CMS-VL users? (The router table set that connects to MFT/3)

[jeh]

The fence is not really a surprise as others have mentioned Festool could have done better. You mention you had to use plywood and shims. Is that because your floor is very uneven?

Also, is the size of the usable surface when combined with slider sufficient or are you missing not having an out feed table?

 

[Iceclimber]

The plywood shims are because my floor is way off. Even considering i was able to get all three tables real close without shims. Just not perfect and perfect is kinda important right

Table size seems fine for now. I will let you know how i feel about that when i start making doors out of 8/4 teak and mahogany...  My guess is I'm gonna long for a nice big out feed table. Pretty easy to accommodate though on the fly. I would say for 90% of routing tasks it will be awesome?....

I could be wrong, talk to me in a month.

One thing I'm really happy about is the stability of the tables. My biggest concern was a router table that felt like it might want to be pushed over by large stock.

 

[grbmds]

I'm curious and in the market for a new router table. I hear some significant downsides to the Festool VL and GE tables. What are the positives? I feel the table size is a downside to the GL and that there are several other great alternatives from that standpoint.

Is the sliding table that much of a plus? I've never used a table with a sliding feature so don't really know if it would make that much difference.

Dust collection . . . It seems that most of the feedback is mixed on dust collection and my experience with my current table is that fence based dust collection does not completely do the job.

In the end, what would I get with the Festool tables (either GE or VL because it seems like which of those you buy is more personal preference, space availability, and what you may be using it for)?

 

[Iceclimber]

Dust collection is a huge factor for me. Maybe the driving force in why i started buying Festools. Actually it was the driving force.

The dust collection on the CMS is awesome imop. I have been disappointed in the dust collection of more than one Festool at this point. Namely my brand new Kapex. Sure it collects a shit ton of dust but i did have my 10" $400 Dewalt rigged collecting exactly as much dust. It took some mods but i did it and in hindsight it worked better than i gave it credit. What the Kapex lacks in dust collection it more than made up for in cut quality and out of the box accuracy. Im not complaining about the Kapex either it is just not the dust collector it is hyped up to be. Again just my opinion and another tool you will have to pry out of my cold dead hands

The sliding table is pissah as we say in Boston. Between the dust collection, the sliding table and ease of setup i would still want the CMS even of i found myself longing for a larger table surface.

 

[grbmds]

But people seem to complain about the fence. That's not a good thing as the fence is probably one of the most important parts to me.

 

[jeh]

The plywood shims are because my floor is way off. Even considering i was able to get all three tables real close without shims. Just not perfect and perfect is kinda important right

Table size seems fine for now. I will let you know how i feel about that when i start making doors out of 8/4 teak and mahogany...  My guess is I'm gonna long for a nice big out feed table. Pretty easy to accommodate though on the fly. I would say for 90% of routing tasks it will be awesome?....

I could be wrong, talk to me in a month.

One thing I'm really happy about is the stability of the tables. My biggest concern was a router table that felt like it might want to be pushed over by large stock.

A pair of UG's might be in your future, though one of your MFT's could work.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I'm getting the CMS GE with router module and TS module if all goes well in May this year..

The router fence seems to give problems for some, I think it's going to do fine for my purposes, and I know one user found a way to get better results using the Woodpeckers presicion fence adjuster so if need be I will go that route to keep a more portable form factor. Given the total cost of the system if I later want to supplement with a VL it should not be much of an issue...

 

[Iceclimber]

I think you are correct sir. I actually could pick up a used but "not used" MFT basic local for $350.

Im tempted but i really have to chill with the spending for a bit. Spent $425 on 15BF of truly amazing birdseye maple today. Plus like 5k ish in tools this month.. And i really need a festool sander to finish this birdseye after i run it through the planer.

Its really hard to believe all the Festools i have purchased to date and that i have yet to buy a sander. Must be the $600 price tag

The plywood shims are because my floor is way off. Even considering i was able to get all three tables real close without shims. Just not perfect and perfect is kinda important right

Table size seems fine for now. I will let you know how i feel about that when i start making doors out of 8/4 teak and mahogany...  My guess is I'm gonna long for a nice big out feed table. Pretty easy to accommodate though on the fly. I would say for 90% of routing tasks it will be awesome?....

I could be wrong, talk to me in a month.

One thing I'm really happy about is the stability of the tables. My biggest concern was a router table that felt like it might want to be pushed over by large stock.

A pair of UG's might be in your future, though one of your MFT's could work.