Andy Graves
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| 23 Sep 2008 06:07 PM |
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Anyone using the circular saws by Festool. We are thinking about buying one for shower installations. Does the small one have enough power to cut solid surface? Is it required, or a good idea to buy the straight edge or is it worth the extra money?
Thanks in advance,
PS. If anyone has a used one for sale, let me know.
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Reuben Hoff III
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| 23 Sep 2008 09:34 PM |
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Andy,
I am using the TS75 and it handles SS like a dream. The smaller one would be fine but it is worth the extra depth for the larger one(one never knows what he can get). Also it is well worth purchasing the straight edges, would not want to run it any other way. If going to use it one SS mainly I recomend getting a couple of the geiko clamps, they work fast and easy plus do not have to worry about wether saw hosre support etc in the way like you do with the clamps from bottom side.
One tool well worth the money in my opinion.
Reuben
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al
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| 24 Sep 2008 01:08 AM |
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I love, absolutely love, our Festool saw. We got the small one early this year, with the bottom clamps, a 41" straight edge and a 9' straight edge. Joined together, you can trim a 12' top. Now we router only the inside corners, saving router bits and lots of time. Of course we belt sand the edges to remove saw marks.
I wouldn't want to run a Festool saw without their straight edge, it is hard to see the blade.
where it will save your a** is if you have a large top that needs a bit of scribing, you can shift the top a few inches, lay the straight edge where you need to trim, and trim in place. Vacuam gets most of the dust, and you can get in close to a wall.
Two marks on the material, a few seconds to clamp the fence in place, and zip it through the cut. The under clamps will hold where you can't get a top clamp in place, plus it doesn't distort the straight edge/fence like a top clamp might. I would go for the rapid clamps, we got the screw clamps, nice, but the rapid clamps can be used one handed.
That little saw is the best tool I have ever purchased. Cuts plywood as accurate as our panel saw (like corner cabinet fronts or odd angles that he panel saw can't handle). We don't go on an install without the thing. |
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Reuben Hoff III
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| 24 Sep 2008 01:12 AM |
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The rapid clamps are better than the screw ones. I have both and have only used the screw ones a couple times. |
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Chris Yaughn
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| 24 Sep 2008 03:09 AM |
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We have the larger saw. Really nice saw. Great on the dust collection.
Can't imagine using it w/ out the saw guide. Would kinda defeat the purpose of spending that kind of $ on a hand saw, to some extent. |
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Mark Mihalik
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| 27 Sep 2008 01:20 AM |
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I've got the larger one too and love it. The rail works great for chipless cutting with wood. I don't see the point in getting it without the rail. The dust collector works very well too. |
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| Mark Mihalik<br>Counterparts LLC |
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Andy Graves
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| 01 Oct 2008 06:09 AM |
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Thanks for the help on this. Good info and I will probably get the larger saw with the straight edge.
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Gene McDonald
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| 04 Oct 2008 12:29 AM |
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Andy..Most of the timne they have a package deal and you get the saw guide free....if ya got the cash buy a 98" guide and a set of connectors...you can attach the guides together and rip a piece of SS at 12 foot....and yes the gecko cup for that long of a straight edge and the little clamps that hold the guide down |
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John Christensen
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| 20 Oct 2008 03:02 PM |
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I ordered and received a TS 75 last week. (my wife gave me that "What, not enough toys in the crib? look). When I ordered I asked if it came with a blade and was told yes. I guess in my excitment I didn't think to get specific enough. It came with a standard construction blade.
Now I need to purchase a SS blade. Is the blade that Festool recommends for solid surface the one that you guys use and prefer?
Johnny C |
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Reuben Hoff III
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| 20 Oct 2008 05:10 PM |
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John C,
I am using the Festool "red" label the number in the box is 493200. I have been using for both laminate and SS and getting great results. Enjoy the baby is been worth every penny to me.
Reuben |
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Norm Walters
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| 20 Oct 2008 06:24 PM |
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Johnny, although I use Festool's blades myself, I have also been told that metric blades are more available in this country now. |
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Andy Graves
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| 20 Oct 2008 09:27 PM |
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You know I just watched the video of the circular saw and noticed that it is for left handed people. Is it difficult to use like that for a righty. The SKIL saw has the blade on the left so you can see the cut pushing with your right hand.
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Reuben Hoff III
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| 20 Oct 2008 09:55 PM |
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You know never even noticed a difference util you said something Andy.
Huh, I am right handed and have not had a lick of trouble so I would have to say Nope to that question.
Put the edge guide on your marks lock it in place set saw on theguides pull trigger plunge and go.Easier than staples easy button. |
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Norm Walters
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| 21 Oct 2008 12:21 AM |
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Andy, with the design of the saw the blade is completely concealed, so you really don't watch the blade cut, and with the guide rails you really don't need to.
My favorite thing about the saw is that when you lift it from the material you don't have to worry when you set it down, whether or not the safety goes back in place, unlike most circular saws when debris may interfere with that. |
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Chris Yaughn
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| 21 Oct 2008 03:21 AM |
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Yes,
It does feel like you should be driving it with your right hand sometimes, but you are forced to use your left. It is not as big a deal as I would have guessed if I had ever noticed it in the videos.
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David VanderSchaaf
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| 26 Oct 2008 08:45 PM |
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We bought the small saw and love it. We seam the solid surface with the saw with no clamps and the results are as good as a mirror cut and router. Darker colours we still mirror cut but the vast majority we just use the saw.
David VanderSchaaf |
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John Christensen
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| 28 Oct 2008 01:04 AM |
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KCWOOD
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| 28 Oct 2008 01:50 AM |
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Johnny,
I have the small saw and love it. It has come in handy for so many things. I do not think I have ever used it without the guide, and the dust pickup from it is awesome. I do not think one should seam from this saw, as there is no way the finish from this compares to the cut of a router bit. This saw has been used for many woodworking solutions as well as solid surface... you will see.
On the other hand.... I have a $400 Festool Jigsaw that does no better than a $50 one. OUCH....
KC |
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Andy Graves
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| 28 Oct 2008 02:57 AM |
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Does the larger saw work better than the smaller? I can't imagine doing a seam with a saw, just too rough a finish. Maybe on lighter colors it would work.
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John Christensen
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| 28 Oct 2008 03:48 PM |
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Well, it is tomorrow now. I made a few more cuts with the TS 75. Better results than last night. I might attribute that to not being familiar with the tool (it is pretty complex for a circular saw) and giving it my first test after an 11 hour day in the shop. I think Kelsey touched on the root of my disappointment. All that money and it is still a tool for primary cutting of my tops.
After making a few more cuts, I must say that the rail system was suprisingly stable. Even whithout clamping it in place it stayed where I put it. In fairness I made some cuts with my 7 1/4" Makita. In a side by side comparison the Festool was faster to set up and did Make a much better cut, (not seamable).
Based on cost and recommedations by others, I think that my expectaions might have been unrealistic.
Johnny C |
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