CMS alert! Shopped alot but now I'll wait and SAVE UP!

[PreferrablyWood]

Well I've been buying smaller items over the last year in my Festool setup, I get knee jerk reactions when I see things like the T-EYE impact being discontinued or all the talk about how lovely the CXS is. I tend to want to go for the full monty when I buy a tool and get all the accessories.. But now it's time to sober up and think about getting a larger piece of change together for the big buy..

I think having the portable workshop solution is good for me, a one man operation. I plan on getting a workshop setup withing the next year or so. Perhaps in a garage, or as a share in a larger workshop. But I like the idea of having mobility so I can move to the work, perhaps using a large tent combined with a smaller security lockup shed.

So my CMS list published here..  I want to try a realize the list within one year, so that means making the most of what I have now, and only fine tuning the things I have as far as getting organized, any additional accessories deemed necessary..

I write this up so I have a goal and something to keep in mind so I don't whittle my finances down on expensive items that are not totally inline with the project here.. Do I really need that $200 square, the $500 handplaner, yet another drill, flashlight or toolbox with gold plated hardware!?

FESTOOL TF 2200-Set Compact Modul System OF 2200 EB CMS
Artikel-Nr.: 570275
1    1.599,00 €*
It seems like a good idea to get the package deal with the OF 2200 and basic CMS GE

CMS  MFT/3-VL 230V
Artikel-Nr.: 495510
1 - 426,97 €*
The CMS VL will be an additional expense but gives me access to the LS positioner system at the same time I can have the CMS GE unit for light job sit use.. I'll get a blank plate for the CMS VL so it can be used as an extension table for the MFT 3 and it may be possible to link it up to the GE unit 

Festool Table extension VB-CMS 493822
Artikel-Nr.: 493822
1 209,90 €*
For offcut support

Festool Schiebetisch ST 492100
Artikel-Nr.: 492100
1 - 219,00 €*
Sliding table

Festool module insert CMS-TS 75
Artikel-Nr.: 493360
1 - 315,59 €*

Festool vac set 488292
1 - 74,95 €*

I think I'll go with the 24" Incra LS positioner super system. So I won't be getting the Festool Fence, I may get both CMS GE for having a compact solution  and the CMS VL and make my own table for use with CMS VL and Incra positioner..

FESTOOL Beltsander module CMS-MOD-BS 120 Compact Modul System 570244
Artikel-Nr.: 570244
1 - 728,80 €*
For edge finishing circular profile shaping
I'll have to think about this one, the idea attracts me as stand alone belt sander units add bulk and weight to the system, using the CMS unit keeps things compact. Having both the CMS VL and GE means I could just leave it in the GE unit if I was using the LS positioner and the CMS VL
 

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Have changed the original post, 31 Oct 2014 11:23 GMT -1

 

[sancho57]

Looks like you put some thought into this. You have a very good start. Only item(s) I would add is the 850 planer and te bench attachment. That will turn the planer into a small portable jointer. Also if you decide to gt it. Also get the angle stop (full length fence) Its great for hanging door and you'll need it for the bench attachment

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Looks like you put some thought into this. You have a very good start. Only item(s) I would add is the 850 planer and te bench attachment. That will turn the planer into a small portable jointer. Also if you decide to gt it. Also get the angle stop (full length fence) Its great for hanging door and you'll need it for the bench attachment

The 850 planer is an object of veneration in my Festoolian temple, it will be added.. I like the angle stop on a planer so that will come on the list.. Great that Festool thought about the smaller portable shop concept..

I take back that I won't get the "stop"Fence for the CMS TS 75, it's really necessary if you want to rip smaller things to fit. I saw recently a method for square the stock that takes the guess work out of it, so it's not so hard afterall..

Thanks for the words of encouragement jobsworth!

 

[sancho57]

There is some adj to the fence. Ive been fooling with mines since I got it about a year ago. First the side extension table has to be adj to be perfectly parallel with the CMS table along with its height that takes some patience. Then when you mount the saw in the module you'll have adj the green jibs on the side of the TS 75, the ones that you would when you use it on the guide rail to ensure the blade is centered. Then adj the fence. I like my toe out to be out about .003. there are for screws underneath the head of the fence.

These are the things ive learned. But once ya get through this process its a nice set up.

Other things I learned about jointing is the 850 w/ or with out bench accessory for jointing, then if its to long then use the  router table
to joint with and if the stocks to long heavy etc use the TS 75 or 55 which ever you have to joint. Its a great system.

I just wish festool would come out with a thicknesser .

 

[PreferrablyWood]

There is some adj to the fence. Ive been fooling with mines since I got it about a year ago. First the side extension table has to be adj to be perfectly parallel with the CMS table along with its height that takes some patience. Then when you mount the saw in the module you'll have adj the green jibs on the side of the TS 75, the ones that you would when you use it on the guide rail to ensure the blade is centered. Then adj the fence. I like my toe out to be out about .003. there are for screws underneath the head of the fence.

These are the things ive learned. But once ya get through this process its a nice set up.

Other things I learned about jointing is the 850 w/ or with out bench accessory for jointing, then if its to long then use the  router table
to joint with and if the stocks to long heavy etc use the TS 75 or 55 which ever you have to joint. Its a great system.

I just wish festool would come out with a thicknesser .

I'm sure once the various pieces to the CMS; Side extension, off feed extension, sliding fence, the stop fence have to be used and set up a number of times before it begins to feel intuitive,  The stop fence could use a jig for setup that could speedthings up, perhaps with an homemade fine adjust tweek... or the Woodpecker fine adjust could be incoporated into the jig. I think that even though the incra LS positioner with the CMS VL and MFT3 work out to be I nice setup, it gets to be pretty large and expensive and I begin to speculate that it might perhaps be better to just go with a regular table saw instead.. That way you also keep the MFT3 available for other duties instead of tying it in to the one funtion..

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Here a link where the CMS GE is joined to a VB extension board; VB-CMS/CS 50 495531 that is basically the CMS VL without the powerswitch and a blinding plate in the place of the module holder..

This could be an interesting way to get a larger more stable work surface, which would also allow ripcutting of wider  pieces.. The fellow has his router mounted in the VB extension board which makes for a handy setup.

It would be cool if the CMS VL and CMS GE could be connected like this to gain the benefits of larger more stable work surface to speed up workflows.. I could also see having a smaller drill press mounted in this sideboard, or the planer with it's planing mounting hardware mounted on a sunken insert that kept it flush to the surface..

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/cms-13263/msg140540/#msg140540

And another related thread:

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/cms-table-extension-question/msg301028/#msg301028

I can see the VB extension board without the legs has the advantage of the distance scale, is the same, is lighter and cheaper. 

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I'm still ruminating on the setup here.. I will be getting it in May or June, I'll actually almost have the funds to buy the lot at once..

I'm thinking of router bit selection, the heavy duty edge planing/rabbiting bit for one, a template cutter bit for two.. I think I'll go for the heavier duty bits with the 12mm shanks for use in the OF 2200. And for edge shaping laminate/venniers I buy the 8mm shanks that are compatible with my OF 1010.

Any suggestions from CMS OF module users as to what router bits are most used. I've got to figure these bits into the total cost of the CMS kit..

 

[sancho57]

to suggest what router bits are the most useful is very tough. It boils down to personal preference. With that being said, I stay away from "sets". What I mean by sets is not say a set of 3 plywood straight bits that come in a set, but the huge sets of a variety of different bits. I wouldn't use half of them. I buy my bits as needed.

I try to buy the best quality bits I can afford. By that Ive bought bits for $5 USD tat are re sharpenable and are awesome (cant get them here in the UK). I have also pent up to $250 USD for a bit set (3 router bits). So buy for need and by the best youcan afford and the best quality you can afford and price dont = quality

 

[PreferrablyWood]

to suggest what router bits are the most useful is very tough. It boils down to personal preference. With that being said, I stay away from "sets". What I mean by sets is not say a set of 3 plywood straight bits that come in a set, but the huge sets of a variety of different bits. I wouldn't use half of them. I buy my bits as needed.

I try to buy the best quality bits I can afford. By that Ive bought bits for $5 USD tat are re sharpenable and are awesome (cant get them here in the UK). I have also pent up to $250 USD for a bit set (3 router bits). So buy for need and by the best youcan afford and the best quality you can afford and price dont = quality

I also don't think in sets, as it's always the one that isn't included that turns out to be need first.. I also like to go for quality, so Festool bits are available at the local dealer individually where I often find that CMT are sold in sets..

The OF 1010, I'd like to try the writing bit/scribe, the roundover bits, straight and spiral bits.. For the OF 2200 I'll look at the rabbiting, dado, panel, spiralbits..I'd like to get a fair selection of bits from the start though.. I'd also like to use the OF 2200 as a planer and circle cutter so I'll have to find bits appropriate for those tasks..

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Resurrecting this thread for the fun of it. I just recently ordered pretty well everything on this list. 2 years instead of one year later..

I received the VB and VL(CMS version) extension tables today, The CMT bits I've mentioned in another thread. So the rest of the gear should be here by Monday..

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I'll likely end up getting the MFT3 VL extension table at some point as well, but I like the idea of having different working areas, cutting sanding and assembly bigger crosscuts on the MFT 3, and a glue up station.

It's a blast from the past for me at look at the above list. The items haven't got much cheaper, I didn't find an alternate solution that attracted me.. It seems routing technology has advanced though with the improvements in the bits, and CNC machining..

I personally would not go the CNC way but I can see the attraction..

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Well I got the beast today, So far I received the CMS GE, OF insert with the OF 2200 plus, the VB and VL and sliding table, the TS 75 module insert. I was missing a couple of screws for the VL extension table mounting, but luckily found temporarily solution by cutting down a couple of hex bolts I had, the festools bolts were nr 8 hardness, so I'll need to replace my 1 non rated bolt with the festool original soon.

I felt the setup looked a little skewed with the extension VL on the outfeed but no table on the infeed, I don't know but it feels too exposed to the blade for my liking on the infeed side of the table, so despite having spent a serious bit of cash already I just went ahead and ordered a VL extension table for the infeed as well. the VL and VB tables seem so well made and at the price i'm getting I feel they are almost a bargain..

 

[dalep]

I felt the setup looked a little skewed with the extension VL on the outfeed but no table on the infeed, I don't know but it feels too exposed to the blade for my liking on the infeed side of the table, so despite having spent a serious bit of cash already I just went ahead and ordered a VL extension table for the infeed as well. the VL and VB tables seem so well made and at the price i'm getting I feel they are almost a bargain..

If you add an extra VL to the infeed side , your power switch will be hidden underneath, it will need to be moved for safety reasons, I decided to remove it and replace it with a Switch / power socket combo in a box to mount elsewhere

Dale

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I felt the setup looked a little skewed with the extension VL on the outfeed but no table on the infeed, I don't know but it feels too exposed to the blade for my liking on the infeed side of the table, so despite having spent a serious bit of cash already I just went ahead and ordered a VL extension table for the infeed as well. the VL and VB tables seem so well made and at the price i'm getting I feel they are almost a bargain..

If you add an extra VL to the infeed side , your power switch will be hidden underneath, it will need to be moved for safety reasons, I decided to remove it and replace it with a Switch / power socket combo in a box to mount elsewhere

Dale

I was considering bypass the Festool switch when I use the table in dual VL extension modus, and having a using a 3 party switch box. Many times I can see using the bare CMS so I want to keep the original switch..

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I felt the setup looked a little skewed with the extension VL on the outfeed but no table on the infeed, I don't know but it feels too exposed to the blade for my liking on the infeed side of the table, so despite having spent a serious bit of cash already I just went ahead and ordered a VL extension table for the infeed as well. the VL and VB tables seem so well made and at the price i'm getting I feel they are almost a bargain..

If you add an extra VL to the infeed side , your power switch will be hidden underneath, it will need to be moved for safety reasons, I decided to remove it and replace it with a Switch / power socket combo in a box to mount elsewhere

Dale

I was considering bypass the Festool switch when I use the table in dual VL extension modus, and having a using a 3 party switch box. Many times I can see using the bare CMS so I want to keep the original switch..

I'll have make a movable switch clamp to achieve this I can see now as the switch will prevent mounting the VL extension..

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Well my second CMS VL extension arrived today, on closer inspection it will be a simple operation to move the CMS GE power switch so I can mount it. I just have to figure out the best place to put the switch. Ideally it should be towards the business end of the set up just below its leading edge of the infeed table but here is not much to support it. If someone has repositioned the switch to allow for the Infeed table where did you put it?

All and all I'm really pleased I've finally got the CMS GE and that I maxed it out from the start. So I can choose to go for a bare bones configuration for smaller jobs and to keep things ultra portable, or go for the total setup when working on bigger projects..

As to the cost of the setup I frankly don't swear over it too much,  after a  few times  using itt to refine expensive materials in high visibility areas Im sure any worries about the cost will be alayed.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I spent some time setting up the CMS with the two VL extensions sliding side table and the Vb side table. The extension tables extremely solid as far as downwards directed force is concerned.

After som adjustment I got the whole setup aligned and feel with som practice I will not only be able to improve the precision of the alignment between the tables and the speed of setup.

I feel the set is relatively compact when broken down. I am designing a carry case for it for mobility and will likely find or make dedicated rolling cart .

When using the infeed table I will need a mount for the switch, I leaning towards making a small utility stand with a few drawers for blades and measuring tools where the switch could be mounted topmost.