Ripping 8/4 with TS55?

[davee]

The TS75 will certainly rip 8/4 lumber without issue.  I purchase rough cut lumber and use my 75 to dimension all the time.  I use my bandsaw for resawing and curves.  The 75 cut is completely smooth without the need of additional effort that the bandsaw would produce.

The TS doesn't require the MFT tables.  I use saw horses with a sacrificial board for much of my ripping, and the MFT for final cuts, assembly etc.  It is a flexible saw. 

 

[Wonderwino]

I would be very cautious if using either saw without a rail.  The plunge does not lock down, so beware of kickback if the blade starts to go up and down.  You must keep the saw aligned with the cut until it stops rotating!

 

[truck90278]

I made it to the WoodCraft store today and picked up a Panther blade. They did not have either of the parallel guides in stock but they did explain how the system works with a guide rail. Like two posters above are saying the WoodCraft Festool guy said the Panther should allow me to cut the beech boards I have in one pass. Since they are not actually 2" after planing I think the TS55 might actually plunge deep enough even on a rail. I have a Hickory 8/4 board I got to make tool handles. I plan to do a test on it before trying to cut the Beech.

Can anyone who has the parallel guide that works with the rail system comment on how they like using one? The Woodcraft guy said it is great for making multiple cuts of the same type.

I liked the Laguna bandsaw but with the good fence, mobile devise and a good blade it is pricey. If I can do most of the work on my Festool saw maybe I can save the money.

you might want to look at the Rikon deluxe 14" band saw.  it gets very good reviews and is more reasonable.  Woodcraft has them on sale frequently

 

[MrToolJunkie]

The TS75 performs great on 8/4 lumber, but if you are processing a lot of it or thicker, then I do not think you can go wrong with a good bandsaw.  A couple of stands will provide you with infeed and outfeed support.  I find the MFT plenty strong and sturdy for most processing tasks and use it more than my solid maple workbench.

Scot

 

[MacMitch]

I ran a post on Sawmill Creek regarding bandsaws. I was getting pushed towards saws like the Hammer, the larger Rikons... which are up around $2,000. A good many suggested  a 14" saw would be too small for sawing up larger lumber. I am not sure I want to make that kind of investment but I am even less excited about having another large piece of machinery in the shop that will require a long clear in feed and out feed area. I would like to get rid of my table saw not add another machine. I don't see how people handle all the large machines in anything other than a very large shop space with lots of air filtration.... I have no idea how I could manage my space such that I would have all the necessary space around: a table saw, bandsaw, router table, planner, Festool saw center.....I can see how I can work a Festool saw center and a large hand tool bench into my space.

It seems to me that the Festool plunge saws may be more compatible with my move towards hand tools, particularly in regard to work support. I like the fact that the Festool saws will work the wood in place without having to have large clear in feed and out feed areas. I believe work support tables/benches/horses could be made such that they could be shared between Festool saws and hand tools. I'm not wild about buying another Festool plunge saw, but I would greatly prefer that option to needing a tablesaw and a large bandsaw. I like my Festool  MFT1080 table fine. It is around 32" tall which I think works better for me than the 35" height I find listed for the new MFT3. I think my MFT, my Lee Valley Outfeed Roller Stand, a hand built support table and a sacrificial top might handle up to 8/4' x 8' boards for ripping without my having to make the investment in a bandsaw? I might even be able to move the contractor table saw out?

I am hoping that having both the TS55 & 75 Festools saws would give me all the powered sawing ability I need? With my Miller Falls Langdon 74C Miter box and collection of hand/panel and backsaws for smaller chores I think I could process just about any lumber I might encounter?