Hand Held Circular Saw

[segovia]

I was thinking of buying a hand held circular saw to rip sheets of timber into manageable sizes for the table saw. What are the benefit of plunge circular saws. Also is it false economy to buy cheaply, I am thinking should I get something that will do teh job for £100.00 or invest up to £400.00 +

 

[sometimewoodworker]

I was thinking of buying a hand held circular saw to rip sheets of timber into manageable sizes for the table saw. What are the benefit of plunge circular saws. Also is it false economy to buy cheaply, I am thinking should I get something that will do teh job for £100.00 or invest up to £400.00 +

The benefit of plunge (track) circular saws (I use the Festool) is that you don't need to use a table saw for sheet goods. They are precise.

The torsion box dividers were all cut with my TS55


If you want to make two cuts (CS rough, TS exact) then get a cheaper CS (and a good dust mask).

My TS has a table that is much too small to ever use for large pieces of sheet goods. Also I don't want to allocate the space needed by a TS able to cut sheet goods.

The minimum is about 2x the longest piece + a meter, and moving heavy goods past the blade. 8-[ With my TS55 I need 1x longest piece + about 50cm and I only move the saw =D> .

For me the decision was easy I couldn't use my TS for sheet goods so would have had to replace it. I knew a lot of my cutting would be sheet goods and I would have to move them about mostly by myself. So if it was 3mm ply or 25mm+ mdf I could do it without too much difficulty using the TS55 (with very little dust).

That is my situation and opinion. I am a hobby woodworker. If I were doing production work cutting many pieces of sheet good to the same size I might have a different opinion. As it is I seldom have more than 10 or 20 so the TS55 is the perfect choice.

 

[segovia]

Thanks, I think you are right - probably best to invest in something more functional.

I have Festool routers and like them but the Mayfell MT 55 looks like a better option .

J

 

[chippy1970]

Thanks, I think you are right - probably best to invest in something more functional.

I have Festool routers and like them but the Mayfell MT 55 looks like a better option .

J

I have the TS55 its one of the most useful tools I have ever bought and Ive bought a few :lol: yeah the Mafell might have a few more bells and whistles but having seen it in real life I would still go for the Festool much more simple and slightly cheaper also I hate the way Mafell cover their tools in that naff Hammerite type paint it looks cheap and nasty.

Im sure Mcluma the Mafell nut will be along soon to sing its praises :lol: but you will find more people will recommend the TS55 and as you already have some Festool's you know the quality is good.

 

[TheTiddles]

The baby Mafell is a good tool also, I'd certainly recommend it and keep the tablesaw for joint making and "proper" wood

Aidan

 

[Rob Platt]

Have always ripped my sheets with a circular saw always worked alone. Still do it as I cant get an 8x4 in my shop. Would invest in festool if I could justify the extra cost but I already own two circular saws 110 and 240 so until the right job comes along I`ll wait. Festool seems to be the way to go.
All the best
Rob

 

[segovia]

I see Rutlands have stopped selling power tools, a sign of the times perhaps

 

[segovia]

what is the difference between the Festool Q, EQ and EBQ models ?

 

[chippy1970]

what is the difference between the Festool Q, EQ and EBQ models ?

Q is the basic model with no brake and no variable speed then eq has the variable speed and ebq has brake and variable speed.

 

[segovia]

Great thanks, is variable speed and brake important?

Also the Q has a 1050w motor the others have 1200w - is the Q a false economy or still a good tool ?

 

[chippy1970]

its probably still ok but I just bought the standard EQ I needed a 110v one and they dont do that with a brake. To be honest you dont need the brake anyway at the end of the day as soon as the saw is lifted off the rail the blade retracts anyway so its not a problem if its still running.

 

[segovia]

I was thinking of buying a hand held circular saw to rip sheets of timber into manageable sizes for the table saw. What are the benefit of plunge circular saws. Also is it false economy to buy cheaply, I am thinking should I get something that will do teh job for £100.00 or invest up to £400.00 +

The benefit of plunge (track) circular saws (I use the Festool) is that you don't need to use a table saw for sheet goods. They are precise.

The torsion box dividers were all cut with my TS55


If you want to make two cuts (CS rough, TS exact) then get a cheaper CS (and a good dust mask).

My TS has a table that is much too small to ever use for large pieces of sheet goods. Also I don't want to allocate the space needed by a TS able to cut sheet goods.

The minimum is about 2x the longest piece + a meter, and moving heavy goods past the blade. 8-[ With my TS55 I need 1x longest piece + about 50cm and I only move the saw =D> .

For me the decision was easy I couldn't use my TS for sheet goods so would have had to replace it. I knew a lot of my cutting would be sheet goods and I would have to move them about mostly by myself. So if it was 3mm ply or 25mm+ mdf I could do it without too much difficulty using the TS55 (with very little dust).

That is my situation and opinion. I am a hobby woodworker. If I were doing production work cutting many pieces of sheet good to the same size I might have a different opinion. As it is I seldom have more than 10 or 20 so the TS55 is the perfect choice.

Hi - Can you tell me what is in the box with the TS55 with the rail attachment. Axminster didn't have the kit in so they gave me TS55 and a 2Mt rail. I feel as though I am missing something, like a clamp and an end stop ? ?

 

[chippy1970]

I dont know where the 2m rail is coming from they dont make a 2m rail :lol:

Regarding whats in the case you should only get one green splinter foot and the plug it lead. Everything else is extra.

 

[segovia]

I dont know where the 2m rail is coming from they dont make a 2m rail :lol:

Regarding whats in the case you should only get one green splinter foot and the plug it lead. Everything else is extra.

Thanks

Its the long rail 2Mt was a guess. The picture in teh insaid eof tahces implies there are other items, I'll check with Ferstool just to make sure

John