"Andrew Barss" wrote in message
...

There's a 10% off detail on this (expensive) saw, and I am seriously
tempted. Anyone have any reasons NOT to get one? I have a good tablesaw,
but the ability to deal with sheet goods and natural-edge boards with the
Festool is REALLY appealing.

-- Andy Barss


I pondered the TS 55 and TS 75, got the TS 75 for its greater capaicity.

Additionally, the combination of the 75" and 55" track will cut a 4x8
sheet of plywood diagonally. The track needs to be longer than the cut BTY.

With that in mind I have both tracks. The TS 55 comes with the 55" track,
the TS 75 comes with the 75" track. If you think you will end up with both
tracks the price difference between the TS 55 and TS 75 becomes much
smaller. The 75" track is much more pricey per inch than the 55" track.

Getting both tracks and the TS 75 saw at 10% off, IIRC there was less than a
$50 difference over the TS 55 and both tracks.


The TS 55 is easier to handle over the TS 75, but that really is only a
concern when pulling it out of the Systainer and setting it on the track.
Once you set it on the track there is little more effort to actually use the
saw, it slides that easily on the track.

Leon wrote:

: With that in mind I have both tracks. The TS 55 comes with the 55" track,
: the TS 75 comes with the 75" track. If you think you will end up with both
: tracks the price difference between the TS 55 and TS 75 becomes much
: smaller. The 75" track is much more pricey per inch than the 55" track.

: Getting both tracks and the TS 75 saw at 10% off, IIRC there was less than a
: $50 difference over the TS 55 and both tracks.


Thanks for the advice. Is it really useful, or just kinda useful?
I can manhandle sheets of plywood onto my cabinet saw, but the cuts aren't
always totally straight (I have yet to build a proper outfeed table), and
given that my shop is small, if I could restrict the cutting of 8' stuff
mostly to the Festool that would make it a LOT easier to position the TS
where it doesn't completely dominate the shop.

-- Andy

"Andrew Barss" wrote in message
...
Leon wrote:

: With that in mind I have both tracks. The TS 55 comes with the 55"
track,
: the TS 75 comes with the 75" track. If you think you will end up with
both
: tracks the price difference between the TS 55 and TS 75 becomes much
: smaller. The 75" track is much more pricey per inch than the 55" track.

: Getting both tracks and the TS 75 saw at 10% off, IIRC there was less
than a
: $50 difference over the TS 55 and both tracks.


Thanks for the advice. Is it really useful, or just kinda useful?
I can manhandle sheets of plywood onto my cabinet saw, but the cuts aren't
always totally straight (I have yet to build a proper outfeed table), and
given that my shop is small, if I could restrict the cutting of 8' stuff
mostly to the Festool that would make it a LOT easier to position the TS
where it doesn't completely dominate the shop.

-- Andy

To tell you the truth I have not used it much but business is kinda slow.
I, like you, bought mine for cutting up sheet goods. It does a stellar job
at that and the cuts equal those from my cabinetsaw. After making a cut it
is dfficult to find any thing wrong. I am not getting any younger and do
have a 15 roller out feed on my TS but that does not help with getting the
material up on the TS and pushing in a straight line if you are ripping a
sheet of plywood. I have built a cutting grid that I set on top of 2 saw
horses. I lay the plywood up there and make the cuts with the TS75. Much
easier than crawling around on the ground. You "will" get totally straight
cuts.

All in all you can still make a crooked cut on a TS even with outfeed
support With long enough tracks the track saw cuts very straight lines
efforlessly.
I believe that after cutting a few dozen sheets of plywood the tool will
have paid for it self just from the comfort and ease factor.
AND if you get the Festool vac with it, there is a greater discount than
just the 10% AND dust from the saw is relatively non existant AND the with
the combination of the saw and vac both are much quieter than the typical
circular saw.

All in all it is hard to justify spending that much money for a circular saw
but over time you probably will not think back. The saw is a joy to use.

On Jul 29, 4:34*pm, "Leon" wrote:
"Andrew Barss" wrote in message

...





Leon wrote:

: With that in mind I have both tracks. *The TS 55 comes with the 55"
track,
: the TS 75 comes with the 75" *track. *If you think you will end up with
both
: tracks the price difference between the TS 55 and TS 75 becomes much
: smaller. *The 75" track is much more pricey per inch than the 55" track.

: Getting both tracks and the TS 75 saw at 10% off, IIRC there was less
than a
: $50 difference over the TS 55 and both tracks.

Thanks for the advice. *Is it really useful, or just kinda useful?
I can manhandle sheets of plywood onto my cabinet saw, but the cuts aren't
always totally straight (I have yet to build a proper outfeed table), and
given that my shop is small, if I could restrict the cutting of 8' stuff
mostly to the Festool that would make it a LOT easier to position the TS
where it doesn't completely dominate the shop.

-- Andy

To tell you the truth I have not used it much but business is kinda slow.
I, like you, bought mine for cutting up sheet goods. *It does a stellar job
at that and the cuts equal those from my cabinetsaw. *After making a cut it
is dfficult to find any thing wrong. *I am not getting any younger and do
have a 15 roller out feed on my TS but that does not help with getting the
material up on the TS and pushing in a straight line if you are ripping a
sheet of plywood. *I have built a cutting grid that I set on top of 2 saw
horses. *I lay the plywood up there and make the cuts with the TS75. *Much
easier than crawling around on the ground. *You "will" get totally straight
cuts.

All in all you can still make a crooked cut on a TS even with outfeed
support *With long enough tracks the track saw cuts very straight lines
efforlessly.
I believe that after cutting a few dozen sheets of plywood the tool will
have paid for it self just from the comfort and ease factor.
AND if you get the Festool vac with it, there is a greater discount than
just the 10% AND dust from the saw is relatively non existant AND the with
the combination of the saw and vac both are much quieter than the typical
circular saw.

All in all it is hard to justify spending that much money for a circular saw
but over time you probably will not think back. *The saw is a joy to use.

In a perfect world one would own one of each.

On Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:11:39 +0000 (UTC), Andrew Barss
wrote:

always totally straight (I have yet to build a proper outfeed table), and
given that my shop is small, if I could restrict the cutting of 8' stuff
mostly to the Festool that would make it a LOT easier to position the TS
where it doesn't completely dominate the shop.

You'd need some type of table or perhaps enough floor space with a
foam underlay to use it. I just bought the TS55 and although I know it
will certainly be useful, (my user requirements are kind of unique
which explains my purchase) I might have reconsidered the purchase if
I had an area to use a tablesaw. Building a decent outfeed table which
can also double as a decent working surface would be considerably
cheaper and almost as useful.

The decision for me would have rested on how decent a tablesaw I had
with a quality blade in it and working space with an outfeed table.