Three weeks ago I asked people here their advice about which tablesaw might be best to purchase for me. Against all expectations I got a lot of response and some very sound advice about both the CMS TS and Precisio systems. I want to thank all people again who gave their opinion on the matter, it really helped me make the right choice.

After reading everything and getting the saws demonstrated in the store I decided on the Precisio mobile tablesaw. So I started to look for a used CS 50. Turned out it's hardly offered. The CS 70 on the other hand, was very good available, both used and unused but 2nd hand. I am amazed about how many people buy very expensive gear and then for some reason sell it again without even using it.

Anyway, I had my mind set on a basic CS50 model without any extensions, I thought, I can get the extensions later on. It is expensive enough as it is at 1280 euro new. I really hoped I might find one used for 600 to 700 euro. Well, forget it. None offered. After I put a WTB ad up one Festool dealer contacted me, I could get a new demo model for 950 euro because they wanted to get rid of it. Seemed way to expensive for me so, being the pauper cheapskate I am, I didn't buy it. Found a used CS50 somewhere else but the guy wanted 800 for it. Uhm, no. That's way too much. He didn't come off as all that reliable either.

And yesterday, I had a streak of luck beyond imagination. I still can hardly believe it. A retired contractor offered his 'slightly' used CS 70 EB SET for sale. The whole shabang, the big boy with all extensions and accessories included. Starting bid 1000 euro. So I bid it. Only last week did I see one going for 1850. New price almost 2800 euros. 15 minutes later I get an email to call him. I call. He accepts . I jump through the roof.
   

So today I go to him to get it. Turns out the machine wasn't 'slightly' used but more like 'very' used. Didn't matter, this was still a steal because over all it's still in perfect condition. It got paint and glue and stuff on it so here and there, but nothing I can't clean up. It's a bit squeaky when I move the parts around but nothing a drop of oil won't fix. Needs some calibration. It's great to see it has these adjuster screws all over the place to level and calibrate every single part of it. I am just so very pleased.  I still can't believe it. I would have been content to get the small basic CS50 for 700. As fate wants it, I get the big CS 70 with all bells and whistles for only 1000. Now that's cool.  Exceptionally cool.  

Here some pics:













 

I think it is reasonably portable. The basic unit weighs 34 Kg, and together with all the extensions it's 66 Kg. It's perceived portability also depends on how big and strong you are I guess. I know from experience I'm a bit stronger then the average man so I have no problems lifting it and carrying it for not too long distances (say from car to set up spot), but I can understand other people might like it less. The size does make it a bit difficult to carry up small stairs and through doors. Anyway, I'm just a hobbyist so I'm not hauling this thing around all day like a pro would. All I need is to take it out of my shed and set it up in my backyard when I need it. Set it up and took it apart a couple of times this afternoon and I think that when I really get the hang of it I can do it in 5 minutes.   

Alex,

Congratulations!  Well done!  Now I am jealous.  Wish we could get them.  I find it interesting seeing all of the parts and pieces on your tool that have made their way into the design of the MFT/3.

Use it in good health!

Peter

LOL, it is not even offered in the USA?

  Very nice Alex,looks like a wicked saw at an unbelievable price,how lucky can you get ?Seems to have tracks in the left hand table top from the pics is that correct?

I found a CS50 on eBay UK over the weekend. It's advertised as new (ex display), but no box, starting price GBP350. Also, the seller has mis-typed, and it's listed as a CB50 in the description.

The seller had put little info, and used a stock photo of the CS50 with both the fixed and sliding table extensions. I emailed him to confirm that the photo was correct, and that he had the extensions - it wasn't, he's only selling the base unit. I told him the ad was very misleading, and that he should change the picture or at least add a note in the description. He hasn't. There is one bid on it now,with 3 days to go, but I think others will bid later & someone will end up disappointed...

The thing is, if it is ex-display, then the seller is most likely a Festool dealer. If that's the case then they should at least put an accurate description! If the seller isn't a Festool dealer, then where have they got an ex-display unit from? Off the back of a lorry, perhaps?

I saw that one too, and also wrote to him at 3pm on Sat, asking if it came with the extensions etc, and if it didnt' suggested he changed the photo and preferably supplied photos of the machine he *was* selling. Like what happened to you, he wrote back and told and me that it didn't come with the extras, however the photo of the "SET" version remains. So that's two people who have told him!

He only registered on eBay on the dale that sale started (23 Apr) and his feedback is zero so far, but he has several Makita power tools now up for sale too (with stock photos). These are 3-day auctions, and all sales are due to end on 29 or 30 Apr.

Forrest

Alex, congratulations with your purchase, I'm sure you'll enjoy it for a long time.
One of the main reasons I like festool tools so much is the ekat site, you can see the blown up picture with a numbered partslist, with the prices next to it for the individual parts; my cs70 gets hauled around alot in my van, and I've replaced the rubber feet on the legs and the base, one of the scales, and a few times a flat nut and a thumbscrew, that came off and got lost from the outfeedtable, (the outfeedtable is stored in my van all the time, I don't really like the tablewidener and the ripfence, so I mostly leave them at home; I don't have a sliding table). So if you notice any missing or worn parts they're easy to replace.

Another thing I like is that most of the dealers have plenty of blades in stock (Allthough I was surprised they only have very limited diversity of grits in sandpaper when I got my rotex) I don't know if the store in Germany you ordered the blade from has much better pricing than the local stores, otherwise I would just get the apropriate blade locally, and replace the 190mm with a different type you might need. I wouldn't use the smaller blade in the CS, because, unlike on the big tablesaws where it's normal to use different sizes of blades, the rivingknife can't be adjusted closer to the blade.

I have also seen the articles Mattijs mentioned, there used to be quite a few on the festool site, and even more on the German site, but with the new websitedesign I can't locate them anymore.

Enhorabuena por tu compra, yo la tengo desde hace algunos años y cada día estoy mas contento, perdonad que escriba en español pero mi ingles es muy rudimentario, así que me defiendo a través del traductor de google, vivo en España y soy un asiduo de este foro felicidades a sus creadores y gracias a todos por lo que aportáis en el gracias a lo cual aprendo tanto, aquí un amigo para lo que queráis.

Allow me to translate as best as I can.

Congratulations on your purchase, I have had one for several years and every day I am happier, sorry for writing in Spanish but my English is very basic, so I get by with the google translator, I live in Spain and I am a fan of this forum, well done to its creators and to all those who have posted I have learned so much, here you have a friend for whatever you want.

(this last bit is better translated as "I am here to help however I may." )

My Spanish is a bit rusty but that's the general gist.

Richard.

Thats looks great, Would love to get one some day.

Dust is the key word, I have the same setup,

Last week I tested "strapping" a (cheep) plastic shopping bag on the two hooks that holds the extension plate on the far end to capture the dust, and it works.
No longer as much dust on the ground.

It is not practical though if you like to pull the saw towards you.

The pile of dust came with the saw, and unfortunately the Y-shaped hose didn't.  These pictures were made the first time I set it up in my backyard, I hadn't used it yet, but all the dust fell out all by itself. I can't comment yet on it's dust collection because I got the Y-hose not long ago and still have to use it for the first time.

Until now I have only used the saw with my CT22 with the standard D27 hose on the hole in the casing below the table. It's not perfect. The moment I fold the table up again and put it on it's side for transport a whole heap of sawdust falls out of the bottom casing.

This video shows another undercut pullsaw by metabo, which has the same basic functionality:

link

There used to be a computer animation on the German and Dutch festool sites that showed some of the precisio-specific features like the blade change, splinterguard etc. but those got lost when they switched to the current website design (along with a database with lots of usefull pdf files that showed practical examples of using different festool tools, including the precisio)

Alex, I wanted to ask you sooner, in some of the pictures it shows the saw with the blade in the middle of the table; was there something wrong with the spring of your saw; or is there a way of locking it in that location? (I have an older CS70 (that has a black dustshroud instead of the clear one) so it could be a feature that wasn't on my saw yet)

I planned on making a review but I haven't had the time yet to do this properly, sorry. I'm pretty sure it's not gonna be a video though.


Nothing wrong there, the saw is locked at that place. The middle position is meant for when you use it as a table saw. Instead of using the pull action the blade is locked in the middle and doesn't move, instead you move the workpiece like with a normal table saw.