Cabinetmaking — "Elena Starts Out"
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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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