CS 70 or wait for Festool with sawstop?

[shu]

Hi,

I'm considering a table saw.
As mobility is important to me, I can't consider cabinet saws.
I need to do a bit of everything from framing to fine wood.
It seems I don't have much choice...

Should I consider a CS 70, or should I wait for the new one with saw stop built in? From the very limited information online, I can't find any timing regards when the new saw will be sold in Australia.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Why don't you have much choice? There are more brands sold in Australia besides Festool, right?

But if you mainly want to choose between the 70 and the 80, there  are two things to consider:

1 - The 70 is a pull saw which gives you more options in working than the 80 which is just standard.

2 - The 80 has SawStop protection, which is very nice of course for your safety.

That said, I have the 70, and I feel pretty safe working with it. I love how the pull action gives me options a standard saw does not have. I wouldn't want to be without the 70. I hope they make a CS70 with SawStop in it once.

You can always call Festool Australia with this question to ask when they expect the TKS 80's arrival. 

 

[FestitaMakool]

I with Alex here. Consider what you are going to use it for, in all aspects.
There’s weight and bulk too to consider.
TKS 80: 48 kg’s
CS 70: 37 kg’s
(And the CS 50: 22 kg’s)

I have the CS 50, and like Alex I have grown to like it very much. To the point that it is for me a keeper, so if I’m later investing in a cabinet saw if I have the money and space - most likely I’ll keep the CS 50 for its portability and versatility as a pull saw.
In many instances it does also replace the need for a miter saw, just because of the pull saw function. This means I have a miter saw and a table saw in one package if needed.
So does the CS 70, but I doubt the TKS 80 will shine more than a safe “portable” table saw.
As Saw Stop saws are nowhere to be seen here, the TKS 80 is a very interesting semi-stationary and safe table saw. But I wouldn’t want to move it around frequently because of its weight.

 

[AlexThePalex]

The TKS 80 is not 48 kg but 37 just like the CS 70.

My older model CS 70 is 33 kg, and that's heavy enough. No idea why they chose to make these new saws even heavier.

 

[FestitaMakool]

You may be right Alex. I have seen conflicting numbers earlier. I happened to just check at my dealers site, as I was in there looking.
Nevertheless it wouldn’t surprise me that the TKS could easily have been heavier than CS 70.
But, at 37 kg it’s heavy enough. Same as my old Bosch, but that one had even more bulk and was cumbersome to carry.

Imagine pull saw internals added to the TKS - it will be heavy if they decide to combine - which I hope too. It would also not surprise me much if there’s a Kapex with Saw Stop in the works as well. I think Festool will maximise every chance of adding SS safety where they can.

 

[Hawkeye0001]

After having worked with the CS 50 for two years now I'd always go for a pull-saw again. The added functionality is definitely something to consider. Over time there have been quite a few cuts that would've been outright dangerous perform on a normal table saw. But thanks to the pull-action of the CS saw they're a complete non-event because the work piece is securely clamped to the saw and your hands and body are far away from the blade. Love it and wouldn't wanna live without it. And if I'm in a pinch it easily replaces my Kapex for miter cuts as well (just not as comfortable and fast, of course).

 

[BiBi WET]

1 - The 70 is a pull saw which gives you more options in working than the 80 which is just standard.

Alex, sorry for my question, but I'm not familiar with English terms concerning woodworking (I live in France): What do you mean by "pull saw"? Does it means you can set the saw blade height from 0 up to 70mm? If yes where do you see it's impossible with TKS80 model? Because on this picture It seems that you can set the height of the blade

 

[Alanbach]

Is it just me or does it seem unlikely that a Festool table saw with Sawstop tech will be released in Australia for the same reasons that they have made clear that they won’t be introducing this saw in the US? Correct me if I’m wrong but Sawstop is sold throughout Australia, correct?

Have you considered a Sawstop Jobsite saw (assuming that it is available in Australia)?

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.
It would also not surprise me much if there’s a Kapex with Saw Stop in the works as well. I think Festool will maximise every chance of adding SS safety where they can.

If a Kapex with a finger-saving feature came out, I'd be among its first buyers (and I'd resell my current Kapex). The bandsaw finger-saving technology exists (already in use in Australia), and so does SawStop. It's time some good engineer figured out how it could be applied to the mitre saws. ;D

 

[DeformedTree]

1 - The 70 is a pull saw which gives you more options in working than the 80 which is just standard.

Alex, sorry for my question, but I'm not familiar with English terms concerning woodworking (I live in France): What do you mean by "pull saw"? Does it means you can set the saw blade height from 0 up to 70mm? If yes where do you see it's impossible with TKS80 model? Because on this picture It seems that you can set the height of the blade

A pull saw is a variation on a table saw,  basically if it was cross bread with a radial arm saw.  You can use it like a normal table saw, but you can also slide the blade forwards by a handle at the front.  So now instead of pushing the wood thru the blade, you pull the blade thru the saw like you would a radial arm saw (but upside down).

The basic benefit is now you can largely have the function of a tablesaw and a radial arm saw/miter saw in one.  You can cross cut long material that would normally not be easy with a table saw, say a 8ft 2x4,  you don't have to move it, just pull the blade.  Even more useful when you get doing miter cuts.

You can find some videos online, but most really don't show you the big picture usage, they usually have demos with small bits of wood where the real benefit is lost, since you could do those demos with a normal saw.

Add a sliding table on the side and you just have one tool with a ton of versatile cutting options.

I assume they are much more common in Europe, as they all come from there.  In the US they are un-heard of as the only one is the Mafell's and they are very expensive.

 

[BiBi WET]

Thanks for this precision [member=68063]DeformedTree[/member] !

I missed this point and never noticed CS 50 & CS 70 included this functionality!

 

[AlexThePalex]

Alex, sorry for my question, but I'm not familiar with English terms concerning woodworking (I live in France): What do you mean by "pull saw"?

Pas de problème, BiBi.

As the English say: Pardon my French.  [big grin]

Les mots "pull saw" signifie la possibilité de tirer la scie par le bois comme ça:

 

[threesixright]

The TKS 80 is not 48 kg but 37 just like the CS 70.

My older model CS 70 is 33 kg, and that's heavy enough. No idea why they chose to make these new saws even heavier.

The set is 60 Kg. Not that you would take it all with you (I guess).

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[AlexThePalex]

The set is 60 Kg. Not that you would take it all with you (I guess).

You don't have to carry the set all at once. I'd like to see the guy who can, I mean, who has enough hands.  [smile]

The basic unit is 37 kg. My CS70 at 33 kg is not really fun to carry around.

I often take almost all extras with me. Only the slider stays at home, like always. Horrible thing.

 

[ChuckM]

SawStop Jobsite Pro saws (similarly for the Bosch version) are 84 lb - 38kg (with cart 113 lb). Tradespeople who need or want the safety feature and own those saws are fine with such weights in this part of the world. When the old version of the jobsite saws was reduced in price, it was quickly snapped up.

But if weight is the prime or most important consideration, a saw with the SawStop feature or the like may not be suitable.

 

[HowardH]

what about the Erika?  Mafell makes a 70 and 85mm version.  It's really something else. 

 

[greg mann]

The set is 60 Kg. Not that you would take it all with you (I guess).

You don't have to carry the set all at once. I'd like to see the guy who can, I mean, who has enough hands.  [smile]

The basic unit is 37 kg. My CS70 at 33 kg is not really fun to carry around.

I often take almost all extras with me. Only the slider stays at home, like always. Horrible thing.

I have a love/hate relationship with the slider myself, Alex. I keep telling myself I will design a new slider myself. I would like to have the guides be one above the other, alongside the saw. I think the newer CS50 is like this.

 

[FestitaMakool]

The set is 60 Kg. Not that you would take it all with you (I guess).

You don't have to carry the set all at once. I'd like to see the guy who can, I mean, who has enough hands.  [smile]

The basic unit is 37 kg. My CS70 at 33 kg is not really fun to carry around.

I often take almost all extras with me. Only the slider stays at home, like always. Horrible thing.

I have a love/hate relationship with the slider myself, Alex. I keep telling myself I will design a new slider myself. I would like to have the guides be one above the other, alongside the saw. I think the newer CS50 is like this.

That was one of the reasons I went for the CS 50. But then again, my needs where portability and fairly compact set up.
The sliding table and rigidity of it for the CS 70 seems great. But it screams stationary.
I have a similar set up as the slider for CS 70 on my Metabo/Elektra Beckum Secanta, only this slider is even bigger, and has support legs. It is great, but it stays in my shed. It is movable and can be transported in a normal passenger car (station wagon) but it’s not portable.

 

[AlexThePalex]

The sliding table and rigidity of it for the CS 70 seems great. But it screams stationary.

Indeed, it screams stationary, it is sooo big, it's terrible on the move. And in all the years I own my CS70 now I never really needed to use it anyway, it is just this big contruction beam taking space in my attic.

 

[FestitaMakool]

That’s a shame Alex! You should let it get a workout every now and then.
Let me know if you ever decide to part with it though.

[member=66123]shu[/member]
The new TKS 80 is listet AS available in June both in Australia and New Zealand.
If you do get the CS 70, be sure to pick up the “EBG” version which has the new legs, widening leg support, wheels and feet among other new features. Unless you get a very good deal on the older version. Same for the CS 50 if you ever opt for that as well.