TS 55 cutting ApplePly Questioin

[Ravi E.]

Hello Festool folks,

I'm new Festool customer, and I'm deciding if I should purchase TS 55 saw, after receiving recommendation from a Corian fabricator in NY, and reading Festool FOB threads.

My question is this:  I'm working with 1" ApplyPly -- high-end plywood for those who are not familiar.
I'm looking to learn now I can get the "BEST POSSIBLE", splinter-free cuts using the TS 55.  Would you recommend a blade that I can purchase for the TS 55 that would virtually eliminate the need for sanding after cutting the PLY?

Thank you for your time, and response.
Ravi

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Ravi,

Welcome to the forum.

The blade that comes with the TS 55 is a 48-tooth blade and should yield the smooth cuts you're looking for in your ply.

Be sure to have a sacrificial material under the ply to prevent tear out on the bottom of the cut.

I'm sure our other forum members can offer their own personal insight and experiences.

Shane

 

[mcooley]

I am not an employee but my experience has shown that the blade the TS55 comes with works just fine for plywood. The splinter-guard is also useful. I cannot speak to laminated tops but veneer yes.

 

[Ravi E.]

Thank you Gentlemen for your advice.

If I can ask a follow-up question:  Would the Parallel Guide give a better end-result compared to the track-saw?
I'm trying to figure out if I can use the Parallel Guide alone, without the tracks and get as-good results or better results compared with using the rails.

Thanks again.

 

[mcooley]

I have only used the tracks. I imagine the parallel guide would speed up the process of alignment a bit. But perfectly fine to get straight cuts with the track itself.

 

[rvieceli]

The parallel guides are designed to be used with the rail to make it easier to align the track for consistent cuts. They need the track to work.

 

[Ravi E.]

aaaah- got it....I appreciate the feedback.  Thank you all.

 

[peter halle]

Actually there are two products with similar names - parallel guide and also the parallel guides.  The Guide is like the rip shoe attachment  used on other circulard saws that slides along the endge as you cut.  The Guides attach to a rail to index the rail in a fixed position relative to the edge.  I don't believe that you will get the cut quality you are looking for with the Guide.  Th rail will act as a splinter guard on the one side of your cut.

Peter

 

[Sparktrician]

The parallel guides are designed to be used with the rail to make it easier to align the track for consistent cuts. They need the track to work.

Just be very sure to calibrate your parallel guides before using them to ensure that they're in sync.  The TS 55 standard blade works really well on high-end plywood.  If you're going to be coupling guide rails, be absolutely sure to use a straightedge when you tighten down the connector screws, and better yet, use a Betterley Straightline Connector to get the joined rails dead-nuts on. 

 

[Ravi E.]

Once again - Thank you for the feedback.  I should have mention, i am planning on buying the Festool 491469 Parallel Guide for the TS 55 (and my referenced question was based on this accessory).

I wonder if anyone of you folks have actually compared the output from using the "Festool 491469 Parallel Guide" and and output using just the "rails" (Festool 491498 FS 1400 55" Guide Rail).

I'll be more specific with my question in the future.  Thank you all - great feedbacK.