first posting - hope I don't screw up (i guess that's a pun)

[greentank]

I'm an amateur woodworker, and have been slowly putting together a small workshop, with tools to date consisting of: Bosch 4100 table saw (Forrest blade), Ridgid miter saw (Forrest blade), Dewalt 13" planer, porter cable jointer, Delta dust collection system, and other smaller tools. My major project coming up is building a wine cellar - racks out of mahogany, and some sort of cedar or mahogany wall paneling. Then maybe a tool cabinet, workbench, etc.  I currently keep the miter and table saw in the garage, but the rest is in the basement. I know...its messed up, but I don't have lots of room.

I've been wanting a circular saw to use for cutting when I want to keep working in my small work area, so, in my typical buy-then-research style, I bought a Makita 8 1/4 circular saw, still new in the box. I had already been thinking about making jigs for straight rips, and some miter boxes for 90s and 45s...but then I started looking at that less expensive track system that shall not be named, which led to looking at festool....now I'm really thinking about sending the Makita back and ordering the festool. It's 3x the cost, but if you add the cost of a track system to it, its not that much different. 

Knowing that this is a festool website, I'm asking if it would be worthwhile to return the Makita and get the TS 75. I have some questions, however...

- can the ts 75 be used as a circular saw without the track?
- can I adapt my existing dust system to work with the ts 75?
- is there an accurate "quick square" that mounts to the track for 90s?

I'd really like to add the ts 75, but I'd at least like to be able make use of the dust port with my existing system, and not have to buy another circular saw for handheld use.

Id love your comments - thanks!  MF

 

[score0matic]

Welcome
to the forum.

Craig

 

[score0matic]

There are lots of questions that you havent asked that we would need to know first.

the quick answers are Yes, No and NO 
but you may want to stay and search some old threads (if you havent already)  mainly as you learn more about what the TS 55 / 75 is capable of you can invision how it could fit into what you do as a woodworker.  By the way I LOVE my TS55.
hope this helps  and you will likely get alot of good advise soon on this thread as well.
Craig

 

[justinmcf]

hi greentank and welcome to forum.

with regards, to your questions....

no. i do not and festool do not recommend using the ts-75 as a regular circular saw without the guide rails.

yes. you should have no problems adapting your existing dust system. though, you should look seriously at the festool vacs and anti static hoses.

yes. there is an accurate "quick square" available so you can cut whatever angle you want. i do not own this angle finder so i am sure other people will be able to give you more details here.

btw, i have recently had a chance to use the makita track saw, and i do not like it. the first thing i noticed was the lack of a riving knife. you are just asking for kickback without this feature. and second, the color!
its not festool green!

regards, justin.