Silly question from Festool Newby

[jbass]

I am purchasing a TS55 saw and track this weekend.
I mainly rip 3/4" melamine into strips for use as sides for my concrete fabrication molds.
I will be purchasing the parallel guides in the near future but,
I hear allot about jigs and things to cut on the non track side of the saw.
Is there any reason besides being not to efficient, that I can't just measure my desired strip thickness minus the blade and just cut.

I know I won't be taking advantage of the system, but I can always use a repeatable block or something to keep things consistent.

 

[tbellemare]

It sounds like you understand how it works.

Tom

 

[Joe Smith]

How wide are the strips you are cutting? 

 

[tiralie]

Is there any reason besides being not to efficient, that I can't just measure my desired strip thickness minus the blade and just cut.

I know I won't be taking advantage of the system, but I can always use a repeatable block or something to keep things consistent.

No there is nothing wrong with doing it this way.
With a stop set up to include the blade kerf you can cut the consistent widths you need.
Tim

 

[Eli]

I still use a pair of adjustable squares, the kind with a sliding rule. Set one for size, including saw kerf. Set the second to it. Push both into the edge of the rail until the square is up against the edge of material. If you're cutting really narrow stuff, you can throw the offcuts back under the rail to support it. Make sure you keep melamine surface clean of dust and make sure you hold the rail with your free hand. That is super slippery when it gets dusty and the saw can push the rail out of place.

 

[Chuck Kiser]

Make sure you keep melamine surface clean of dust and make sure you hold the rail with your free hand. That is super slippery when it gets dusty and the saw can push the rail out of place.

What Eli said!
I always clamp when cutting melamine. Its just too darn easy to push the rail off the mark.

 

[Sparktrician]

Make sure you keep melamine surface clean of dust and make sure you hold the rail with your free hand. That is super slippery when it gets dusty and the saw can push the rail out of place.

What Eli said!
I always clamp when cutting melamine. Its just too darn easy to push the rail off the mark.

On the money!!! 

[smile]

 

[Jeff Hein]

Is there any reason besides being not to efficient, that I can't just measure my desired strip thickness minus the blade and just cut.

The other thing to keep in mind is the blade's kerf is 2.2mm.  If you take a measurement from the guide rail, you will have to add 2.2mm onto your measurement. If you are looking for precise measurements, you may be better off measuring from the tooth of the blade (while resting on the track) rather than the guide rail strip.  This is another reason the Parallel guides are nice, as the scale is zeroed out on the saws tooth, so it much easier to get the correct measurement.

I don't have the parallel guides yet, but after using them in the Festool classes, I will be getting some soon...

 

[Wonderwino]

Believe it or not, I have stack-cut 2 sheets of 3/4" melamine with my TS75 with no clamps and had perfect results.

I place damp, not wet, sheets of paper towel flat on the bottom layer.  I then carefully line up the top layer and press it in place.  I keep a firm down pressure on the saw as I run it along the rail.  If you hit the paper towel, no big deal; it just gets cut and lubes the blade a little.  You almost have to pry the parts from each other when you are finished cutting.

 

[Eli]

If you hadn't said 'believe it or not' first, I would think you were winding us up.  [big grin]

How the hell did you figure that out?

 

[Wonderwino]

I worked in a restaurant kitchen while going through college.  The chef used to lay a damp towel under his cutting board to keep it from "walking" while he worked.  [cool]

 

[Brice Burrell]

I worked in a restaurant kitchen while going through college.  The chef used to lay a damp towel under his cutting board to keep it from "walking" while he worked.   [cool]

I figured that out when I carried a few sheet in the rain, once stacked they were a real pain to separate.