How to square larger panels efficiently?

[BBrown626]

Potential Festool newbie here. I am in the market for a new table saw and the track saw/MFT combo caught my eye. I have a Bosch worksite saw for ripping and small cuts. I need something for cutting panels. I'll be using them to make furniture, garage cabinets, entertainment centers, etc. The combo looks like a good solution to most of my needs. I also like that they take up a little less room than a cabinet saw  
I've seen a number of posts and videos about breaking down sheet goods. None of them addressed squaring larger panels, such as cabinet backs, entertainment center backs, etc.

How do you seasoned Festool users address cutting of materials wider than the 27" limit of the MFT?

The tools would see their use in a 1-man cabinet shop, so speed and efficiency are fairly important.

Thank you,

Brent

 

[sicd_steve]

Easy make your own mft like I have done I use a 1400 rail on mine and can cut 36"

 

[tjbnwi]

Install the rail to cut on the long bias of the table.

Tom

 

[Birdhunter]

I'm doing a home theater remodeling project and had to make a 53  by 60 inch panel with a rectangular cutout at the bottom.

I used a TS55 track saw with the long guide rail. The 1/2" Baltic birch plywood sheet was mounted on a couple of sawhorses. I assumed one edge of the sheet would be straight and set up the guide rail measured off the edge of the plywood sheet. I used a very large Woodpeckers square to be sure my guide was set up perfectly square.

After the cut, I checked the diagonals. They were exactly the same, so I was sure I had square cuts.

I have the Sawstop Industrial table saw (big and heavy) but prefer the track saw and guides for sheet goods as I feel it's safer and easier.

 

[junk731]

If you have the budget and room there is no replacement for a good sliding table saw in a one man cabinet shop. I have the TS75 and access to a TS55 which are also used and come in handy but the slider with its ease of setup is my go to in the shop.

John

 

[BBrown626]

If you have the budget and room there is no replacement for a good sliding table saw in a one man cabinet shop. I have the TS75 and access to a TS55 which are also used and come in handy but the slider with its ease of setup is my go to in the shop.

John

Thanks John. Are you the TS75 for making cabinet parts of do you use a slider?

I had a MiniMax slider but sold it several months ago. My day job has kept me very busy for the last few years so I just haven't been making a lot of cabinets. It was also only a 6-foot stroke, so when somebody made me a great offer I took it. When it comes to cutting panels, I sure miss it. My recent projects are furniture for myself or family. I can't really justify $10k for another slider and I didn't really like the slider for making smaller furniture parts. I thought a regular cabinet saw would be a good tool to get me through until I get back to the cabinet business. Of course they don't square of large panels either. At this point I am just exploring some options.

 

[junk731]

I use the slider for making everything including furniture parts. I currently have a Felder K700S pro with a 126" slider. It takes up a lot space but in my world it's worth it. Once you get your head around how to work with a slider effectively you'll never want to go back to the limitations of a cabinet saw. The Festool TS saws are handy for onsite work that we can't prepare for in the shop. I also like them for doing mid panel cut outs where the plunge makes life easy.

John

 

[paulhtremblay]

Easy make your own mft like I have done I use a 1400 rail on mine and can cut 36"

How did you do this? I was thinking of making my own with rail dogs. I was going to drill two 20 mm holes, and align a fence perpendicular to the rail, and then fine tune the fence with a 5 cut method.

 

[Lbob131]

I use the slider for making everything including furniture parts. I currently have a Felder K700S pro with a 126" slider. It takes up a lot space but in my world it's worth it. Once you get your head around how to work with a slider effectively you'll never want to go back to the limitations of a cabinet saw. The Festool TS saws are handy for onsite work that we can't prepare for in the shop. I also like them for doing mid panel cut outs where the plunge makes life easy.

John

That's an  awesome looking  saw. Everyone will be envious.  ;D

 

[fshanno]

I have the big woodpecker square. 

But no matter what I try I get mixed results.  Sometimes it's dead on, sometimes not so much.  Maybe I'm not holding my mouth right. 

At any rate, I try not to depend on the squareness of big parts like backs.  I hide them in rabbets or dados which are slightly over sized.  Then I can rack the case square and staple or hot glue the back.  If the sides top and bottom will make a true rectangle with 4 90's then close will do for backs.