Advice Please

[phill-k]

I'm about to order the following setup and would appreciate some advice from the forum please.
The TS55 plunge saw
OF1010 router
domino
hole drilling set
guide rails 1080 & 2424 for both saw & hole drilling kit
Mini Vac

The justification is so that I can build our kitchen unit carcasses (32mm system) out of melamine board, I have done a lot of reading but whilst I'm ok with general tools haven't had any experience with Festools. I don't at this stage own a quality (read very accurate) bench saw so would be looking to do all the cuts with the TS55 & guide rail. I'm a little concerned that my enthusiasm for a mobile setup rather than finishing the cuts on a saw bench or router table might lead to unsatisfactory cuts - chipping of the melamine edge ect. I also have a few friends who make a living by buying and doing up houses and most of the time they replace the kitchen and sometimes bathroom, this would be an extra form of income for me, and I could either build the units in my shed/workshop or even on site.
I had meant to add I have gleaned the most information from our estemed members workshopdemo site - thankyou

 

[mastercabman]

why do you need both size holes drilling fence?

the 1010 will fine for holes drilling
the ts 55 is fantastic,no problem for cabinets.

 

[bruegf]

Good quality mdf core melamine will cut with no chips using the standard blade that comes w/ the TS55.  On the other hand, if you plan to use particle board core melamine from Menard's, etc., no amount of care will produce a completely chip free cut, either on your table saw or using the TS55.

I'd definitely add an MFT to my list if I was planning to build cabinets.  Trying to get square cuts w/ just the guide rails would be very time consuming.

Fred

 

[Dan Clark]

Phill,

You may want to read Overtime's excellent tutorial on "Euro Cabinets 101-2 A Beginner's Guide":http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=1315.0.  This may help you define the tools that you need.   

John Lucas' site, "Wood Shop Demos" (http://www.woodshopdemos.com/men-fes.htm) has a lot of great information about Festool.  He uses a lot of melamine in cabinet making.  Here's a tutorial about making a melamine cabinet:http://www.woodshopdemos.com/fes-68.htm.

Finally, take a look at Brice Burrell's website:http://www.burrellcustomcarpentry.com.  Great info in general and here's one about creating a cabinet carcass with a Domino:http://www.burrellcustomcarpentry.com/subpage43.html.  Brice specializes in multi-media and drawings.  Here's one about using the LR32 Hole Drilling System:http://www.burrellcustomcarpentry.com/subpage13.html.

Good luck,

Dan.

P.s., I'm planning some garage cabinets.  I'll give you one guess what my primary information resources will be.  ;D

 

[phill-k]

Cheers Dan

I have got a lot of my info from woodshopdemos and also purchased the book Building Frameless Kitchen Cabinets, I'm off to read the other links you posted

phill

 

[Dan Clark]

Phill,

I have several of Danny Proulx's books including "Building Frameless Kitchen Cabinets".  Excellent stuff, except that there seems to be a lot of common information in them.  Same or similar pics and drawings.    For another perspective, you might want to get "Designing and Building Cabinets (New Best of Fine Woodworking)" also:http://www.amazon.com/Designing-Bui...s_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203825660&sr=1-1.  There's not much information about Melamine, but good detail on a range of topics related to building cabinets.  Check out the table of contents.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[barnowl]

I'm about to order the following setup and would appreciate some advice from the forum please.
The TS55 plunge saw  I heartily recommend it.
OF1010 router  I'd suggest you bump um to the 1400, as it is much more versitile. Along with rail guides and an edge guide.
domino  Absolutely, get the "plus", along with the accesory kit.
hole drilling set
guide rails 1080 & 2424 for both saw & hole drilling kit
Mini Vac  Bump up to the 22, as it is a godsend.

Addition:  I'd also get a small random orbital sander, and assorted papers.  I have the 125.  It's my favorite, among the other manufacturer's sanders that I have.

Best of luck with whatever you decide...

 

[dirtydeeds]

phill k

if you can get hold of a hettich catalogue, its not small (think in terms of a large family bible) it gives a lot of information on 32mm cabinet making

 

[alg]

Forgive me for not understanding why you would choose Melamine go build your cabinets? You are buying high quality tools. Is Baltic Birch, Finnish or Apple-ply plywood available near you? Then you can choose thicker, higher quality Formica, Wilsonart laminate instead of the very thin layer used in Melamine.

 

[Daviddubya]

Forgive me for not understanding why you would choose Melamine go build your cabinets?...

There are two "grades" of melamine generally available in the USA - not sure about Europe.  Cold-rolled melamine, the cheaper grade, is typically sold at big box stores.  Thermal fused melamine, the better grade, is sold by suppliers to the cabinet shop trade.  The good stuff has less tendency to chip and is more durable.  In my opinion, melamine makes good sense for cabinet carcasses - it is pre-finished and cleans easily.  I have had it in my own home for almost 15 years, and it still looks as good as new.

 

[phill-k]

Thanks for the good info guys, likewise in New Zealand there are a couple of grades of melamine, and I did read about the cheaper grades being more prone to chipping. Not sure on the MFT, I'm pushing it with the tool list I have, was hoping my normal workbench would be ok but I do see some benefits as to assisting to square the cuts by utilising some of accessories available.

Forgive me for not understanding why you would choose Melamine go build your cabinets? You are buying high quality tools. Is Baltic Birch, Finnish or Apple-ply plywood available near you? Then you can choose thicker, higher quality Formica, Wilsonart laminate instead of the very thin layer used in Melamine.

I would like to do a timber finish, but down here in NZ they are considered somewhat dated and wouldn't really suit our decor, going with White Melamine carcase, Charcoal trims (kickboard, end boards, and possibly edge tapes with white (with a tint of blue/gray) melamine as the basic colour, hard to describe but the combination works well with our dark red akawa coloured (real) timber floor.

 

[Dixon Peer]

Forgive me for not understanding why you would choose Melamine go build your cabinets?...

There are two "grades" of melamine generally available in the USA - not sure about Europe.  Cold-rolled melamine, the cheaper grade, is typically sold at big box stores.  Thermal fused melamine, the better grade, is sold by suppliers to the cabinet shop trade.  The good stuff has less tendency to chip and is more durable.  In my opinion, melamine makes good sense for cabinet carcasses - it is pre-finished and cleans easily.  I have had it in my own home for almost 15 years, and it still looks as good as new.

Small point...I believe the original poster's home "port" is New Zealand, not Europe.

 

[Daviddubya]

Small point...I believe the original poster's home "port" is New Zealand, not Europe.

Oops - when he used "whilst" in his post I assumed Europe.  My comment should have been "outside of the USA".