My advice for new TS 55/75 owners

[mikeneron]

If I could offer one piece of advice for those new to using TS 55/75 with the guide rails is always be aware of how you have your rails oriented with regards to which side is the waste side and which side is the keeper side.

I was breaking down a sheet of melamine last night.  First I took about 1/4" off a long edge.  Then I measured 24" to take another cut lengthwise at that mark.  After I had made the cut, I measured to see how I did and it was slightly below 24".  Only then did I realize what a dummy I am and totally forgot that I needed to turn the guide rail 180 degrees for that 2nd cut.  ALWAYS make sure you know which side is the waste side and which side is the keeper side.  I have owned my TS 55 for 2 years now and still make this mistake from time to time.  I guess I will be making these cabinets 23 3/4" deep  :-[

 

[Wim]

That is a sound piece of advice. After quite a lot of similar mistakes, I put a V or a cross at the waste side of my markings. But even so I make sometimes mistakes when I work on automatic mode. When cutting similar pieces of board to length, I start with the largest lengths, so when I screw up, I can save it for shorter pieces.
In my opinion this goes for all cutting operations and it is not restricted to Festools.  ;D

 

[erikfsn]

If I write down 13/16" or 15/16" I sometimes see 3/16" or 5/16", my mind drops the "1" and the result isn't pretty . . .

 

[fritter63]

If I write down 13/16" or 15/16" I sometimes see 3/16" or 5/16", my mind drops the "1" and the result isn't pretty . . .

Why metric is better!  [big grin]

 

[Brice Burrell]

The best way I've found to help me keep this straight is to remember that the rail goes on the piece you want to keep. 

 

[fritter63]

The best way I've found to help me keep this straight is to remember that the rail goes on the piece you want to keep. 

unless using the p. guides extensions...

 

[Brice Burrell]

The best way I've found to help me keep this straight is to remember that the rail goes on the piece you want to keep. 

unless using the p. guides extensions...

[blink]

Well of course, there's always exceptions............

 

[GPowers]

If I could offer one piece of advice for those new to using TS 55/75 with the guide rails is always be aware of how you have your rails oriented with regards to which side is the waste side and which side is the keeper side.

I was breaking down a sheet of melamine last night.  First I took about 1/4" off a long edge.  Then I measured 24" to take another cut lengthwise at that mark.  After I had made the cut, I measured to see how I did and it was slightly below 24".  Only then did I realize what a dummy I am and totally forgot that I needed to turn the guide rail 180 degrees for that 2nd cut.  ALWAYS make sure you know which side is the waste side and which side is the keeper side.  I have owned my TS 55 for 2 years now and still make this mistake from time to time.  I guess I will be making these cabinets 23 3/4" deep  :-[

I did the same thing in the Door and Drawers class when cutting a drawer bottom. Steve was there to straighten me out and clue me in on my mistake.

 

[kdzito]

It's funny that if anyone here said they never made a mistake, well that's impossible.

I can't tell you how many mistakes I've made and they are always because I'm trying to rush from measuring once so I'll have to cut twice!!!

 

[kfitzsimons]

Also, purchase a selection of blades and use the proper one. I tried to rip 1 3/8 poplar with a finish blade and the results weren't pretty. Right blade = right result.

 

[semenza]

Also, purchase a selection of blades and use the proper one. I tried to rip 1 3/8 poplar with a finish blade and the results weren't pretty. Right blade = right result.

Yes. Well said. 

The topic of rip cutting with the fine blade comes up quite often.

I  could be wrong, but I think sometimes new users don't realise that the TS55 comes with a sheet goods/ cross cut blade , not a combination blade like every other circular saw sold in the US. But considering the market norm (combination blade ) it is easy to see why this misconception occurs. 

I probably discovered this the hard way too  [embarassed]

Seth

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I'll add to Seth's post by saying that people who buy the TS55 and TS75 probably make the assumption that the 48 tooth blade and 36 tooth blade sound like combination or rip blades because of the tooth count.  You can't differentiate a blade's purpose just by tooth count alone.

 

[tiralie]

The best way I've found to help me keep this straight is to remember that the rail goes on the piece you want to keep. 

Ya, and if it feels wrong it's right  [big grin]
Tim

 

[Laminator]

Rip the melamine down the center first which will yield two 24 7/16 pieces and if the panel has stress in  it, it will be released and then your next cut will be straight and true.  A lot of melamine has this stress and it show when its ripped down the center and you try to butt the pieces together.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Good thread.  Been there, done that on all the goofs.

My two cents worth...

If you are cutting multiple pieces the same size, measure once and set a stop.  You should avoid the 'cut on the wrong side of the mark' mistake and all the pieces will be the same size.

If you must use a tape measure to measure a precise distance, start the measurement from inch 1 (or 10).  The end of the tape gets banged up and is not precise.  However, don't forget you burned that inch, or it will burn you. [embarassed]

Avoid math at all costs, even if you are good at it.  For instance, if you need to cut a 5 inch wide board into thirds, just lay a ruler diagonally across it so that some multiple of three is on the edge.  Say nine inches is at the end, mark where 3 and 6 are - cutting there will split the board into 3 pieces.

Don't mix measurement systems - if you start in imperial, stay that way - if you start in metric, stay metric.  Mixed measurements are gonna cause trouble.

 

[Steve R]

Good thread.  Been there, done that on all the goofs.

My two cents worth...

If you are cutting multiple pieces the same size, measure once and set a stop.  You should avoid the 'cut on the wrong side of the mark' mistake and all the pieces will be the same size.

If you must use a tape measure to measure a precise distance, start the measurement from inch 1 (or 10).  The end of the tape gets banged up and is not precise.  However, don't forget you burned that inch, or it will burn you. [embarassed]

Avoid math at all costs, even if you are good at it.  For instance, if you need to cut a 5 inch wide board into thirds, just lay a ruler diagonally across it so that some multiple of three is on the edge.  Say nine inches is at the end, mark where 3 and 6 are - cutting there will split the board into 3 pieces.

Don't mix measurement systems - if you start in imperial, stay that way - if you start in metric, stay metric.  Mixed measurements are gonna cause trouble.

Jesse,

Great advice!  Stuff we all know but should read about once a month just to keep ourselves on track [thumbs up]

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Alan m]

yes some very good advice there. especially not mixing measurments. i learnt the hard hay on that one once. i was rushing and measured the door in inchs and the carcass in metric. the troblem was i used a calculator to work out the math . there is a big difference between 3/4" and 3/4 mm

 

[Sparktrician]

I did the same thing in the Door and Drawers class when cutting a drawer bottom. Steve was there to straighten me out and clue me in on my mistake.

Well, now I don't feel quite as much of a dummy for having done the same thing. 

I recently saw a quote at the Sweetwater Tavern near where I work that said, "Wisdom is realizing that you're ridin' down the wrong trail ...  again."  Somehow, it just fits. 

[big grin]

 

[lumsmore]

I wrote with a sharpy in my rail "put on keep side". Reminds me to check before every cut!

 

[Michael Kellough]

Good thread.  Been there, done that on all the goofs.

My two cents worth...

If you are cutting multiple pieces the same size, measure once and set a stop.  You should avoid the 'cut on the wrong side of the mark' mistake and all the pieces will be the same size.

If you must use a tape measure to measure a precise distance, start the measurement from inch 1 (or 10).  The end of the tape gets banged up and is not precise.  However, don't forget you burned that inch, or it will burn you. [embarassed]

Avoid math at all costs, even if you are good at it.  For instance, if you need to cut a 5 inch wide board into thirds, just lay a ruler diagonally across it so that some multiple of three is on the edge.  Say nine inches is at the end, mark where 3 and 6 are - cutting there will split the board into 3 pieces.

Don't mix measurement systems - if you start in imperial, stay that way - if you start in metric, stay metric.  Mixed measurements are gonna cause trouble.

So, which two of those three pieces gets undersized by the kerf?