Ripping With TS 55
- Thread starter stuhrling
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- Jul 8, 2007
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Absolutely it is possible. I have ripped wet pressure treated, BUT, why don't you tell us a little more about what you are trying to accomplish so that we can give you better answers.
Thanks!
Peter
Thanks!
Peter
Brice Burrell
Member
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2007
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- 7,385
Yes! You'd be surprised what the TS55 will do with the right blade. Here's a pic of long wedges cut from 2X6 Ipe. I used the panther blade. If the TS55 can handle Ipe it can handle anything.
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Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate all the helpful responses. Wow! Those wedges came out great! I could have used this saw about a month ago for several cuts like those. Would have saved a a whole lot of time.
I was asking not for anything in particular but occasionally you need a quick few 2x2's for a project or you have a nice looking 2x4 that has sat a little longer than expected and develops a slight bow. If I could rip just enough off I could save myself the time of having to run out to the store to purchase another one.
Ah Yes, PT as well! Great ! This saw looks like it will fit my needs and then some!
I am going to get the Panther blade with it for sure.
Many Thanks!
I was asking not for anything in particular but occasionally you need a quick few 2x2's for a project or you have a nice looking 2x4 that has sat a little longer than expected and develops a slight bow. If I could rip just enough off I could save myself the time of having to run out to the store to purchase another one.
Ah Yes, PT as well! Great ! This saw looks like it will fit my needs and then some!
I am going to get the Panther blade with it for sure.
Many Thanks!
Just make sure you always have another piece of the same height to support the piece you are ripping so if you only need one 2x4 ripped you'll need to buy another 2x4 to support the rail. Make sure the piece you are ripping doesn't walk on you or you'll end up with a nice wedge unintentionally! This is where the tablesaw is a much better tool for doing this kind of work IMHO. Festool TS saws excel with panel goods but when you get into stuff that is narrower than the rail it gets to be a drag. Doable, but you have to do a lot more setup and double checking before you start pushing the saw down the rail.
If the piece is narrower than the rail you'll also have to figure out a way to clamp or keep the piece from scooting away from you as the blade is pushing away from you in the cut. I've screwed up a few boards when the piece walked forward as I was cutting.
Perfect world is that you have "both" Festool TS and a table saw or you are already have a table saw and are looking at a TS saw. I only have the TS and for 99% of what I monkey around with its 1000% more tool than I really need!
If the piece is narrower than the rail you'll also have to figure out a way to clamp or keep the piece from scooting away from you as the blade is pushing away from you in the cut. I've screwed up a few boards when the piece walked forward as I was cutting.
Perfect world is that you have "both" Festool TS and a table saw or you are already have a table saw and are looking at a TS saw. I only have the TS and for 99% of what I monkey around with its 1000% more tool than I really need!
Mark Enomoto said:
I just learned an easy way to prevent the tendency of narrow boards to move during rip cuts - double sided turner's tape! I agree about needing the second "support" board, but double sided tape will definitely stop the sliding. I find that the far end of the board always tends to slide to the left - kind of like it's trying to hide under the rail.
Steve
I find it just as easy to use the accessory rip fence with the saw off the rail and reference off the stock itself. You won't get the straight-line rip the rail will give you but that may not be desirable anyway when ripping dimensional lumber, as you probably need parallel stock, especially if the off-cut is the piece you want to use. Just don't forget to allow for the kerf. One benefit to this is that your saw is balanced directly on the stock and the relatively narrow perch isn't such a big deal as it would be under the rail.
