Replies

1. 
   DougU | Oct 01, 2005 06:49am | #1

   Welcome to BT

   YOu mentioned the Festool system which is probably good but check this tool out, save you some money.

   There is quite a few people on here that use it so getting some input on the tool would be easy.

    http://www.eurekazone.com/

   Just click on the link and take a look.

   Doug

1. 
   Queets | Oct 02, 2005 01:57am | #6

   Thanks for the info. I am going to pull the trigger on one system.  I am a computer dummy but this forum is great.  Thank you!   Brad

1. 
   DougU | Oct 02, 2005 02:04am | #7

   I'm not trying to sway you either way but for more infor on the EZ there are several threads on here that talk about it.

   Just do a search and you'll get more to read then you know what to do with.

   Doug

2. 
   Lateapex911 | Oct 02, 2005 03:40am | #8

   Festool ROCKs!

   I have cut 9 feet with the guide, no clamps.

   WELL worth the money.

   And they have a router that uses the guide rail too.....Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT

2. 
   Griff | Oct 01, 2005 11:50am | #2

   I've used a festool circular saw and guide on several occasions and have been very impressed with the quality of the cut. The saw rides on its guide and the blade cuts exactly at the edge of it so lining up for a cut is pretty easy. The circular saw is a plunge cut saw meaning you have to lower the blade into the work piece to make the cut - useful if your cut is in the center of a larger piece and doesn't reach the end.

   The saw is exceptionally quiet but I've not found it underpowered. It's never gotten into a bind or slowed when cutting hard wood.

   If you attach the dust hose to a vacuum, it's practically dust free circular saw cutting. Although this shop has the festool vac (which is also quiet), I don't know if you can connect it to just any shop vac. Also, you can plug the saw into an outlet on the vac and plug the vac into the wall outlet so that when you start the saw, the vac comes on automatically and turns off auto. when you release the switch on the saw. Neat.

   The blade in the unit gives a cut that rivals a table saw - smooth, no chipping, seems to be exactly 90 degrees to the face, and straight due to the guide. Guide comes in 3', 5' and 9' lengths and has clamps to hold it to the work. But, because of the backing material, there's a good deal of friction so with some downward pressure, the guide does not move when you're cutting and you get a great cut - although I've only tried this on relatively short pieces. Were I to rip a 4 x 8  sheet of plywood, I'd use the clamps.

   They are expensive though. Made in Germany. Typical quality engineering the Germans have been known for.

   Griff
1. 
   Queets | Oct 04, 2005 05:00am | #9

   Griff,

   Thanks for all the info. 

3. 
   PaulBinCT | Oct 01, 2005 03:54pm | #3

   I'm a hardcore Eurekazone fan, own two systems, with the router guide and assorted doodads.  I looked seriously at Festool, but even putting aside the price difference, the SmartGuide has many advantages and more coming.  Look at the website, and if you have any specific questions I'll be happy to try to answer them.

4. 
   RW | Oct 01, 2005 08:44pm | #4

   Did someone say Festool?

   Oh yes. Amazing little tool, that is. And on sale at the moment, which is good if you buy one. When I bought it I thought same as you - primarily for sizing sheet goods. There are so many other things that you can do with that saw. It's an indispensible part of the trim arsenal now. The accessory kit is also on sale, pretty worthwhile. You get clamps, the no-snag end for the guide, a splice kit for putting rails together, and the angle gauge, which works pretty darn good.

   Every Festool I've bought I always start saying geez thats a lot of money for that and after I use it I say geez what a bargain I got for it.

   "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain

5. 
   john | Oct 01, 2005 08:53pm | #5

   I use my Festool saw a lot. I have an 8'x4' cutting table with 6mm sacrificial surface, and use the Festool with various guides on that for cutting out cabinet parts. A table saw with scoring blade and sliding table would be faster, but it wouldn't give a better cut

   John

   If my baby don't love me no more, I know her sister will.