Festool CSC SYS 50 dust extraction question

[ericwithac]

I currently own a jobsite table saw from Dewalt, and the dust collection is pretty poor, even when the dust shroud is on. I've been looking at the new Festool CSC SYS 50, and from the limited videos available it seems adequate, but non of the videos shows heavy usage (long rip cuts or ripping close to the edge with no off-cuts). Festool has always focused their advertisement/demo videos on dust collection, especially the sanders, but so far I have not seen any emphasis on the dust collection.

Although so far very happy with dust collection capabilities from the Festools I've owned, I don't see any unique design for dust collection on this new tool, and it is obviously a hefty investment. Can any of the lucky owners of the new CSC SYS 50 let me know how well the dust collection is?

 

[pixelated]

My first “real” project for the Sys 50 I got Friday was cutting some rabbits on 3 pieces of 5 foot long stock. There was maybe 1/4 cup of loose sawdust, total. I was cutting poplar with the combination blade that comes on the saw, vacuuming with a CT-26.
So, in my estimation, the dust collection works very well. It’s leaps and bounds better than my previous Bosch saw.

 

[jeh]

I’ve only used without for now. If I use it inside a house I will use a vacuum or the bag. One note on cordless saws of all types is they use much thinner blades which does reduce the dust. The blade on my CSC looks to be 1/2 as wide as the one on my ICS.

 

[squall_line]

I’ve only used without for now. If I use it inside a house I will use a vacuum or the bag. One note on cordless saws of all types is they use much thinner blades which does reduce the dust. The blade on my CSC looks to be 1/2 as wide as the one on my ICS.

ICS blade is a 3mm kerf, the CSC 50 shares blades with the TS60, and both use 1.8mm kerf blades, so your eyeballs aren't too far off!

 

[ElectricFeet]

I currently own a jobsite table saw from Dewalt, and the dust collection is pretty poor, even when the dust shroud is on. I've been looking at the new Festool CSC SYS 50, and from the limited videos available it seems adequate, but non of the videos shows heavy usage (long rip cuts or ripping close to the edge with no off-cuts). Festool has always focused their advertisement/demo videos on dust collection, especially the sanders, but so far I have not seen any emphasis on the dust collection.

Although so far very happy with dust collection capabilities from the Festools I've owned, I don't see any unique design for dust collection on this new tool, and it is obviously a hefty investment. Can any of the lucky owners of the new CSC SYS 50 let me know how well the dust collection is?

It’s about the same as a TS 55 with the 35m conical D27/32 hose.

However, I used it the other day with a D36 that I had cut down to 1m and it was way, way better. It made a huge difference. Unfortunately, using the D36 means that for now you need to attach the swivel attachment that comes with the TS 55/60, which has a bend in it, thus reducing suction somewhat.

I’ve yet to try sticking some paper over the back, to block the curved opening for the swivelling blade. That might help, but I’m not sure how much — the blade has a close-fitting enclosure around it inside the machine, which already concentrates a lot of the airflow around the blade. But there is always the inevitable(?) dust flying forward above the table, from the teeth that protrude above the material. It’s much better if you use the blade guard, but most of the cuts I’ve been doing preclude that (e.g. I use the Grripper a lot).

In general, I was a little disappointed initially (to be fair, I had very high expectations) but I’m now pretty pleased with the D36 setup.

 

[ericwithac]

My first “real” project for the Sys 50 I got Friday was cutting some rabbits on 3 pieces of 5 foot long stock. There was maybe 1/4 cup of loose sawdust, total. I was cutting poplar with the combination blade that comes on the saw, vacuuming with a CT-26.
So, in my estimation, the dust collection works very well. It’s leaps and bounds better than my previous Bosch saw.

That's great to hear, it would seem to me that these type of US contractor (Bosch, Milwaukee, Dewalt... etc) saw have similar dust collection capability, which is usually not very much, I would expect to have a great improvement from the Dewalt as well.

 

[ericwithac]

I currently own a jobsite table saw from Dewalt, and the dust collection is pretty poor, even when the dust shroud is on. I've been looking at the new Festool CSC SYS 50, and from the limited videos available it seems adequate, but non of the videos shows heavy usage (long rip cuts or ripping close to the edge with no off-cuts). Festool has always focused their advertisement/demo videos on dust collection, especially the sanders, but so far I have not seen any emphasis on the dust collection.

Although so far very happy with dust collection capabilities from the Festools I've owned, I don't see any unique design for dust collection on this new tool, and it is obviously a hefty investment. Can any of the lucky owners of the new CSC SYS 50 let me know how well the dust collection is?

It’s about the same as a TS 55 with the 35m conical D27/32 hose.

However, I used it the other day with a D36 that I had cut down to 1m and it was way, way better. It made a huge difference. Unfortunately, using the D36 means that for now you need to attach the swivel attachment that comes with the TS 55/60, which has a bend in it, thus reducing suction somewhat.

I’ve yet to try sticking some paper over the back, to block the curved opening for the swivelling blade. That might help, but I’m not sure how much — the blade has a close-fitting enclosure around it inside the machine, which already concentrates a lot of the airflow around the blade. But there is always the inevitable(?) dust flying forward above the table, from the teeth that protrude above the material. It’s much better if you use the blade guard, but most of the cuts I’ve been doing preclude that (e.g. I use the Grripper a lot).

In general, I was a little disappointed initially (to be fair, I had very high expectations) but I’m now pretty pleased with the D36 setup.

Thanks for comparing it with a TS55, since I own one, it gives me a good idea as an example. It does seem that there is no magic cure to the "spit" at the end when the saw blade just leaves the work piece at the end of the cut.

D36 is a good idea, somehow it never crossed my mind to upgrade the vacuum hose, now looking in to it, it seems that D36 could improve the dust collection for my TS55 as well. Well worth the consideration.

 

[squall_line]

Thanks for comparing it with a TS55, since I own one, it gives me a good idea as an example. It does seem that there is no magic cure to the "spit" at the end when the saw blade just leaves the work piece at the end of the cut.

D36 is a good idea, somehow it never crossed my mind to upgrade the vacuum hose, now looking in to it, it seems that D36 could improve the dust collection for my TS55 as well. Well worth the consideration.

The short D36 is best for tools like the Kapex or the CSC SYS 50 or the CMS Router/Saw table: stationary tools that can produce large amounts of dust with uncaptured blades.

What you may find is what others have found with a D36 and the TS55: the D36 hose is too heavy and unwieldy for use with the tracksaw and there isn't much to be gained by using it.

The biggest way to improve the collection on the TS55 is by covering up the arbor window to create more flow from the cutting portion of the blade.  Blue tape works cheap wonders for this, but there are also plenty of 3D printed covers for the window as well.