Before I spend many hundred dollars...two questions...

[Gaijin Daiku]

Happy New Year all!

I am new to the group and thinking about buying a Festool saw.

My table saw is an Inca 259--a great saw, but not the best for sheet goods, which is largely why I am probably going to by a Festool circular saw.  Mostly, it will be used for plywood, but probably will also be used with lumber...cross cut and/or to put a straight edge on longer boards.

My questions are:

1.  While I probably could get by with the smaller saw, I'm currently leaning to the larger...just 'cuz.  Do owners of one or the other (or both) have an opinion?

2.  Are the MFT 1080 and parallel guide systems worth the money?

I look forward to reading the thoughts of others.

--Bruce

 

[lordinteriors]

welcome to the fog

i own a ts75 and love it although alot of my work is sheet goods around 20mm thick when i do have to cut thicker material i love having that lil bit more power and depth i use the guide rails and if you use them properly you get perfect results

lee

 

[Roseland]

I can't comment on the relative merits of the TS75; I decided on the TS55 and am delighted with it.  The quality of cut, ease of use, dust extraction all exceeded what I thought was possible.

I also treated myself to a MFT and it's brilliant.  The ability to set up the stop to ensure all cabinet sides (for example) are all exactly the same size and know that all cuts are square is wonderful.

A

 

[peter halle]

Bruce,

[welcome]  to the forum.  You will probably find all sorts of answers to your question about 75 vs 55.  I use the 55 for panel goods and have not had an issue.  I have ripped hardwoods up to 1.5 inches thick.  It worked, but it isn't what it was designed to do all the time.

The work flow for panel goods with the saw, parallel guide set and the MFT is as follows.  Establish a good edge on your panels.  Cut parallel cuts of same size from the panel using the parallel guides.  Take the cuts to the MFT to establish ends square to the parallel sides.

I personally would stick with the 55 and put the money saved towards the parallel guides and whichever model of MFT you can get.

Peter

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Search for threads on this subject.  It comes up often.  Bottom line is that the TS55 cuts sheet goods like butter and with the guide rails, as straight and accurate as your inca would, but much safer.  The 55 will also cut lumber up to about 2 inches thick, though it struggles a bit.  The 55 cuts 3/4 stock easily.  If you use a lot of thick lumber then the 75 is better.  The 75 is heavier though and you will be lifting your circular saw a lot.

Personally, I have the 55 and use it occasionally for thick lumber, but would go for a 75 if I were ripping thick lumber weekly or more often.

Ditto on praise for the MFT.  I will change the way you work!

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

You have been given some very solid advice here so far.  I got a 55 and the MFT/3 and can see the value in the parallel guides to add to the overall speed and accuracy of cutting sheet goods.  The 55 has been great for me but keep in mind that you can buy the 55 and use it for a couple weeks and see if it meets your day to day needs or if you feel you might be better served by the 75 take it back and exchange it for one of those.  The longer rail that comes with the 75, if connected to the rail that comes with the MFT, will give you a rail long enough for most cuts on the 8 foot length of a sheet too.

Join the club and don't look back...

Best,
Todd

 

[nclemmons]

Bruce

I have had the Inca 259 and a few other Inca tools for 25 years.  The TS55 has been a great compliment to the saw for me - cutting down panels and handling cross cuts while the Inca saw works great for accurate rip cuts.  I agree with the others that the TS75 may be a consideration depending on depth of cut and how much muscle you have to handle it on and off sheets.

You may have the mortising table for the 259.  I still use mine, but also purchased a Domino for a lot of quick, accurate mortises as well.

The MFT/3 is a great compliment to the system - I use mine every day for glue-ups, assembly, routing, sawing, and general workbench type work.  If you get the MFT/3, make sure you get a few clamps to take advantage of the holes and side rails.

I think you'll be pleased with both, and no doubt add to them.

There are a large number of talented folks on this forum and a wealth of information in the various forums.  Check out the jigs and assemblies forum for a lot of ideas on add-ons and enhancements to the MFT table, for example.

Welcome and share some of your work -

neil

 

[billybokay]

I have owned the 55 for years and just recently acquired a 75. I actually thought I would not need or use the 55 any more. WRONGO!
After using the 75 as I did the 55, I decided I Like the 55 so much better for sheet goods especially in conjunction with the mft. The 75 is great when you need it, but not as comfortable to use.

 

[Oldwood]

Hi Bruce,

I bought the TS 75 because the first job I had for the saw was beyond the thickness capacity of the TS55.
I think the big advantage of the TS75 is the ability to cut thick stock but it does come at a cost other than $.
The saw is a little heavier but I don't find that to be a big problem. It has been pointed out by some users that you need to cut 30mm deep to gain the advantage of the outboard splinter guard. Also some TS75 saws don't cut the same line on the splinter gaurd at 45 degrees as they do at 90 degrees. It would be great to have both saws but they are pricey more so if you live in Canada (over 25% more than US) If you are going for the TS55 but looking to the TS75 maybe get the longer guide rails that work better with the TS75. (75" and 118")

Gerry

 

[BMH]

Hi Bruce

Just 'cuz doesn't cut it with a Festool. Everyone of their tools is engineered for a specific set of tasks. TS55/75 decision should be based on what you use the saw for 90% of the time, bigger does not mean better in Festool land.

MFT/3 with the appropriate clamps just awesome. TS55/75 and MFT/3 best combination of tools I ever bought.

Parallel guide system, I would put the money first in a CT22.

Bruce

 

[monte]

Bruce,

I also have the Inca 259 as well as the 2200 Cabinet saw and other Inca tools.
You'll find that Festool has a similar systematic approach as Inca but geared more towards "portable" power tools.
I have both the TS55 & TS75 and find myself reaching for both depending on the occasion.
Both are good for breaking down sheet goods, but if your going to start with one my choice would be the TS75.
For instance, when I have 8/4 stock I use the TS75 to trim the edge down.
Long bevel cuts are easier with the TS75,
Just take care to read the instructions, the TS75 has a mean kickback if you don't bring the motor up to speed before you proceed with your cut.

As far as the mft table, it's a no brainer - it will change the way you work.
hope this helps.

.

 

[jgag]

just bought the parallel guides to fo with my MFT/3 TS55

first impressions - excellent,

one thing to consider is - if you buy the matching extension pieces - which enable for precise small cuts the key justification for me - these have a maximum cut depth of 70mm

This would never be a problem with the TS55, but I guess means you would need to remember if you were using a TS75!

 

[jo041326]

Hi,
majority of people here won't agree with me but after some years of using exclusively Festool tools I'd save money and buy a Makita saw with 3 m rail. It's much cheaper and almost exact copy of a TS55. There's no question it's much quicker, safer and comfortable to cut sheet material with a plunge saw than on a table saw. But cutting most of furniture peaces is much quicker and more precise on TS than with a TS55 (75) and MFT. I have two MFTs and they are really great, but cutting square and into tenths of mm is so much hassle. When the Festool inebriation goes away you realise there are many much cheaper tools or machines which can do the same what Festool can. For instance I have a Domino. After 2000 holes my 6 mm cutter is gone (not just dull but also smaller diameter which causes I cannot insert a Domino tenon into the hole). The new cutter is for 55 dollars here. One tenon is for 5 cents. It's almost one quarter for just one hole. And I don't mention the price for the Domino itself.

Josef

 

[bonesbr549]

For me, the TS55 and mft3 were my latest additions to the cutting family.  I have a cabinet saw and wanted it mainly for sheet goods.  Hossing up a big sheet of ply to the TS was a pain and unsafe IMO and my setup of a CS and straitedge to cut it down was too much of a pain.  What a joy the TS55 has been.  I now use it and the mft3, for most operations where crosscuting panels etc or even pieces down.  I just like that blade down instead of staring up at you.  Where very small pieces come into play or micro adjustment required, I still ust the TS.  Good luck. 

 

[Gaijin Daiku]

Thanks to all who responded.  I truly appreciate the input.

Another couple of questions:

1.  Do the guide rail connectors perform an adequate job of joining two rails (1080 and 1900, for example) in a straight line?

2.  As one who owns a stack of Forrest blades for my table saw, will I be happy with the TS55 or TS75's stock blade for cutting plywood?

Thanks again,

Bruce

 

[harry_]

yes and yes

 

[jeffinsgf]

+1 to Harry's response.

I was amazed to read here on this forum the procedure for aligning the guides when joining.  I've never done anything except slide them together snugly and tighten.  I can't even tell when my saw comes to the joint.

The cut is the equal of a Forrest blade cut.  Nearly flawless.

 

[jo041326]

So so and yes

Josef

 

[Corwin]

will I be happy with the TS55 or TS75's stock blade for cutting plywood?

While both 'stock' blades would work fine, the  two saws come with different blades -- TS55 with a Fine 48 tooth blade and the TS75 comes with the Universal 36 tooth blade.  I always use the TS55 for sheet goods.

 

[peter halle]

I rarely connect rails.  When cutting sheet goods I found early on that having an additional rail long enough to handle the longest normal cut I made was essential to productivity. When combining rails I have no issue with the connectors and the result.

The stock blade on the TS 55 has worked well for me.

Peter