CSC SYS 50 as a replacement for a cabinet saw?

MMCO · Monday at 3:14 PM

I recently downsized and need to save space and am wondering if I could use a CSC SYS 50 in place of a cabinet saw? I am also planning to start a renovation on a rental property where I will need to build cabinets, drawers etc. I can't move my cabinet saw to the location and don't have a place to set it up in my current residence. I have an MFT/3 and many track saws but I don't believe that will give me the accuracy. I am interested in opinions from this group, especially those that may have switched from a cabinet to the Festool. Thank you?

woodferret · Monday at 4:12 PM

CSC50 is designed to under the assumption that you have a TS55/60. For carcasses, the TS will be more accurate. Drawer sides would be better suited on the CSC50 - basically anything that doesn't nicely fit under the FS rail. Bevels are faster and more consistent on the CSC if you're within the bed size. If your tracksaws are Kreg or something, I'd upgrade those first before investing in the CSC.

Crazyraceguy · Monday at 4:50 PM

In a word....no.

In a few more, I would consider it a second saw, for a well-equipped shop, or as a job-site trim saw.
For the cabinet construction you mentioned, a good track saw, along with a parallel guide set and a track square, will serve you much better. You are not giving up accuracy with a track saw, as a few YouTubers would have you believe. In fact, it's better for breaking down large materials.
The CSC50 would be fine for the much smaller parts, needed for drawers, but it is just too small for entire sheets of Plywood, MDF, Melamine, etc.

Plus, the track gives you the option of the LR32 system, for drilling shelf pin holes

luvmytoolz · Monday at 5:37 PM

I currently don't have room for a cabinet saw, so I bought the SYS 50 for doing the multitude of smaller stuff I do, and it handles that and also larger projects better than I could have hoped for, but as noted above, a tracksaw is essential for breaking down sheet goods.

woodferret · Monday at 5:41 PM

We should also point out the elephant in the room that the CSC is rarely ever flat

So, no, not a replacement for a cast iron cabinet saw.

MMCO · Monday at 6:24 PM

Crazyraceguy said:
In a word....no.

In a few more, I would consider it a second saw, for a well-equipped shop, or as a job-site trim saw.
For the cabinet construction you mentioned, a good track saw, along with a parallel guide set and a track square, will serve you much better. You are not giving up accuracy with a track saw, as a few YouTubers would have you believe. In fact, it's better for breaking down large materials.
The CSC50 would be fine for the much smaller parts, needed for drawers, but it is just too small for entire sheets of Plywood, MDF, Melamine, etc.

Plus, the track gives you the option of the LR32 system, for drilling shelf pin holes

I asked in another thread if the MFT tables are the same height as the CSC 50 since I have 3. My idea would be to setup all three and use the MFT/3 and the CSC 50. The MFTs connected should create a large enough work surface in conjunction with the CSC 50. Of course, I would be breaking down sheet goods with my track saws first. I think this may be the best scenario since I need to be able to move the table saw and I don't have enough space in my new place. I also plan to do fix and flips regularly so the portability is critical.

MMCO · Monday at 6:25 PM

Crazyraceguy said:
In a word....no.

In a few more, I would consider it a second saw, for a well-equipped shop, or as a job-site trim saw.
For the cabinet construction you mentioned, a good track saw, along with a parallel guide set and a track square, will serve you much better. You are not giving up accuracy with a track saw, as a few YouTubers would have you believe. In fact, it's better for breaking down large materials.
The CSC50 would be fine for the much smaller parts, needed for drawers, but it is just too small for entire sheets of Plywood, MDF, Melamine, etc.

Plus, the track gives you the option of the LR32 system, for drilling shelf pin holes

I have 3 Festool Track Saws and the LR32.

MMCO · Monday at 6:26 PM

woodferret said:
We should also point out the elephant in the room that the CSC is rarely ever flat So, no, not a replacement for a cast iron cabinet saw.

Are you saying the top of the CSC isn't flat from the factory?

luvmytoolz · Monday at 6:37 PM

MMCO said:
Are you saying the top of the CSC isn't flat from the factory?

I've seen some people here report the sliding table isn't perfectly flat in relation to the table, or is slightly uneven, but mine is dead flat so I have no issue, but you can adjust the level of the slider I believe anyway?

mcfal12 · Monday at 6:44 PM

The sliding table is not perfectly flat in relation to the table due to the manufacturing technique used. There are several posts on FOG about it- linking one I was actively involved in with troubleshooting and trying to solution.

Post in thread 'Festool CSC SYS 50 Tablesaw'

Oct 31, 2023

I checked my saw after unboxing it, and immediately noticed this same issue. I am flabbergasted at Festool as this is such an obvious thing to check on a tablesaw.

I am providing an update on the instructions that were provided by [member=72072]woodferret[/member] and @xeres. They were very helpful, but some folks might find the technical descriptions a bit cumbersome.

1. Unlock the sliding table
2. Push the table forward (towards the dust port) and in the center of the rail remove the plastic black cap. Caution, the cap breaks easily (see picture 1)
3. Unscrew the black screw underneath the cap using a...

mcfal12 · Monday at 6:50 PM

You may want to consider an mft and rail system since you already have a track saw. It doesn’t have to be the festool mft there are a lot of options these days.

As stated above- the track saw is very accurate and repeatable cuts can be attained with a fence and stop system, parallel guides, etc.

MMCO · Monday at 10:02 PM

mcfal12 said:
You may want to consider and mft and rail system since you already have a track saw. It doesn’t have to be the festool mft there are a lot of options these days.

As stated above- the track saw is very accurate and repeatable cuts can be attained with a fence and stop system, parallel guides, etc.

morts10n · Monday at 11:10 PM

I bought the CSC SYS 50 last month for the sole reason of cutting ¾" toekick skins.... for mitering and for scribing. It is really just a toy as far as table saws go. But it is PERFECT for the above tasks. I no longer have to take my 10" mitersaw/ stand, 10" tablesaw/ stand, outfeed, fence extra dust extractor, etc to the jobsite. Love it!

tjbnwi · Tuesday at 12:36 AM

@MMCO

FULL DISCLOSURE—I test various products for TSO, Hans sends me the products to test at no cost to me.

Until about 5 years ago I did not own a cabinet saw. For the most part I did not use any table saw.

By the time I got a few employees 5ish years ago TSO introduced the rail square, it made life easier. Then came the TSO parallel guides, a game changer for the shop. Before these two fantastic products everything was measured and marked. There is nothing I/we cannot build with just track saws, tables and the TSO products. This system is as accurate, if not more accurate, than a table saw.

The use of the TS saws, MFT’s, a cutting table and TSO products allowed us to build 4-5 quarter million dollar cabinet packages a year.

Cutting table (looks like the link to the thread with CAD drawings is no longer working) the link is in this thread;

Thread 'Design ideas needed for shop based 4x8 ft cutting / assembly table'

Nov 22, 2015

As a new TS55 owner I need to adapt or replace an existing shop based 4x8ft assembly table to do double duty as a track saw cutting table for plywood sheets. The table is in a larger but extremely congested shop.

What is the most practical way to create a semi permanent table surface setup for ripping and crosscutting?
Which FESTOOL (MFT) parts should I buy for this purpose?

Unanswered questions in my mind:
MDF surface with MFT hole pattern and bench dogs? QWAS?
How to protect - or not protect the MDF - so others can use the table for mostly smaller assembly projects
Using 2" EPS...

Next progression was a cabinet saw, I now own two. The are used primarily for solids.

Final step is the CNC machine, it will cut drill and grove/dado panels. It is very rarely used for solids. The altitude I’m at the machine has issues holding smaller pieces to the table, even with three oversized vacuum pumps.

If you want to know how to accurately process solids check this thread out (I have another thread about ripping, I cannot find it, it was titled-Rips in the Field, maybe someone else has a link to it);

Thread 'How I rip FF and door pieces'

May 25, 2012

Again, I'm surprised at the responses to the "Rips in the filed", as I stated it is a variation of how I cut my face frame and door/drawer rail and style pieces.

I cut a spacer that yields me a 2.25" wide pieces for the rails and styles and anther spacer that yields 1.5" pieces for the face frames. Other widths I handle on a case by case basis.

Shown is the spacer for door pieces. It is 5.0625" (.0625 makes up for blade loss) wide, my rail measures 7.250", back edge to cut side of splinter strip.

I install the MFT fence in the tall position, butt the long edge of the spacer to the...

If you search my screen name you will find various pictures of projects from years ago to date. You’ll also run across other “crazy” things I do with the track saws and other Festool’s. They’re tools get creative and use them.

Take a few minutes to think about your finished product, work that process backwards and you’ll know what you need to do.

Tom

CSC SYS 50 as a replacement for a cabinet saw?

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