Carpentry, plung saws and track add ons?

[Russell]

I want to make up some cupboards. I've already got a cheapo triton plung saw and makita 1.5m track but have decided to invest in some festool bits in the hope it might help acheave some accuracy. Ive just got a festool saw and should have a 3m festool track coming.
Is it worth getting the track square and parallel guides or would a big try square and 1m ruler do? Unfortunately I think my 30+ year old combi square and 50+year old try square are past their best.

 

[Smiffy]

I want to make up some cupboards. I've already got a cheapo triton plung saw and makita 1.5m track but have decided to invest in some festool bits in the hope it might help acheave some accuracy. Ive just got a festool saw and should have a 3m festool track coming.
Is it worth getting the track square and parallel guides or would a big try square and 1m ruler do? Unfortunately I think my 30+ year old combi square and 50+year old try square are past their best.

Get a big speed square. Speed squares are so much nicer to use I find and trust them not to go out 9f tru like a tri square.
I know they are a forbidden subject but there where some nice ox ones in Travis the other day

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Triton to Festool is a bit jump! Decent results with a dewalt or other mainstream are okay. Nothing beats a plunge saw for accuracy. Keep everything clean and sliding well for good results and make sure you use appropriate blade. I’ve got a newer cordless 54v saw that will fit on a rail which is good enough for wood butchery and floor boards, but for a spot of joinery a proper plunge saw is the bees knees. I never bother with the clamps on my dewalt rails as the rubber strips seem to grip well enough.

 

[Lancs Lad]

I want to make up some cupboards. I've already got a cheapo triton plung saw and makita 1.5m track but have decided to invest in some festool bits in the hope it might help acheave some accuracy. Ive just got a festool saw and should have a 3m festool track coming.
Is it worth getting the track square and parallel guides or would a big try square and 1m ruler do? Unfortunately I think my 30+ year old combi square and 50+year old try square are past their best.

Good move. You'll not regret festool... they invented the tracked plunge saw after all
The cut quality of a properly setup festool with splinterguard on rail in melamine has to be seen to be believed. Lot of folk think it's router cut first time they see it.

And price wise it's not as daft as it used to be now it's a race to the bottom between dealers.
Yes I'd recommend the FS-WA 90 square for the guide rail.
Makes whole thing rock solid ...parallel guides perhaps a bit OTT unless you doing a lot of shelves etc. absolute game changer if you are tho.

Highly recommended the extractor as well just makes whole thing a nicer experience and tools run cooler etc...
As SM says get right blades as well.

DM me if you get stuck or any weird questions... Spent to long trying to sell the stuff

 

[Russell]

Whats the bench dogs stuff like ?
I see their rail square is a tiny bit less but the parallel guides are a fair bit cheaper.

 

[Smiffy]

Whats the bench dogs stuff like ?
I see their rail square is a tiny bit less but the parallel guides are a fair bit cheaper.

Start at the beginning of this guy's channel and work your way through he is the king of all things track saw.

https://youtube.com/@10MinuteWorkshop?si=JS1E6LGZkWraUmI3

 

[Lancs Lad]

Whats the bench dogs stuff like ?
I see their rail square is a tiny bit less but the parallel guides are a fair bit cheaper.

Prob ok not actually used but seen his videos..looks nice stuff.
Festool 90 square is actually made by TSO

 

[6feetdown]

Get a big speed square. Speed squares are so much nicer to use I find and trust them not to go out 9f tru like a tri square.
I know they are a forbidden subject but there where some nice ox ones in Travis the other day

2nd that

 

[6feetdown]

Good move. You'll not regret festool... they invented the tracked plunge saw after all
The cut quality of a properly setup festool with splinterguard on rail in melamine has to be seen to be believed. Lot of folk think it's router cut first time they see it.

And price wise it's not as daft as it used to be now it's a race to the bottom between dealers.
Yes I'd recommend the FS-WA 90 square for the guide rail.
Makes whole thing rock solid ...parallel guides perhaps a bit OTT unless you doing a lot of shelves etc. absolute game changer if you are tho.

Highly recommended the extractor as well just makes whole thing a nicer experience and tools run cooler etc...
As SM says get right blades as well.

DM me if you get stuck or any weird questions... Spent to long trying to sell the stuff

Yep get the vac festool big selling point is dust control. The big router on corian with a 65mm x 19 cutter and dust guard is absolutely superb. If you've ever machined solid surface you'll know what I mean

 

[Russell]

Is the festool vac any different to any other hoover?
I use a heny for dust extraction and it works well. I could do with making a intercepter but it doesn't fill the hoover bag too quick.

 

[Lancs Lad]

Is the festool vac any different to any other hoover?
I use a heny for dust extraction and it works well. I could do with making a intercepter but it doesn't fill the hoover bag too quick.

Yes it's a proper extractor , turns on when the tool does and runs for a bit longer when you switch off to clear the hose etc. Bluetooth is incredibly handy for cordless tools. All little things that add up to make life more enjoyable
Yes you can make do with basic Hoover's but this is the real McCoy. Plus you can connect your systainers to the top for the insta pics

 

[Giles]

I’ve the DEWALT 54v plunge with the 54v extractor nice to be cordless, my joiners given up On big festool chop saw after problems with 3 of them

I’ve a cheap Aldi biscuit jointer but would like a domino jointer

 

[V8Druid]

I’ve the DEWALT 54v plunge with the 54v extractor nice to be cordless, my joiners given up On big festool chop saw after problems with 3 of them

I’ve a cheap Aldi biscuit jointer but would like a domino jointer

funnily enough I saw a domino jointer in a youtube vid the other night .. never seen one before, but looked a great way of jointing timber .. much better than dowels

 

[Lancs Lad]

I’ve the DEWALT 54v plunge with the 54v extractor nice to be cordless, my joiners given up On big festool chop saw after problems with 3 of them

I’ve a cheap Aldi biscuit jointer but would like a domino jointer

110v kapex can be a bit of a mare...
But then again I know plenty that are 20 years old.

 

[Lancs Lad]

funnily enough I saw a domino jointer in a youtube vid the other night .. never seen one before, but looked a great way of jointing timber .. much better than dowels

Domino is another incredible bit of kit ...again it really needs to be seen to understand the accuracy and ease of use .

 

[6feetdown]

Is the festool vac any different to any other hoover?
I use a heny for dust extraction and it works well. I could do with making a intercepter but it doesn't fill the hoover bag too quick.

Better filter plug tools in direct.
Have an old bosch 1 that has shifted some been a great vav

 

[6feetdown]

Domino is another incredible bit of kit ...again it really needs to be seen to understand the accuracy and ease of use .

I have the big 1

 

[6feetdown]

110v kapex can be a bit of a mare...
But then again I know plenty that are 20 years old.

The wings and fine adjustments are great though

 

[Lancs Lad]

The wings and fine adjustments are great though

Issue is generally the motors the 110v plays up usually on sites with long extensions etc buggers the motors up. 110v is shite full stop but that's another discussion...

 

[DaveDCB]

Is the festool vac any different to any other hoover?
I use a heny for dust extraction and it works well. I could do with making a intercepter but it doesn't fill the hoover bag too quick.

All Dust extraction needs to be Class M now, I’m on the hunt for a new one, I want bagless so that limits my choices somewhat!