Cutting depth

[DustyLeigh]

I've got some 2x7x15 inch material. I want to rip it (two inch depth) using my ts55. Is there a simple way to do this other than cutting both sides?

 

[tbellemare]

Dusty:

If it's actually 2", you're going to come up a little short with the guide rail. The saw on guide rail cuts right at 50 mm deep, which is about a millimeter short of 2".

However, you could, conceivably, turn the guide rail backward and use it as a straightedge. I don't think it's nearly as safe but can be done and you get about 5 mm more depth of cut.

I assume you're aware of the safety benefits of using a guided saw on a Guide Rail and the lack of safety of not having it guided.

If there is any way you aren't in need of the whole 2", I would plane or do whatever it took to get it down about 1/16" so the safety of the guided saw system works in your favor.

Tom

 

[score0matic]

Dusty:

If it's actually 2", you're going to come up a little short with the guide rail. The saw on guide rail cuts right at 50 mm deep, which is about a millimeter short of 2".

If there is any way you aren't in need of the whole 2", I would plane or do whatever it took to get it down about 1/16" so the safety of the guided saw system works in your favor.
Tom

You could  just make the cut.  Slice the last MM with a new razer knife, and plane or sand thelip flush.  We are talking 15" long here right?
Craig

 

[tbellemare]

We are talking 15" long here right?

Good point, Craig.

Tom

 

[Roseland]

I had some 2in x 7in x 8ft ash, which I had to rip through the 2" dimension with my TS55 to get three 2in square pieces for table legs. 

I used the side fence:

http://www.festool.co.uk/mediandoweb/index.php?sTemplate=zoom&sTemplateFile=standard.php&sLanguage=English&BILD=http://wwwinet.my-tts.com/Festool/Kat_2005/handkreissaegen/jpg_zoom/zoom__hks_psts55_491469_z_01a.jpg

It worked a treat; the saw didn't seem to struggle at all, and the cut was clean as always.  You just need to find something sacrificial on which to rest the piece as you cut it, and watch out for kickback as you start the cut.

Andrew

 

[DustyLeigh]

Thanks for all the replies. To be precise I am cutting hard curly maple into turning squares for my lathe. I'm have started making billiard cues. I put the material on my MFT and discovered after the first cut that it was only 1 7/8 inch thick, so my TS55 cut all the way through.

I have a TS55 with an MFT 1080 and a 1400 router. After using a table saw a few times, I came to the conclusion that it was way too dangerous for me. I kept seeing this Festool stuff on YouTube, and realized it was much safer. I sold my table saw, my compound miter saw and my circular saw. It was very ironic to see that someone has built a insert and jig to convert the track saws into a table saw!

After I get all these pieces cut to 1 3/8" square and 15" long, I'll need to trim the corners to make the pieces reasonably round for my lathe. I have a small cue making lathe that really doesn't want to trim off square edges. The normal way to do this is to use a table saw.

I'm going to try trimming with the TS55 first and if that doesn't work, I'm going to try my router.

Any further suggestions are sure appreciated.

 

[sw1211]

A Chamfer Bit could be used to knock off the edges.