New Circular Saw Guide system! (Cool)

[tkarlmann]

BizCoach: Thank you so much for your excellent review! [8D]

[?]: You mentioned different blades for your circ saw briefly. If you got a blade with a different kerf, wouldn't you need to get another plate/carrier for the saw and another "white strip"? Or just another white strip, and recut it? Can the white strips be re-installed on the guide for different kerf blades?

I'm really surprised that one-who-uses-both prefers EZ system over Festool. Thanks. Could save a fella lots of $$$!!!

[germdoc]

Wow, that Festool looks great, but boy is it expensive! Maybe American manufacturers (or their Asian counterparts) will take note of the innovative features.

I had been relying on an old Craftsman, and finally I decided it wasn't worth the effort--plate not flat, underpowered, etc. So I sprung for a new PC. Boy, does it make a difference. I really like the dust collection, because previously the one activity guaranteed to dust up the entire workshop in winter anyway was using a circ. saw.

Using a high-quality balanced saw with a good blade (Freud Diablo finishing blade) makes a world of difference. If you're not having to worry about the balance of the saw or having to push it too hard throughout the cut it is much easier to follow a straight cutting guide. Maybe not as foolproof as the above, but definitely serviceable.

[BizCoach]

quote:Originally posted by tkarlmann
You mentioned different blades for your circ saw briefly. If you got a blade with a different kerf, wouldn't you need to get another plate/carrier for the saw and another "white strip"? Or just another white strip, and recut it? Can the white strips be re-installed on the guide for different kerf blades?

Chipout along the left side of the blade is protected by the white strip. If the left side of your new blade is in the same place relative to the saw then you could use the same white strip. Yes the white strips can be reinstalled. They fit inside a channel along the length of the guide. Some squeezing releases the pressure enought to slide them in or out.

Chipout along the right side of the blade is protected by an insert in the plate. So with a thicker or thinner blade, you don't need a new plate - just a new insert.

Hope that helps.

[BrazosJake]

Yep, till I can persuade LOML to buy me a FesTool, I'll keep using my good ol sawboard that's got maybe $5 total in it.

They say the FesTool collects close to 100% of the dust when used with their extraction setup.

[tkarlmann]

BrazosJake:

Dust Collection: Yes! That's the one thing keeping me from a ringing endorsement of the EX gadget -- my 20-year old Craftsman circular saw with no DC.

Germdoc (you can tell who's got lots $$$) says he bought a new PC circ saw, but in my case getting the EZ might be like putting 15" chrome alloy mag wheels on my lil Ford Festiva.

[dedaddy]

Thom,
As an alternative to the $130 PC saw with dust collection, consider the $69 Ryobi that has dust collection. To get all the dust, you have to add a little skirt to the saw, as I did on my PC. By far the majority of the generated dust ends up in my Fein shop vac.

Ryobi 7 1/4 In. Circular Saw With Laser
Model CSB140KLZ
7 1/4" Circular Saw with Laser
Internet/Catalog # 165422
Store SKU# 576313
Price: $69.00/ea

This saw looks like it has a simple flat base which makes drilling holes for the guide base much easier. Dino (YCF Dino, BT3 forum member and inventor of the EZ) shows using this saw on his web site. In the new set of instructions, it looks like you can attach the saw to the base using double sided foam tape, eliminating the hole drilling.

[tkarlmann]

dedaddy: Interesting, thanks!

[Roofus]

quote:Originally posted by dedaddy

To get all the dust, you have to add a little skirt to the saw, as I did on my PC. By far the majority of the generated dust ends up in my Fein shop vac.

Dedaddy,

I just purchased the Eurekazone and PC Mag324, to feed my ol' Fein Vac. Great minds shopping in the same tool universe...[]. Problem is, my great mind is distracted by this whole little skirt thing. Little skirts... mmmmmmm. What was the question? Oh yeah, what did you use to make the little skirt, and how did you convince a macho tool like the PC to wear it? Pictures would be a big help, and/or any thoughts on what you might do given a second chance.
Gracia Paisan.. Roofus

[dedaddy]

OK Roofus, here are some pics. I used some aluminum flashing from when I built the house. I cut a small piece to fit around the front of the saw housing right under the vacumn port. This channeled the air and saw dust up and out. I fasented it to the housing with one pop rivet and good old duct tape.






The aluminum is bent in a U shape to cover up as much of the blade as I could and still get the blade on and off.

As you can see, this took a lot of heavy thought and engineering! And it even works!!!

[Roofus]

quote:Originally posted by dedaddy

OK Roofus, here are some pics. I used some aluminum flashing from when I built the house. I cut a small piece to fit around the front of the saw housing right under the vacumn port. This channeled the air and saw dust up and out. I fasented it to the housing with one pop rivet and good old duct tape.

The aluminum is bent in a U shape to cover up as much of the blade as I could and still get the blade on and off.

As you can see, this took a lot of heavy thought and engineering! And it even works!!!

What??? You didn't chrome plate the exhaust header? What kind of rice job is that???

Seriously Lee, thanks a ton for posting pix. Your solution looks doable, even for the likes o' me. []

[RagerXS]

I have to follow up here that after additional research and more thought I am seriously considering the EZ Smart Guide. My research has led me to believe this is the most ridgid guide available -- even better than the Festool guide that costs far more and is widely coveted. That's all. Since I was initially turned off by the price and failed to recognize the value I thought it was only fair to follow up...

~ Fred

[dedaddy]

The Festool system includes a circular saw with a splitter. I would expect it to cost more. It is a precision tool I understand and those who have them don't seem to feel it is overpriced. But everyone tries to justify their purchases or their spouses might raise a fuss. "What do you mean, you don't like that $500 saw you bought. Now you want to buy another one????" or something like that.

[tkarlmann]

Again, for some, like me, I have such a crappy circ saw, that I would think new circ saw to go with it. DC is important to me. I would probably go EZ, and then worry about the Festool being better, but happy I'd saved ~$250.

Users:
1) Splitter: Can't I jam little wooden bits into the kerf as I go? Does stopping to put them in cause a 'ripple in the Force'?
2) I think the clamps on EZ are great, but don't I need a guide length almost equal to the board length to use them? Oh, wait, do they slide on some rails underneath the guide?
3) Would this system save me from needing extension rails for my BT?

[germdoc]

quote:Originally posted by tkarlmann

BrazosJake:

Germdoc (you can tell who's got lots $$$) says he bought a new PC circ saw

You're wrong--buying new tools is what keeps me from having $$$!

Hey, some things I scrimp on, some things I splurge on. OK, I did get the Subaru Outback of circ. saws, but it's not a BMW 760 (Festool)!

[tkarlmann]

Boy, it sure took germdoc a while to pick up on that one! Actually, what I meant was, you were able to plop down the $$ for that PC with dc, without much apparent ado. Great for you!!!