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Festo saw

| Posted in Tools for Home Building on June 15, 2003 03:29am

Does the Festo plunging circular saw make any sense, except as a panel cutter?  I own a tablesaw, sliding compound chopper, and want to replace my ancient Sears 7-1/4″ circular saw.  As I recall, I have done a lot of sheet cut-down (cutting smaller out of a 4×8 piece) with the Sears over the years.

You would not use the Festo to whack framing lumber, would you?

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  1. steve | Jun 15, 2003 03:47pm | #1

    i've never used or even seen a festo, but i cut many panels in my cabinet shop using portercable circ saw with excellent results

    i always use a top quality blade and straight edge from leevalley tools

    with a new blade i can cut white melamine good on both sides, and any other material is even better even cross grain oak veneer pb

    1. Bloodad | Jun 15, 2003 04:05pm | #2

      Steve...........I would be interested to know what "Quality Blade" you use to cut melamine with.  I use a Trim Tramp with a Milwawke  7 1/4 cutting panels and can only get one good side.  Enlignten me, please.

      ford

      1. steve | Jun 15, 2003 05:17pm | #4

        i use a freud blade triple chip 7 1/4 inch

        and i cut in two passes, first cut is just through the top layer of melamine ie a scoring cut about 1/32 inch then the next cut is all the way through

        a really good straight edge and precisely set up circ saw(blade square to the shoe) are the biggies

  2. bill_1010 | Jun 15, 2003 04:39pm | #3

    with the festo table unit you can eliminate your sliding mitre saw and panel saw system.  Essentially you can gear the festo to onsite applications whereas quality tablesaws and other equipment are suited for shop use.

    as far as the saw itself. its extremely safe based on the riving knife.  Kickback, binding and other little safety issues are solved.  Even little nuisances like the blade guard catching up are dealt with.

    The only drawback as far as i can tell is the retaining of your habits and technique with the plunge saw system.

  3. ahneedhelp | Jun 15, 2003 10:53pm | #5

    I just bought the ATF-55 and the CT22 vac as part of the spring special that includes two sanders, table, and the router.

    Also got the hole drilling set (for 32mm system) and hole drilling guiderail.

    It's just a different way of doing things and I hope this German stuff will be a good compliment to the 'American' sidewinder/chop saw/router, etc. that I already own.

    Instead of getting a contractor's or cabinet saw, I decided this is the setup that will give me far more flexibility for my situation.

    And the dust collection does work.

  4. User avater
    james | Jun 16, 2003 05:11am | #6

    the festool stuff will change your life, i started out small with the rail saw and ct22 dust collector and i have found myself buying most of their line with duplicate tools like routers and drills, once you start using their stuff you get real spoiled. i still have to get the table, that looks like a real jewl.

    james

    1. ahneedhelp | Jun 16, 2003 10:30pm | #7

      James -

      The table I got (1080) is a lot more substantial then it appears in the picture and comes with a guiderail and an assortment of attachments. It is more of a "tool" then just a work stable.

      So far I had a chance to use the Rotex sander with the vac.

      Can't wait to use the other tools such as the ATF55 saw.

  5. luvmuskoka | Jun 17, 2003 12:53am | #8

    I own nearly every piece of Festo. The dust containment system is amazing. The Rotex is like a grinder in it's eccentric mode, a polisher in it's rotary mode. I use the plunge saw to retro borders in old floors. I use the router to cut out inlays and medallions...and no dust.

    Ditch

    1. ahneedhelp | Jun 17, 2003 04:17am | #9

      Fyi for the growing list of Festo owners....

      I've been communicating with Festo about the filtration on the vacs.

      According to their info, the pleated filter is rated either 1 micron (U.S.) or 3 micron (German), depending on the testing methods used. Festo uses the 3 micron figure.

      Anyway, FHB's article on lead paint removal shows a Festo Rotex/CT vac setup being used outside and may have mentioned HEPA somewhere in the sidebar.

      Festo does NOT have a HEPA rated filter available at the moment for the CT vac lines.

      However, I was told this option may be available late summer/fall this year.

      The Festo tools/vac being demonstrated indoors in the tool reviews at their site is somewhat misleading because although the dust collector does an amazing job, the exhaust may still be discharging extremely fine particles that are getting past the filter.

      None of this doesn't diminish my enthusiasm for the Festo tools.

      Just wanted to share this information with other owners.

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