End User Training: Cabinet Construction on April 5-6 in Las Vegas

[CharlesWilson]

There is a pro in my neighborhood who did just that a few years ago. He got rid of just about all of his other tools, and switched to Festool, outfitted a trailer for onsite use, and couldn't be happier.

 

[fshanno]

There is a pro in my neighborhood who did just that a few years ago. He got rid of just about all of his other tools, and switched to Festool, outfitted a trailer for onsite use, and couldn't be happier.

That's a hopeful thing to hear.  Do you know if he carries a jobsite table saw or is he able to do without one?  I have a cabinet saw but nothing portable.  I've contemplated selling the cabinet saw and getting the SawStop contractor saw and actually rigging it up on it's optional wheeled dolly.  I don't think the CMS saw unit will ever be available in the US given the legal climate we are in. 

 

[CharlesWilson]

That's a hopeful thing to hear.  Do you know if he carries a jobsite table saw or is he able to do without one?  I have a cabinet saw but nothing portable.  I've contemplated selling the cabinet saw and getting the SawStop contractor saw and actually rigging it up on it's optional wheeled dolly.  I don't think the CMS saw unit will ever be available in the US given the legal climate we are in. 

He kept some of the big iron (such as cabinet saw) in his shop, but most everything else was switched over to Festool. I think he had three or more C12's, which I thought pricey at the time, but because of his enthusiasm for them, I got one for myself.

 

[vkumar]

The late John Lucas of woodshopdemos had given up on the table saw and was using the Festool system entirely for his saw work. For what it is worth. 

I personally do not plan to give up my table saw since I already have it--however if I was starting form scratch I would consider it.

Vijay

 

[bruegf]

I've contemplated selling the cabinet saw and getting the SawStop contractor saw and actually rigging it up on it's optional wheeled dolly.  I don't think the CMS saw unit will ever be available in the US given the legal climate we are in. 

I just bought the Sawstop contractor saw and its very nice indeed, but its a heavy bugger.  I went with the 36" fence and cast iron wings and with those additions I would guess its nearly as heavy as a cabinet saw.

Fred

 

[GPowers]

But Sawstop is safer.  [big grin]

 

[harry_]

There is a pro in my neighborhood who did just that a few years ago. He got rid of just about all of his other tools, and switched to Festool, outfitted a trailer for onsite use, and couldn't be happier.

That's a hopeful thing to hear.  Do you know if he carries a jobsite table saw or is he able to do without one?  I have a cabinet saw but nothing portable.  I've contemplated selling the cabinet saw and getting the SawStop contractor saw and actually rigging it up on it's optional wheeled dolly.  I don't think the CMS saw unit will ever be available in the US given the legal climate we are in. 

Frank,

This is the saw I am currently using for site work.

I chose this saw for the following reasons:
size      - very small footprint in my truck and easily hides under my MFT or SCMS when on site.
weight - I can carry it one handed quite easily.
power  - Seems every bit as powerful as my Bosch 4000, which now stays at home.

Price and brand were not real considerations for me in this purchase. I think I would have still bought this saw if it was a Ryobi or a Festool.

Am I saying that this is the most awesome saw I have ever seen in my life? Certainly not. However it is very small, light, and powerful. With the reduction in space for a table saw, I now have room for more Festools!  [laughing]

Can a TS*5 saw & track do everything a regular table saw can?..... probably. But is it worth the trouble? Hardly. A table saw is just way too fast to get set up for many tasks. I don't think I would ever (intentionally) go off to a job without a table saw of some sort.
[2cents]

As far as the class went....

Shawn and I had a great time. It was nice to make `sawdust` (just because there was none on the floor, doesn't mean it wasn't made ) with some fellow FOGgers! Steve and Brian were great,.... awesome instructors!

 

[fshanno]

Frank,

This is the saw I am currently using for site work.

I chose this saw for the following reasons:
size      - very small footprint in my truck and easily hides under my MFT or SCMS when on site.
weight - I can carry it one handed quite easily.
power  - Seems every bit as powerful as my Bosch 4000, which now stays at home.

How do you like the rack and pinion fence?  I guess it's rack and pinion for lack of a better term.

Looks like you can use it pretty well right on the ground.  Do you ever do that?

 

[harry_]

Frank,

This is the saw I am currently using for site work.

I chose this saw for the following reasons:
size      - very small footprint in my truck and easily hides under my MFT or SCMS when on site.
weight - I can carry it one handed quite easily.
power  - Seems every bit as powerful as my Bosch 4000, which now stays at home.

How do you like the rack and pinion fence?  I guess it's rack and pinion for lack of a better term.

Realizing I might have been misunderstood.... My TS75 & a pair or 1400mm rails comes with me as well!

 

[fshanno]

Frank,

This is the saw I am currently using for site work.

I chose this saw for the following reasons:
size      - very small footprint in my truck and easily hides under my MFT or SCMS when on site.
weight - I can carry it one handed quite easily.
power  - Seems every bit as powerful as my Bosch 4000, which now stays at home.

How do you like the rack and pinion fence?  I guess it's rack and pinion for lack of a better term.

Realizing I might have been misunderstood.... My TS75 & a pair or 1400mm rails comes with me as well!

They have on on display at Lowes.  I'm going to take another look at it.  Does it have an option for an extension in the back for outfeed?

 

[fshanno]

I've contemplated selling the cabinet saw and getting the SawStop contractor saw and actually rigging it up on it's optional wheeled dolly.  I don't think the CMS saw unit will ever be available in the US given the legal climate we are in. 

I just bought the Sawstop contractor saw and its very nice indeed, but its a heavy bugger.   I went with the 36" fence and cast iron wings and with those additions I would guess its nearly as heavy as a cabinet saw.

Fred

Fred,

I was thinking in terms of going with the standard stamped wings, the light weight fence and the wheels.  I wonder if anyone is actually doing that?  At my Woodcraft you can't even play with the light fence because they don't have it on the floor model.  I don't think I've ever seen it in person.  Still it would mean a trailer and ramp for sure because I don't think it's something you pick up and carry around by yourself no matter what the configuration.

 

[harry_]

As far as I know, what you see is what you get.

Generally I set it up on my other site table, outfeeding to a stack of systainers (sometimes sitting on top my CT33).

I have also put it on a stack of systainers and used my MFT as an outfeed support. Using the MFT to keep me from pushing the saw off the stack and/or pushing the stack over. (imagine the saw stacked up to the edge of the MFT). It all depends on what was convenient for me at the time.

From the perspective of: amount of time used vs. size/weight, I found it to be a good choice for me.
I would not even consider a contractor saw for the job site, way too much of a PITA.

 

[fshanno]

As far as I know, what you see is what you get.

Generally I set it up on my other site table, outfeeding to a stack of systainers (sometimes sitting on top my CT33).

I have also put it on a stack of systainers and used my MFT as an outfeed support. Using the MFT to keep me from pushing the saw off the stack and/or pushing the stack over. (imagine the saw stacked up to the edge of the MFT). It all depends on what was convenient for me at the time.

From the perspective of: amount of time used vs. size/weight, I found it to be a good choice for me.
I would not even consider a contractor saw for the job site, way too much of a PITA.

Good points.  Can you rip hardwood with that DeWalt?  Like 3/4 oak for instance.  I'm not looking for a beautiful cut, if there are swirls or burns that can be handled.  I don't see myself milling rough cut hardwood lumber in someones driveway but I can see myself ripping 3/4 hardwood of various species as routine thing.

 

[harry_]

Thus far I have had the opportunity to cut cherry, oak and maple all at 3/4 thickness and some 2x4's.

The only issue I have had with the saw is that it seems easy to knock the fence out of alignment (in transport), which takes about a minute to get reset.