Best Tablesaw for Festoolians

ericbuggeln said:
Thats pretty much what I thought heard, does anyone want to quit your day job and start an after market riving knife company?  Someone obviously has to do it.
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I'd do it but the moment I got something to market Festool would announce the availability of the Precisio in the US...

I do find it odd that we've heard almost no mention about that tool. If DeWalt can get the 745 through UL, I'm sure Festool can at least get a Precisio, if not the CMS. If they can't do the CMS saw insert for the TS-75/55, they should consider a UL approved table saw which fits the system. It would be much less dangerous than the 745 is!

 
I have been building some child's furniture and have found that I primarily use my table saw to rip.  I find the set up time using the Festool table and saw is too time consuming unless I am missing something?  I also have been considering buying a Bosch for the convenience of putting it away when not using it.
My other option is the Woodtek Left-tilt hybrid.  With the enclosed wheels it could easly moved out of the way when not in use.  I think the table top would and fence would be more precise and functional than the Bosch?
 
The Makita 2704X1 fits nicely underneath my MFT1080. The stand uses hydraulics to lower-raise. When lowered, it is much lower than the Bosch with its gravity stand.
I had the Bosch briefly as a Christmas gift, the Makita 2704X1 is a better deal especially if you pick it up for $385 from Amazon.
 
I have the Precisio CS50 but honestly it does not see as much use as I'd wish for. But the saw is not at fault, it is just that the stuff I mostly do is hardcore ripping and fast profiling of wood, for which I use the Makita 2704 at work. It rips like a bear and has enough precision for finer work as well. The CS50 is at home and tucks away nicely but if I ever get more space for my own little shop I am thinking of either adding the 2704 or switching the CS50 for the 2704. The CS70 is too expensive for what you get and the CS50 has great precision but lacks a little oomph when it comes to ripping down bigger stock.

As long as I have access to the 2704 I feel no need for the CS50 and for the smaller work I have Mitre saws and the TS55 for longer cuts. But the 2704 would only come thru the door over my gf's dead body.  ;)
 
ericbuggeln said:
...matt, those are awesome pics for descriptive purposes.  Does the sawstop riving knife slip into the area above the brake and then get tightened?  That was my only thinking, that it might be able to be fabricated to fit into dewalts?  They don't have the sawstop at my local woodcraft.  Have you ever heard anything about MJ splitter
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I have no absolute proof, but I'm going to say that you will not be able to fit a SawStop riving knife onto a DeWalt saw without a lot of engineering!  The fitting for each of those knives is different, and what it seats into in the blade mechanism is different.  I'm not even sure it would be a good idea to re-engineer a SawStop knife for a DeWalt.  Then again, I've often been pleasantly surprised at what people can do, so if someone has a way, by all means...

But while you're at it (whoever you are), figure out a way to re-design a Ridgid benchtop blade mechanism so it accepts a riving knife and moves up and down with the blade!

Matthew
 
pingvinlakrits said:
As long as I have access to the 2704 I feel no need for the CS50 and for the smaller work I have Mitre saws and the TS55 for longer cuts. But the 2704 would only come thru the door over my gf's dead body.  ;)
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Make sure not to leave her where she'll trip you while you've got a saw in your hands. It'd be a shame to scratch a new tool by dropping it.  :o :o :o
 
And here I thought "gf" was "grandfather". Probably says something about me, but I don't know what...
 
I have to say that before I stumbled upon Festool I had been a big fan of the Bosch products (and still am!).  I have the Bosch 4100 table saw with Gravity-rise stand, and I have to say it has served me extremely well on jobsites renovating turn-of-the-century, Victorian Homes.  It handles just about everything I've thrown at it, from ripping dimensional lumber to match 100-year old 2x dimensions, and building custom cabinetry.  I also have the Bosch 4210 mitre saw (with upfront controls), and I find that the german-engineered Bosch products compliment the Festool products I have.

I was building a "panelled" window seat for a 45-degree bay window this week, and found myself using the combination of tools in a very convenient and efficient manner - including my 4100 tablesaw, 4210 sliding compound mitre saw, Festool Domino, and my brand new (virgin) Festool TS75 and MFT1080.  While the dust collection on the Festool system is unparalleled, ripping and cross-cutting the rails and stiles for the panels was much easier with the table saw and mitre saw.  Cutting the seat top and the panel inserts however were unbelievably easy and precise with the TS 75 and MFT.  The Festool products have added an effortless precision to my work, but I don't see myself replacing all my Bosch tools.

I will say though, I'm a Festool junkie now!  I just added the OF1400 router to my arsenal (on top of PC and two Bosch colts).  I can't say enough about the dust collection.  Its saving my lungs (and my marriage!).

 
Ok, I know some of you guys must be in Northern California and would love
to own one of these.  Its too far for me to go but if I was within 2 hours
of Davis, CA I would try to snap it up.

Its a Hammond Glider -  a printer's Linotype saw with a crazy-accurate 
sliding table and ACME lead screw indexed cross-cutting fence.

I actually own a less-fancy, though in better condition, printer's saw
by another maker and it is super cool and dead-accurate for joinery.

Anyhow- this Hammond Trim-o-saw is in Davis California and its on
Ebay.  Its kind of rough, looks like its been left outside and it
might need a new motor - but don't let that hold you back.  A
little elbow greese and you will have the ultimate specialized joinery
saw.  These things have a cult following among crazy furniture
making fanatics and probably guitar-builders too.  Just do a little
poking around and you'll find information about that.  There are
several nice examples on OWWM.com

Here's the URL - ends tomorrow.
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZstevenschwartz8xs9
 
These are some pics of the Rousseau Table Saw Stand with outfeed table on a DW 745.  Long ago it seemed that some might be interested in a contractor style saw if they didn't have such pathetic fences and complete lack of outfeed support.  I have had this for awhile and am very pleased with it.  Very well put together and I feel confident that it will hold up better then anything that I've seen.  It's easy to set up and break down and is extremely compact when ready to store.  This set up costs about $100.00 more then the saw itself, not including Forrest blade, and other accessories, but I think I have finally found a set up that really compliments the TS-75 well for my at work by day and in garage by night and weekend style.  I am considering putting a router plate in the side table and using a cap of sorts for when not in use.  The fence and outfeed can be switched to the other side for use when routing.  Dust collection is obviously improved when hooked up to ct 22 with D50, but I am currently experimenting with sealing off areas of the saw to cut down on the mess.  Anyone know why contractor table saws always have open base as opposed to cabinet style saws?  Better yet does anyone think it's a bad idea to seal it up?

 
I think they're open based because they're cheaper to make that way, and it used to not matter so much about dust......
 
Eli, I appreciate the Rousseau endorsement you gave me long ago.  This particular model DW 745 appears that they attempted to put the least amount of plastic they could on it, but roll cage much like there radios is strong and easy to hold on to.  The Dust cutter bag never seems to be full.  The majority of dust/shrapnel ends up in front of the user?  I'm not sure if I can do anything about that?
 
ericbuggeln said:
Thats pretty much what I thought heard, does anyone want to quit your day job and start an after market riving knife company?  Someone obviously has to do it.
Click to expand...

Eric, this is an old post but I just saw it (now that I've learned how to go through unread posts!)  Try this website: http://www.leestyron.com/
 
Dave, good looking out on that, I appreciate it and gave Lee an email.  He seems like a good ole boy who knows his after market accessories.  Money back if it doesn't work, I think I can live with that.  It looks like his Shark Guard would work well with D50, but I showed control and refused to look at price.  Bad economy and all.  Riving knife was $60.00, sound reasonable.  Thanks Eric
 
Riving knife is only $28.00 shipped anywhere in U.S. on Lee Styron's site.  Very reasonably priced and some really cool stuff.
 
Dan Clark said:
Over the last year, I've noticed many "discussions" (i.e., arguments) about tablesaws in other woodworking forums.    In most woodworking forums, the tablesaw is the most fundamental of all woodworking tools.   I.e., you can NOT do woodworking without a table saw.  Just ask any "true" woodworker!  ::)  OTOH...

Many Festoolians (including me) don't even own one.  Most cuts that woodworkers do on a table saw can easily be done with some pink foam or an MFT plus a Festool rail plus a TS55.  No problem!  Well, almost...   

Many Festoolians will still admit that for small, repeated cuts, a tablesaw is the best tool.    Then, a few weeks ago, Matthew made an interesting post about his interest in a contractor saw.   

This got me thinking, "IF you had a TS55 + rails + MFT or pink foam so you could take care of the big stuff or break down sheet goods, what kind of tablesaw would you buy?  cabinet saw?  Maybe a contractor saw?  Something else? 

I'd like to hear from you.  what is your opinion?  What would you recommend (or buy)?

Regards,

Dan.
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I've got to say I agree with others in that the TS in my shop is critical and the tool I use the most.  I've had all different kinds from table top models (first one) to hybrids to the old shopsmith all in one to today's cabinet saw.  Of all I've used the cabinet saw is the best.  It's beef and stability and fence are incredible.  I have the grizzly 1023slx with 7' rails.  It's great and was very economical ($1100). I've had it for 4-5 years now and it's never missed a beat paired with the incra 1000se miter gauge.  That would not be the best choice if I need to transport the thing to a job site or something but I'm a hobbyist.  I can also provide 220 power.  I've looked at the t55 and when cutting small stock, I just can see how the t55 would be practical IMO.  All the above I mentioned can cut a strait line and cross cut but some just easier that others and for my needs the Cab saw is best.  I have a long clamp strait edge and the PC sawboss with a forrest wwII in it for cutting sheet goods or putting a strait line rip edge on a rough board, and I'd love to replace that with the t55, but in my book you just can't beat the beef of a good cabinet saw.  That's M2CW
 
After a few rounds of trial and error I figured I did need a Table Saw, I just could not figure out which one.

The Makita 2704 we have in shop, it does a good job. To big to haul around though the 93mm of rip capacity is hard to beat. (Our raw stock is usually a 90x90x1200mm block for window details).

The CS50 I have owned, great saw, lightweight and small. On the odd occasion the 50mm rip capacity was not enough though the precision was superb. It got stolen on a job site and I was not sure if I would replace it with the same one.

The CS70EB was too heavy though the footprint was reasonable, as was the rip capacity.

I did not even consider the CMS with the TS75 until I noticed it has the same size baseplate as the TS55 module. The catalogue price was a bit steep so I was going to drop the idea of getting one but the Festool Rep I have done some work for gave me such a sweet deal I didn't have to think twice. (Cannot disclose the price but it was really good  ;D). The tablesaw is only slightly heavier than the CMS/TS55 combo and in kilograms it weighs in at 17.5kg. I got the side extension for it and the LA492095 rip fence and I was set for sure. It has done a great job so far and the dust extraction is really good.

And I actually got to use the TS75 on the rails as I was cutting and ripping a 40mm thick oak bench top and the TS55 was choking slightly on it I slipped the TS75 on the rails and it just zipped through it in good style. Then it was attached to the CMS module and I hope I don't have to take it out of there, it is a bit cumbersome and not as fast as I would hope.

Very pleased with the CMS/TS75 combo though. 
 
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