CMS-OF questions

[smartins]

I'm now in a way of buying CMS-OF... I will use it in MFT 3 VL only. I already have in a box Incra LS25 superkit.
I red all here what I could find about this module, opinions about cms-of fence particularly caused in me doubts about needing it at all in my situation.
So, the question now is- what Incra fence can't do what original cms-of fence can and vice versa in my case?
I'm asking this, as I consider possibility of buying cms-of as parts, probably I can save some 100-150euros as well and I don't need then to "use" original fence as dust collector and storage space consumer (my storage space is small).

Another question- in Festool ekat CMS-OF have partnumber 494836, but in shops online I see it with partnumber 570251, why it is so? In ekat there's some other numbering system?

 

[Bohdan]

I have both the CMS-OF fence and the Incra fence. The CMS fence is a PITA to adjust but I prefer it to the Incra for jointing the edge of boards as once you have the out feed fence set to the cutter it is very easy to control the amount of cut.

On the other hand the Incra is very easy to set up for all other work except jointing but even for that it can be done but not quite as easily (you need to use tools).

The CMS also gives you a set of bits to make template routing without the fence much easier and safer but you could get these bits separately if you need them.

My Incra is mounted on an adjacent MFT with dogs and can be lifted off and replaced with ease.

The dust collection on the CMS fence is marginally better but neither of them catch all of the dust. The CMS one has a groove in the back of the fence which under some setups lines up with the stream of shavings coming off the cutter and sprays them out the RHS of the fence.

My recommendation would be to forget the CMS fence and just buy the plate, router lift, router mounts and rings.

 

[smartins]

I have both the CMS-OF fence and the Incra fence. The CMS fence is a PITA to adjust but I prefer it to the Incra for jointing the edge of boards as once you have the out feed fence set to the cutter it is very easy to control the amount of cut.

Looking at Festool fence, I have some "nasty" thoughts now coming into my mind about joining it to Incra base. Has someone done this?

On the other hand the Incra is very easy to set up for all other work except jointing but even for that it can be done but not quite as easily (you need to use tools).

In this video it does not look so difficult. Anyway, it's better that what I have now- simple, self made fence, to do jointing I need to remove one side and put shims under it...

The CMS also gives you a set of bits to make template routing without the fence much easier and safer but you could get these bits separately if you need them.

This is some set of bits or what? I will have mess with Festool products in my head.

...
My recommendation would be to forget the CMS fence and just buy the plate, router lift, router mounts and rings.

Thank you! Will look how it turns out, If I will get whole used module for similar price like new base from spares, I'll take all and join Festool fence to Incra base for fun as well. If not, then Incra will work for all 100% of my needs...

 

[Bohdan]

The CMS also gives you a set of bits to make template routing without the fence much easier and safer but you could get these bits separately if you need them.

This is some set of bits or what? I will have mess with Festool products in my head.

The set of bits is listed as AU_494735 - BF-OF-CMS on an Australian Ekat site but when I tried to find it on Festool websites it doesn't exist, but this is typical of Festool websites as they are hopeless. If you want to have a look try this EKAT site and search for 494735.