Last
week when we first approached this subject, I didn't really mention this green adjustable
plastic splinter guard. It is a new feature of the Festool TS55 saw and gives you
protection of your saw kerf. I call it the "presser foot" a term from my Singer
sewing machine days. You adjust it down to sit comfortably on the material you are sawing.
The arrow points to the notch that the blade cut when it was first installed. It is
clearly a "zero clearance" insert for this saw.
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Andrea
sets it so that it is firmly touching the surface of the white melamine PC panel.
With the saw having cut through a portion of the green attachment, the right edge of the
kerf will create fewer chip-outs.
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Here is
another view. This also shows the section of the saw that is "open". When
it comes to efficient duct control, these "windows" are about the only thing
that reduce the dust control efficiency of this plunge saw. Andrea and I looked over the
worktable to see how must dust we left from last week — a very little bit, but some.
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Then I
remembered an accessory that came in over this last week. It was a "cover plate"
for the TS55 that would further improve dust extraction. Andrea slides the attachment into
two channels that will hold it in position.
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Here is
a closer look.
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The cover plate accessory comes with a couple of hand
knobs and fasteners to secure the plate on the saw.
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The cover is installed and the saw is ready to go. It certainly covers the
holes better. The question that I have is: will it have any effect on the 4th kerf
corner's chip out?
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Andrea makes the cut.
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We
inspected the cut. Much to our surprise, the cut seems to be chip out free — very
acceptable.
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Andrea
found this one spot. It was the only chip out of the 20 inches of the kerf. How could that
be?
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When I posted this on the Festool Owners Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FestoolOwnersGroup/),
one member suggested that the cover plate might be making the dust removal flow so much
more efficient that the dust is not getting restrained in the cutting area.
If we had a glass cover plate, we might be better able to analyze the
"why". I will accept that is gives better cuts and will leave it attached. Since
the saw follows the guide, there is never any need to see the actual kerf while cutting.
This is "good to go."
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