Getting rid of my table saw

[erock]

    Well the time has come for me to pass along my 10 inch craftsman contractors table saw.

I can honestly say that I have used it twice since I bought my TS55 and MFT/3.  That's it, just two times since March of 2010.

I started my collection of woodworking tools around 2001 ( I was 23 years old) with a small Ryobi portable table saw.  A long with a lot more Ryobi

tools because they where cheep for a young kid trying to build something.

My brother-in-law (Dave) bought a 10'' Delta cabinet saw and gave me his Craftsman 10" saw back in 2006 when my wife and I bought a new house.  It

was his Grandfathers saw.  I cleaned and polished the top to look new.  Dialed in the blade with the crappy fence that always seemed to move on me.

But it served the purpose that I needed at the time I was using it.

Then in 2010 I found a great "how to" video on Youtube while I was searching for cabinet building videos.  That's when I found out about the world

of high end tools, you know....Festool!  But I don't want to get off topic and talk about how Festool replaced just about every tool in my shop.  [big grin]

  So, last weekend my wife's cousin (Kari)  and her husband (Dave) stopped by to check out the kitchen cabinets that I built.  Her husband (Dave, we have a

lot of Dave's in the family) started talking to me about his project that he has going on at the house they bought about 2 years ago.  He knows I am a

Festool fan and asked if I bought anything new.  So we HAD to go into the shop so I could show him the Kapex  [wink].  While we where in the shop he

noticed that my table saw was tucked in the corner with a big tube t.v on it.  He asked me if I moved the t.v every time I wanted to use the table saw. 

I replied "Absolutely not! "  I told him he could have the saw if it was okay with my brother-in-law.  He wanted to pay me for the saw, but I could not take

any money for it because it was given to me free of charge.

My brother-in-law was very happy to give it to him  so we are able to keep it in the family.  He is a young guy trying to build up his collection of tools

and has found the joys and pains of woodworking.  He comes over tomorrow to pick up the saw and he sounds very excited.  I am also excited for him

as well as for me.  Because moving this saw out of my shop frees up some space for me! 

  I feel good knowing this saw will help him further his woodworking skills.  Now I just need to find the blade guard before he comes over tomorrow and

picks up the saw.  Last thing I want to hear is that he cuts off a finger! [scared]

So has anyone else given up on the table saw since they found Festool?

My wife asked if I was sure I wanted to give it away.  And I am 100% fine with it.  Because if for same reason I should need a table saw, well this gives

me a reason to buy a good portable table saw that I can fold up and keep in a corner.  [cool]

Now, what to do with the free space??

Eric

 

 

[GhostFist]

I could never be without a table saw altogether. My current saw though is a benchtop Ridgid I got for peanuts on a job I was doing. It's loud and rough and will probably be replaced later this year with an ERIKA, after my Domino of course. Most of my table saw work is done in the studios with their equipment though thus I can take the time saving the pile for the saw I want (ERIKA)

 

[fritter63]

I'm tempted, but not till I can get the CMS TS module over here....

 

[jacko9]

While I love all of my Festool Tools, I would never give up my 5 HP Powermatic Tablesaw.  I can't imagine ripping 8/4 rock maple or other similar woods without my "beast".  With sharp Forrest blades I have smooth accurate ripping and cross cutting.  While I love my both of my Domino's I also like to cut large tenons on the tablesaw for large furniture.  I might contemplate getting rid of my sliding table if I buy a Festool Track saw, the tablesaw will be with me until the end of my woodworking days.

 

[Deadskins]

What a coincidence. Two days after I bought my first Festool (TS 55, CT 36 and MFT/3), this morning I was thinking why do I have that table saw?

 

[ScotF]

I have been thinking about it for some time.  Like you, I have not turned it on in quite awhile.  However, it is a very nice General 350 with an overhead guard and the riving knife and it make beautiful cuts.  It is just such a space hog and I would love to reclaim the space.  My TS75 has done all of the cuts that I used to do on the cabinet saw and since I have a good band saw, I can do pretty much anything with it and my Festools.  Keep us posted with how you get along without it.

Scot

 

[TurnagainD]

I don't have the space for a nice cabinet saw so the two track saws do a lot of work for me.  I did buy the DW 724 portable saw with the aluminum stand and have been really pleased.  I know it is not a Unisaw but it wheels around from job to job and then back to my house when I need it.  I think it was about $650 so it is not cheap but so far I am pleased.  If you need a portable saw I would recommend it.  It is strong enough to hold up your TV too!

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Eric

About 2 years ago I finally realised that I had to replace my radial arm saw (RAS) and so started my market research. I also was finding some of my heavy machines, including my lovely table saw, a bit awkward due to arthritis. So, I finally decided that Festool was the way to go and bought the TS55, MFT3 and Kapex 120. Together these replaced not only the table saw but also the RAS.

I make boxes that need to be cut through and am used to rebating on a table saw. I then made the mistake of buying a cheap and cheerful table saw for those tasks. It did not perform well enough and so the Jet saw, having been used twice, sat in the corner for 18 months. I was then able to get the Festool CMS unit and now have the most brilliant small table saw. It is beautiful and very accurate. The Jet has been sold.

Peter

 

[Kejmjjjlm]

I was introduced to the World of Festool when my wife gave me a buscit joiner named Domino. Funny little machine.  I had no idea what it did nor how I could use it.  It sat for a few weeks while I finished rebuilding my lightly used Italian sliding table saw.  On my first cut, the saw became unbalanced because it was missing its floor brace and cabinet base counter weight. The saw fell over forward while cutting a 4x8 sheet.  A carbide tooth went flying out of the shop and shattered my truck window.  I immediately put it up for sale and bought the TS55 and rail system, and many other Festool tools. The biggest problem I have now breaking down sheet goods is lifting the top sheet in the stack up and sliding my 2" foam under it. I can't imagine ever using a table saw again.

 

[Sparktrician]

My Bosch TS4000 sits lonely and forlorn in the garage while the TS55 gets to play frequently.  I suppose I should divest myself of the Bosch, but it's been a good saw and I hate to dismiss it forthwith.  I've considered buying a SawStop contractor's saw, but can't see that kind of  investment in a seldom-used tool. 

 

[erock]

It has taken me a long time to convince myself to let go of the table saw.  I kept thinking to myself that I would use it for something.

But the times that I would or could have used it, I grabbed the TS55 or OF1400.  I have a tenon jig, dado blade set and a tapering jig for the table saw.

All bought for a high chair I built for my first nephew.  That was almost 5 years ago.  I used each of the tools just for that project. 

But now I have my line of Festools to take care of the task my table saw would do.  As well as a Incra router table.

Peter, I also sold my radial arm saw.  Thanks to Festool and the Kapex!    [big grin]

For me I came to  accept that I had no need for the table saw.  I understand how some guys would never sell there table saw.

I look at like this.  Festool is the new way for me to do woodworking.  The table saw and radial arm saws are the tools of the past.

With the dust collection, accuracy, ease of use and quality Festool give me.  Out with the old and in with the new. 

I'm also giving him (Dave, my wife's cousins husband)  three sanders.  A Ryobi detail sander, craftsman 1/4 sheet sander and a Porter Cable 

5" orbit sander.  Because I have three fantastic Festool sanders.  I also gave him my Porter Cable circular saw. 

If I had a dedicated shop with the space for a table saw I think I may have kept the saw.  But I don't like to hold on to stuff just to have it.

I'm sure if I had the dedicated shop, the table saw would be replaced with MFT tables or some thing that would be used. 

But by the time I have the dedicated shop, I'm guessing the CMS unit would be available in the US. 

Until the CMS unit is available I'm sure I will get on just fine with out a table saw. 

Eric

 

[Stone Message]

I am really sorry that the CMS-TS is not yet available in the US - it is superb. I think that it is in the first of the 4 videos that I have posted about table building where you can see a lovely bit of rebate work that I did with that setup. I too have given sanders away.

Peter

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

No, can't do it.  In fact I have 4 table saw's.  How do you process 500 bf of lumber into the size blanks you want?  It would take forever with my TS-55.

All my tools are tools of the past, lumber busting saw is a 135 years old and cuts better then my late early 90's PM66.

I also refuse to work on projects that require sheet goods in their construction.

 

[erock]

No, can't do it.  In fact I have 4 table saw's.  How do you process 500 bf of lumber into the size blanks you want?  It would take forever with my TS-55.

That's a lot of wood!  I don't see myself ever needing to process 500 bf !  I'm just a hobby guy.  I don't even see myself needing to handle 100 bf.

And IF I needed to handle a lot of timber, well that's another reason to buy the TS 75!  [wink]

Eric

 

[GhostFist]

the fact that you're using a table saw set up in the cms proves there's still need for a table saw of some sort. to me it seems a lot of money for what it is, granted the portable saw I'm after is not cheap either but I feel it's more feature rich and thereby more useful/adaptable. The track saw in a small shop is easily more manageable for ripping, cross cutting, angled, stopped cuts and what have you. For repeatability and speed of set up for mass production a sliding table saw with a scoring blade is the way to go but that's just not feasible for the small shop woodworker and i am of course included in that category. I just find that setting up a fence on a table saw is faster for a lot of applications, to me losing one altogether is more of a step backwards.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

No, can't do it.  In fact I have 4 table saw's.  How do you process 500 bf of lumber into the size blanks you want?  It would take forever with my TS-55.

That's a lot of wood!  I don't see myself ever needing to process 500 bf !   I'm just a hobby guy.  I don't even see myself needing to handle 100 bf.

And IF I needed to handle a lot of timber, well that's another reason to buy the TS 75!   [wink]

Eric

The last batch was almost 750 bf.  I am on my way out to process about 300 bf for a small trim out project. 

I have never even used my mft/3 with the rail and saw. 

 

[peter halle]

I won't have space for dedicated table saw.  If the TS module for the CMS ever makes it to North America I will jump on it and then donate my Dewalt portable saw to charity.  It has served me well, but....

Peter

 

[AlexThePalex]

I'm slowly getting almost every Festool imaginable, and they can pry my tablesaw from my cold, dead hands. Which is also a Festool, by the way.

 

[Julian Tracy]

I can't imagine buying a MFT/3 and NOT using it with the rail and saw... Makes for a pretty expensive wobbly clamping work surface.

Its great for perfect 90 degree wide crosscuts, but if not for that, its waaaay overkill $$$$-wise for a general worksurface imo.

Jt

 

[RDMuller]

Make sure you give some safety instructions to the new owner before turning him loose.  I've seen a few more "self-amputations" lately while working the store.  And then I come home a few weeks ago and see Tommy on This Old House ripping 1x6 pine board for a ceiling with no fence, no splitter, no anti-kick back guides  ---- just a plain saw and free-lancing it. :'( [scared] [eek] [mad]