We have shown the Festool System a number of times when making cabinets. We do it
because it is so great at the task. A very good reason.
Well, Elena is here today with a request to show
her, and that I will.
But, to make it more than a "me too", I will introduce a few
different methods and maybe even come up with some new jigs.
And, if you do not have Festool tools, I hope that this will still be of use
and interest to you.
|
|
|
As usual, I will use the
CutList from Cut List Plus a great software program for making cutting the components
quicker and easier….and with fewer mistakes. Elena looks at what
has to be done.
|
Step one
is to clean the under surface of the guide rail. This white melamine panel material is
slippery. We want the guide rails to hold their position as much as possible.
|
|
|
Now she
sprays a dry lubricant on the top of the guide rail. This really helps us get perfect
cuts.
|
At the
risk of revealing a very cluttered shop, here Elena checks out the new boom for the
Festool System.
|
|
|
She
starts my marking the first position at three points.
|
She
places t he guide rail so that the rubber strip is right on her mark.
|
|
|
She then
uses the large drafting triangle to set the guide rail square to the panel edge. We have
used quite a few different squares, and this works well and is accurate. It is also
hardest to lose.
|
She
places the Festool TS55 Plunge Saw on the guide rail.
|
|
|
With the
power off, she plunges the saw until the blade touches the panel and then she sets the
plunge depth an additional 25mm of depth — that allows for the 3/4" material to
be cut and the blade to go through an additional 1/4".
|
Elena
points to the 1" foam that is under the white melamine panel. This piece of
foam stays on the worktable and serves as a backer board that holds our panel and allows
that 1/4" extra cut. Repeated cuts seems not to ruin this support board. But it only
costs about $15 so when it is time, it will be easy to replace.
|
|