What else can you do with an TS 55?

[Fast Eddie]

I'm very interesting in buying my first Festool.  I cut a fair amount of plywood and it looks like the FS 55 would be the way to go.  What else is it good for besides sheet stock.  I'm having a hard time spending $500 for just cutting plywood.  Another question can I use my shopvac with the FS 55 for dust removal?  Some day maybe I'll get a Festool dust machine.  

 

[Brice Burrell]

Eddie, welcome to the forum! The Festool plunge cut saws are great for so many things. They will rip or cross cut material of all kinds, metals, plastics and so on. Here are just a few, straight line ripping rough stock, trimming deck boards, cutting tapered door and window jambs, trimming/fitting doors, I've even made long cuts in aluminum coil stock and I turned a 18" deep cabinet into a 12" by cutting the back off. You'll be amazed at all the things you'll find you can do with these saws. 

 

[Fast Eddie]

I'm in.  I just needed a little encouragement to pull the trigger.  My wife will be so pleased! [big grin]

 

[tbellemare]

Eddie:

If you look at Brice's website, and others, like Jerry Work's, I think you'll find all the encouragement you need to take the plunge.

I, and Festool, will guarantee you aren't disappointed.

Tom

 

[score0matic]

Welcome to the Slippery Green slope

Craig

 

[thender]

You can use a shopvac, but you may need to do some futzing to get it mated up, depending on the hose diameters, etc.

But....  I'd urge you to buy the CT22 if at all possible.  It is an astonishingly good tool in its own right, and when coupled to a TS55 the resulting synergy is phenomenal.

Not only is it a really, really good vacuum....  it is quiet enough that you can use it without hearing protection and without pain. 

The system is more than the sum of its parts. 

Not cheap but a good overall value, if you know what I mean.

-TH

 

[frehouseremdlin]

Welcome Eddie,

I was in your shoes just a few weeks ago! I took the forums advice and as they say, YES! It is a slippery slope! I Love the TS55, it has unlimited potential for a small shop, large shop and job site use. Once you have one, you'll wonder how you did without it, and you will find application after application to use it!

Brett

 

[spikfot]

The guide rails can also be used to run Festool routers in a straight line.

 

[Per Swenson]

I will now tell you what you can do with the best saw on the planet.
Amaze the heck out of people.
Crap, you are gonna laugh,
Just had a gig as a stage carpenter on Broadway.
The land of poor production value.
Ricky, ticky, tackey, does not even explain the  the lack of skill inherent in this field.
Sure it was Yeomans work,
But what that saw did for me is make a lot of friends
Magic in a box, with dust collection..

Per

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Welcome to the Forum Eddie!

Although the TS55 excels at sheet goods, it can do darn near anything.  Browse around a bit and you will find lots of trim carpentry, humidors, furniture of all types, you name it.  I mostly make chairs these days and I use the TS55 every day.

Check out Jerry Work's articles - he's a hardwood kinda guy and does some fantastic things.

The next big surprise for you may be the Festool sanders - they are out of this world!

 

[mouppe]

Hi, I bought a TS 55 last week and used it for the first time yesterday to start making a sysport. My home-made sysport should be finished this afternoon! I do not have a table saw and cannot foresee the need to ever have one now that I own a TS55.

In summary:-

Learning curve? Seconds.
Results? Unbeatable.
Value? Priceless.

Richard.

 

[chrisrosenb]

I use my TS55 & long guide rails to  straight line rip rough lumber.
I also use it to cut mortises in bed rails. Bed rails

 

[Brice Burrell]

.....Magic in a box, with dust collection..

Per

Festool's new slogan.

 

[woodguy7]

I even use mine to cut out sinks & hobs in kitchen worktops.  Perfect straight & square cuts with no chipping, then finish the corners off with the jigsaw.

Woodguy.

 

[lordinteriors]

woodguy i do the same its great on melamine and laminate gloss panels and prefinished panels are also a joy with the track saws i have the 75 because i like having that little bit more power and depth

lee

 

[Jonhilgen]

Fast Eddie,  Welcome to the FOG!

I know the  price tag may seem like a bit much at first, but after using it the for the first time, you will wonder why Festool is only charging 500.  Even if you are "only cutting" plywood, the TS55 makes it so easy and efficient you will start to look for more plywood to cut!

BTW, if you can swing it, get the CT22 right off the bat.  I've had my saw for about 5 months and just got my CT22.  I don't know how I lived without it.  It's quiet, it's strong, and it will make you a clean freak.  Seriously, I used to look like Pig Pen from Peanuts prior to owning my 22.  Now, I can cut plywood all morning, then meet the lady for lunch and I don't even need to blow myself off or change my clothes!

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Cuddle with it at night! [big grin]

 

[decoy]

BTW, if you can swing it, get the CT22 right off the bat.  I've had my saw for about 5 months and just got my CT22.  I don't know how I lived without it.  It's quiet, it's strong, and it will make you a clean freak.  Seriously, I used to look like Pig Pen from Peanuts prior to owning my 22.  Now, I can cut plywood all morning, then meet the lady for lunch and I don't even need to blow myself off or change my clothes!

Amen! I just jumped on the slippery green slope with a TS55+CTL26E and now I have to replace all my other tools to get something that can match when it comes to dust collection This is going to be expensive.