Help me choose a track saw and dust extractor

[Hnnguyen85]

Hi everyone, I'm new here to the forum and this is my first post. I'm also VERY new to festool and currently don't own any festool tools yet. However I do know they make great tools and I'm ready to purchase my first festool tool.

My birthday is coming up and the wife has agreed to buy me a new tool. I told her what I wanted (and how much) and she was okay with it but I wanted to check with some of you Festool owners here if I'm picking the right tools. I'm looking at getting the TS 75 and the CT 48 dust extractor.

I posted this same question on another woodworking forum and was suggested to come here since I'll get more responses. Some of the replies I got from the other forum suggested that I'm buying too much tool. I was told the TS75 and CT48 is much larger then the other models. I'm not too worried about the CT48 being larger since it will just roll around in my shop and I don't plan to transport it anywhere but I'm a little concerned now with the TS75. I'll mainly be using it to rip down sheet goods as well as to cut off the ends of table tops after I laminate them. Most of the table tops I build are about 2" thick if not a little less.

Will I be okay with the TS55 (I assume smaller and lighter) or should I go with the TS75? Money isn't much of a concern and the wife has already prepared to spend the needed amount for the TS75 and CT48 combo.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Hoang

 

[semenza]

Welcome to the forum Hoang,

        You have a situation where both saws would be the best choice.  What I mean is the TS55 is the way to go for sheet goods and the TS75 is the way to go if you will be cutting 2" thick material on a regular basis.

        The TS55 can cut the 2" ( little under that thickness would be better) but the TS75 will handle it better. The TS75 will do fine on sheet goods but is larger heavier to handle.  In both cases you will want the proper additional blades for the task. The TS55 comes with a Fine blade that is ideal for sheet goods. And may or may not work well depending on the depth and material that is 2" thickness. The TS75 comes with a Universal blade that is good for cutting thick / harder material but only OK on sheet goods. Which ever saw you buy I suggest that you also get the additional blade. TS55 add the Universal blade , TS75 add the Fine blade.

Seth

 

[ear3]

Welcome.

What Seth said.  And an additional note on the TS75 -- it can be top heavy if you're doing very acute angled bevel cuts.  Not that it won't work, but you just have to be very careful on the cut, whereas the TS55 is much more maneuverable for this type of cut.  That said, I would still go with the TS75 if you're going to be doing hardwood cuts in excess of 1 1/2".

Going with the TS75 now also means you can add versatility later by going with the cordless 55 over the corded.

 

[Hnnguyen85]

Thanks for the quick reply guys. The table tops I build usually end up around 1.5" to 1.75" thick (milled from 8/4 stock). I checked the specs on the TS55 and it states it will cut 1-15/16" on the guide rails so I suppose the TS55 should be able to rip through that just fine correct? Thanks Seth for the heads up on the different types of blades and I will be sure to pick up additional blade.

As for the dust extractor, someone had mentioned I could go with a smaller one and add a dust deputy made to fit on top of the festool CT. Would this be a better route to take?

 

[bertv]

As for the dust extractor, someone had mentioned I could go with a smaller one and add a dust deputy made to fit on top of the festool CT. Would this be a better route to take?

Using a Dust Deputy on a larger CT is overkill. The CT Midi with a DD is less $$ than the next up CT in the range (about-ish).
I own a Midi and it is a great machine. Plan on adding a DD later this year, but still studying what model and whether to self build or not.

 

[irishman]

I wouldn't get the CT48.  It's overkill for a home shop.  I think it would be best to look at them in person to see the size difference and weigh the pros/cons yourself.  But most days, I'd be fine with the Midi. 

I have the CT36 and I looked at the CT26/CT36 vs the CT48 in person before I chose the CT36.  In my home shop, I wouldn't want anything bigger.  I can only see the benefit of the CT48 in a production environment.  Sometimes the CT36 is a little big for me, but I like the extra capacity.  The CT48 is quite big in person.  Probably one of the largest "shop vacs" around.

It would sure take a lot of cutting with either of those saws to fill up a CT48.  My CT36 is hooked up to the miter saw, and it takes quite a while to fill those bags.

 

[Hnnguyen85]

Thanks guys, so I've narrowed it down to the TS55 and either the CT26 or the CT36 with a dust deputy mounted on top. I was shopping around and found that the CT36 has a model with auto clean. Is this something that I might need if I'm still planning on having a dust deputy on the CT or is it also overkill? Also, if I plan to use a dust deputy with the CT, should I just go with the CT26 as oppose to the CT36? There's only a $50 difference between the two and I don't mind spending it on the CT36. I guess my only concern would be that it might be too high after mounting the dust deputy to it? What are your thoughts? Thanks

 

[Darren1972]

I own the tsc 55 li as i need a cordless machine and have ripped down fire doors and mahogany doors no problem whatsoever with the universal blade if your in the shop buy the 2700 guidrail and a 1400 or 800 with a couple of connectors that should see you through most situations i would buy two clamps aswell if i was you

 

[jacko9]

I have the CT22 with the Oneida Ultimate Dust Deputy and I don't have to change out my CT bag.  I just empty the DD bag and look inside my CT22 and find it pretty clean.  With the Oneida UDD make sure you purchase the newer one with the anti-static hoses, etc.

Jack

 

[irishman]

I'm with Jack above.  The CT26 and CT36 are identical except for the capacity of the bags.  If you're putting the DD on top, it makes more sense to get the shorter vac to save on space.  You won't be filling that bag in the CT26 for a LONG time I would think.

That said, my advice would be to get the CT26 and try it before you get the DD for it.  You might be surprised that you aren't going through bags as quick as you think.  A DD on top of a CT26 or CT36 and you probably won't be able to slide that under anything else in the shop, so it becomes a storage hog.  Just my 2 cents.  You certainly can't go wrong with any of the vac combinations.

 

[Steve-Rice]

Welcome to the FOG and Happy Birthday! 

The CT 36 AC with Auto Clean is not a HEPA certified dust extractor.  I believe that model was designed to work with the Planex Drywall Sander, I don't think you want that for the track saw.  Someone please correct me if I'm wrong on this...

 

[Hnnguyen85]

I really don't have anything the CT can slide under for storage so it's taking up shop space rather I like it or not. With that in mind, I may leaning towards the CT36 over the CT26 since there's only a $50 price difference and I never know would I may need to remove the dust deputy and use just the CT on it's own so it's nice to have a little more capacity. Thanks for all the input so far guys and feel free to add more. I still have lots of learn about festool and my birthday isn't for another month so I still have time to decide and hear more feedback.

 

[copcarcollector]

If you go with the 55 saw, ask your dealer to swap out the rail for the 55 inch LR32 "Holey Rail". Its the same price as the standard rail, works just the same with the saw, and will set you up for use of the LR32 hole drilling system if you decide to try that in the future.

[birthday cake]

 

[Holmz]

Hoang,

Where is the stars do you hail from?

There is a search function and a lot of similar threads on the track saws and vacuum.

I have a CT 26. You could think about "it is only $50 more", but that £50 can go towards the dust deputy. The 26 is already bordering on too large. I would not want it any larger. Smaller with a DD makes some sense.

Young be wise to have some pieces to cut which are 2" thick and give the saw a thorough work out. Not do like many an then complain 2 months later that it is struggling.

Anyhow ... Good luck and welcome.

 

[semenza]

Welcome to the FOG and Happy Birthday! 

The CT 36 AC with Auto Clean is not a HEPA certified dust extractor.  I believe that model was designed to work with the Planex Drywall Sander, I don't think you want that for the track saw.  Someone please correct me if I'm wrong on this...

Right, you are better off with the CT36 and not the AC unless you are doing a lot of drywall sanding.

Seth

 

[rst]

I bought the Midi and put the Oneida on top.  All the Festool vacs have the same CFM, the Oneida negates the need for a larger capacity vac.

 

[grbmds]

I just used my TS55 to cut 8/4 oak and I didn't have any problem. While I think the TS75 will obviously have more power and go through 8/4 hardwood easier, I didn't find that the TS55 really had problems. I love the TS55 as an all-around saw.

 

[AIPDX]

Thanks guys, so I've narrowed it down to the TS55 and either the CT26 or the CT36 with a dust deputy mounted on top. I was shopping around and found that the CT36 has a model with auto clean. Is this something that I might need if I'm still planning on having a dust deputy on the CT or is it also overkill?  Thanks

CT36 AC (auto clean) is designed exclusively for drywall sanding. For woodworking, it is actually inferior "out of the box" although can be "converted" to CT36 at a cost of probably around $200 (it does not come with HEPA filter, and you need a different hose to connect it to tools other than the Planex)

Regarding dust deputy, how much dust do you expect to generate? The only benefit of a dust deputy is that you save on Festool dust bags. Instead of replacing Festool bags, you empty the dust deputy like you would with a bagless shop vacuum. For the cost of dust deputy and extra hose / connectors, you probably could buy OEM bags which would last you a year or two even with professional work. Those, however, are way less messy to change.

Dust Deputy will not capture any dust which your CT26 or CT36 would not catch. It is redundant in the sense of dust collection. People only use it for the cost reasons, when they have money to buy the tool but no money to replace dust bags.

There is a known concern / risk that electrostatic charge generated by debries flying around in Dust Deputy can "fry" electronics in your dust extractor or hand tools. I remember seeing posts from Festool employees in which use of Dust Deputy was not encouraged. Dust Deputy has a newer model which reportedly connects to electrostatic hoses and can be used with Festool, but I do not think Festool has tested it. Knowing Festool's attitude, they never will.

 

[jacko9]

As far as I know Oneida addressed the static discharge issue with a complete system upgrade (they sent me the whole kit for free).  I use my CT22 for shop clean up, with both Domino Joiners and with my Leigh Dovetail jig which all generate a lot of wood chips/dust and it's not the cost of the bags but the inconvience of stopping when something doesn't seem right (the bag is full) whereas I can just unhook one end of the UDD and see if the bag is anywhere near full and replace or dump it quickly.  The Festool bag is still there doing it's job and the HEPA filter is totally clean.

Jack

 

[Kev]

I'd personally elect for a CT36 and forget messing about with the dust deputy.

The latest TS55 offers refinements the TS75 doesn't .. but the TS75 does have more depth of cut and grunt (so I have both .. but that's me).

Deffo swap out the rail for the LR32 rail for a bit of future proofing.

On cutting a 2" laminated table top ... that's thick and REALLY HEAVY. If you can work with that sort of weight, you can probably spin a TS75 on your pinkie [wink]