I want to own the festool saw, I see the quality and value in this saw. I have to be honest here and say even though that is what I want. I don't know if I will be able to afford it. I know I talked about the mafell MT55 which is even more and my thought was well if I buy one thing I will buy the best. Once again have I done the homework and see the value of this one and the festool, . Would I enjoy it and use it, yes. I cannot honestly justify these. I guess that is the truth and I am ashamed to admit that. I will see what I can do and I hope I have learned something from your comments.
TS55 or MT55
- Thread starter dusteater
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McNally Family
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Holmz said:
Given the circumstances that you have described, my advice would still be for allowing your lumber provider to make the cuts you need, for the time being. It would not only enable you to start on your project now, but also allow more time to decide what other tools to invest in.
Whatever brand you ultimately decide on, the saw itself is just one part of the entire purchase. You will still have decisions to make on how many and what size tracks to purchase, connectors for those tracks, and if you settle on Festool, you will need something like the Betterly alignment tool to make those connections straight. Then of course come the clamps so you can stabilize your tracks on your work surface, which is in itself another decision. Even at this point, you still have not addressed dust extraction (which also does not need to be Festool, although they do have a good product).
Delaying your need for a saw will buy you time to think these things through.
Thank you and thanks to all here for being so kind to me. You are right. I have time to decide and I know me it will be the right one for me with all factors considered. What I do believe is festool and the people who use them know their quality and their worth. I believe if that is my choice I will come to understand that also. Your forum is such a help to many. I agree with the tools do not make the project good it is the people who use them. Thanks again guys for all the help you have given me. It really does help me to think through things.
Holmz
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[member=63978]dusteater[/member] , as [member=60452]McNally Family[/member] says delaying it is a decent plan.
Most people come on here knowing what they want asking for advice, and doing what they were going to do, filtering advice to the contrary.
So you are already ahead knowing that you want it, but do not need it.
With a circular saw and a piece of angle iron and a string piece of ply, you can do those shelves.
They can also cut this stuff at the lumber yard for you for next to nothing.
Most people come on here knowing what they want asking for advice, and doing what they were going to do, filtering advice to the contrary.
So you are already ahead knowing that you want it, but do not need it.
With a circular saw and a piece of angle iron and a string piece of ply, you can do those shelves.
They can also cut this stuff at the lumber yard for you for next to nothing.
Birdhunter
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My experience with lumber yard cuts, is they are fine if you are not using them as final edges. I have my yard halve 3/4" sheets of Baltic birch for me because I can't manage the weight of a full sheet, the cuts are splintery and seldom anywhere close to the desired measurement. I do the final cuts with my TS55 and my SawStop and get glue ready edges.
Eons ago, when I started woodworking, I had a Sears radial arm saw, a $8 corded drill, and a Wenger paint sprayer. Also, a hammer, tape measure, a few screw drivers, and an imagination.
I built a set of built in bookcases that my wife painted. She also painted both cars with the drifting overspray.
I now have a large workshop filled with some of the finest tools made, but it took 38 years to get here. The radial am saw left after it threw a board I was ripping through the garage wall.
The point of all this is to buy the best you can afford and build up the tool inventory based on what you need for the next project.
Eons ago, when I started woodworking, I had a Sears radial arm saw, a $8 corded drill, and a Wenger paint sprayer. Also, a hammer, tape measure, a few screw drivers, and an imagination.
I built a set of built in bookcases that my wife painted. She also painted both cars with the drifting overspray.
I now have a large workshop filled with some of the finest tools made, but it took 38 years to get here. The radial am saw left after it threw a board I was ripping through the garage wall.
The point of all this is to buy the best you can afford and build up the tool inventory based on what you need for the next project.
I worked same job about forty years. I have retirement it just health insurance for wife that is killer.but probably by spring I can come up with 1000.00 so we will see. I too had that radial arm saw back in 1978. I have choices.just have to be real. Makita or dewalt is the other options both would serve me.
McNally Family
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Speaking of lumber yard cuts.....
Back when I had my sheet goods broken down for me, I would tip the guy 5 bucks before he made the cuts, and asked him for a "slow" cut. It makes all the difference in the world when it comes to the final edge you receive.
Back when I had my sheet goods broken down for me, I would tip the guy 5 bucks before he made the cuts, and asked him for a "slow" cut. It makes all the difference in the world when it comes to the final edge you receive.
back in the days when our old lumber yard was running I knew everyone had a account there and that worked. It is long gone. New place will cut sheet down but you should see the quality of help. My brother told me of this other lumber place 9 miles from me that still is like the old one. I will probably use them. They are the ones that said they could get me baltic birch if I wanted it. The other place here in town said we don't have it end of story. One of the nice things about being able to breakdown sheets the is the place a few miles from me will deliver free of charge. The man I buy hardwood from has been around a long time. He is just one of those good old boys. So you see I have sources. I don't need to build shelves just a project I would do if I had some tools. Truth of the matter I would probably be working hardwoods more than sheet goods. Bottom line just want to do woodworking. I realize I don't have to have the best, but I need some things to make it enjoyable for me. Funny when I had the money never had the time now all I have is time. I feel better today when I think about it because I know I will figure it out so I can do some things. I could get tablesaw but I feel a tracksaw will serve my over all purpose. If I get biscult joiner and tracksaw I will get buy with my miter saw and drills. Also have 7/8 porter cable router I kept from the past. Wish I had keep my 690 instead. TS55 is still an option, but Makita and dewalt is also. It may see funny to you guys, but I would get the Makita track saw if I could buy the Domino To me I belive that is one of the finest tools made.
Another option is the Triton saw. With a 59" rail, it's about $400. For a MFT, you can get by with 2 saw horses and 2x4's quite well. A inexpensive shop vac will work as well, but the key is using a much more flexible hose, typically 1.5" or 35/36mm in diameter. There are several options via Ebay, and I think even home depot might have some options.
I think I would buy Makita before the Triton. Dewalt I would not be afraid of. Makita is 409 Toolnut. Dewalt 489.00 588.00 with two rails. Dewalt biscuit joiner 189.00. All very reasonable. Just had my heart set on TS55 might have to get past that. If it comes down to either not doing anything or other options I will choose the other options.Years ago when I wanted to get back into woodworking I give in and give up the fight with my wife and priorities just were not worth it. Now I will stand my ground for this knowing I have to be within reason.
DrD
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[member=63978]dusteater[/member]
I hear you about having the money but not the time, and having the time, and watching a budget. I bought many of my Festools as well as other tools like joiner, planer, cabinet saw, band saws, etc when I had the $$ in anticipation of the day when I had the time; many of my Festools went out of warranty before I ever got to use them, but I'm using them now!
If you are thinking of hardwoods you might want to consider the TS 75 - ain't nothing like it no where for cutting up hardwoods + it does a bang-up job on ply/mdf/mdo, etc. Just to muddy the water a bit.
You can use saw horses, but it's a nice feeling walking into my shop with 2 MFT/3s joined together side by side and an FS1900 spanning them both. It's all up to you and what you want within your budget.
Best wishes,
DrD
I hear you about having the money but not the time, and having the time, and watching a budget. I bought many of my Festools as well as other tools like joiner, planer, cabinet saw, band saws, etc when I had the $$ in anticipation of the day when I had the time; many of my Festools went out of warranty before I ever got to use them, but I'm using them now!
If you are thinking of hardwoods you might want to consider the TS 75 - ain't nothing like it no where for cutting up hardwoods + it does a bang-up job on ply/mdf/mdo, etc. Just to muddy the water a bit.
You can use saw horses, but it's a nice feeling walking into my shop with 2 MFT/3s joined together side by side and an FS1900 spanning them both. It's all up to you and what you want within your budget.
Best wishes,
DrD
Holmz, They used to have them at the high school but believe they do not anymore. College here might have but I doubt it. I had a good setup with my freind who did have full workshop, but he moved so that ended.I am ok with waiting a couple months until tax time is over.
My first thought going into this was if I had the ts55 and MFT3 table I would have a good set up. Around 1300.00 From what I see the ts55 will cut hardwood 4/4 easy enough and most of that I can get is surfaced and fairly good edges so trimming edge to square and cross cutting panels would be nice to have mft3. A bicult joiner would be nice but for the most part would give me a nice place to start. As time as went on I come to realize if that is not the case then I will look at other options. I truly want festool system. I believe it is a solid investment no doubt there. The ts75 os great but really feel I would have to invest in a finer tooth blade to get the smooth clean cuts. I f Invest in festool I need dust extracter ts55 and table to put it al together. My thoughts here. If just the saw then the ts75 will be the choice. Festool is a system designed to work together and to some extent going into it makes you realize that this is part of it to get the most out of it. I am ok with that and if that does not work for me then there are other choices I have to make, but not to say I do not admire and desire the festoool system.
I am not a newbe woodworker I know tools well not the tracksaws but others I have used at some time or there This is not a something I don't give a lot of thought to. if getting by is what I have to do then dewalt or Makita will do if I want to invest into woodworking system the fetool is where I go. simple as that. Are my eyes bigger than my pocket yes and no. Are these tools above my skill level. I don't think so. Once again I know it is not the tools that make the difference here, but I think what you use and feel about those tools makes the difference. You guys are really great. I can not say enough about that. You did not have a passion for these tools you would not be here. It is not as much about money as it is deciding if the value here is good for me.
I am not a newbe woodworker I know tools well not the tracksaws but others I have used at some time or there This is not a something I don't give a lot of thought to. if getting by is what I have to do then dewalt or Makita will do if I want to invest into woodworking system the fetool is where I go. simple as that. Are my eyes bigger than my pocket yes and no. Are these tools above my skill level. I don't think so. Once again I know it is not the tools that make the difference here, but I think what you use and feel about those tools makes the difference. You guys are really great. I can not say enough about that. You did not have a passion for these tools you would not be here. It is not as much about money as it is deciding if the value here is good for me.
dusteater said:
Think you're putting Festool on a pedestal.
Just decide which type of tool(s) you need and then buy the brand that best fits your budget. The fact of the matter is all tracksaws do virtually exactly the same job just as well as each other. Just buy SOMETHING and start making s**t!!
I've seen peace processes negotiated with less procrastination and consultation. [eek]
I will get off of here for now. I believe you guys have given me all the info to make choices in the near future. I don't want the next time I am on this forum for everyone to think oh no it is that guy again. I feel good about the information I got here and I believe it will help to make a good choice in the tools I buy. Thanks all take care.
dusteater said:
If you come back to this thread one more time I want you to know we do don't feel that way. This is a really pleasant place towards other members (can get rough on Festool as a company though). No one will judge you for not having the funds to buy a certain tool and there is a wealth of experience here that can help you make alternate tool choices too.
I hope you continue to post and participate in the community and I know there's plenty of others that agree.
