner of something like what you are describing - sort of...
Basically I bought an old Festool basis table cheaply from ebay a few years ago (it is the precursor of the modern CMS with side rails the same as the old style MFT). I got a jigsaw mounting plate for the Festool trion jigsaw at the same time which is absolutely great for cutting small pieces very accurately - for anyone following my current writing desk WIP https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/writing-desk-wip-t38747.html I used it to cut complex angles on the four legs which would have been difficult to do any other way that I could think of.
Then I was 'given' an OF2200 router for some work and as a result I bought a new CMS router mounting plate - this is now my router table and this is the default that this table is set up for. It is such a solid, dependablt set up and is almost spindle-moulder like in the ease of use, stability and reliability.
About a year after I got it I saw that Rutlands were selling off a sliding saw mounting plate for the Basis - this was for the ATF55 saw rather than the TS55. It functions in 2 modes - as a table saw with a mitre gauge, fence etc - but then it really comes into its own as a sliding table saw - this is fantastic for the control that it gives you and I do not own a SCMS because of having this sliding saw.
So, for about £1000 all in I have a very portable table saw, router table and inverted jigsaw. They are irritating to swap over but in reality I rarely have to do this - only for 'specialised' jobs.
If you are interested I will happily do a formal review of it - I have not done so far because the sliding saw module is not now available for the CMS - I think this is because Festool want to sell the precision saws which I believe are sliding themselves.
Hope that helps...
Gasman