TS55 used as a chop saw

[Loren Hedahl]

Not to mention 1/20th the amount of dust in the air. I use my MFT 800 more and more as a chop saw station with a Festool circular saw because there is so little dust escaping. With the extension table it is easy to rig up an auxiliary fence and length stops.

If I have a lot of narrow stuff to cut (in a situation that won't allow a chop saw) I move the fence to the middle of the table so I don't have to reach as far, so bigger isn't always better.

from Michael Kellough in another thread

I don't use my MFT and TS55 as a chop or miter saw mostly because of the weight.  So each time I set up a long DeWalt stand with my trusty Makita, since it works and is what I'm used to.  The problem is dust control is non-existent.

On a recent tour through a box store, I came across a display of resin folding tables.  They used to be only available in fairly large dimensions, but this time there was one about 2 ft X 4 ft for about $35.

Dangerous brain waves began happening and I wondered if anyone else has set up one of these as a light-weight carry around MFT?

It wouldn't have the the holes for clamping and likely wouldn't be flat enough either.  But it would be light-weight, dimensionally stable, waterproof, inexpensive etc.  As for hardware, it would need to be improvised, since the hinge setup doesn't appear to be available.  In my mind, I don't see this as being too difficult.  The catch at the other side of the table would be simple also.

 

[Eli]

It'd work great as a cut table. I'd carry a sandbag or two for the legs though, it being so light....

 

[Michael Kellough]

So Loren, where are your MFT, vac, and saw? You're out working without them?

I figure as long as I have them I might as well use them. It is more work to use the 55 to chop stuff than a dedicated chop saw (and it isn't practical to try to cut crown with it) but it's worth it to me to have a quieter dust free work place.

I don't know about those folding plastic tables. The ones in mind are not real flat and though the surface is very textured it is rather slippery. Trying to make one act like an MFT sounds like a lot of work. Do you have an MFT 800? They are a lot easier to move than the 1080.

 

[alg]

I recently bought a resin folding table like you describe to see if it would work as a base for my new slider miter saw. I mounted the LS1013F on top and it was way too wobbly/unstable. Returned the table back to Costco where it was only $21. My concrete floor was level. After I went to Costco, I drove to get a second MFT 1080, plenty stable.  I will still like to have a dedicated stand for a miter saw. It will be more conveninet to have it readily available, so MFT 800 would work.

 

[Eli]

though the surface is very textured it is rather slippery.

True. Of many things, the table as well. Wasn't someone using spray 77 to stick foam to a piece of hardboard or something? (for a cutting surface)

 

[Loren Hedahl]

So Loren, where are your MFT, vac, and saw? You're out working without them?

I figure as long as I have them I might as well use them. It is more work to use the 55 to chop stuff than a dedicated chop saw (and it isn't practical to try to cut crown with it) but it's worth it to me to have a quieter dust free work place.

I don't know about those folding plastic tables. The ones in mind are not real flat and though the surface is very textured it is rather slippery. Trying to make one act like an MFT sounds like a lot of work. Do you have an MFT 800? They are a lot easier to move than the 1080.

Michael,  The Saw, vac and guides go.  The MFT stays, and I bring a couple of work mates and if there is room, a plastic top table cut down to the same height as the work mates.

For cross cutting I use the old method of marking the length, drawing a cut line with a combination and either making the cut with a Japanese pull saw or I have a short 2-ft guide for my TS55 that I sometimes use.

I don't have an MFT 800, mine being the larger one, and it hasn't left my workshop.  I originally thought the MFT 1080 would take the place of my trusty old Delta turret top radial arm saw, and it might some day, but old habits die slow and over the years I have made a lot of jigs for my RAS, some that use the horizontal blade orientation.  This would be beyond what could be arranged with a TS55/MFT in my mind.

As I said, brain waves can be dangerous.  However I think I'll first try moving the hinge set-up from my MFT to a plastic top table as a trial, and if all goes well, I may decide to build a replica from standard hardware dedicated to a plastic table.  I haven't found the to be as flimsy as some others have.  Don't know if I am using a different brand of table, or if my expectations are not quite so high.

Anyway, thanks for the thoughtful comments.  This forum is an education in itself and a way to pick another's brain from just about any place in the world.