Festool’s Big Mistake? [member edit]

petermillard
Jun 16, 2023
1 min read

Direct video link - https://youtu.be/Sx8WM90bOiI

This is my ‘first impressions’ video of the Festool CSCSYS50, a cordless sliding table saw.

I’ve had the saw commissioned for about a week, and this is my honest assessment of it at this stage.

I really like the saw and it does exactly what I expected of it, but there are some very odd design decisions that I struggle to understand.

Tech Spec of the saw is here - https://media.cdn.festool.io/productmedia/Images/attachment/cf8320d8-8067-11ed-8a3a-005056b3ad01.pdf

12 Comments

David Hughes

Jun 17, 2023

Thank you for your usual thorough review Peter. I'm still in two minds about a purchase. I currently use a DeWalt 745 which redefines noisy and has a poor fence so really accurate work is time consuming. I am surprised at the sloppy fit of the mitre fence and main fence. Hard to understand why they did that but I am sure they have a reason. Banggood no doubt sell a mitre fence that will fit the slot better. I am not clear on how you set the fence accurately to a particular measurement. I definitely like the sound level and the ease of changing blades but that blade shield is likely to get lost. Like you I prefer to…

petermillard

Jun 17, 2023

Replying to

Thanks David! This is really just a quick ‘first impressions’ video, full review will be along when I’ve cut a few miles of board with it. As I say in the vid the ‘slop in the slots’ goes away when locked, but it’s a surprisingly casual approach when you think how much consideration has gone into the digital side of things.

I think your experience with German companies is spot on - it’s why the Domino and Mafell dowellers default to a 10mm centre rather than 9mm, as 20mm board is much more common than 18mm in Germany. And I was told that Festool were very late to the impact driver market because German carpenters and installers don’t use them.…

Jonathan Skrine

Jun 16, 2023

I am known for frugality. Lidl and Aldi were my first call for wood toys. My wife is now wondering if I am some sort of face changing alien.

My needs are not those of a tradesman any more. I am retired and my body is showing signs of wear and tear.

Like Peter I saw the specs and saw something that would do what I needed and I still have the 12" Schepach for bigger stuff IF I ever do any in future.

For £2186.95 from FFX with all the goodies and three extra blades it's a lot of money.

My wife told me to GET IT NOW...... so I did - Delivery middle of next month I hope.

petermillard

Jun 17, 2023

Replying to

It’s always hope… then despair when you’re waiting for a delivery isn’t it? Still, you’ll have blade to look at (shiny!) while you’re waiting which is more than I had! 😂

I’ve no issue with the sliding table and crosscut - it’ll work as advertised, but probably not something I’ll use much, personally, and I do wish the digital goodness also extended to the fence, though I appreciate that’s a much more complex problem to solve.

I had originally ordered the saw plus battery pack option; the stand is very nice with some excellent details, but not something I’d ever expect to use; having the systainer taking up space in the workshop is bad enough without the stand knocking around…

Dawn Smith

Jun 16, 2023

I see that powertool supplies in Weston Super Mare sell a pair of 5.2Ah bluetooth batteries for £225 inc delivery. Perhaps in time Festool will take user comments on board and produce a converter pack similar to the 202503 mains adapter pack for the RTSC400 range of cordless sanders, which allows mains and battery use. It does seem a pity that the mitre slot and sliding table is so hinky. I suppose in time you will develop work arounds and jigs to overcome these problems, but I agree that at this price point you really should not need to!

petermillard

Jun 16, 2023

Replying to

Thanks Dawn! Have already picked up a pair of Bluetooth batteries from a ‘special’ on FFX; I know right - I can resist everything except temptation! 😂👍

Geoffrey Coan

Jun 16, 2023

Interesting. A very open and honest appraisal of the saw Peter.

The price and batteries put me off, and having seen your first impressions, I’m now struggling to understand how many fitters and installers would find a use for it given the limitations it has with fence width and infeed and outfeed space. I can see it would be useful for trimming laminate flooring, skirting boards and kitchen cabinet kick boards, all of which are the sort of jobs you need to do accurately on-site, but I wouldn’t fancy balancing a wide board on that sliding mitre table.

Likewise you couldn’t cut end panels to size, shelves or maybe anything much bigger than an A3 sheet?

What else might it…

petermillard

Jun 16, 2023

Replying to

Don’t disagree Geoffrey, and yes, that’s how I did my scribe infills previously. But often I’d just get a 400mm or half-sheet sprayed up to use for infills, and this would be delivered to the install site direct, so no opportunity to roughly pre-cut in the workshop. 🤷‍♂️👍