Festool TS55 rail saw. Are they any good?

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slowmotion

Quite dreadful
Location
lost somewhere
Can anybody who owns one give me an opinion?
For 30 years, I've used a Powermatic 66 cast iron table saw that can rip and cross-cut 8 by 4 sheets accurately. I've been spoiled. Unfortunately, it's been exiled to a shipping container in Herefordshire and won't be coming back anytime soon. However, I still need to make stuff and my fingers are twitching. I've seen the Polish carpenters/joiners doing good work with the Festools, and I'm considering getting one in the next eighteen hours. (The bargain offer ends then. It includes two rails plus bag, two joining bars, two clamps and a moulded box for the saw.) What say, peeps?

Thank you.
 

Heigue'r

Veteran
Ive only ever seen joiners with festool...says enough about them I think,I have festool and makita,Makita is used for sheet materials,ply for walls/floors etc and is accurate for this and would probably do the job fine for finish work however the festool is the kiddie...every single mitre/cut on the attached set of stairs was done with festool guide saw...
20161129_080943.jpg
 

Zimbob

Veteran
Location
Inverness
Can anybody who owns one give me an opinion?
For 30 years, I've used a Powermatic 66 cast iron table saw that can rip and cross-cut 8 by 4 sheets accurately. I've been spoiled. Unfortunately, it's been exiled to a shipping container in Herefordshire and won't be coming back anytime soon. However, I still need to make stuff and my fingers are twitching. I've seen the Polish carpenters/joiners doing good work with the Festools, and I'm considering getting one in the next eighteen hours. (The bargain offer ends then. It includes two rails plus bag, two joining bars, two clamps and a moulded box for the saw.) What say, peeps?

Thank you.

They're ace, we've a Demo one at my work I've used and they are a game-changer. I just wish I could justify buying one for myself :blush: The guide-rail is a great thing, and the Splinter Guard it comes with works a treat. Makes ripping sheets remarkably easy, and very accurate. With the anti-slip stuff on the rail, you rarely neet to clamp too, I've used it on Gloss Wetwall without clamping and it never budges :smile: Depending what you're doing with it, the 'Anti-Kickback' additions are good (mainly for initial plunge into worktops) There's the 3-year guarantee/warranty, theft insurance-type deal, as well, and ultimately, if you don't get on with it (never known that to happen with all the ones we've sold) they hold their money very well. My Director sold his 8 year old one last year for £200!

If it's the deal from K***********s it's a
cracking bargain, I know what these kits cost....

Everyone I know who's bought one says it's been their best buy :becool:
 
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Salty seadog

Space Cadet...(3rd Class...)
AAARGHHH! Keep it quiet, man!:okay:

I know you're going to buy one, you know you're going to buy one. ...we all know......now stop wasting our time and get this deal over the line before is too late ....:tongue:
 

Profpointy

Legendary Member
Hell yes ! I think it may be a contender for the single best piece of kit I've ever bought. First job was cuting a taper of 8mm down to zero on a 2m long kitchen plinth. Spot on first go. Some while later did some built in bookshelves and did perfect depth and width dados just by doing multiple rail-guided cross cuts. (I don't have a router)

Two snags with Festool.
1) - well I think you can guess the first snag
2) - once you've bought the first Festool nothing else seems quite good enough, so problem 1) is actually multipled


Caveat: I am merely a gentleman-amateur, with a more expensive taste in tools than my output truly justifies, but cracking kit all the same. I was slightly underwhelmed by their hoover-extractor though. It does work, but nothing special. Rotex sanders are bloody good too
 
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