Being very new here.

[onewaywood]

Being very new here I thought this would be a good place to ask the ?
I,m building a new shop and was cosidering buying a sawstop table saw,but then got to thinking maybe a bunch of festool's might be a better idea.I'm just a hobby woodworker,what do you all think.I know depends what I want to build,can't really answer that right now.
It's just a hobby.

 

[skids]

Being very new here I thought this would be a good place to ask the ?
I,m building a new shop and was cosidering buying a sawstop table saw,but then got to thinking maybe a bunch of festool's might be a better idea.I'm just a hobby woodworker,what do you all think.I know depends what I want to build,can't really answer that right now.
It's just a hobby.

welcome! Nothing Festool makes and sells in the US replaces the table saw. Maybe you pare down the price of the table saw you want get a cheaper one and get the TS to compliment.

 

[Sparktrician]

If you're a hobby woodworker, maybe a shop based on stationary equipment isn't the best idea.  You're the best one to answer that issue.  Do you need to move things around so the "significant other" can get a car in the garage with your equipment?  One really nice thing about Festool products (aside from being very high quality right out of the box) is that it's pretty much all compact and that the Systainers all stack neatly in regular incremental storage.  This makes more efficient use of available space.  If you have plenty of space already and aren't concerned about compactness, just take a look at what you want to do as a woodworker, then make a list of priority acquisitions and go for it.  With Festools, if you buy too much, you can always sell what you find you don't use for nearly what you paid for them.  Try that with any other manufacturer. 

 

[Colonel Panic]

I'm a hobbiest also and I am setting up shop without a tablesaw. I am using a TS75 with a FS800, 1400, and 2700 track. I have the Seneca Woodworking parallel guide andI am also building a dedicated cut table. I can do anything I need to but not as fast as tablesaw. This isn't an issue since I am not making a living at this. Besides it takes me longer to screw up perfectly good wood.  [embarassed]

If you do get a tablesaw definitely get a SawStop. I personally know three a missing digits or parts of digits from tablesaws and I don't even work in the trades.  [eek]

Good luck and make sure you are always able to count to ten without taking your shoes off.

 

[wow]

First,  [welcome]

May I suggest that you consider a mental build one of your projects and do a 'walk-through' of how you'd do it?

Once you consider the space you'd need, the various operations with different machines, etc. you might get some answers. Of course everything may change as you advance in skill and projects, but that's to be expected.

 

[Birdhunter]

I replaced a 20 year old Delta Unisaw with a Sawstop Industrial model. The Unisaw was a great table saw and probably would have continued to work well for another 20 years, but the Sawstop Industrial amazes me every time I use it. It is on a par with Festool, Lexus, Rolex, etc in terms of quality and engineering. It also adds a real measure of safety.

I also have a Festool track saw with a dual MFT setup. Mated with the MFT and Qwas dogs, it's a great tool for breaking down sheet goods and making some other types of cuts. I don't think of it as a high precision tool.

In my opinion, a really good table saw and the Festool track saw set-up are complementary and not competitive.

If I had to choose, I'd keep the Sawstop.

By the way, I am a serious hobby woodworker with occasional commissions. Most of the work I like to do requires very high precision and I work mostly with rather expensive exotics. A bad cut gets both expensive and frustrating. So, the precision I get with the Sawstop is very much appreciated. I have a bunch of table saw jigs that produce cuts that simply cannot be matched by a track saw.

 

[Dionysus480]

I'd add one more thought into your process.  Think about your skill level.

I'm a total amateur hobbyist dad weekend woodworker...

I recently decided to go Sawstop first and then start adding Festools as long as the wife lets me.  I decided on the 36" rail to reduce the footprint, but I also chose the cabinet version for the improved (although not Festool level) dust collection.

I use a TS 55 for breaking down sheet goods, because I find that safer when working solo (new acquisition).

Anyway - when I was going through the decision process I realized that I would have to figure out how to do stuff the "Festool way" when I really didn't know how to do it traditionally.  How would I dado with Festool (answer is router probably), and how would I tenon with Festool (Domino), and how would I crosscut accurately (MFT or Kapex) and how would I rip narrow stock (parallel guides), and how would I bevel cut (TS55 can do this)?

In my first 2 months with my Sawstop I am comfortable with each and every one of those processes.  I look forward to using it each time I can get in the shop.  It takes me about 2 minutes to change between functions, and even an amateur like me is getting pretty good results (yeah - Ok - I'll practice to get better.)

As far as Festool goes, each of these functions can be done.  If you've got the skills, and know your joinery preferences, and you understand how you work, the Festool system may be best.  It sure would take less room.

Just some thoughts.

 

[TracksawTravis]

I just started this adventure back in December myself; and, to tell you how addicted I am - I just spent an hour trying to figure out a way to turn Hilton Honors points into my next Festool!  Came up with nothing by the way. [sad]

I started with a TS 75, CT36, and an additional 55" rail.  Love them.  Built a few cabinets, fireplace mantles, and random projects.  3 weeks ago I added an RO150 and yesterday I got my Kapex via UPS.  I'm hoping to get a Domino 500 soon.  To tell the truth I want one of everything.

I will probably add a Sawstop before too long, I like to golf and I really like my fingers.

 

[TelcoRandy]

Being very new here I thought this would be a good place to ask the ?
I,m building a new shop and was cosidering buying a sawstop table saw,but then got to thinking maybe a bunch of festool's might be a better idea.I'm just a hobby woodworker,what do you all think.I know depends what I want to build,can't really answer that right now.
It's just a hobby.

welcome! Nothing Festool makes and sells in the US replaces the table saw. Maybe you pare down the price of the table saw you want get a cheaper one and get the TS to compliment.

+1, I don't own a table saw and I wish I did because there's no super easy way to cut a counter-top with a back splash with a TS55 (at least none that I know of).

 

[onewaywood]

Thanks everyone,each comment helps me make up my mind.Still not sure what to do,but getting there.

 

[grbmds]

For what it's worth, I had a table saw (not a great one) for many years. When it came time to replace it, I was sure I wanted a Sawstop. In the process, I upgraded my jointer to an 8" model and realized how difficult that was to get into my basement workshop. That started me thinking about the saw. I have now gone the direction of the TS55REQ, an OF 1400 router, Festool vacuum, and the Domino. While I still have not gotten rid of my old table saw, I am about to because I have not yet used it once since I bought the TS55 and MFT. However, it depends on what you plan on doing. I find it is just much easier to work in my workshop with a combination of large stationary power tools where I need them (like a jointer, a 13" planer, a drill press, and a band saw), hand tools (like hand planes, chisels, etc.), and the Festool more portable and easier to work into the workshop space (like the TS55 and Domino). It has caused me to rethink what I do sometimes and I don't woodwork for a living so that gives me the luxury of sometimes taking a little longer to do something that I might be able to do a little quicker on the table saw. With all the after market accessories like rip guides, rip dogs, rip stops, domino plates, SCG stop, and all the other "dog" products (like Parf dogs, etc.), there are so many options. Plus, you can use the OF 1400 on the track with stops and get exact settings for at least some dadoing which is something many people do on a table saw. Again, though, it depends on what you do. I have now taken the position that I will find a way to do things without the table saw and sell my old one (if anyone will have it). If I find it just doesn't work, I may buy a 10" bench saw like a Bosch which can be folded up in the corner until I meet up with those rare tasks which I absolutely cannot do with any other tool. Cutting up larger material, I find, is just much safer and maybe easer with the TS 55. Even smaller pieces come out just fine with the TS55. It's best to just work with the tools and buy when you encounter something you can't do any other way (not as much fun maybe, but smarter and cheaper).

 

[stphnlwlsh]

Still not sure what to do,but getting there.

I'm also new to the whole "what do I buy first and next question", and here's how I've handled it.  Right now I don't have any tools.  I have access to a shop that has everything a man could want, but that means I have to drive about 30 minutes with wood in tow to get anything accomplished.  Not terrible, but annoying.  I'd like to have a $10k budget to go get one of everything Festool makes, but right now I don't even know what I'd like to do regularly.  I'd love to have a SawStop, but right now I wouldn't appreciate one because I've never had to break down sheets goods with anything other than a Home Depot employee doing it for me.  Saw seems like a no brainer as a first purchase for me, and then I can start figuring out what I like to do by leveraging what I have access to in the shop that is 30 minutes away. 

You won't know what you need until you pick a direction and start walking.  It doesn't really matter which direction you go, soon enough you'll discover whether you like it or not and can adjust accordingly to make more or a different purchase.

HTH

 

[TelcoRandy]

stphnlwish, only $10,000? I think you're mistaken.

 

[Kev]

stphnlwish, only $10,000? I think you're mistaken.

That'd be an interesting exercise.

In Oz it would easily exceed $100K+, but a lot more tools due to NANIA ... and without touching the really big stuff like centralised multi tool turbines, booms and energy boxes ($20K+ to set those up).

Add every abrasive, accessory, etc ... wow, that'd be a huge number!

 

[CCGA3359]

I started out with a radial arm saw 20 years ago. I was never comfortable with it so after a year I returned it to sears and got a table saw as a replacement. For me the table saw was so much safer than the RA saw and more versatile. As mentioned above, over the years, I too have met a few people with missing digits from wayward saw. I tend to notice these people as I too am a member of the "stub club" (industrial accident). I feel, because of that I tend to be a little safer when working around tools.  I also look for tools that offer safety. I see a track saw as a much safer tool than a saw it does replace - a circular saw. In my opiniona track saw is not a replacement for a decent table saw but is an invaluable supplement. At home I work alone and breaking down sheet goods was a rather unsafe and inaccurate operation. I cannot justify getting rid of my 20 year old table saw but if I could it would be immediately replaced by a Saw Stop without hesitation. As you are probably aware that should the stop engage you are looking at about $250 ($150 for a cartridge and $100 for a blade) to use it again. Well worth it to save a finger but I have heard some reports of accidental discharge of the stop with wood of high moisture content. I commend you on your thought process regarding safety over cost but you must also consider things such as space available in your shop, planned projects, possible future projects when deciding tool purchases.

BTW welcome to the forum.
Grant

 

[Kev]

Years ago I worked for a company that manufactured safety equipment. One of the many thousands of products they made were stainless steel mesh gloves for butchers. The thing that amazed me was the permutations the gloves were offered in ... only a few sizes but also in a myriad of common missing finger patterns, Sadly the gloves were typically purchased after the first accident.

Safety is more about education, thinking ahead and basic safety equipment and far less about the tools themselves. No magical saw technology is going to save your eye from a flying piece of timber and push sticks are a lot cheaper than fingers.

Develop a perspective of looking for accidents waiting to happen ... that way you won't leave scraps of material on the floor to trip over or power cables to tangle yourself in.

Never delude yourself into thinking that anything is safe - a quickly recoiling tape measure can slice off your finger, a box butter could sever a critical artery.

 

[stphnlwlsh]

stphnlwish, only $10,000? I think you're mistaken.

That'd be an interesting exercise.

In Oz it would easily exceed $100K+, but a lot more tools due to NANIA ... and without touching the really big stuff like centralised multi tool turbines, booms and energy boxes ($20K+ to set those up).

Add every abrasive, accessory, etc ... wow, that'd be a huge number!