Festool sword saw
- Thread starter Kylec57
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2007
- Messages
- 13,137
Insulation board in different countries has different meanings. If you are talking foam - like Holmz asked - then Festool has a serrated jigsaw blade (493656) that will have a 5" max cut.
Peter
Peter
Rip Van Winkle
Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2014
- Messages
- 301
If you're talking about the thick foam sandwitched between corrogated sheet metal, I'm not sure.
Festool does appear to offer a foam blade for the sword saw. I presume chains msy be available from other brands as well.
Trumpf, a company whose specialty is tools for sheet metal, manufactures a chainsaw type panel saw, specifically for cutting foam insulated metal panels. There is a large difference in cutting speed between the two saws. The Trumpf saw cuts at 4m/min. the festool is listed as an idling speed if 10.6m/s. I'm not sure if one of these numbers is way off, ir whether the saws operate at vastly different speeds. The cutting speeds at which the chain goes thru the material mught make a difference in whether you can cut the material. Metal cutting is usually best done at a lower speed, especially gor certain alloys. The Festool does appesr to offer different speeds.
Festool does appear to offer a foam blade for the sword saw. I presume chains msy be available from other brands as well.
Trumpf, a company whose specialty is tools for sheet metal, manufactures a chainsaw type panel saw, specifically for cutting foam insulated metal panels. There is a large difference in cutting speed between the two saws. The Trumpf saw cuts at 4m/min. the festool is listed as an idling speed if 10.6m/s. I'm not sure if one of these numbers is way off, ir whether the saws operate at vastly different speeds. The cutting speeds at which the chain goes thru the material mught make a difference in whether you can cut the material. Metal cutting is usually best done at a lower speed, especially gor certain alloys. The Festool does appesr to offer different speeds.
Rip Van Winkle
Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2014
- Messages
- 301
The Trumpf also can be used with guide rails. The Trumpf rails look different from the Festool ones, but they look like the important dimensions are the same.
AlexThePalex
Member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2008
- Messages
- 7,808
Can't you just get a piece of insulation board to try it out first?
I had to cut insulation board, styrofoam, this week with my CS70 and Fein MM and didn't know what to expect at first. Tried some and it went splendidly. A sordsaw has a rougher chain, but you never know until you try it because it still should be very sharp.
But be prepaired for big clean up because the stuff sticks to everything.
I had to cut insulation board, styrofoam, this week with my CS70 and Fein MM and didn't know what to expect at first. Tried some and it went splendidly. A sordsaw has a rougher chain, but you never know until you try it because it still should be very sharp.
But be prepaired for big clean up because the stuff sticks to everything.
Holmz
Member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2014
- Messages
- 4,001
[member=5277]Alex[/member] mention of trying it seems obvious once one reads it.
I was suffering envy when [member=1674]Peter Halle[/member] posted his chain worm drive ~ a ago.
I got some of those FT foam blades and tried then once in the p1cc. I assume any Ol $20 jig saw can cut through the cotton candy or foam. So if one already had FT rails then that sorts it out.
I was suffering envy when [member=1674]Peter Halle[/member] posted his chain worm drive ~ a ago.
I got some of those FT foam blades and tried then once in the p1cc. I assume any Ol $20 jig saw can cut through the cotton candy or foam. So if one already had FT rails then that sorts it out.
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2007
- Messages
- 13,137
If cuts don't have to be absolutely perfect you could also go retro and try an electric knife if there is one lying around in a kitchen drawer or cabinet.
Peter
Peter
Bigchasbroon
Member
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2013
- Messages
- 315
I've got a sword saw and cut 140mm kingspan.
It works better with the correct chain because that seems to cut down on the dust (there's still a lot of dust) I used a midi extractor and was filling up a bag pretty quick, maybe 6/7 sheets. I usually cut it across the 1200 way at roughly 550 a time.
If you ever travel down to fife I could let you see it in action.
Oh and it only comes in 240
It works better with the correct chain because that seems to cut down on the dust (there's still a lot of dust) I used a midi extractor and was filling up a bag pretty quick, maybe 6/7 sheets. I usually cut it across the 1200 way at roughly 550 a time.
If you ever travel down to fife I could let you see it in action.
Oh and it only comes in 240
Maximus
Member
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2016
- Messages
- 110
Unless you cut a LOT of insulation on a daily basis then I don't see the point of using a sword saw tbh. When I cut Celotex/Kingspan I use a Bahco hand saw that's razor sharp, cuts quickly and accurately and cost me eight quid. The sword saw seems like massive overkill to me, for such a task. Oak framing, large beams & batch cutting timber panels to size, different story. But for insulation I'll stick with my Bahco. I imagine it creates less dust too - and I've heard bad stories about what Celotex dust can do, health wise.
oh dont get me wrong here, i do a lot of cut roofs too, currently use an elu saw that does a max 85mm cut, but these damn structural engineers keep speccing 75mm hips and i have to hand cut that last bit when im doing 45deg cuts, the sword is going to replace my elu for all my roof cutting, wished i had it a few months ago when i had to make a garden wall out of random size sleepers too.
Just in case someone stumbles on this thread using the search function - the Festool serrated insulation blades (493656) are very effective. Far less dust than a sharp wood cutting saw, and far less effort than a dedicated Bahco insulation cutting hand saw. I used one blade when cutting celotex for a pitched roof and walls on a barn with an 80 m2 footprint - goodness knows what I'll do with the others!
Similar threads
