Darryl Keil Last Activity 2025-09-09 11:09 AM
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texasthunderwoodwork

Posts: 25

Joined: 2007-10-31
Location: Central Texas

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Subject : Brian Gray- Festool question
Posted : 2007-11-20 12:34 AM
Post #34203
I have been following the threads on using the festool saw for trimming veneer and if it does work like y'all say I think it would be a good investment. And since I now use a SawTrax vertical panel saw to break down large sheets of mdf and plywood, the Festool could replace that.

Now my question.
Brian- I noticed on your web site you showed a Festool router being used with the guides??
If so, is the plate that attaches the router to the guides a Festool accesory?? Will this plate only work with Festool routers?

With that set up, it seems like dadoeing and even rabbiting plywood panels for cabinets could be very effecient.
Thanks
Dave



 
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Brian Gray

Posts: 339

Joined: 2004-01-21
Location: Sandusky, OH

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Subject : RE: Brian Gray- Festool question
Posted : 2007-11-20 11:11 AM
Post #34204 - In reply to #34203
Hi Dave.

//I have been following the threads on using the festool saw for trimming veneer and if it does work like y'all say I think it would be a good investment. And since I now use a SawTrax vertical panel saw to break down large sheets of mdf and plywood, the Festool could replace that.//

Yes, a Festool setup could replace a panel saw easily. But I would recommend making sure that you are using it with a big homemade MFT like mine, or buy a couple of MFT's and put them together to take down 4 x 8 sheets. Keep in mind that the Festool MFT's are not cheap, so weigh your costs. You could always lay some foam board on the floor and just place your guide and saw on this and cut away, but you will lose repeatibility, and it will be slow compared to your panel saw.

//Brian- I noticed on your web site you showed a Festool router being used with the guides??
If so, is the plate that attaches the router to the guides a Festool accesory?? Will this plate only work with Festool routers?
With that set up, it seems like dadoeing and even rabbiting plywood panels for cabinets could be very effecient.//

Pretty much every Festool accessory is proprietory, and made by them. This includes the router setup.

You can cut dadoes with this setup, but it's not as efficient as using a dado blade on the tablesaw.

Bottom line with Festool...

Could a professional cabinetmaker get by with only Festool setups?
Yes, but he wouldn't be as fast. Dadoes will be faster with a tablesaw, and general crosscutting and ripping will always be faster with a tablesaw.

That being said, would I recommend a cabinetmaker with a small shop to go with Festool? Absolutely. However, it's expensive, but very worth the money. Top of the line tools.

Do I use my MFT for everything? Right now, yes....but that's because I haven't broken ground on my new shop yet.

When my new shop is all set up and I have space, I'll be using it where it's most effective, vs. all other tools.

I would recommend checking out the Festool Owners Group.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/

This is a great group of guys (who happen to be obsessed with all things Festool), but they are pretty open with the limitations of the setup.

Feel free to email me with any questions.

bg



 
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texasthunderwoodwork

Posts: 25

Joined: 2007-10-31
Location: Central Texas

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Subject : RE: Brian Gray- Festool question
Posted : 2007-11-20 10:49 PM
Post #34205 - In reply to #34204
Brian-
Thanks for the reply.
I have a Jet cabinet saw with Excalibur slider so after cutting large sheets of ply down to size I then cut to finish on the cabinet saw.
One of the problems with my SawTrax vertical panel saw is that it does not give a real clean cross cut on plywood. I tried few different blades but to no avail.
So my thinking is that if I can cross cut with the festool, that will eliminate some steps. And as my buisiness gravitates towards more veneer work then I can also use the festool as was mentioned in the earlier threads. I have a pretty decent size table saw outfeed table, which is on casters and would work as a good mft.

For some reason, I hate to change out my table saw blade for a stacked dadoe. After you get it on the saw, then you have to fiddle with shims, etc to get good plywood dadoes, then it seems to be a pain getting the stacked dadoe back off of the saw.

I did go over to the Festool site and there is a pretty good video on the mid size router.
Thanks again for all the help and good luck on the new shop. They are fun to set up, and it seems like as the direction of your wood working goes, then changes are necessary in the placement of your tools.

Dave



 
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Brian Gray

Posts: 339

Joined: 2004-01-21
Location: Sandusky, OH

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Subject : RE: Brian Gray- Festool question
Posted : 2007-11-21 3:58 PM
Post #34206 - In reply to #34205
//One of the problems with my SawTrax vertical panel saw is that it does not give a real clean cross cut on plywood.//

This is where the Festool excels. Super-clean cuts. Cleaner than any tablesaw or panelsaw.

I've never used a tablesaw with a scoring attachment, however, so I can't comment on that.


 
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Don Stephan

Posts: 825

Joined: 2003-07-18
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

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Subject : RE: Brian Gray- Festool question
Posted : 2007-11-21 9:03 PM
Post #34207 - In reply to #34205
There are a couple possible causes that come to mind for chipping in your panel saw.

Of course, the blade may be a problem if dull, coarse, not a high ATB or triple chip. If the saw has runout, that would cause chipout with even a perfect blade.

Finally, there may be ever so slight play in the saw carriage that essentially mimics arbor runout.

Personally, I always cut down 4x8 sheets on the table saw. Can be tiring, but I have a rolling cart strong enough to hold a number of sheets horizontally, with locking casters, when cutting a bunch of sheets. For the odd sheet, I also have a collapsible 8' support I can quickly set up behind the table saw to hold the sheet in place until the saw is turned on. Finally, I have a rolling assembly table I keep just to the left of the table saw, with the top at the same height as the table saw table. When crosscutting a long piece of plywood, this table supports the left side of the stock.

You'll have to give some thought to the mechanics of positioning a sheet so that you can reach across the full width when crosscutting a 4x8 sheet with the Festool, but it will give great results.
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