Dump my Wilwaukee panel saw for a TS75 and a long rail?

[jggrant]

Hello everyone,

I am new to the group....I am new to Festool and absolutely love the stuff!

Has anyone out there "dumped" their panel saw and regretted it? I am by choice a one-man shop and would like any info on this topic.

I still true my panels on my table saw but it sounds as if this might be a better alternative.....

This would certainly free up valuable shop space!

Thanks!

 

[peter halle]

I won a Safety Speed Cut panel saw years and years ago.  It has the Milwaukee saw on it.  In all honesty I have not used it since I bought my Festool track saw and longer rails.  My panel saw will probably be going on Craigslist soon.  Just no need for me.  You situation may vary.

Peter

 

[semenza]

Hello everyone,

I am new to the group....I am new to Festool and absolutely love the stuff!

Has anyone out there "dumped" their panel saw and regretted it? I am by choice a one-man shop and would like any info on this topic.

I still true my panels on my table saw but it sounds as if this might be a better alternative.....

This would certainly free up valuable shop space!

Thanks!

Hi,

  Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

  You mean a vertical panel saw?  Yes, the TS75 and rails will blow that away for accuracy and cut quality.  With a Fine blade on the saw you will get finished cuts instead of just braking down the sheets and then finishing on the table saw.

Seth

 

[roblg3]

agreed with Seth.  Plus the safety factor, there's no comparison!

 

[peter halle]

agreed with Seth.  Plus the safety factor, there's no comparison!

I am confused on the safety factor when talking about panel saws.  Any insights?

Peter

 

[DavidW]

Peter,
My guess is that with the Safety Speed Cut V.P.S. the blade is somewhat covered by two pieces of aluminum on each side of blade that swing and fold into themselves. If your thumb were in the cut line the guard would not be much help. I replaced the
SSC 6400 after trying to build EURO boxes with a HolzHer vertical which cut square, chip free with square edges and had a really good blade guard. I have since sold the HolzHer as I am down sizing my business.
jggrant,
Since I sold the HolzHer, I am using the ATF55 with a 55" and 108" rails, hope to get a set of parallel guides and MFT for crosscuts. I do miss the HolzHer but not the SSC, which would be great if I was building outdoor sheds.
David

 

[roblg3]

I don't have much experience with a panel saw, but it seems that when ripping there's downforce closing the kerf which seems to me to be dangerous.  Since the TS line of saws is intended to be used primarily flat, kickback is pretty nonexistant, and the blade on the saws is self retracting.  You have to try hard to hurt yourself with these saws...although, I am dumb enough to have seen what I almost did while forcing the saw to stay open to make a cut that would be accomplished more safely with a different tool. [embarassed]

 

[wrightwoodwork]

I've cut sheets on the vertical when basically had no choice and getting out the sheet would be next to awkward. If I have to do I use the parallel guide. For the mist part it us fine and don't get a kick back. The only part you have to watch is the end of the cut. Where can get a bit of tension, the riving knife helps to prevent kick back then. It is far easier to cut on the flat

 

[bkharman]

agreed with Seth.  Plus the safety factor, there's no comparison!

I am confused on the safety factor when talking about panel saws.  Any insights?

Peter

Peter. I think they were stating that the process is safer. With the panel saw, I think splinters are the biggest problem.

I think they were referring to the part when you clean it up on the table saw...

Just my interpretation.

Bryan

 

[shed9]

This would certainly free up valuable shop space!

Bear in mind that cutting with a TS saw is highly likely to be in the horizontal plane so not sure a space saving will be made there unless of course you will be cutting in space already there - if that makes sense.

I had a panel saw on my wish list but it was quickly removed after getting a TS. Safety and quality of cut are just superb.

 

[Jwtoolpig]

I never touched my panel saw after going to a Festool track saw. It made me hate the panel saw. I can't wait to get it out of my shop.

 

[wow]

jggrant:

First, [welcome] to the FOG!

I used to own a Holzher panel saw that I got a good deal on but still cost me a LOT more than my TS75 - even with every rail I bought to go with it. I didn't like the amount of space that the panel saw took on the floor, which was almost 40 square feet (~13 feet long by ~3 feet deep). I found that I really liked its capabilities, but I didn't use it enough to justify the room it took. If I were cutting panels all day, every day, in a production environment it would be great - but I wasn't. So I sold it. Here are my reasons, which should also pretty much be valid for you:

Benefit 1 - the track saw stores in a very small space when not in use. I got back ALL of my floor space that the panel saw used to take up.

The Holzher did give me finished edges, which your Milwaukee just isn't going to do. So...

Benefit 2 - The Festool Track Saw WILL give you finished edges, AND

Benefit 3 - It will quickly and easily allow you to do angled cuts - something I couldn't do on the panel saw.

Benefit 4 - Is that it will save your back! No more dragging panels to the panel saw - just cut them on the stack or slide them onto a table or work surface.

Is that enough reasons to ditch your panel saw?

[big grin]