Thread: Question - Festool v's Table Saw

Hi Arry,

I have a Festool TS75 with two 1.4 and one 0.8 metre rails. I don't have a MFT. I use this, a band saw and a SCMS for all my work now and haven't used my table saw since I bought the TS. The cuts are so clean you can go straight to jointing without the need to smooth the joints first.

I like the TS75 over the TS55 as I work with a lot of thick hardwood and like the extra weight of the 75.

Attached are some pics of some Merbau butt jointed using the saw. You can see how good the joints are. Only the TS75 was employed in preparing the boards.

I've also attached a pic of some thin strips I used the TS75 to cut from Ironbark. They are 1, 2 and 5mm x 1mm repsectively.

Regards,

Rob

There is no contest. The TS75 is the way to go. It is that much easier to move around and store. The tracks hang nicely on the wall, and if you stick with festool - some of the other tools ( such as the plunge router) can share the same track system. I would get a 1.4m and a 0.8m track. I have three 1.4m tracks. They can join together, but I wish one of them was a 0.8

I have, a table saw and a TS75 plus 2 @1400 rails and no MFT
I would never ever be without my table saw, but having said that, there is no better way other than an expensive slider to joint boards for a panel or table top than the TS75/Guide rail combination.They are sensational.

For mine a table saw is el supremo, then the TS75, then for your mitres a beautiful Kapex.

Very very interesting indeed

How do you rip on one of these?

And what about making tenons, dado's etc, how do you do that?

Hi Arry,

I have been in hibernation courtesy of the twins but slowly coming out of it... I had to put my 2c worth here and I will go against the grain... Before I do let me say that I own a fair few festool tools and love them.

A festool plunge saw and a few rails cannot replace a real table saw unless all you do with your saw is rip long pieces of wood or break down ply/mdf.. Unless you must have portablity even the saw with the MFT is not quite the same as a table saw, look at depth of cut and the variety of things you can do with a set of jigs on the table saw. Can you do great work without a table saw? Yes, of course but it also depends how much time you have on your hands and how patient you are...

You can cut most joints on the table saw accurately, including box joints, you can rip and accurately crosscut (with a sled, far more accurately than most sliding mitre saws). The table saw is a true workhorse. A fair few people use a bandsaw for some of the things that they would use a table saw for but to do that you really need a decent bandsaw and you will have to compromise. The finish straight off the bandsaw is not the same as what you would get even with a crappy combo blade on the table saw.

The reality is that over time, as you get to do more you realise that all tools have limitations and as this happens, your tool collection increases and the piggy bank decreases ).

If you got the space and plan to do a variety of things with your saw, get a tablesaw.

end of rant.

Marios

Originally Posted by Arry

And what about making tenons, dado's etc, how do you do that?

Good question, How do you do that? I'm just an enthusiastic festool owner - ignore me.

First I don't own any festo. I have a table saw and progrip rail system. My opinion for what it's worth (not much) :

There is a lot of overlap in equipment as to what you can do with which tool/machine. Some people turn to a bandsaw first, use it for everything they can, and only use another tool when they have to. Others feel the same way about the router, router table, table saw, hand held power tools with or without rails and hand tools unpowered.

I'm a tablesaw person. Mine has a incra fence and router wing. It is a very versatile worstation and where I spend most of my (very limited) woodworking time. That doesn't mean it's the best solution, it's just my favourite.

Generally rail systems become awkward on small work or very thin work. Ripping a sliver off a 2X2 isn't fun on a rail system. You can do it of course, but it's awkward.

I tried crosscutting a 2 meter by 600 panel on my table saw the other week. Didn't take long to realise the progrip was a much better option.

You can do all this work with a hand saw and a bit of care. Your choice.....