Table Saw or Festool MFT?

[spacerefurbs]

Hi all,

I've been thinking about buying a table saw for cutting down panels to make kitchen cabinet doors and drawers, wardrobes, bathroom vanity units etc for residential refurbishment projects. I'm somewhat torn between a table saw like the Kity 419 or Record TS200 (perhaps teamed with the Incra system as then I could incorporate a router table), and the Festool MFT3 with which I could use my existing TS55.

Ideally I'd just get a 10" TS with a sliding table and be done with it but they're not exactly designed for portability and I'd like to be able to transport it for on site use.

Mostly I'll be cutting down MDF sheets before sending them off to be lacquered. Will the Festool set up produce a good, accurate, clean finish ready for coating or should I should I bite the bullet and go for a TS? Would the Incra combo be worthwhile? If so, which saw do you all recommend?

 

[RogerS]

Why not do this?

 

[Corset]

I would go for the table saw but if you need portability the festool wll be hard to beat. They do sell something to allow repeatability that attaches to the rail. Its not cheap though...

 

[Lord Kitchener]

I've been in exactly this position. I ran a sliding table saw bench for a year or so, then for some reason (probably dis-satisfaction with finish obtained from the table saw), I went over to the MFT. I built an outfeed table onto it with a scale and stop, which made it MUCH more useful.

But in the end the choice is all down to speed. If you need to run at a decent speed then only a decent table saw will do. The two that you mention are, IIRC, quite small units. But with an INCRA TS fence system and some extension tables should be ideal.

I have the INCRA, btw, bloody lovely!