CMS or Precisio as a dedicated table/panel saw

[ac]

Guys I have just joined this forum looking at Festool to replace my existing workshop kit.

Does anyone here use the CMS or Precisio as a dedicated table/panel saw by using the extension table and fence accessories ?

I need a portable but reliable system as I don't have a dedicated workshop.

I search around this great forum and then realised there is not much information available since you can't get these models in the USA (due to safety regulations ?). So I am relying on the rest of the world for advice.

I am particularly interested if the fence is steady and accurate for consistent sheet/stock cuts that need to be repeated numerous times ? especially when cutting long sheets to size longitude and latitude. Also how accurate the mitre guide is as well.

I have seen the talk about whether the TS55 with the rail guides can be used alone or requires a table saw to compliment it and I'm of the opinion that I will need both. The best option I think for me is to buy the CMS and TS55 module table with the extension table and fence to have a table/panel saw but at the same time allow me to take the TS55 out for hand held tasks like ripping a sheet to a workable size to put on the table saw. Also gives me the option to buy other modules systems like the one for the router.

Any advice or feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks in advanced.

AC

 

[clintholeman]

Guys I have just joined this forum looking at Festool to replace my existing workshop kit.

Does anyone here use the CMS or Precisio as a dedicated table/panel saw by using the extension table and fence accessories ?

I need a portable but reliable system as I don't have a dedicated workshop.

I search around this great forum and then realised there is not much information available since you can't get these models in the USA (due to safety regulations ?). So I am relying on the rest of the world for advice.

I am particularly interested if the fence is steady and accurate for consistent sheet/stock cuts that need to be repeated numerous times ? especially when cutting long sheets to size longitude and latitude. Also how accurate the mitre guide is as well.

I have seen the talk about whether the TS55 with the rail guides can be used alone or requires a table saw to compliment it and I'm of the opinion that I will need both. The best option I think for me is to buy the CMS and TS55 module table with the extension table and fence to have a table/panel saw but at the same time allow me to take the TS55 out for hand held tasks like ripping a sheet to a workable size to put on the table saw. Also gives me the option to buy other modules systems like the one for the router.

Any advice or feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks in advanced.

AC

What kind of work do you do?  I build cabinets and furniture with my "old" ATF 65, MFT 1080, and an assortment of guide rails, and have never felt any need, nor desire for a table saw.  I was down at the local hardware store, who has a nice inventory of Bosch equipment, then I went down to one of the local equipment suppliers [Jet, Powermatic, SawStop, etc.] and kind of looked at the saws, and thought, boy am I glad I don't own one of those.  Maybe at some point I will want one, but I'm not sure what it would do that I can't do now.  I sure don't know that it would be any more efficient.  I know lots of folks like them, but for me they are an unneccessary expense.  Just my 2 cents worth...

 

[Dan Clark]

AC,

Hi.  Unfortunately, we don't have the CMS in land of the free (except for some of our laws) and home of the brave (except for UL).  That said, this is an international forum and our international members can give advice on that.  Also, you might want to post on the Festool Australia forum and the UKworkshop forum.  The UKworkshop forum is general, but there's a fair number of Festool users there too.

I have a TS55 and it's great to cut sheet goods.  I just toss sheets of pink foam insullation down on the floor, move the sheet on top, place the guide rail and cut.  it's extremely accurate.  But, I don't do high volume. 

Take a look in the Jigs, Inventions, & Tool Enhancements board and the How To... board here on FOG.  There is a lot of good information.

Finally, check out this thread:http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=666.0 and this thread:http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=669.0.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Frans]

I have the Basis System, which is the predecessor to the CMS. I have a small sliding extension (SAS 500), not the big one. I have no outfeed tables, but when neccesary I hook up my MFT800 to the Basis. Fits on all sides. It is very portable, and the combination with the router insert, jigsaw insert and belt sander insert is really wonderful.

It is excellent for sawing small pieces, but I do not find it very practical for sawing large panels. The fence tends to be a bit wobbly unless you secure it at the back with an extra clamp (the CMS and Precisio fence is a lot better though). Handling those large boards unsupported (or barely supported) isn't easy. I usually let the shop where I buy my 4x8 cut it down to manageable pieces.

Sawing panels is a lot easier with either a dedicated, huge table saw which weighs a couple of tons, or with the TS55 and rail, which weighs next to nothing. 

If you want to try it yourself, just find yourself a table of about 23 x 16" size. Yes, very small isn't it? Clamp a piece of wood on it as a substitute fence. Now get a 4x8 out and try to guide it across that table. That's how awkward it is.

 

[ScooterX]

i make signs for a living, and I bought the T55 and a small MFT to use as a panel saw and chop-saw. I need to cut 4' x 8' sheet goods down to smaller sizes and the T55 with the rails handles that much better than a table saw does. The only thing I can't do is dado cuts, and those I handle with a router and the guide rails.

 

[AMC]

I have the CMS with the TS75 mounted in it. You can certainly rip small panels in it to a good degree of accuracy, but you'd be much better off using the Festool saw+guide rail (+MFT) system. On the other hand, the CMS is terrific for ripping - although I'd reccommend that you get the dedicated rip fence, as the multi-angle fence that comes with the unit isn't necessarily 90 degrees to the table.

In short, I find that I'm not using the CMS as a panel-type saw as nearly as much as I expected (I haven't done as much panel-type work as I expected, either), but I'm using it as a ripping machine far more than I expected. It's a rare job that it isn't put into service.

I tend to pull out the chop saw for cross cut work, but the CMS does a great job when the chop saw isn't to hand or the piece is too wide. Not necessarily the micro accuracy of a good TS, but good enough for everything I've needed to do so far.

And it fits easily into the boot of the car or, at the moment, under an office bench.

PS. I wouldn't be relying on pulling the saw in and out of the module all the time - it's a pain in the whatsit. Not a big pain, but not something you'd be happy doing every 10 minutes. Ideally, you'd have a TS75 dedicated to the CMS and a TS55 for panel work, and just pull out the TS75 for big hand-held jobs. But that's a whole new challenge for the budget.

Matt

 

[ac]

It does become a balance between budget, convenience and accuracy as everyone has eluded to.

I see there are a fair few pro's using the MFT for this work so no doubt about its ability and I have not excluded this option yet, in fact I am leaning towards it. I just want to know if festool make a accurate CMS come TS/PS when you add the option extras.

The question really comes down to.... Does anyone here have any experience with the accuracy and the flimsiness of the optional fence (that locks down on both ends and has a fine adjustment) that you can purchase with the extentsion table to turn the CMS into a panel saw. I have certainly seen pictures in the Festool brochures that certainly suggest it can.

BTW I wasn't aware you could mount the TS75 into the CMS saw module.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[Jeff Magnus]

Guys I have just joined this forum looking at Festool to replace my existing workshop kit.

Does anyone here use the CMS or Precisio as a dedicated table/panel saw by using the extension table and fence accessories ?

I need a portable but reliable system as I don't have a dedicated workshop.

I search around this great forum and then realised there is not much information available since you can't get these models in the USA (due to safety regulations ?). So I am relying on the rest of the world for advice.

I am particularly interested if the fence is steady and accurate for consistent sheet/stock cuts that need to be repeated numerous times ? especially when cutting long sheets to size longitude and latitude. Also how accurate the mitre guide is as well.

I have seen the talk about whether the TS55 with the rail guides can be used alone or requires a table saw to compliment it and I'm of the opinion that I will need both. The best option I think for me is to buy the CMS and TS55 module table with the extension table and fence to have a table/panel saw but at the same time allow me to take the TS55 out for hand held tasks like ripping a sheet to a workable size to put on the table saw. Also gives me the option to buy other modules systems like the one for the router.

Any advice or feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks in advanced.

AC

What kind of work do you do?  I build cabinets and furniture with my "old" ATF 65, MFT 1080, and an assortment of guide rails, and have never felt any need, nor desire for a table saw.  I was down at the local hardware store, who has a nice inventory of Bosch equipment, then I went down to one of the local equipment suppliers [Jet, Powermatic, SawStop, etc.] and kind of looked at the saws, and thought, boy am I glad I don't own one of those.  Maybe at some point I will want one, but I'm not sure what it would do that I can't do now.  I sure don't know that it would be any more efficient.  I know lots of folks like them, but for me they are an unneccessary expense.  Just my 2 cents worth...

Nice. Another guy who believes you can be without a TS. I have fought countless hours with others over this debate. I am a field guy, and every now and again a TS would be handy. The problem is the accuracy. I've tried every setup for portable TS and have not found one to meet my anal demands. Its either rediculously heavy or flimsy piece of crap. You just cant get the accuracy of a cab saw out in the field, unless you have the plunge saw and rail I setup a large table for all my Fes gear to operate and go to town. The quality of my work has doubled since I started investing into Fes. I would definately look into the CMS system though, if we are every lucky enough. For now, I finish homes with my portable and accurate Fes equipement. No TS required. Its amazing how creative you become without it. All I need now is the Kapex

 

[AMC]

Does anyone here have any experience with the accuracy and the flimsiness of the optional fence (that locks down on both ends and has a fine adjustment) that you can purchase with the extentsion table to turn the CMS into a panel saw.

Not yet. I've played with it in a shop, and it seemed robust enough. I'm going to get one for my CMS someday, so I'll report back then.

Matt