Suggestions with how to use a TS55

[earcaesar1]

I am looking at getting my first TS55 and I had a couple questions. I have normally just used a table saw to rip plywood, but I've been trying to figure out what is the easiest and most cost effective way to rip plywood with a TS55. I know you have to cut into something to support it. What do you all recommend? I don't have the space to really have a Table dedicated to this. It is just out of my garage where I park my cars.

 

[justaguy]

I use a 2 inch thick sheet of rigid foam insulation to break down the sheet to manageable pieces and then use the table saw or MFT for final cut to size.

PS I make the first cuts on top of the rigid insulation on the ground/floor.

 

[lwoirhaye]

I use 2x3s on sawhorses.  2x2s work too.  I just find 2x3s more useful to have on hand for woodworking so that's what I use.  You can build a frame of course if you want to and if you had the space to store it  it would be easier to work with than loose 2x stock.  I'm accustomed to the 2x3 approach and not sufficiently motivated to search for a more perfect solution.

 

[Birdhunter]

I use two sawhorses with 2 by 4 boards supporting the plywood. I usually cut the piece a little fat and do the final trim on a table saw or an MFT. I could be extra careful and do the final trim with the TS55.

I use the Festool rail with the TS55 and secure the rail with two Festool clamps. If you join two rails, just butting them together does not always produce a straight rail. I use a Betterly connector to join rails.

 

[semenza]

I am looking at getting my first TS55 and I had a couple questions. I have normally just used a table saw to rip plywood, but I've been trying to figure out what is the easiest and most cost effective way to rip plywood with a TS55. I know you have to cut into something to support it. What do you all recommend? I don't have the space to really have a Table dedicated to this. It is just out of my garage where I park my cars.

Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

Many ways to set up a cutting surface. Rigid foam on the floor , on a table, folding table with sacrificial surface, etc. DC and support is better with a solid surface as opposed to lumber strips. Also you should be able to make final / finish cuts and skip the table saw rather than just "break down"  the sheet goods with the TS55.

Seth

 

[Cheese]

Here's a simple collapsible table. 2 Saw horses, some straight 80/20 aluminum rails so you don't have to deal with twisted wood and some 2" foam panels that are easily stored. Simple to assemble, simple to break down, simple to transport and small enough to easily store.

When I don't need to cut full sheets, I'll take one of the foam panels, throw it on the teak table and cut away. Last week I was cutting slate & porcelain on the teak table.  [smile]

 

[Dick Mahany]

Lee Valley has these handy things.  I tried them and they work great using simple 1/3 boards.  They also have saddles for 2x4 material.  As others have mentioned dust collection is better with a sacrificial sheet beneath the material you are cutting, but I don't have the room to store the bulky sheets even if cut into smaller sections.

I can use it in the shop, the driveway. the back of my pickup etc and they're pretty handy and store compactly.

[attachimg=1]

 

[lwoirhaye]

Unistrut may be cheaper than 80/20.  I built a panel saw using a bent steel fencepost product that's kind of like unistrut.  They may not have all been straight in the store, but I found some that were good enough on the rack.  Square steel tubing is generally quite straight and the last time I bought it from a metal yard, pretty cheap. 

Those Veritas things look alright. 

EZsmart used to sell this wacky hardware kit for a cutting table that would hold 1x3s on edge and fold up for storage or fan out to support a full sheet.  Looked strange but struck me as an effective solution.

 

[earcaesar1]

Lee Valley has these handy things.  I tried them and they work great using simple 1/3 boards.  They also have saddles for 2x4 material.  As others have mentioned dust collection is better with a sacrificial sheet beneath the material you are cutting, but I don't have the room to store the bulky sheets even if cut into smaller sections.

I can use it in the shop, the driveway. the back of my pickup etc and they're pretty handy and store compactly.

[attachimg=1]

I appreciate all the feedback from you all.

Does this work well for this item you had mentioned dick?

 

[Dick Mahany]

Lee Valley has these handy things.  I tried them and they work great using simple 1/3 boards.  They also have saddles for 2x4 material.  As others have mentioned dust collection is better with a sacrificial sheet beneath the material you are cutting, but I don't have the room to store the bulky sheets even if cut into smaller sections.

I can use it in the shop, the driveway. the back of my pickup etc and they're pretty handy and store compactly.

[attachimg=1]

I appreciate all the feedback from you all.

Does this work well for this item you had mentioned dick?

The Lee Valley (Veritas) saddles work great.  In my new shop I have very limited space and this has been an excellent addition for use with my TS55 track saw.  Caution......the track saw will be game changing and soon one will want to consider buying or building an MFT type table.  Fortunately no worries as these saddles are also available with self adjusting dog posts for use in either 3/4" or 20 mm holes.  For the minimal cost I purchased a few to try  and they're equally as good.  I have no affiliation to the manufacturer of these items, but am a very satisfied customer and simply want to share good experiences with products that have value and work as advertised .

Also to note......I have a pickup with a short 6.5' bed.  I can drop the tailgate to get 8' and put these onto the bed for convenient waist high breakdown of sheet goods.  Now I need to consider a cordless Track Saw to cut sheet goods down at the point of purchase..........what a slippery slope  [big grin]

 

[Cheese]

Now I need to consider a cordless Track Saw to cut sheet goods down at the point of purchase..........what a slippery slope  [big grin]

We used to have a small Chevy pickup, but traded it in for a SUV to haul the two 90 pound dogs around. So now I bring the TSC and a short rail along with me, cut the stuff up in the parking lot and haul it back home on the roof racks.  [smile]

 

[Mario Turcot]

I have 2 pieces of 2' x 8' x 1 1/2" rigid insulation foam (pink or blue). Cut them at 4' to make 4 identical pieces. Easy to store and to move around. You can even hang them to your garage door to create a psychological barrier  [eek]

When my foam will be unusable, I will give a try to the L.V. setup.

 

[DynaGlide]

I was in the same boat last year thinking I was crazy to spend so much on a TS55/CT26 combo. When they say slipper slope, they are not kidding.

My advice? Get out while you still can.

Also another vote for the LV cutting station. Stores compact for those with space constraints. Also eyeing the TSC 55  [crying]

 

[gunnyr]

A most emphatic +1 from me.  I do NOT use my TS55 to 'break down' sheet goods.  I use it to cut to final size.  No sense in doubling my work! ;D ;D

I am looking at getting my first TS55 and I had a couple questions. I have normally just used a table saw to rip plywood, but I've been trying to figure out what is the easiest and most cost effective way to rip plywood with a TS55. I know you have to cut into something to support it. What do you all recommend? I don't have the space to really have a Table dedicated to this. It is just out of my garage where I park my cars.

Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

Many ways to set up a cutting surface. Rigid foam on the floor , on a table, folding table with sacrificial surface, etc. DC and support is better with a solid surface as opposed to lumber strips. Also you should be able to make final / finish cuts and skip the table saw rather than just "break down"  the sheet goods with the TS55.

Seth

 

[earcaesar1]

I was in the same boat last year thinking I was crazy to spend so much on a TS55/CT26 combo. When they say slipper slope, they are not kidding.

My advice? Get out while you still can.

Also another vote for the LV cutting station. Stores compact for those with space constraints. Also eyeing the TSC 55  [crying]

Dynaglide

Question about your setup. How do you have your stuff mounted to your table? I like your setup. What size wood are you also using? I purchased the mft3 and looking to see if I can pull off what you did here with it for easy ripping.

I Figured if I got some support runners and add the cross breams it would work

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[RKA]

[member=68711]earcaesar1[/member] If you look at the first upright rail at the bottom of the pic you’ll see one of the Festool clamps which was inserted under the table and through the top (tightened down from under the table).

 

[DynaGlide]

I don't think I would rip a full sheet in that orientation I just threw that together. Too much would hang off. But it could easily be centered on the mft3 with the fence removed.

 

[earcaesar1]

Rka thanks I completely missed that part. I didn't click on the picture so it was cut off on that part.

I was more so thinking of say hanging 2ft on either side and center the sheet on the basic mft with those supports hanging off

Thoughts?

Also I saw those things in 2x4 or 1x3 would the 1x3 you think would be strong enough for my idea?

The 2x4 ones are 20mm drops for the mft table

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[RKA]

Rka thanks I completely missed that part. I didn't click on the picture so it was cut off on that part.

I was more so thinking of say hanging 2ft on either side and center the sheet on the basic mft with those supports hanging off

Thoughts?

Also I saw those things in 2x4 or 1x3 would the 1x3 you think would be strong enough for my idea?

The 2x4 ones are 20mm drops for the mft table

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[member=68711]earcaesar1[/member] I don’t see why a 1x3 wouldn’t work.  You should only need about a foot of overhang on each side of the MFT.  As long as you clamp it down to 2 MFT’s I think it would be fine.  The 1x3 brackets are also available with 20mm posts.