TS55 Saw Table

[Loren Hedahl]

I find that about the only thing I am not able to consistently cut with my TS55 is thin strips such as edging of about 18th inch for plywood.  Actually I can until the mother board gets down to maybe 1 to 2 inches or less.

So  --  I would be interested in a small portable table saw only for narrow ripping.  It should have a long, narrow table at least as long as a normal size table saw i.e., 27 inches.  Construction could be aluminum, steel or even structural plastic.  In any case the top and fence should be sheathed in steel or have strategically placed steel pads so magnetic type finger boards and hold downs would work.

I would go for one of the available light weight bench saws available such as the Bosch, Porter Cable, Makita, DeWalt, Ridgid etc., except their tables expand in width for cutting plywood, rather than length wise for ripping.

I'm not holding my breath that I will ever be able to purchase something like this off-the-shelf, so I may have to just go out and make my own.  But if Festool came up with something of this sort, I would very likely result in a few dollars flowing out of my pocket into theirs.

Don't know if any other Festoolers have similar thinking on this.

 

[nickao]

Well some of the saws do have a rear outfeed table like this:

Bosh outfeed table

Not perfect, but does work.

 

[semenza]

Hi,

      Try these threads for ideas (maybe you already have). Not saying thatthey are better than a table saw for the task, but it gets the job done. I have cut as narrow as an 1/16" with the set up I show in the thread.  And down to only having a 1/2" left of the mother board. 
                 http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=1558.0
 
                http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=1894.0

Seth

 

[Ned]

Loren--

Did you see this?  Hegner Accura

But seriously...it might be interesting to take one of the saws you mentioned and heavily modify it specifically to rip strips.  Add front & back tables.  Move the switch the new front of the machine.  Hmm.

Ned

 

[Eli]

Maybe you should try and get your hands on a CMS?

 

[semenza]

Maybe you should try and get your hands on a CMS?

YELLOW FLAG unnecessary NAINA taunting    

Seth

 

[Eli]

Unintentional, but I accept your ruling. 

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I find that about the only thing I am not able to consistently cut with my TS55 is thin strips such as edging of about 18th inch for plywood.  Actually I can until the mother board gets down to maybe 1 to 2 inches or less.

Loren,

How long do those strips need to be?  Why can't you position a backup board of like thickness under your Guide Rail, recessed from the rubber anti-splinter strip by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the strip you want to rip off to create edging for your plywood?  If you need to make strips longer than your MFT, why can't you create the same setup on a longer table using a longer Guide Rail and backup board?  As the board you are ripping into thin strips becomes narrow, why can't you simply position another board of like thickness outboard of the one you are ripping to provide additional support.  In this technique the thin strip cut from the board being ripped remains trapped under the Guide Rail.  A sacrificial stop board at the far end of the cut is used to prevent your narrow stock and your thin strip from being pulled lengthwise by the saw.  I believe this technique has been demonstrated by John Lucas (Woodshop Demos) and others on FOG.  Clint Holeman's setup for ripping cabinet rails and styles may also be adaptable to what you want to do.

Dave R.

 

[Loren Hedahl]

Dave, you must understand that I'm just wimping/fussing.

I have half-heartedly cut thin strips with my TS55, with half-hearted success.  The problem is there was a nicely tuned contractor saw within 5 feet of where I was and the temptation was just a bit too great.

What happened was exactly as you mentioned  --  the wood moved forward under the guide rail and I lost my nice straight cut.  So I need to provide a stop and I think I'll be alright.

What's in the back of my mind is to convert an early model DeWalt miter saw stand to be a hardwood ripping stand.  The new ones at HD are shorter but have pull out extensions.  Mine is about 7 ft long with no extensions.

Should do it soon because I have a great son-in-law in Kansas City that just bought a new house there.  My wife & I are planning a trip there via pickup and camper in a few weeks to see them, the new house and new baby.  We still have some stash at our house to take to them, but there is room in the pickup for a contractor saw and some other woodworking tools that I could easily get along without. 

Son-in-law was not raised up to be handy with tools, but he has a desire and picks it up very quick.  The new house will be pretty bare when they first move in and they will need book shelves, stand for the digital piano, etc., etc., etc.  Perhaps he will develop into a Festool owner. 

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Loren,

I understand.  I'm also spoiled because I have a table saw to use for that purpose, although I prefer using my TS 55 and a guide rail.  Do you have the Hole Drilling Set Item #583 290 (page 54 of the 2007 catalogue)?  You could use the side stops that come with this set to set up your guide rail for repeat narrow strip cutoffs outboard of the guide rail.  Also, if you saved a strip of a width that exactly corresponds to the kerf width of the saw blade, you could stack it together with a another strip of the width you want to rip off your stock and use them together to precisely position your guide rail for repeat cuts.

Sounds like you have a great family!!  I think it always exciting to have a good student or two.  Enjoy.  No one in my immediate family has any interest in DIY, let alone woodworking or home improvement or maintenance.  Not that I spoiled them.  It's just they way God designed them.

Dave R.