Festool and Kumiko - some questions

[Tandem4]

I have various Festool tools and am embarking on Kumiko but I am not sure they are compatible.

Festool saw blades are, generally. too narrow at 1.8 or 2.4mm for standard kumiko slots (3.2mm).  And I assume that it is not possible to mount a thicker blade.  Also the TKS80 does not seem to be able to mount a sled for cutting slots.

As an alternative

1. Does anyone have any experience of using a 3.2mm router bit in a Festool router on a rail guide in a MFT table to make kumiko slots? 

2. If that worked has anyone ripped 3.2mm kumiko / slats on a TKS 80 Table saw?

3. How good were the results? 

Many thanks in anticipation

 

[Michael Kellough]

Consider this.

 

[Tandem4]

Thanks.  However I dont want to buy more gear.  Also I live in New Zealand so getting things here isnt cheap or necessarily easy.

I'm also struggling to source a 3.4mm router bit....

Thanks though

 

[Michael Kellough]

Make the slats 4mm thick.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Your post mentions both slots and slats;

Slats - I don’t see any reason why these couldn’t be ripped from solid on your table saw. I don’t have one personally - and since I’m not familiar with the Festool saw, I have no idea if it would be possible to get the fence set up to achieve that level of sub-mm accuracy, though.

Slots - Trend manufacture two lengths of quarter-inch shank 2-flute cutters in both 3.2mm and 3.4mm. I have no idea if they have representation in NZ, but if you’re struggling to source locally, I’d be more than happy to order them for you in the UK and mail them to NZ. PM me if you need to take me up on this - Royal Mail’s international tracked & signed rates are very reasonable and they aim to deliver in 5-7 days.

Best wishes, Kevin

 

[woodbutcherbower]

One other thing - you might just be better off buying pre-made slats. Loads out there in a great variety of different timbers. Hope you get fixed up.

Kevin
https://www.etsy.com/hk-en/market/kumiko_strips

 

[Paul_HKI]

You can (in practice) install a 3.2mm blade in the TKS 80.

It should be a plain steel blade, not a teflon coated one like the red Freud/Diablo types.  It needs to be conductive.

I use Festool, CMT and Freud industrial blades in mine.  The TKS will confirm the blade conductivity by flashing the red light rapidly while stopped, if you touch the blade. 

Keep in mind your fence index would need to be calibrated appropriately if this was a permanent shift.