Author Topic: TS55 as a table saw? and the 1010 as a router table ? (Read 31937 times)

yverof · « **on:** December 30, 2010, 07:15 AM »

Hello everyone,

Has anyone succeeded in using the TS55 as a table saw? and the 1010 as a router table.
I understand the system invented by Steve sitting in the MFT/3 was discontinued, while the latest version showed great security improvement.
Anyway, I'm not looking for MFT/3 integration anymore as this seems to be difficult even if it would save a lot of space in the 'amateur' shop.
Is there any other way to use the saw 'under the table'. I use it with full satisfaction on the MFT but there are situations where it would be very handy to have it convert as a table saw.

The same question occurs for the OF 1010. I understand it is not as strong as a OF 2200, but again under the table use could be very handy for small jobs.

I would love to lean from the experience of others.

Thank you ,

Yves

jonny round boy · « **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2010, 07:49 AM »

Yves,

since you're in France (not the US/Canada) your best bet would be the CMS system. This has swappable inserts which will carry the TS55 and the OF1010, as well as a lot of other Festools.

yverof · « **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2010, 09:04 AM »

Thanks jonny round boy.
I looked at this option but the price is out of reach for me. If you want the all set TS, OF, PS, plus table ... it's almost 1000 dollars.
I'm looking for a simple but if possible efficient solution.
I have no problem if this requires some extra work for fine tuning.
Yves

jonny round boy · « **Reply #3 on:** December 30, 2010, 11:15 AM »

Yves,

In that case, you could easily make a homemade router table. I have done myself for my OF1400 - see THIS THREAD.

As for the saw, it's not really possible. Sure, you could theoretically mount on upside down, and work out a mechanism for holding the blade up, but a homemade system wouldn't be very safe, and the risk just isn't worth it.

Quote from: yverof on December 30, 2010, 09:04 AM

I'm looking for a simple but if possible efficient solution.

I'm afraid the only simple, efficient solution is the CMS. Simplicity and efficiency are expensive...

Dovetail65 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 30, 2010, 11:18 AM »

Well, you have to copy Steve's design(or make a version) and do it on your own and take the good with the bad(getting hurt badly). If the design was stopped becasue it is not safe in the eyes of the inventor that should tell you something.

Frans · « **Reply #5 on:** December 31, 2010, 03:15 AM »

Yves,

Try to get a second hand CMS, or a Basis with an ATF55. You can make an insert plate for your router yourself.

Frans

fshanno · « **Reply #6 on:** December 31, 2010, 10:49 AM »

A nice little job site TS with a riving knife has got to be about as good as an upside down TS55. Most of them are pretty light and fairly small. And you won't have to fuss with changeover. You'd probably get more power, a better fence and a safer system than rigging something.

It would really be nice to have above the table height adjustment on your router table. I do quite a bit of adjusting and test cuts. Lifting the router out of the top each time would be a nightmare for me. I think it makes sense to go ahead and get a router that provides above the table height adjustment and bit changing, like a Triton maybe. You could also use it for more demanding hand held operations and save the 1010 for lighter duty.

yverof · « **Reply #7 on:** December 31, 2010, 12:27 PM »

Thank you all for your advices.
I need to do some thinking about balancing my needs and what I can afford.
Meanwhile Jonny round boy approach is interesting.

Yves

pjunger · « **Reply #8 on:** January 10, 2011, 11:19 AM »

I had more or less the same problem.

My workshop is to small to have the MFT/3 and CMS at the same time. So what I did, was I used the CMS modul for the TS 55 and build this into my MFT/3
I made a new desktop, from at MDF 19 mm plate. Add a 8 mm alu. pipe at the side - see picture

I have after this made a modul for my OF 1010, included at lift.

I haven't made the fence yet - so I have no picture of that.

I have also made a modul for the PS400. But no picture.

/Per

yverof · « **Reply #9 on:** January 18, 2011, 06:11 AM »

Per,

I cannot view your picture. I get a message indicating the files are not available. Can you check please.

Thank you very much,

Yverof

lumbajac · « **Reply #10 on:** January 18, 2011, 07:58 AM »

If you want a table saw primarily for its ripping capabilities, then try using your TS55 or 75 with the parallel guide attachement as John Lucas shows here http://www.woodshopdemos.com/fes-par-1.htm

I tried this just last week and it works fantasitic. I had to rip some 8 foot material and I could do it far better and safer using John Lucas' method that I can on a table saw. I'm sure ripping shorter material, say less than 2' or so, may be difficult, but I'm sure a method to hold the board being ripped securely could quickly be devised.

The parallel guide attachment is relatively inexpensive. I have the TS75, but am assuming you have the TS55 - price for parallel guide is $49 US: http://www.bobmarinosbesttools.com/parallel-guides/p/491469/

Wim · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2011, 12:21 AM »

I used the parallel guide a few times and it works much better than expected. With one hand at the rail of the guide, you can control the saw very exact. With my thumb I kept the inside of the rail level with the wood. With smaller boards you can keep the saw flat on the wood.

yverof · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2011, 05:10 AM »

Pjunger,
Thank you very much for posting the pictures. You have done an impressive work. This is really what I am looking for, it is a big challenge to make it perfect, but it is worth trying. As a matter of fact it is the solution when you do not have enough space and when you have at the same time already the TS55, OF1010 and PS300 which is my case.
A few question if you agree.
Why did you decide to make the plate into which you integrate the machines, so large? Could it be smaller in order to save more place for the 'regular' MFT use? I'm not sure I understand how the alu pipe was made and is being used. Did you thought about routing directly into the MFT rather than making a separate new top?
I understand you purchased parts of the CMS TS 55, not the entire kit (you seem to use the MFT Fence).
For the OF1010, is the router strong enough to support under the table use?
Can you explain a bit more how you made the lift (pictures would be great)? How easy is it to 'plug' the router on the plate?

Sorry about all these questions, but I'm really exited about what you have done. I was very frustrated that Steve's TSCK1 kit was supposed to be unsafe (while the last version was not in my opinion), you seem to have integrated CMS so that is safe.

Thank you very much for posting.

pjunger · « **Reply #13 on:** January 29, 2011, 02:44 PM »

Here some answers.

"I understand you purchased parts of the CMS TS 55, not the entire kit (you seem to use the MFT Fence)."
I have a complete CMS with TS-55 - I use it when I work outside the shop - In the shop I use the MFT fence and the CMS fence. See the page of spare-parts, for ideas.

"Why did you decide to make the plate into which you integrate the machines, so large?"
I wanted it to be the same size as the standard CMS modules.

"Could it be smaller in order to save more place for the 'regular' MFT use? "
You can make it smaller, when we are talking about PS300/PS400 and OF1010. - I have put the PS300/PS400 in the middle of the plate - you can place in one of the sides. This will give you more spaces.
For the TS-55 - Use the original version from Festool - it has all the safety you can get

"I'm not sure I understand how the alu pipe was made and is being used"
Here are some extra pictures - hope the explain what I have done - If you are lazy, and want to spend some money, you can buy the following spare parts from Festool - and you will have a very nice result.

The part numbers are (the are based MFT/3 -VL)
473513, Profil , 100 USD
475358, Profile plate, 40 USD, each, you need two
Can use this page to find the spare parts prices in france.

http://ekat.festool.de/EKAT/jsp/main.jsp?doAction=catalogAssy&k_vari=&k_ver=&image=0&k_lfdnr=&nodeId=55&sig=3C351D8D40C1C60D433F0AF319F82BEDFF69A63476449F6BDC86871133FD434E4B32BB9BA73BA67212C6834B26739A894D8AAEE41AAE42456C7FC4605AAED758

"For the OF1010, is the router strong enough to support under the table use"
Festool - has a stand kit for this route - and I haven't had problems. (and my is the old one with only a 720 watt motor)

"Can you explain a bit more how you made the lift (pictures would be great)?"
Here are some pictures - hope the explain - how I did - else write back.

"How easy is it to 'plug' the router on the plate?"
It take about two minutes, and this is okay - but it will be more nice if it was more easy - I working on a solutions for that - I expect to publics this solutions during the February.

Thanks for you response at my solutions.

pjunger · « **Reply #14 on:** January 30, 2011, 08:59 AM »

And here the last pictures. There show the different knobs I use. First version was a piece of wood - the next version was a knob from Festool

/Per

yverof · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2011, 12:18 PM »

VERY VERY useful, thank you very much.

Yverof

mosez · « **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2011, 03:56 PM »

is that a GERSCHWITZ HOLFACHMARKT ROTTENBURG folding rule in the picture? its my favorite online dealer. im just asking because its a german dealer...

pjunger · « **Reply #17 on:** February 08, 2011, 04:13 PM »

You are right. The folding ruler are from GERSCHWITZ HOLFACHMARKT ROTTENBURG.
This ruler is most better than my Festool ruler - Sorry.

This shop has everything from Festool and Protools, the prices are very nice, ex. the Systainer are around 30% cheaper compare to the prices in Denmark.
The worst example are the blades for the TS55 or the Kapex 120 - there are around 50% cheaper, compare to prices in Denmark

So I buy from GERSCHWITZ HOLFACHMARKT ROTTENBURG, and pay the post and package at 15EUR for delivery in Denmark, and delivery time is 3-4 working days.

/Per

yverof · « **Reply #18 on:** March 09, 2011, 03:45 PM »

Hello,
I finally found a CMS on eBay in Germany (I live in France) and got a good price for it. I also got the TS55 module and also got an extension table so I am pretty well set so far. I'm looking for a good second hand sliding table on eBay. When I get this I will have a great setup for my TS55. I will build the OF1010 and PS300 modules for the CMS myself as this seems to be less exposed to safety risks than building the TS55 module (at least this is how I understand).

Thank you again for your help and all the great pictures which helped me a lot to make my decision.

Yverof

pjunger · « **Reply #19 on:** March 09, 2011, 04:02 PM »

Hello

Thats great !!

Welcome in the CMS club

/Per

yverof · « **Reply #20 on:** March 15, 2011, 04:59 PM »

Per, I have been using my CMS/TS55 a few times now and I am very happy with the possibilities. I see that you have added the sliding table on your setup. Do yo consider this as a must ? I have been considering for a while building some kind of sled sliding table, but when I see the quality of the CMS I wonder if the CMS add-on of the Festool sliding table is not a better choice.
What do you think ?

Thank you

pjunger · « **Reply #21 on:** March 16, 2011, 03:42 AM »

Hi

I has as you can see the CMS/sliding table - and thats great - I use it very offen - because it easy to use - and very good made.
One of the main reason for using it - is it expand the width of the table.

So if you can find the money goes for the Festool sliding table

/Per