Festool track with other circular saw

[indyjumper]

Hi everyone! 

Is there an adapter to mount a standard circular saw to the Festool track?  I received a MFT for Xmas, and am trying to figure out if I can use my current circular saws that are not Festool. 

Thank you!

 

[TylerC]

We don't make an adapter like this, because we design and build our tracks to be used with our saws. If another member has any experience with this, they might be able to help you out.

 

[indyjumper]

Thanks for the reply!  I got a MFT for xmas (not ordered yet), but don't own any other Festool equipment.  The EZ-1 table comes with a baseplate adapter to be used with any circular saw.  I plan to fill my shop out with Festool over the years, but can't swing the expense right now.  Any other suggestions to get the most out of the MFT without a Festool track saw?

 

[rst]

When I first heard of Festool, I was floored by the prices.  In order to dip my toes as painlessly as possible, I bought a Makita from Amazon Warehouse deals.  I bought Festool tracks from my local dealer and used this setup for a couple years.  I finally bought a 75 on Ebay for less than $500.00 as the Makita struggled to cut 3/8 acrylic, something that I frequently cut.  After I bought my MFT I bought a 55 to use on it during one of the recon sales. 

 

[Holmz]

Hi everyone! 

Is there an adapter to mount a standard circular saw to the Festool track?  I received a MFT for Xmas, and am trying to figure out if I can use my current circular saws that are not Festool. 

Thank you!

You could mount an alloy channel on to the hinge, or use a peice of ply on the hinge. It may not be ideal, but worth a try if you already had/have an MFT.

 

[indyjumper]

Hi everyone! 

Is there an adapter to mount a standard circular saw to the Festool track?  I received a MFT for Xmas, and am trying to figure out if I can use my current circular saws that are not Festool. 

Thank you!

You could mount an alloy channel on to the hinge, or use a peice of ply on the hinge. It may not be ideal, but worth a try if you already had/have an MFT.

I don't have the MFT yet.  The choice is between the MFT or EZ-1.  I understand I'm probably going to get mostly pro Festool bids here, but I'm trying to do as much research as possible before purchase. 

Which hinge are you talking about, and how much precision would I need to employ to accomplish this?

 

[Corwin]

First off, welcome to the forum.

While less than ideal, you might be able to run your existing saw(s) up against the backside of the MFT's guide rail. If that is of interest, you may also want to research 'slop stop' here to learn about unwanted play...

The MFT is, well, multifunctional. Another use that your MFT excels at is in holding your workpiece for a variety of other operations. But, you will definitely want to also purchase some of the clamps that work with your new MFT. They offer Clamping Elements, Screw Clamps and Quick Clamps to secure your work to the table. A pair of each type is a good start.

And, I see you have posted again before I submitted this reply. So, the hinge that was discussed is the rear Guide Rail Bracket. The rear Bracket includes a hinge that lets the rail raise up and out of the way, or down onto your workpiece. A front Bracket has a pin that fits into a T-track slot on the underside of the Guide Rail.

Here's one of many YouTube videos to help you starting out:

 

[nickao]

Hi everyone! 

Is there an adapter to mount a standard circular saw to the Festool track?  I received a MFT for Xmas, and am trying to figure out if I can use my current circular saws that are not Festool. 

Thank you!

It will be to much hassle and it will never be the same trying to get a regular saw with the Festool tracks and system..

I suggest getting a refurbished Makita track saw for as low 250.00 , it will work with all the Festool stuff and is better than the Festool TS55 anyhow, IMHO. Or get a lightly used Makita WITH warranty that includes another guide rail included for only 356.00.  Brand new Makita Track saw themselves only cost 349.00 to begin with.

Lightly used or watch this page for refurbished:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00CHN6L74/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all

New:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CHN6LCE/ref=twister_B00QJV6NJQ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Once I bought my Makita I got rid of my Festool Track saws and never looked back.The Makita's are compatible with every Festool track and accessory I have tried and in my two years with one I feel the Makita is still better than Festool's current TS 55. I do like the Festool tracks better than the Makita's though.

 

[Svar]

There is a bunch of budget track saws available: Grizzly, Shop Fox, Smith Triton. Just search Amazon. All work on Festool track. (Edit: may not work). May not be up to Festool quality standards, but better than anything you'll rig up yourself.

 

[Gwerner]

Hi everyone! 

Is there an adapter to mount a standard circular saw to the Festool track?  I received a MFT for Xmas, and am trying to figure out if I can use my current circular saws that are not Festool. 

Thank you!

It will be to much hassle and it will never be the same trying to get a regular saw with the Festool tracks and system..

I suggest getting a refurbished Makita track saw for as low 250.00 , it will work with all the Festool stuff and is better than the Festool TS55 anyhow, IMHO. Or get a lightly used Makita WITH warranty that includes another guide rail included for only 356.00.  Brand new Makita Track saw themselves only cost 349.00 to begin with.

Lightly used or watch this page for refurbished:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00CHN6L74/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all

New:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CHN6LCE/ref=twister_B00QJV6NJQ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Once I bought my Makita I got rid of my Festool Track saws and never looked back.The Makita's are compatible with every Festool track and accessory I have tried and in my two years with one I feel the Makita is still better than Festool's current TS 55. I do like the Festool tracks better than the Makita's though.

What makes the Makita saw better in your opinion? Genuinely curious about your experience with both saws.

 

[ear3]

I think you would have to rig up something yourself, in which case I'm not sure you would get the level of accuracy the MFT is designed to give when used with a tracksaw.  Another thing to consider is the pivot axis when doing bevel cuts.  The bevel function on Festool saws -- and I'm pretty sure all other tracksaws -- is such that the blade is still using the same cutline whether you're cutting at 20, 30 45 or whichever degrees.  This is so that you are not cutting into the splinterguard any further (or the rail!).  On many standard circular saws the cutline changes as the saw is tipped further to the right.

If you want to wait on the Festool tracksaw, my vote would be to get another brand of plunge saw that can use the Festool track without modifications.  People have already mentioned the Makita.  I haven't used it, but from what I've heard both on the FOG and elsewhere it's generally regarded as the next best after Festool and Mafell.  A review in Woodworker's journal from a few years ago compared it favorably to the top end of the market, and in their tests said it actually cut melamine the best out of any tracksaw:http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/track-saw-review/

When it comes to the MFT's other uses, such as a clamping station for sanding or working wood, keep in mind that this can be replicated by just putting a bunch of appropriately sized holes in a sheet of MDF or plywood.  Others might disagree, but for me the expense of the MFT is only justified if you're going to use it for which it was primarily designed, which is as a precision cutting table.
     

 

[indyjumper]

There is a bunch of budget track saws available: Grizzly, Shop Fox, Smith Triton. Just search Amazon. All work on Festool track. May not be up to Festool quality standards, but better than anything you'll rig up yourself.

Are you sure that all these work with the festool track? And how big of a panel can the MFT/3 handle? My plan would be to start with the table, pick up a track saw I can afford, and then add the festool saw down the road.

 

[Svar]

There is a bunch of budget track saws available: Grizzly, Shop Fox, Smith Triton. Just search Amazon. All work on Festool track. May not be up to Festool quality standards, but better than anything you'll rig up yourself.

Are you sure that all these work with the festool track?

I was wrong, not quite. Check this Grizzly review at woodwhisperer.com, particularly at 12:20.http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/grizzly-track-saw-review/

 

[indyjumper]

There is a bunch of budget track saws available: Grizzly, Shop Fox, Smith Triton. Just search Amazon. All work on Festool track. May not be up to Festool quality standards, but better than anything you'll rig up yourself.

Are you sure that all these work with the festool track?

I was wrong, not quite. Check this Grizzly review at woodwhisperer.com, particularly at 12:20.http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/grizzly-track-saw-review/

Thanks for the link!  That was helpful.  Sounds like the Makita or the Dewalt will play nice with the Festool track.  I've found several professional reviews that confirm that.  Anyone know first-hand whether there are any others that will work well?

 

[indyjumper]

Can you connect the Festool track to one of the other manufacturers' guide rail?

 

[antss]

They can be connected to Makita's.  It's my understanding that Makita's saw is a licensed copy of FT's last generation TS55.

 

[Job and Knock]

It's my understanding that Makita's saw is a licensed copy of FT's last generation TS55.

Sorry to say this, but the SP6000K/J (Makita) has been around way longer than that. When I bought my "last generation TS55" (still my everyday saw) 6 years ago the Makita had already been on the market at least a year in the UK, although they weren't selling it in a Systainer or Makpac at that stage over here (but they were shipping in genuine Systainer Classics in Germany back then, though).  Maybe the Makita arrived in NA much later than the TS55. In any case there are quite a few differences between the saws, for  example the Makita has a less intelligent blade locking system, the Makita uses a 165mm saw blade (Festool is 160mm), but the Makita has an innovative anti-tilt system (which requires a slightly different track to make it work), etc

 

[antss]

Perhaps I should have said the first generation TS55.

I'll bet you that the successor to the AT55 preceded Makita's variant arriving in any marketplace.  I have a TS that's ten + years old ! 

I am by no means certain of any relationship, and Shane tells me there is not an official connection. I could have sworn I've read there was one - but we all know how reliable "I read on the Internet " is.

I am willing to stick my neck out on the release date of the TS / Makita 6000 though.

 

[Holmz]

Can you connect the Festool track to one of the other manufacturers' guide rail?

One either picks their rail, or picks their saw, and then starts from there.

Makita and Festool connect together.

Bosch and Mafell connect together. One can connect the Bosch rail to a MFT,and the MT55 can ride on a Festool rail. And the Bosch saw (GKT55) are not available in North America.

 

[antss]

Who was it that recently posted they loan their tools out as often as the loan out their wife ?

I would never loan out my rails to someone to use with another saw . 

Now as for my.......

Never mind.  [eek] [eek] [eek]