Woodworker's Journal 2009-33-3, страница 69

Tool Review

price. But. without a riving knife — which makes every cut safer, not just rips — the SP6000 drops behind the competition in tliis lest.

And the "Best Bet" Winner is...

Without question, it's Festool. The TS 55 EQ delivers accurate, safe, finish-quality cuts consistently. It'll even chomp through thick hardwood with the right blade. And, while it's not always (he case, this time, "Black and Green" is also competitively priced._^

Chris Marshall is Woodworker's Journal's field editor.

Key rail saw features include: plunge cutting capability (top), an integral riving knife on two tools (center) and easy cut-indexing (bottom).

Aluminum guide rails keep cutting straight and on the mark. You can also link them end-to-end with connector bars.

Festool attends to the little details too: it has tool-less track adjusters, a Systainer carry case that can be clipped lo other Systainers for slacking and transport, a power cord that unplugs from the saw and a limit stop for setting plunge cuts.

Here's another important distinction between the TS 55 EQ and the two greenhorns: Festool offers six different blades, mitering and parallel edge guide accessories and full integration into the company's Multifunction Table (MIT) system. This is a mature, proven product line. Given how closely these three saws are priced, that heritage lips the scales for me.

Makita SP6000

Makita loads their $385 saw with some nice features. It's (he only model with preset 22.5°. 45°. 48° and -1° bevel presets. It has a clip on the base to keep il from lipping off the rail when bevel-culling. Bui the showstopper feature was a little knob that locks the cutting depth at 2 lo 3mm for making scoring cuts. Without il. the SP6000 cut pretty well, but with it, the results rivaled Festool's quality on both sides of the blade. For those critical "money" cuts, be sure lo score first, then repeal for the through cut.

This plunge-cutter pivoted smoothly down, and the 12-amp powerplant was both quiet and appropriately up to task. The saw will cut through material up to 2V (hick at 90° or IV at a 45° tilt. Controls are good and solid.

I think Makita has a real contender here. The saw seems a quality offering for an enticing

Are plunge-cutting rail saws right for your woodshop? Our field editor takes a look at the three options on the market and offers his opinion. (Note: we clamped the saws in place on their rails for this photo.)

thanks to a beefy arbor and triple motor bearings, a variable-pitch blade and an effective little green splinterguard on the waste side of the cut. You want panel saw-quality cuts? Festool delivers 'em.

The saw is rated to make 90° cuts up to l'V deep or IV bevels when tipped to 45°. Its depth control is metric and locks positively on a sawtooth-style rack. To begin cutting, just pivot your wrist to drop the blade and riving knife ... it's effortless. And, that 10-amp motor powers up silky smooth.

■ wm.woodworkersjournal.com IB ■

*MORG ON THG WGB

To see these three saws in action, visit woodworkersjournal.com and check out our new video.