Went to look at track saws today

[bigarm]

Closest store that carries Festool is 85 miles one way from here, so took a road trip today.  Sold a rifle so I could afford the TS 55 REQ and wanted to look at it.  Ended up buying one and an extra 55" track (with holes) and connectors and an extra limit stop and clamps and extra splinterguards.  So that wasn't enough so also bought a CT 26 and extra bags and (I think) the tradesman/installer cleaning set.  Forgot to look at a guide rail deflector (should I get one?) and they didn't have the angle unit which I think I want as one of the next projects is a corner cabinet for our youngest son that would have shelves that would need to be cut at a 45 degree angle.  Do I need that to do that job?

I am a retired teacher, but sub now and then.  Going to have to sub a whole lot to pay for this!

 

[dltflt]

[welcome] to FOG and congrats on the purchase.  You are going to enjoy using your TS55.  I love my TS75.  I might as well be the one to break the bad news to you also, this will not be your last Festool purchase.  There are many more to come.  I have never heard much good about the angle unit.

 

[Holmz]

... Do I need that to do that job?
...

Want = yes, need = no.
I would just mark it out lay the track on it.

I have an angle job, which I use if I am doing a few, or if the math is not easy to do in my head.
Otherwise... 45 degree angles are pretty easy as the sin(45) = cos(45).

You probably will want a vacuum on the saw at some point... and one can have cogent argument as to the merits of a fancy unit or an old shop vac.

 

[aas]

He says he got a CT26, I'm guessing that counts as a vacuum !  [poke]

Mixed opinions about the angle unit, I use mine for replicating angles - take the angle unit to the corner or angle, adjust and tighten, place on the wood with rail, and cut! Sure. there is a scale marked on it, but I don't use it for say cutting a 45 or 90, not sure the scale is accurate enough.

 

[jjowen]

Holey track - good planing.
Guide rail deflector - put it on the list; even if (when) you buy the MFT, which comes with one, it is nice to have another one. I use it all the time.
Angle unit - Probably the only bit of kit which I have never used.

85 miles? Like that is going to stop you!

Enjoy!

 

[sancho57]

Welcome to the Faozg. Now all you need is a MFT 3 or something like it.

 

[Kev]

Closest store that carries Festool is 85 miles one way from here, so took a road trip today.  Sold a rifle so I could afford the TS 55 REQ and wanted to look at it.  Ended up buying one and an extra 55" track (with holes) and connectors and an extra limit stop and clamps and extra splinterguards.  So that wasn't enough so also bought a CT 26 and extra bags and (I think) the tradesman/installer cleaning set.  Forgot to look at a guide rail deflector (should I get one?) and they didn't have the angle unit which I think I want as one of the next projects is a corner cabinet for our youngest son that would have shelves that would need to be cut at a 45 degree angle.  Do I need that to do that job?

I am a retired teacher, but sub now and then.  Going to have to sub a whole lot to pay for this!

[member=57407]bigarm[/member]

So you didn't need the rifle any more as you don't have to deal with those pesky students huh? [wink] [big grin]

[welcome]

Hope you enjoy your new toys tools.

 

[nclemmons]

Welcome to the FOG!  Great first set of purchases.  I'd pass on the angle unit personally.  Something like a pair of Festool clamps are a far better and more used purchase and you can measure the angle manually and clamp the guide in place if you are worried about accuracy.

Neil

 

[DzordanoBruno]

I have this  angle unit. Angle unit =garbage. For perfect 90° has this  angle  unit  little  movement, so for perfect cutting  is useless. For cutting angle +-1° is good.

So buy Festool rapid clamps and dead on  square.

 

[peter halle]

Another welcome to the FOG!  Hope you get a kick out of using your new tools!  Personally I rarely use the deflector except at times on the MFT/3.  The angle unit comes in handy at times but rarely will you ever see it in a Festool video and without any presets it is difficult to set to a fixed angle.  I tend to use it as aas does.

Let us know if we can help!

Peter

 

[aas]

I have this  angle unit. Angle unit =garbage. For perfect 90° has this  angle  unit  little  movement, so for perfect cutting  is useless. For cutting angle +-1° is good.

So buy Festool rapid clamps and dead on  square.

The angle unit is not garbage!.. but it is not a square either... Imagine, you have to cut a piece of trim for the side of a staircase where it meets the ceiling. Of course, you can 'measure' it (with what?), then you can transfer the angle to the work piece (and hope it is right!), then set up your guide rails...
...or, you can take the angle unit to set the angle, tighten the knob, put it on the rail and cut!.. and in this example, the angle unit has given you 'the perfect angle'!
Right tool for the right job!

 

[Bitbob]

Closest store that carries Festool is 85 miles one way from here, so took a road trip today.  Sold a rifle so I could afford the TS 55 REQ and wanted to look at it.  Ended up buying one and an extra 55" track (with holes) and connectors and an extra limit stop and clamps and extra splinterguards.  So that wasn't enough so also bought a CT 26 and extra bags and (I think) the tradesman/installer cleaning set.  Forgot to look at a guide rail deflector (should I get one?) and they didn't have the angle unit which I think I want as one of the next projects is a corner cabinet for our youngest son that would have shelves that would need to be cut at a 45 degree angle.  Do I need that to do that job?

I am a retired teacher, but sub now and then.  Going to have to sub a whole lot to pay for this!

Welcome to FOG personally I found the Parallel Guides a better second investment although I need to get some clamps as well and an Mft/3

 

[bigarm]

Thanks for the welcomes.  I am excited about these purchases, but it is a lot of money.  The parallel guides have been mentioned several times.  I can see them being very useful.  I see that Seneca Woodworking also has some that are slightly different.  Any input on these items?
Went back and forth on the vacuum purchase.  Decided it was a good idea but then had to decide which one.  I was going back and forth between the midi and the ct26.  Finally decided on the 26 mainly because of the larger wheels.

 

[Andy UK]

With the saw and track you can easily cut 90 (edge to edge) and 45 (corner to corner) degrees without any technical gadgetry.
Or am I missing something?  ???
That's how I made my last corner unit:

 

[CrazyLarry]

MFT + parallel guides (adapted or not) + parf dogs + a known good square for checking

The MFT grid gives you access to a whole range of 'standard' angles and using a setup block with the dogs can give you custom angles.

See peter parfitt's video for blocks you can make to slip on the dogs.

 

[bigarm]

Made a couple of cuts today just to test it out, one without the vacuum and one with, plus did the cuts for the guard first.  Really think I am going to like it.  Then I was trying to do some cuts on my miter saw and thought I had the set up  to be able to use my Harbor Freight dust collector on it.  Put on an adapter from Rockler which promptly came apart so will have to rethink that set up.  I should see if I can use my ct 26 with it.

 

[Darren1972]

Welcome to festool and now the addiction begins ha ha enjoy them

 

[them700project]

Its a shame with the rifle you'd think you could get all the festools  [scratch chin]

 

[bigarm]

I hooked the CT26 up to my miter saw today.  The large hose with the cleaning tools fit in the miter saw port.  I was surprised.  It worked well.  Not all the sawdust was collected, but a lot less sawdust was around than before.  I  like it.