Newbie which acc to get for the TS55 saw

[fso]

Hi,

I just ordered a TS55 with two guide rails. My intended purpose is mostly cabinet making (hobby) avoiding the use of my Kity 419 table saw (which I don't like using especially on sheet goods). Festool is having a good deal now on the saw giving me a voucher for about 120 EURO's to spend on accessories.

Question is which ones are most useful to start with. I have the impression that there is also some overlap. For example it seems to me that the guide rail on the MFT has a similar function to the parallel guides.

Regards,

Frank

 

[Roseland]

I bought my first Festool product - also a TS55 - in August.  I got two rails and a parallel fence.  I use the rails a lot, and have used the fence a few times.

September saw an MFT/3, which is brilliant.  The ability to go accurate, square, repeatable, cuts in seconds is fabulous.

November saw me replace my dreadful DeWalt vacuum with a CTL26, also a joy to use.

Like you my use is hobby cabinet work.  The quality of construction has risen noticeably since I made the switch to Festool with joints tighter than I would never of thought possible.

And apparently since the CTL26 arrived I don't tread sawdust through the house!

Would I do anything differently?  I might have gone for the rails with the holes in them, in case I also switch over my routers to Festool ones in the future (if/when I can afford it!)

A 

 

[fso]

Spend some time browsing the forums today and my initial 1st choice which would be the accessory set (clamps, mitre guide, etc) is off the list. Seemed that it is only made for one of cuts and the clamps are probably not the most useful, should take fast clamping types instead.

A vac is on my list, but mainly for sanding. Noticed that my RS400 sander needs an adjustable vac, my workshop vac was providing to much underpressure.

I'm wondering if the parallel guide or MFT should be on the top of my list (with the MFT being above budget unfortunately).

 

[peter halle]

Frank,
In case I missed saying it  [welcome]  to the Forum.

My first accessory purchased was the set that you crossed off your list as well as a longer rail.  I noticed you bought two rails.  Don't forget to buy the connectors for the rails.  I lived with the regular clamps for 4 years before purchasing the fast clamps.  Make your list.  Check it twice.  The Festool accessories are mighty nice.  [thumbs up] [thumbs up]

Peter

 

[Hoover]

The top things I would want in no particular order.  A longer rail so you don't need to join them, a vac/dust extractor and clamps.  For plunge cuts the clamps are not vital but they do provide insurance when you are cutting expensive sheet goods.  But the clamps are necessary for bevel cuts, the rails will move with those cuts and it can create a dangerous situation.

I love the cut quality, speed, etc of the TS but working without breathing in the saw dust is GREAT. 

 

[bonesbr549]

Hi,

I just ordered a TS55 with two guide rails. My intended purpose is mostly cabinet making (hobby) avoiding the use of my Kity 419 table saw (which I don't like using especially on sheet goods). Festool is having a good deal now on the saw giving me a voucher for about 120 EURO's to spend on accessories.

Question is which ones are most useful to start with. I have the impression that there is also some overlap. For example it seems to me that the guide rail on the MFT has a similar function to the parallel guides.

Regards,

Frank

For me it was the MFT/3.  I got the ts55/mft3 as a bundle and saved a few bucks.  Love the combo.  You can cut anything dead square and I seldom use the Cabinet saw anymore. 

 

[score0matic]

I would serrrriously look at going with a 1400 rail and a 2800  as your accessories..  the longer rail is the best accessory you can get for sheet goods.  rather than 2 shorter rails and what ever else you want to  buy.

Thanks Craig

And welcome to the forum

 

[Frank-Jan]

Hi Frank,
it's probably too late already, but if you browse the forum you'll find a bunch of threads called "never by the same size rails" or something similar. Most people end up having two 1400's, while they use only one most of the time, and the other one is used to store the connectors when they're both needed; (and then, when they get tired of detaching and reattaching the rails between cross-and ripcuts buy a longer rail, and the second 1400 isn't used at all)

I have both the mft3 and the parallel guides and they serve different purposes. (I use the parallel guides to cut strips of the same width out of full sheets, and then (if the width is apropriate) use the mft to cut them to length)

I did get an accessory recently that I think will function in the way you expect the parallel guides to work.
It's a protool angle guide that attaches firmly to the rail in the bottom T-slot. The length of the "fence" is 80 cm (vs 108 cm on the mft3) and it comes with the same flipstop that's on the mft's fence. The height of the fence is 35 mm, so if you want to use it to crosscut sheetgoods, you'll have to have the front edge of the workpiece a bit overhanging your cutting table.

I'm not sure where you can get the protool stuff in Belgium, because Tooltechnic Systems doesn't sell the brand themselves here (I buy most of my tools in the Netherlands, but because I live in Belgium (at the border) the "tools for profit" toolpoints for my protool purchases aren't added to my account.)

 

[Brice Burrell]

......I did get an accessory recently that I think will function in the way you expect the parallel guides to work.
It's a protool angle guide that attaches firmly to the rail in the bottom T-slot. The length of the "fence" is 80 cm (vs 108 cm on the mft3) and it comes with the same flipstop that's on the mft's fence. The height of the fence is 35 mm, so if you want to use it to crosscut sheetgoods, you'll have to have the front edge of the workpiece a bit overhanging your cutting table.........

Frank-Jan, I've never seen the Protool angle guide before. It looks like a useful accessory. How well has it worked for you?

 

[Kevin Stricker]

I would recommend getting some clamps and two rail connectors.  The quick clamps and rapid clamps are both nice to have and work in different scenarios.  Your shop vac should provide adequate collection, but you are going to want to rig up a boom arm or system of holding the hose up above your cutting table.  Otherwise you are always dealing with it getting caught on the edge of your sheet or on the rail.

BTW two 1400 rails work great if you already bought them.  Just leave your rail connectors attached to one of the rails and use the other for crosscuts.  If you have the money and do any off-site work I would look into the tote bag.

 

[Frank-Jan]

Frank-Jan, I've never seen the Protool angle guide before. It looks like a useful accessory. How well has it worked for you?

Brice,
I haven't used it yet (just picked it up yesterday). I ordered a protool saw 2 weeks ago. Last week I ordered the parallel guide for it, together with this angle guide I saw a while back; the accessories (which I ordered from another dealer) arrived before the tool itself.
I did play with it a bit on a 800 guiderail, it goes on and off the rail easily, and locks solid with the crank-type lever on the bottom. The lever on the stopflag isn't like in the picture though, it's more like the thumbscrew on the one that's on the mft-fence.

I hope the saw arrives on monday, pity it didn't arrive sooner,it would have been a nice Saint Nicholas gift (which is celebrated today here)

link to picture of saw

 

[fso]

Hi Frank,
it's probably too late already, but if you browse the forum you'll find a bunch of threads called "never by the same size rails" or something similar. Most people end up having two 1400's, while they use only one most of the time, and the other one is used to store the connectors when they're both needed; (and then, when they get tired of detaching and reattaching the rails between cross-and ripcuts buy a longer rail, and the second 1400 isn't used at all)

I have both the mft3 and the parallel guides and they serve different purposes. (I use the parallel guides to cut strips of the same width out of full sheets, and then (if the width is apropriate) use the mft to cut them to length)

I did get an accessory recently that I think will function in the way you expect the parallel guides to work.
It's a protool angle guide that attaches firmly to the rail in the bottom T-slot. The length of the "fence" is 80 cm (vs 108 cm on the mft3) and it comes with the same flipstop that's on the mft's fence. The height of the fence is 35 mm, so if you want to use it to crosscut sheetgoods, you'll have to have the front edge of the workpiece a bit overhanging your cutting table.

I'm not sure where you can get the protool stuff in Belgium, because Tooltechnic Systems doesn't sell the brand themselves here (I buy most of my tools in the Netherlands, but because I live in Belgium (at the border) the "tools for profit" toolpoints for my protool purchases aren't added to my account.)

Hi Frank-Jan,

I got the 2nd 1400 rail with connectors for free from my tool dealer in the Netherlands. I do buy my tools in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Depends where I get a better deal. Should not be a problem to get the protool stuff as my Dutch dealer carries the product line. I have a high power drill from Protool which works well and contrary to Festool they are actually very competitively priced.

What I may do is put the 2nd 1400 rail up for sale and buy a short one for cross cutting or put the 120 EURO voucher which Festool gives me and buy a longer rail.

Thanks for the info,

Frank

 

[fso]

Frank-jan,

Did you get the protool PG-A CSP 132 guide?

Regards,

Frank

 

[Frank-Jan]

Frank,

The 2 1400 guides might work out for you, (I got by with two for years, but after I got the 3000 I wished I got it sooner). When I read the mentioned threads it sounded logical to get a 1900 for instance for the second one. (I wouldn't go for 1 1400 and a shorter one, because you can't rip a full sheet in one go then)
There are two versions of protool angle guides, the one I got is the more expensive one. (called GRP-AG-2) this one.

(glad to see I'm not the only night-owl at the forum )

/edit: there are more angle guides, but only two that fit the festool type rails, the really big circular saws, that can angle up to 60 degrees have a different rail system.
/edit2:I haven't seen the deflector thing mentioned yet, a spoiler-like plastic wing you put at the start of the rail that prevents the hose and powercord from snagging. at bottom of the page

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I would suggest saving up for an MFT.  It really raises your capability to new levels.  Search the site for threads on MFT jigs and improvements - there are lots of really cool things you can do with it.  Besides the ability to quickly make repeatable dead square cuts, you can clamp anything anywhere.  I use my MFT more with all the Festool tools (routers, sanders, domino) and even for non-Festool work (glue-ups, finishing, sketching, etc.).