TS55 or MT55

[jeh]

I believe If I buy small tablesaw first I will never get the tracksaw because there will be other things always. If I buy a good tracksaw and never get the chance to pick up tablesaw I would like that better. Not a young man anymore, I think safety reasons leans me towards tracksaw.

I'm not sure what your logic is here. If you buy a small tablesaw you won't be cutting sheets of plywood without a helper and in-feed and out-feed tables and even then it won't be a great experience. A better move would be to get the tracksaw and decide later if you need a small tablesaw for doing repeatable cuts and/or cuts that are too small to do with the tracksaw. I know there are some on this forum that say they can cut anything with their tracksaw and get great repeatability. A small tablesaw will outperform a tracksaw for smaller pieces and once you get to something that is an inch or two the tracksaw is out without a log of setup work.

 

[dusteater]

I have considered Dewalt and Makita, but I really want to get the one I want. Cheaper than TS55 or Mt55 but money is only energy. I won"t be doing this again so making the choice that makes me happy is important. There has been a lifetime of compromises which is normal just one time I do not want to.

 

[dusteater]

Don't get me wrong I have seen reviews on Dewalt and Makita. If I had to choose one of them it would be Makita with festool rail. Could be in the end might happen, but my goal is to get one I enjoy using like I said one and only time I will make a tracksaw purchase. Thanks so much for input. I know the saw does matter if I enjoy using it. Besides I know having a tracksaw makes some things more difficult.

 

[dusteater]

Are there any other good cheap alternative to the domino system. I know bisque jointers have become a thing in the past. I had portacable years ago and did not care for it. Just did not have power. Does anyone use the Lamello X classic? I know quality comes at a price

 

[Holmz]

One question here. If I cut sheet goods and stick with 4/4 hardwood will the TS55 work out for me. I know I need another blade for ripping hardwood. I know I would be crosscuting some gluedup harwood panels. When I considered the ts75 for the money I am close to MT55. Same goes for the TCS55 when you figure batteries.

Depends on the hardwood.
There are a few posts if one looks around saying that people struggle with the55 in hard wood, and a lot of posts proclaiming the 75 to be superior with its extra power.

The Makita (Dewalt) Bosch and Mafell all have more power than the FT saw, so even the hardest 45mm wood can be plowed through.

If one is changing blades a lot then the Mafell is the easiest for that.
The Makita or Bosch make sense here too with their power and cost.

 

[RussellS]

Are there any other good cheap alternative to the domino system. I know bisque jointers have become a thing in the past. I had portacable years ago and did not care for it. Just did not have power.

A biscuit jointer not having power?  It spins a little 4 inch blade.  And it only cuts about 1 inch deep in the wood.  Pretty sure no company has bragged about the power of their biscuit jointer to sell it.  "XYZ company makes the most powerful biscuit jointer on earth!!!"  As for alternatives to the Domino, I don't think there are any.  Biscuits really aren't an alternative except to line up edges for gluing.  They are great for that.  But not so good at almost all joinery.

 

[Birdhunter]

I used a DeWalt biscuit cutter for many years with good results. It's a very inexpensive Domino alternative. As I stated above, I seldom use biscuits now that I have the Domino machines, but they do work. In order of my preference, Domino, biscuits, and dowels (distant third).

 

[dusteater]

The reason I am here is because festool offers a great line of tools. Once again I like thank everyone for sharing their experience. I only hope someday I can give some of that back. I know it has been discussed many times But if a person buys the TS55 is it truely worth the investment in MFT3 table. Most of my materials I would be working with after breakdown with would probably be around 24x30 pieces. I am sure there would be larger but for the most part that would be common

 

[McNally Family]

The reason I am here is because festool offers a great line of tools. Once again I like thank everyone for sharing their experience. I only hope someday I can give some of that back. I know it has been discussed many times But if a person buys the TS55 is it truely worth the investment in MFT3 table. Most of my materials I would be working with after breakdown with would probably be around 24x30 pieces. I am sure there would be larger but for the most part that would be common

If I purchased the Festool TS55, and did not already have a dust extractor, I would use the accompanying 10% discount available to pick up one of the CT units, before I purchased the MFT3.  Using saw horses to build a working surface is not dangerous to your health, but breathing in saw dust is.

 

[dusteater]

I know your right I need to look at that before mft table. Thanks for bring that to my attension.

 

[Linbro]

Biscuits and Domino's co-exist in most shops I know of. There's only a small amount of overlap. Not sure why they constantly get compared.

 

[Wooden Skye]

If you go with the TS55, definitely get a dust extractor.  There are many ways to make your own MFT.  A cheaper loose tenon alternative, is the beadlock from Rockler, here is a link. http://www.rockler.com/beadlock-pro-joinery-kit

 

[semenza]

Are there any other good cheap alternative to the domino system. I know bisque jointers have become a thing in the past. I had portacable years ago and did not care for it. Just did not have power. Does anyone use the Lamello X classic? I know quality comes at a price

I am curious about the power issue. Was it that PC one that was odd shaped with the tall vertical handle?  Or the one that is shaped pretty much like every other biscuit joiner. Just interested.

I don't think there is a true alternative to the Domino that is less expensive.  Or at least in the same price ball park. I mean you could go with a good doweling jig .... but not really the same.

Seth

 

[Holmz]

... As for alternatives to the Domino, I don't think there are any.  Biscuits really aren't an alternative except to line up edges for gluing.  They are great for that.  But not so good at almost all joinery.

There is the DD40 which does dowels, and there is a lot of overlap with the LR-32.
One can also use it where one uses Dominos if there is enough room for two dowels 32-mm apart.
So it has to be > 37-mm wide when using 5-mm dowels.

There is the ZetaP2 which is useful for sheets.

The one place where the Domino has no peer is when the wood is narrow enough to not be able to fit 2 dowel in that are 32-mm apart.
This is also pretty common, so the DD40 doesn't work on narrow boards.

 

[dusteater]

Seth, My Porter cable biscuit joiner was purchased in the early ninteies. I do not remember what series it was. I know it was one of the first to come out. I still had my Foley Belsaw planer joiner combo at that time. They have been out of business for some time. It did work had a handle. You held on to similar to the ones today. I remember it worked , just was very hard to push in oak and walnut. I believe it was a 500 series though. Not having internet in those days I found it in an ad. I am sure it was like I say either in the late eighties or very early nineties when I bought it. That is why I brought up them here I though maybe they were better now.

The craftsman Radial arm saw I had was bought in 1978 so it was maybe at least ten years after that I bought the Porter Cable.

Monte

 

[dusteater]

The Domino impresses me very much if I had the funds I would have one. There is so much I could do  with it, but truth is it is over my budget unless i come into a windfall. I remember wanting a Robland combo machine year ago thinking that was my dream machine. keeping my priorities on track has always been a struggle for me. It is just being almost 66 years old I feel it is time I enjoy the things that make me happy.

 

[dusteater]

Been doing a lot of thinking I believe I will aim at getting the TS55 when I can and start there. My hope to at least get the domino after that. I think that is my best plan. I could spend less and pick up a jobsite saw but something tells me the tracksaw is the way for me. I will let you all  know if it works for me. Thanks everyone for you kind thoughts here.

 

[Coliban]

...
I suspect so if ¿it is the same Cuprix motor? from Mafell.
That would seem to generate some chin scratching as a good option.

While personally, i´d never compared the electronics of the Bosch GTK 55 GCE (only the specifications), nor the real GTK, i´v heard, it´s exactly the same as the MT55cc but without scoring function.

 

[Birdhunter]

Be thinking about the length of the track you will buy if you are not getting the MFT.

If you are breaking down 8' by 4' plywood, you will need a track that hangs over both ends of the 8' length or buy shorter lengths and buy a connector. Betterly sells an alignment tool for joining tracks, but you still have to buy the Festool connector.

For cross cuts, a very long track is unwieldy. That's why I went with two shorter tracks and the Betterly connector.

Whichever way you go, buy the Festool clamps for the track. You just need two.

 

[Holmz]

The betterly may allow the FT rail to work, but it is not idiot proof.

Two Bosch/Mafell 1600-mm rails and their connector is pretty solid.
But that may assume that the OP can get a Bosch in 110v.