TS 75 to replace a circular saw

[m8]

I'm interested in purchasing a TS 75.  I have a few questions that have probably been answered before and are not the greatest of questions.

I recently purchased a vacant property and am looking to build a garden shed to store my equipment and tractor on it.  I will need some form of a circular saw to do the framing and such.  I would prefer to invest the money into a good quality piece of equipment like Festool instead of putting it into some Big Box Store POS.

I know that the TS is an excellent replacement for a portable table saw for breaking down sheet goods but how does it perform on 2x and 4x material? 

Would I be better off getting a big box store circular saw and compound miter saw?

As always thanks for the help.

 

[Holzhacker]

I have a 75 and love it. For your purposes I don't know that its the best option. The 75 doesn't care about wood size really, plywood, 2x, 4x, it will plough right through it. In terms of what you are building, a chopsaw and wormdrive would be my go to tools. I'd probably bring out the 75 to rip the sheets or trims.

 

[greenMonster]

Sounds completely over kill and unnecessary for your needs.
Unless you foresee a future use of a track saw, just get yourself a decent circular saw and a miter saw.

IMO, as a general rule of thumb if you don't already currently own a circular saw you most likely shouldn't be buying a track saw.

 

[m8]

I have easy access to borrow a chop saw and a circular saw which is the reason why I've avoided purchasing my own pair.  I remember one of my last projects I did was building a pair of saw horses completely out of plywood.  Accurate straight cuts where needed so I used a aluminum guide along with the circular saw.  I found it to be such a pain to use because the guide had to be readjusted a couple of times before you could get the needed exact cut.  I remember thinking how much easier it wold be to have a Festool guide with zero clearance splinter guard.

I'm in the process of building my tool collection and believe that I will definitely use a TS in the future.  I currently have a Delta Unisaw and Bridgewood 18" Bandsaw.  The Table Saw and Bandsaw are at the shop which is not on the vacant property so I need something that is portable.  I Just figured that this would be an excuse to take the plunge and get a TS and MFT.  I've been eyeing the MFT and clamps for sometime to use with my RO and ETS.

I guess it comes down to can a TS fill the need for a circular saw or will I end up using a chop saw and circular saw anyway in the future?  If it doesn't I guess I'll continue to borrow a circular saw and chop saw, I was just hoping that I could spend the money on a TS and not need a circular saw and chop saw.

 

[tiralie]

I agree that the TS 75 is over kill and the wrong tool for framing and cutting 2 X
A good miter saw and a worm drive circular saw would be the best. If you can only buy one get a good miter saw and stand.  There are so many good miter saws, you just need to find one that fits your need (budget+quality).

Don't over look the big box stores.
If you have done your research and know what you are buying they have some great deals.
Tim

 

[RussellS]

IMO, as a general rule of thumb if you don't already currently own a circular saw you most likely shouldn't be buying a track saw.

I disagree with this statement.  I don't think of the Festool 55 and 75 saws as competitors to circular saws.  I don't even really think of them as very comparable.  Yes the Festool saws are circular saws I guess.  But their uses are completely different from a typical 7.25" circular saw.  For me the Festool saws are used to cut up plywood with precision.  And to rip a straight edge on rough lumber.  Rough framing, dimensioning 2x4 lumber, that is the work for a standard circular saw.  Not the Festool saws.

 

[VictorL]

Just wondering. Why do you need "free hand" circular saw for 2x lumber? I do all my 2x cuts with CSMS saw. For many years it was Makita, no it's Kapex. It's way more precise and safe.  With adequate workstation, or just with support of wooden blocks it is piece of cake.

VictorL

 

[hockey_magnet]

Just wondering. Why do you need "free hand" circular saw for 2x lumber? I do all my 2x cuts with CSMS saw. For many years it was Makita, no it's Kapex. It's way more precise and safe.  With adequate workstation, or just with support of wooden blocks it is piece of cake.

VictorL

I have a Kapex  (and a TS 55) but for a lot of fencing and decking jobs, a good circular saw used properly is a lot more efficient IMHO for dealing with 10 - 16 foot lengths for a 100 foot fence on site. You won't find a lot of contractors carrying 2X lumber back and forth to a CMS for fence and deck work, too time consuming. When doing a deck or fence, I usually use both the Kapex where needed for mitres and trickier angle cuts as well as finish cuts on exposed deck boards and a circular saw for most of the regular cuts required on 2x. Circular saws are perfectly safe if used properly.

 

[tjbier]

Sounds completely over kill and unnecessary for your needs.
Unless you foresee a future use of a track saw, just get yourself a decent circular saw and a miter saw.

IMO, as a general rule of thumb if you don't already currently own a circular saw you most likely shouldn't be buying a track saw.

If you gave me a ts75 on a framing job (which is what the op is doing) I most likely would chuck it. I must have a sidewinder for 70% of my work, the TS is an added bonus that saves time and allows us to do things with it instead of a table saw.

OP you can get a good sidewinder for $120 and will last you 25yrs as a homeowner. I recommend Bosch CS10 or 20, we use em everyday and normally get 4+ years out of them, and that is a loooonnnngggggg time for us. We used to wreck or ruin the Porter Cables in no time. Milwaukee makes a nice saw too.

 

[greenMonster]

Kinda weird how you seemed to have missed my point yet argued it exactly how I would have lol.

IMO, as a general rule of thumb if you don't already currently own a circular saw you most likely shouldn't be buying a track saw.

I disagree with this statement.  I don't think of the Festool 55 and 75 saws as competitors to circular saws.  I don't even really think of them as very comparable.  Yes the Festool saws are circular saws I guess.  But their uses are completely different from a typical 7.25" circular saw.  For me the Festool saws are used to cut up plywood with precision.  And to rip a straight edge on rough lumber.  Rough framing, dimensioning 2x4 lumber, that is the work for a standard circular saw.  Not the Festool saws.

 

[ccarrolladams]

At the time I bought my first Festool, a TS55 and CT22, I owned a total of 6 conventional circular saws of various sizes, including 2 heavy duty worm drives. Over the years I have donated some of those to schools teaching construction, since I have not been involved personally in framing after 1960.

On another conversation in FOG within the past few days a member complained that his TS75 or TS55 was filled with sticky chips after a day of using that tool to cut damp pressure treated lumber. Generally damp wood results in sawdust problematic to extract. I've never tried sawing such lumber on a tool hooked up to a Festool CT. I hate to think about damage to the bags.

I believe dust extraction is important to properly cool Festool saws, including the Kapex.

I do not remember seeing dust extractors hooked up to hand or miter chop saws on construction sites. I am sure it is a lot easier to clean a conventional circular saw.

Lucky for me, workers comp insurance policies in California do not restrict us from using conventional circular saws. I use the Festool plunge track saws because to me they make sense cutting sheet material.

 

[m8]

It appears that a the circular saw and the TS each have their own very different purposes.  Looks as though I'll stick with a circular saw for the time being and have to find another excuse to pick up a TS.  Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[Kev]

I keep a couple of Hitachi's (acquired pre Festool addiction) as "rough and ready outdoors" tools and I recently added a cheap Hitachi 18V cordless circular saw.

I got the TS55 to tackle sheet and MFT/3 cutting only.

Generally Protool make the circular saws you're after, but Festool seem hesitant to introduce Protool to the US marketplace. They also have an awesome track chainsaw - don't know that I'd ever use it - but it looks really cool.

 

[ceddy]

I think people are looking at this the wrong way. Sure if you are a contractor, you won't be hauling around an MTF and a TS 75 for decking / framing jobs since its just to much hassle. But if its for your personal little arsenal, why not? The MFT is a great base for plenty of projects.

 

[peter halle]

Readers here might want to check out this thread from a long time ago.  I remembered Christian O. posting about using Festools for non finish work and it is in this thread:  Is it sacrilegious to use Festool for construction work?

PS:  If you ever have some time, check out earlier posts in the forum.  Lots of great tips!

Peter

 

[Sparktrician]

Years back, I had the Festool area rep come in and do a product demo.  The company was a high-end closet remodeling franchise.  The owner and I, and the most senior installer looked very critically at the TS55 system and all agreed that it was a wonderful system that could make our lives easier.  That having been said, the decision was to not purchase the Festool products.  The reasoning was simple - the three of us that reviewed the system all love and respect well-engineered products, but the installer crews were largely made up of individuals that didn't share our love and respect of fine tools.  Some were quite abusive of the tools, and as a result, the quality of the jobs suffered.  Some "lost " tools or left them behind on installations.  The owner's question, and a valid one, was why should he spend major money on these tools if the installers couldn't be counted on to respect his investment. 

If I'm doing rough framing where high precision is not necessary, or when working with pressure-treated materials, as a couple of examples, I'll use my older tools (P-C, Bosch, DeWalt, Milwaukee), but when it comes to jobs that require dead-on accuracy, it's time for the Festool goodies.  The bottom line is simple - choose the most appropriate tool for the job being done. 

[smile]

 

[Tinker]

I agree with Sparktrician.  When I was in construction, I was using tools for jobs that were not necessarily meant to be precision. The work was rough and tools were used hard, even to the point of abuse.  i have always tried to buy good tools and those days were no exception.  I learned very quickly that buying cheap tools was not cheap.  I had small crews and usually, only one other besides me were using the cutting tools.  I found that Milwuakee was the the only brand to stand up to the uses we put the tools to. Those saws could stand way more abuse than any other tools.  They would last forever. I had an 8-1/4" that went thru major abose for only 30 years before it caught fire.  I won't list the abuses, but they were many.  But only 30 years? [sad]

when i retired from the masonry trade and my tool use became a need for closer accuracy and far less abuse, i soon discovered Festool.  I have not thrown away my Milwaukee 7-1/2" circular saw by any means.  It still gets used once every year or two for situations where i need to make a single cut or two outside of my shop.  If i am cutting into some wood i suspect to have a few nails, i will bring out the Milwaukee. But probably 99% of my cutting will get done by my TS 55.
Tinker 

So for me, i get the tool that fits the job the best. 
Tinker

 

[MacMitch]

I have done a good deal of construction on my property home & business over the last 15 years. Most construction framing work is cross cutting. Yes you can do this on a Festool table, but it is slower. Building a building, a good size room....I would get out my CMS and stand. I do not like using the plane circular saws, I have two and gave one away after I got my TS55. Guys that use circular saws all the time seem to want to use them all the time, in my opinion, because they are use to them. Guys who are use to using a circular saw tend to want to make rips and cut sheet goods with them too which I would not do if I had any other tool, especially a Festool saw and guide. Even the guys that use them all the time are not particularly accurate with regular circular saws. The Festool saws excel at accuracy and safety on longer rip type cuts.

I will probably buy a FS75 soon. I am about to build a work bench, sawbenches, chairs...and other items that I will need to rip longer and thicker pieces of hardwood lumber for. This is another kind of work the Festool saws shine at. The Festool saws can make very accurate glue ready cuts in hardwoods. Although many people prefer tablesaws and bandsaws for ripping hardwood I prefer the Festool saws if there is any way I can use one. The Festool saws are more versatile and I feel safer using them. I also like taking the saw to a stationary board instead of having to feed large boards through a stationary saw. A big machine with enough space around it for in feed and out feed support for large pieces of wood takes up a bunch of space.