tcarswell Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 I'm looking at getting a festool tracksaw To fill the small void left by my big cabinet saw. I haven't seen much info on cut quality. What can I expect from a rip surface quality as far as right off the saw is concerned? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 I use my TS75 for breaking down hardwood ply, the cut quality is crisp and splinter free. The stock blade does one hell of a job. I'd say it's furniture quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 I have cut 14' rips with my TS75 in 5/4 oak glue line ready. Wood was S3S to start with and I selected for the straightest/ flattest stock possible. Glued up a 30" x14 ft oak bar top. Used Dominos to help keep the boards aligned during glue up. Ripped 8/4 mahogany 12 ft long because my jointer can't handle that length, it was much faster and straighter than what I have done with my UniSaw. That long track and the joiner plate plus the stock 75" track and TS75 saw were around $1000 I was just using the stock blade that came with the saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 Agree with the above posters! I've had great results with mine as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 I agree as well. Furniture quality cuts with my 55. Its amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick S Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 Yes, great cut quality. Just make sure you have a vacuum hooked up to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcarswell Posted July 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 Added to cart uh oh! First taste of the green cool aid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcarswell Posted July 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 Does the vacuum really affect cut quality? I have a vac just curious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 As long as you have decent suction it will cut good. The dust collection clears the dust and let's the saw operate well. I got the 36mm hose but I don't know it's completely necessary. But the track saws dust collection isn't complete, some does get left on the floor. I have run a Festool Ets150/3 on a Fein vac for many years. I had to put some "o" rings on the tail of the sander plus modify the coupling to be able to control the suction ( not needed for the Saw) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick S Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 It's a good idea to use a vacuum if you're looking for the best cut quality. The vacuum helps clear the chips before they can circle around in the shroud and be cut again and again. When that happens, heat builds up, blade dulls faster and you can get more burning than you might get using a vac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 Plus the vac keeps the shop cleaner. I have the 27mm hose on my TS75 and it collects nearly all the dust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 ==>Can I get furniture quality cuts with a ts55/75? on sheet goods, yes. On solid stock, depends. 55 has a better cut (deflection). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 Added to cart uh oh! First taste of the green cool aid Someone on the FOG is selling a TS55 REQ with some warranty remaining if you want to save a few bucks Yes the cut quality is very good. The vac helps, I used a shop vac at first but would forget to turn on, so I bought the Festool so it is trigger activated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graykeene Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 I have the TS55 and use a CT26 for dust extraction. Stock blade. Excellent combination and furniture quality cuts. Makes those long cuts much easier and the results are great. Buy once, cry once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcarswell Posted July 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 Thank you guys i got a ct and ts55 package I'm contemplating which rails I want still. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 If you wanna cut a 4x8 sheet of plywood you'll need a second 55" rail, and 2 rail connectors. I have a 75" and a 32" rail with connectors. Been contemplating getting a 55" holy rail and maybe adding a LS32 system later on. If you have any plans to get any Festool routers, or going to the darkside (which will happen now that you have a CT, and you're going to take a sip of the Kool-Aid) I'd go with a holy rail which will work fine for the tracksaw and will allow you to add on an LR32 system without having to duplicate rail purchases. Holy rails are a few bucks more than the regular rails unless they aligned the prices to be the same. http://blog.festoolusa.com/post/2008/11/04/Little-Known-Facts-About-Festool-Guide-Rails.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 The Holey rail Tom mentions is the same price as the regular rail, and most dealers will swap rails if you ask, if there is a difference in price, you pay the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcarswell Posted July 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 Oh nice thanks guys .I work with virtually no sheet goods though. You weren't kidding I got a 1400 eq router on the way now too talk about addiction . Thanks a lot ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted July 24, 2015 Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 Does the holy rail really exist?? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted July 24, 2015 Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 ==>Does the holy rail really exist?? Yes, it's been anointed with holy water... You will be blessed with furniture-grade cuts... Well... Some rails are pre-drilled for FT's 32mm system... I've got two rails the same length, but one was more expensive by a couple of bucks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick S Posted July 24, 2015 Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 I got the standard 55" rail with mine, but I believe I'll get one of the anointed rails in the near future. I built one of Timothy Wilmot's MFTC benches a couple of years back while living in (humid) Charlotte, NC. I've since moved to (dry) Santa Fe and the MDF top shrunk making the precision CNC holes I created in Charlotte too loose for the Parf dogs I use. Grrrrr. I no longer have a CNC in my shop, so... Festool is the next best thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 25, 2015 Report Share Posted July 25, 2015 Does the holy rail really exist?? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Wasn't that a line from a Monty Python movie? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted July 25, 2015 Report Share Posted July 25, 2015 Wasn't that a line from a Monty Python movie? I have no idea what you're talking about. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 25, 2015 Report Share Posted July 25, 2015 I have no idea what you're talking about. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk None shall pass! Do you bring a shrubbery? See there, your arm's off! What?!? 'Tis only a flesh wound! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew-in-austin Posted July 25, 2015 Report Share Posted July 25, 2015 They are great for plywood and MDF. For hardwoods, especially thicker than 4/4, not so much. They just don't have the power that a cabinet saw has. I have also had my TS55 basically "shutdown" a few times because it gets too hot. And ripping hardwood absolutely requires the lower tooth blade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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