I find that about the only thing I am not able to consistently cut with my TS55 is thin strips such as edging of about 18th inch for plywood.  Actually I can until the mother board gets down to maybe 1 to 2 inches or less.

So  --  I would be interested in a small portable table saw only for narrow ripping.  It should have a long, narrow table at least as long as a normal size table saw i.e., 27 inches.  Construction could be aluminum, steel or even structural plastic.  In any case the top and fence should be sheathed in steel or have strategically placed steel pads so magnetic type finger boards and hold downs would work.

I would go for one of the available light weight bench saws available such as the Bosch, Porter Cable, Makita, DeWalt, Ridgid etc., except their tables expand in width for cutting plywood, rather than length wise for ripping.

I'm not holding my breath that I will ever be able to purchase something like this off-the-shelf, so I may have to just go out and make my own.  But if Festool came up with something of this sort, I would very likely result in a few dollars flowing out of my pocket into theirs.

Don't know if any other Festoolers have similar thinking on this.

Hi,

      Try these threads for ideas (maybe you already have). Not saying thatthey are better than a table saw for the task, but it gets the job done. I have cut as narrow as an 1/16" with the set up I show in the thread.  And down to only having a 1/2" left of the mother board.   
                  http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=1558.0
 
                 http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=1894.0

Seth

Maybe you should try and get your hands on a CMS?

Unintentional, but I accept your ruling. 

Dave, you must understand that I'm just wimping/fussing.

I have half-heartedly cut thin strips with my TS55, with half-hearted success.  The problem is there was a nicely tuned contractor saw within 5 feet of where I was and the temptation was just a bit too great.

What happened was exactly as you mentioned  --  the wood moved forward under the guide rail and I lost my nice straight cut.  So I need to provide a stop and I think I'll be alright.

What's in the back of my mind is to convert an early model DeWalt miter saw stand to be a hardwood ripping stand.  The new ones at HD are shorter but have pull out extensions.  Mine is about 7 ft long with no extensions.

Should do it soon because I have a great son-in-law in Kansas City that just bought a new house there.  My wife & I are planning a trip there via pickup and camper in a few weeks to see them, the new house and new baby.  We still have some stash at our house to take to them, but there is room in the pickup for a contractor saw and some other woodworking tools that I could easily get along without. 

Son-in-law was not raised up to be handy with tools, but he has a desire and picks it up very quick.  The new house will be pretty bare when they first move in and they will need book shelves, stand for the digital piano, etc., etc., etc.  Perhaps he will develop into a Festool owner.