I have a pretty well equipped workshop but just recently I have had the chance to try out this saw from Festool. The saw can be used on it's own, as with a conventianl circular saw or for straight cuts it really comes into it's own when connected to the guide rail system. Basically the guide rail system is an aluminum extrusion onto which the base of the saw sits and slides along giving a perfectly straight cut.
You can watch a video of the saw in action by clicking here which shows better than I can explain in word how it all works.
Cutting sheet material on the saw bench is OK but maneuvering a heavy sheet across stationary machine is not always accurate but is always awkward especially when working alone so moving the saw across the work is sometimes less frustrating and a whole lot easier.
Of course this in nothing new really just a new way of doing things. Carpenters have been running saws across sheets of plywood for years with the base plate against a straight edge which gives perfectly acceptable results and this is the method that I have adopted in the past but now that I have tried the Festool I am hooked. It is easy to set up, accurate and works superbly. And another point is that when connected to a shop vacuum it almost eliminates all dust.
It is probably a bit of overkill if you only have occasional need to make straight cuts on sheet material but if you were refitting a boat and had lots of cupboard, cabinets and shelves to make I could see that it would save a lot of time.
Comments