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festool track saw

toolpouchguy | Posted in Tools for Home Building on January 20, 2011 06:50am

So I bought the great festool track saw …what a limited tool i need to rip smaller strips .so i calls the guy he says for $400 i will sells you an adapter to rip on the other side .so I says well thoughts this thingy was supose to make me get rid of my table saw .

so he says for a few hundred more dollars we’s can do’s that .so I say’s don’t think so.

 

I had to make shaker crown last night let me see you do that with a track saw .had to rip a bunch of 2 1/2″ face frames let me see you beat me with a track saw and I will use a table saw .

I guess it is good for ripping sheets before I run them through my tablesaw.It would never replace my table saw

I is one of those tools I have resarched alot before I purchased.but I guess you just get the festool goggles on and it is all down hill from there .now I have a glorified skil saw ,and that is what i use to use for ripping large sheets with . 

 

they have alot of work to do before they can replace a table saw ……..

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  1. TLE | Jan 20, 2011 10:17am | #1

    Darn it!

    Boy I wish you hadn't said that.

    I have been teetering on the edge of buying the Festool but have been holding out over the price.

    I while back I borrowed one to try out and really liked it - but that was only used to make a few accurate rips on sheet goods.

    I will still probably buy the Festool, but you have already given me buyer's remorse and I haven't bought yet!

    Terry

    1. calvin | Jan 20, 2011 10:33pm | #3

      Terry and toolpouch.

      If you rip narrow-table saw.

      If you rip weird narrow-track saw and the same type of material to ship the other side of the track.

      I've used it to rip scribes I used to (and still do) do on a table saw.  You go, stop, move the track a bit, go some more-etc............

      Door trimming=track.

      Sheet goods you've mentioned-breakdown and odd.............track.

      Guided cuts-whatever does it best and safest-you need both in my mind.  I've not regretted the purchase of the Festool cutting system.

      I have an early EZ set up, never got excited about it.  You need the proper saw to make it work right-my antique 315's don't cut it.

      Blade guard didn't work with it.

      The guide zero edge changed when you tightened the clamps differently-so, not accurate.  I believe dino changed that and it's better now.   And, I could probably just change out the edge guides to the new set up................................................but didn't.

      I like the ability of changing the bevel without changing that zero edge too.  Tilt to a 45 and the pivot point is different-so you cut into the edge stuff in a different spot-now not usable for zeroing your mark for a 90 deg cut.

      The clamps weren't quick enough-again, he probably changed to a quick clamp set up I figure.

      I've use the festool to control rip crown also-when there's that drop in the ceiling that plays havoc-I used to free hand it on a table saw and still could if I didn't have the track with me.

      Put it this way-you can always make up or figure another way.  The time save and quality option is hard to beat.

      Best of luck expanding your uses with the tool.  Don't get stuck in a rut.  Same as a multimaster-"it doesn't do everything or I can use something else"............syndrome.  Keep keen mind and come up with a way to use it beyond the norm.

      1. toolpouchguy | Jan 21, 2011 05:36am | #5

        Oh I keep an open mind It's just the money you have to shell out to keep an open mind I am a simple fella ,like to do things without breaking the bank .

        there is not a cheap part on the or for the track saw ,I bought it to rip down some cherry doors worked great .

        but now I have it in my shop and find it takes me longer to rip something with it

        I have been using a tablesaw for many years .open mind open mind got it

    2. JusaDave | May 23, 2011 01:22pm | #15

      Or ..... buy this?

      http://www.amazon.com/Makita-SP6000K1-2-Inch-Plunge-Circular/dp/B000UYTKG6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306171055&sr=8-1

      Makita SP6000K1 6-1/2-Inch Plunge Circular Saw with Guide Rail

      and hook it up to a ShopVac or a RIDGID vac and call it even.

      And then there's the DeWalt track saw....

  2. alwaysoverbudget | Jan 20, 2011 09:40pm | #2

    i've been thinking about a ez one track,doesn't set you back quite as hard.

    but i just don't see how it's going to do everything a table saw will do.

    though i did talk to a guy the other day,he's parting with a powermatic table saw,because he likes the track so well. now he still has a another table saw so he's not going only to a track saw.

  3. sapwood | Jan 20, 2011 10:51pm | #4

    Apparently you didn't research the Festool very well. There are numerous posts on this forum as well as others where users say how they use their festools saws and their tablesaws, but one does not replace the other. I have been one of those individuals. Had you asked, I'd have told you my experiences. I love my festool saw with its track and I love my tablesaw. They are two different animals. 

    You didn't make a mistake in purchasing a festool saw. You made a mistake in thinking it would replace your tablesaw. Too bad. That decision was preventable.

    1. toolpouchguy | Jan 21, 2011 05:50am | #6

      I had a reason

      I bought the saw to rip some cherry doors it worked great

      it was just the sales pitch we are going to get rid of your table saw for ya .

      I knew it would not replace my table saw .i did not just fall of the turnip truck ,it was the carrot truck

      and he said he could make repeat cuts faster with a track than i could with a table saw ??never

      you just buy the repeater .so you buy all the attachments and you need a truck to haul them around .and the salesman needs a truck to haul around all your money .

      and your helper to follow with all the other tools .

      anyway dont't take it so hard you can love your saw it's ok ,

      when i make builtin's and mantels i make 90% of my own trim .so lot's of smal peices .maybe i just need a lesson and all the part's for the track saw ?

      1. sapwood | Jan 21, 2011 11:17am | #7

        Your first post sure makes it sound like you expected the track saw to replace the tablesaw. Those sales ads and salesman must be slick indeed. 

  4. toolpouchguy | Jan 22, 2011 07:08am | #8

    very slick

    the salesman keeps calling me to go and see more options for the track saw ,the $400 dollar vac 400 dollar longer track

    400 dollars wow everything is only 400 dollars ..

    it was either buy a new skil saw and very good blade for cutting down the cherry doors, or the track saw so I went for the track saw

    I have used a skil saw and had the same result's I just make a straight edge that my saw rides ontop of and no chips and a good blade means a great cut ,

    but it's the sales pitch

    1. calvin | Jan 22, 2011 07:18am | #9

      If you only did it to cut down some cherry doors............

      then you may have got took.

      But maybe not if you change your attitude and use this tool.

      I bought mine knowing I needed to cut down some 11 ft paneling to form fit an odd shape opening.  I'd wanted one b/4, but this is what took me over the edge.  After that panel it sat unused a week.  Something else came up, I used it again.  Later, hang 20 doors to existing openings was next-made it easier, done better than a shoot board and my 315.  Way better than the early version EZguide I had in the shop.  Plunge cut some register cutouts (to fit around the registers and air returns out of real tall and re-installed base.

      If you want to sit there and grumble, might as well sell it...............or, if a recent purchase-return the thing-they've got a no bull return policy in a certain time period.

      Best of luck.

      1. toolpouchguy | Jan 22, 2011 07:36am | #10

        I like the saw

        it's not the saw that is the issue it works very well for what I will use it for ,it's that sales pitch we will get rid of your table saw for ya that is what he said ..you just need all these other parts ,

        I never return a tool I find a use for everything .

        I will use it today I am going to see how well it works for dados in a built in just for fun .save the router' s they need a rest

        1. calvin | Jan 22, 2011 10:39pm | #11

          Be careful

          They sell a router bracket to use on the track................

          1. bsh6979 | Jan 26, 2011 07:59pm | #12

            really

             sales people are all the same, they will tell you anything you want to hear. its up to the purchaser to decide if they need it. very specialized tool but its got its place and only it will do. just got the 1400eq cant wait to get the track saw and guides for the cab. shop. its a system, if your not familuar with it then it wont feel efficient.

  5. davidwood | May 22, 2011 10:40pm | #13

    I agree with your statements.

    The only system that was designed to replace the tablesaw is the ez smart.

    last year they come up with meny unique inventions and you may like to see the videos at youtube or visit the tracksawforum.com.

    the ripsizer and the ez-one are designed to do just that.

    replace all dangerours and outdated tools.

    video of the ripsizer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofxgwEAZbOc

    and the ez-one pbb. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGb99e5IYro

    1. User avater
      xxPaulCPxx | May 23, 2011 11:43am | #14

      David, don't forget to put your company logo, or at least a link to yout website in your sig.  I helps people find out more information about your products when they have a clear way to "find out more", also it helps when people understand you are a spokesperson for the product. 

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