Any woodworkers?

My newest toy. festool HK55 framing track saw. it's like a compound miter saw in your hand. if you work with sheet good with any regularity get a track saw they are worth their wight in gold.

 

What was your reasoning for that model versus the original ones ?

 

I have a TS55 in my shop already, I'm a a cabinet maker by day, and I like that saw. the new one has the guide rail attached to the saw with a return spring and miter adjustments built in making it a very fast way to cut lumber. it will also work with the other guide rails I already own. the saw is really like having a miter saw in your hand

 

I missed the last Festool demo day at my favorite lumberyard. Guess I need to check that saw out. Love my Kapex and TS55, and Carvex.

 

Interesting. Can you describe what it does? How long is that track? Can you just use a regular circular saw and buy the track?

 

The track I got with the saw is good for a 16 inch cut. the saw slides into the track and there is a spring and stop system in place. After you complete the cut and lift the saw and track off the work piece the track returns to the starting point. This system is exclusive to this tool from Festool. There are track systems that work ok with regular circular saws but the track saw designs have a few nice features like plunge stops riving knifes and such that make better and safer cuts.

 

Ive used it a couple times now...it seems to work good, I like the easy change tips.

The first one I got was good but like I said it had some odd sized allen screw in it an I tried a bunch of different allen wrenches and they were either just barely too big or just barely too small...

 

I have been using this system for years. ez smart track system

 

I like that. thanks man.

 

My shop is not large enough to break down sheet goods on the table saw. So I use that system. works great. there is a plate to keep tear out to a minimum.

 

My shop is big enough to use the table saw but I prefer to use the track saw to do cross cuts it's fast and safer

 

i think i've seen tommy silva of "this old house" using one of those already... i've got the regular TS55REQ, ...worth the money!

 

I agree plus im a one man show. A 4x8 sheet is getting heavy now days to run thru the table saw.

 

I like festool but very pricey 1k for the domino machine is just too much for me. My return on investment is just not there

 

Yeah that episode was on about a month ago

 

I have the smaller of the two domino machines and while I don't use it every day it has paid for its self with a few large table builds we had last year.

 

Just got a notice Festool is coming to the Boston area Dec 15

 

festool's are amazing, our Super finally got convinced we needed one on the downtown Courthouse in San Diego, and it makes life soooo much easier

 

Anybody have an opinion on the Porter Cable 557 biscuit joiner?

Don't really have a lot of use for one, but a use nonetheless.. so I was looking at lower cost models than the average $175+ range. Found one on Craigslist that was only used for 6 cuts (1 project), comes complete with a ton of biscuits.. price ranges from $220-280 online for this setup and he's asking $100. Committed to it at that price, but wanted to hear any feedback from those who know.

Just starting to take some more serious steps into being able to build things for the house and whatnot, and planning to spend $600-700 over the next month on some tools. I don't have a lot of floor space so passing on large tools until I do.

 

It looks like an older model (judging solely by the hard case), so crossing my fingers it comes with the smaller 2" blade, though it's not seen in these pics.