Thread: cms

Hi Darrens...
The CMS is expensive but I bought one because I dont have a lot of room for a larger table saw and its portability was very attractive. I got it with the TS55 saw and it also came with the separate guide rail system in case I wanted to cut larger sheets. I also got a Protool vacuum unit and all that works fine as you would expect from Festool. It is very stable and is easy to move.
It is accurate and versatile with the sliding table and the protractor fence.It did not come out of the box cutting accurately and square but it has a good adjustment system to get it accurate and square. For what I do, mostly small box stuff, the 50 mm depth of cut has not been a big issue. If I need a depth of cut greater I either use the bandsaw or get the wood cut elsewhere. If I was making a lot of furniture, then the TS75 would have been an option provided I won lotto. The price differential for the CMS with TS75 was ludicrous for someone who is only a hobby woodworker.
One of the issues I have with the unit is that the clearance between the table and the blade means there is a considerable gap on the right side of the blade. This is due to the clearance necessary for the left tilt position of the blade. If you are just trimming say 2mm off the length the offcut drops down into the saw and does not pass through the vacuum system.
I made a few sleds for making boxes as these give you virtually zero clearance with the blade and that helps with accuracy and ovecomes the gap problem.

Ruddy

I am suprised you ahve not had more comments already, there are quite a few CMS out there.

But I think Ruddy nailed all the pros and cons in one post.... Portable, accurate, and versatile.

It is also expandable with rear and side extensions. Although at first glance the core CMS (no right side extension table) looks like it has only around 20cm ripping capacity, you can put the protractor/fence on the right side of the blade for additional capacity, and if that is still not enough, lock the right side sliding table into a static position and put the protractor/fence on its outer mounting v-profile and you get even greater capacity again - around 40cm if memory serves.

Personally I love the CMS in router module configuration. If you are thinking of getting a CMS and like the Festool routers, it's worth a look. I really like the fence and guards/hold-downs.

thanks guys, i'm really tempted.

Hi all, I'm also interested in the cms as a table saw only for the moment. I've got VERY limited space. A couple of questions though.
Is the power of the 55 enough to rip thick material? And is the rip/crosscut fences accurate/can they handle larger pieces. (Let's say 1200x150x35)
I suppose I should come down to Williamstown and have a play. I'm just trying to figure out if it is something that fits my requirements.

Cheers,

Duncan.

Hi Duncan,

1200x150x35 is quite possible on the CMS without any added CMS extension tables. Although a roller support would be good on the out-feed side.

As for 35mm thick... the TS55 in the CMS can manage a maximum depth of cut of 50mm, but practically speaking when working with hardwood we find 35-40mm is where you start to notice the saw under a little strain. But the saw comes out-of-the-box fitted with Festool's fine tooth blade, and at these depths Festool's ripping blade should be fitted and this will give the saw back enough power to motor through 45mm hardwood rips.

i often take full depth cuts in 2 or 3 passes when using track, i think you could adopt the same idea with table mount set up.

Originally Posted by nt900

As for 35mm thick... the TS55 in the CMS can manage a maximum depth of cut of 50mm, but practically speaking when working with hardwood we find 35-40mm is where you start to notice the saw under a little strain. But the saw comes out-of-the-box fitted with Festool's fine tooth blade, and at these depths Festool's ripping blade should be fitted and this will give the saw back enough power to motor through 45mm hardwood rips.

wot Anthony said.
I've used my TS55 with the Festool ripping blade and guide rail to cut up 2" Aust Red Cedar slabs

even the cheaper blades at bunnings 'marathon' should do the trick, around the $20 mark fits straight on the saw. i gave up on the festool blades a while ago too much $$$

Hi darrens
I have only just seen this thread and was wondering how you went, did you get a cms in the end?

FWIW, I have the cms with a TS55 saw and a OF1400 router. I also have the table rear and side extension pieces, which makes work really easy. For long rips of sheets I use the festool guides and for deeper cuts I use my carbatec bandsaw.

The cms is a beautifully compact system, which when I am done, I remove the infill section that I've been using and just manually hoist the cms table out of the way up onto a purpose made landing in my carport ceiling space. Talking about being portable!

Like ruddy, I too was a bit disappointed with the out ot the box squareness of the cms TS fence, but this is easily readjustable.

I am a hobby ww-er and have no need to take the cms to job sites, but would imagine that using the cms out on job sites would be a good compromise between using a dedicated fixed TS, a router table and general portability.
Cheers

Originally Posted by GoGuppy

Hi darrens
I have only just seen this thread and was wondering how you went, did you get a cms in the end?

FWIW, I have the cms with a TS55 saw and a OF1400 router. I also have the table rear and side extension pieces, which makes work really easy. For long rips of sheets I use the festool guides and for deeper cuts I use my carbatec bandsaw.

The cms is a beautifully compact system, which when I am done, I remove the infill section that I've been using and just manually hoist the cms table out of the way up onto a purpose made landing in my carport ceiling space. Talking about being portable!

Like ruddy, I too was a bit disappointed with the out ot the box squareness of the cms TS fence, but this is easily readjustable.

I am a hobby ww-er and have no need to take the cms to job sites, but would imagine that using the cms out on job sites would be a good compromise between using a dedicated fixed TS, a router table and general portability.
Cheers

hi goguppy,

Sorry bit late with the reply!

Yep I got the cmc + ts 55 (another one! 4 th I think)+ 1400 router

It's bed time, but quickly, really happy with it overall, love the slide and protractor, wish I'd went for the 2200 router as it feels a bit 'toyish' but haven't used router that much yet. I tried 'planing' and edge on something with a straight cutting bit, it sucked, but could be my technique or bit?

The saw I noticed is getting harder to raise and lower, but seems to work better if I lift it behind the 'big knob bit'

Also seems like it's money, money, money... As I kind of think I need that better fence and tables too, but my c/c is maxed out on the original order lol.

Hi Darren.

Now that you have the CMS, I highly recommend the LA Rip Fence.
I see Festool has a sale on now with regards to their accessories.

I purchased the fence for $399 and felt ripped off as this should be a standard piece of kit with a table saw.
I think it is now $299.
It certainly makes a huge difference having a decent fence.

I just purchased the CMS blade holder for $50.
It is normally $114.
I would never have purchased it when it was $114.
It really is just a piece of bloody plastic!

Anyway, if anybody needs to buy Festool accessories, I reckon now is the time to buy them.
This is the first time I have heard of a sale like this in a very long time!

Cheers, Justin.

Thanks Justin, is that the fence with micro adjuster? That's a good price!
Any dramas raising your saw?(bet your glad I said saw, lol)

Hi Darren.
Yes, you are correct.
It is the fence with the micro adjustment.

By the way, I have no problems at all raising my tool saw.....

Lol, no worries.

Yep I was using my cms all day today, love the portability and small size, I am kicking myself I didn't get the ts 75 and 2200 router though. I can see me buying the saw soon along with the fence and extension table (right)

I looked before and It was around $1000 for fence and table, the saw is prob. $2000, gets to be an expensive gadget, but perfect for my type of work.

Wish I hadn't bought my dewalt t.s. Good as it is, I think the festool can cover all bases, but at the time I needed a saw quick and couldn't affort the festool.

Cheers