Newbie to Festool - questions re TS55

[niall]

Well yesterday I jumped onto the Festool slope and bought a TS55, Midi extractor and Domino.  Used the TS55 with guide rail and Midi today for the first time, so far just on plywood - but what a wonderful tool!  Up to now I've made do with a basic Makita with my own shop made guide.  Difference is like night and day.

Anyway I'd be grateful for any observations on two points please:

1)  The Midi extractor is miles better than my previous setup, but far from perfect - some dust on the floor around about.  Is this the best to expect, or would the optional extras - ie side mounted cover to TS55, and / or larger diameter hose (36mm) - make a significant difference?  I'm starting to wonder whether a CTL22 with a bit more oomph would have been better?

2)  The TS55 manual says that the optional side mounted cover, in addition to improving extraction, can be used as a "false joint stop for false joint widths from 18mm onwards".  I just don't understand what this means.

 

[Frank-Jan]

I don't have a midi, only have experience with the CT22, but going by the numbers, it's significantly more powerfull.
From my experience, the 36 mm hose on the CT doesn't help noticeably to better dust collection with the ts55 (it does make a very large difference with the OF1400 router).
Dustcollection when cutting on the edge of a board or door isn't that good, to help with dustcollection cutting ply, you can put a sacrificial board/foam underneath, so the dust doesn't fall down and can be sucked up.
I don't own the side mounted cover, but the "false joint" is known around here as a "shadow groove", the cover then acts a parallel guide, but references from the outside edge; for instance, you can cut the edge of floorboards parallel to a wall when they are already in place, shadowgrooves are mostly used here in commercial buildings, when t&g ceiling boards are used, and the edge isn't covered by a moulding.

edit/ There's a review of the cover plate in the reviews section of the forum: link to thread

 

[EcoFurniture]

I'm using the mini with my TS 55 and can't complain about it at all. Yes, there is a little bit of sawdust, but nothing to worry about. Set the vac at full blast and you should be fine.

 

[gkeas]

The cover makes a BIG difference in the amount of dust that escapes.  I usually end up with a little dust at the end of the cut (where the blade goes through the end of the board, but none along the way.  The 36mm hose makes a marked improvement, too, but not as much as the cover.  The 36 makes a huge difference with the routers (I have the 1400).

Welcome to the FOG, and you're off to a good start with your tool selections!

 

[Peterm]

Hi. Good tool choice for your first Festools! I also have TS55 and CTL Midi and found it to be less than the "dustless" working others have reported - and what I experience with the Domino. In my workshop this makes little difference, but a lot of my work is in occupied homes, so even a small amount of dust can make life more difficult.

The side cover plate/D36 hose combo makes a big difference, and is probably about as good as you can get with the Midi (though personally I'd want it to be better that this before I fire it up in my sitting-room...) but it does come at the price of convenience; I find the TS55 harder to use with the cover plate in position, and being significantly bigger, the D36 hose doesn't coil as neatly into the housing of the Midi as the D27 does; yes, it really makes a difference when you're lugging gear around all day!

I don't have a CTL22, but I think it'll be my next purchase if I can get a demo of one; for the relatively small difference in price, I'd consider returning the Midi for a 22 if I were in your position.

Hope this helps, Pete.

 

[ScooterX]

I have the same saw with the Mini dust extractor. Using a sacrificial piece under the work cuts down on most of the sawdust (90 percent). I use a sheet of styrofoam insulation board (1" thick). I've been using the same piece for about a year. I'm told that the side dust collector gets the next 5 percent. There is always a little bit of dust blowoff at the end of the cut.

 

[niall]

Thanks very much to all for your very helpful comments, including the link to the cover review.  Before I saw your replies it occurred to me to put a bit of electrical tape over the oblong hole on the side of the TS55, and this made quite a difference.

I think I will see what the dealer says about upgrading to the CTL22, but given that in the UK we don't get the 'returns' deal that seems to be the norm in USA and possibly Europe, that may be difficult.  I'll also look into getting a Festool cover and 36mm hose.

 

[joiner1970]

I don't think I would worry about upgrading to the CT22, I have the ts55 with Midi vac and also use it with my EHL65 and it works very well, had it all for over a year now and very pleased with it all.

With time and practice you will learn better ways to use it I am sure. You get more dust usually when trimming an edge of something as the dust is not trapped in the cut it can escape sideways so the Midi doesn't suck it up.

 

[nickao]

To me anything less than the CT 22 does not cut it. You have to try them them side by side. If the midi works well for you the CT22 will probably blow your mind then. There is a WORLD of difference. 1/3 more cfm is very substantial.

For the difference in price if size is not an issue its a no brainier to get the CT 22, IMHO. I had a midi and I could not consider it dustless at all, I jumped to a CT22 then some CT 33's and they are a different animal.

If you like the midi you will love the Ct22 or Ct 33. I still love my Fein Turbos though.