Festool is turning the tables on precision sawing with its latest cordless solution
Picture the scene – you want to take your table saw on site but the job is up a couple of flights of stairs, and the tool is hardly what you’d describe as lightweight and compact. Some might even decide that they can make do with a jigsaw, but it’s the accuracy in the finish that will inevitably be the loser.
That’s hitherto been the reality for this class of machine, and most available in the market come with those inherent limitations. The challenge for the engineering team at Festool is to change all that by making precision genuinely portable, and the result is the cordless CSC SYS 50 table saw. Because all of the necessary elements are housed within Systainer boxes it fits seamlessly into your existing Festool ecosystem, is easily transported and integrated into bott van racking – but the advantages don’t stop there.
Indeed, to make carrying it even easier, the manufacturer has developed an underframe, which also functions as a hand trolley. Not only is it easy to secure the CSC SYS 50 table saw to that underframe but the trolley means you can take further Systainers to site with you. When in operation it offers an ergonomic working height of 90cm, helping protect your back, and providing an excellent overview of the workpiece. Fold the four legs in and the work surface is the perfect height for ground-level jobs, such as parquet flooring.
Multi-tasker
Not only that – even without the saw – the underframe equally functions as a sturdy and durable workbench. In addition, fold out the rest and you have a larger support surface for longer materials. So, what you have is a hand trolley, workbench and underframe for your CSC SYS 50 table saw – a genuine three-in-one solution.
Once on site, to start setting up simply remove the Systainer cover. Inside you’ll find all the necessary accessories are neatly stored in the lid, so everything is always exactly where you need it, including angle fence, parallel side fence, dust bag, and saw blades. No power on site? No problem, because this is a battery powered machine that runs from two 18V batteries and, again, both of these can be stored in the Systainer box, along with a Duo rapid charger that will charge both batteries in as little as 30 minutes.
A digital display would usually be the preserve of a larger workshop-bound unit but, with the CSC SYS 50, Festool has brought the technology to the most compact of worksites. In second fix jobs, every millimetre matters and, in these applications, rotary wheels for adjusting the height and angle are never quite accurate enough. With the new Systainer Saw, however, precision can be achieved at the press of a button, with the height and angle set digitally.
Precise and accurate
Set a height of 35.5mm, and an angle of 12.5mm, for example, and it will be accurate to a 10th of a millimetre. Simply press a button and the saw blade will automatically move to the chosen position. In addition, four saw blade positions can be stored, enabling cuts with 100 per cent repeat accuracy. Those settings can also be saved in the Festool Work app and then sent to the machine. The display can be changed from imperial to metric according to your preference, whilst different rotation speeds can also be established.
For completely autonomous working, Festool cordless dust extractors can be paired with the aforementioned battery packs, such as the CTC MINI Cordless, whilst the dust bag conveniently located in the Systainer can be used when only a few cuts need to be made.
For groove cuts or rebates the tool is equipped with a riving knife, which can be easily removed with the small key supplied. Following the now familiar theme, both key and riving knife have their own dedicated home in the Systainer cover.
If you want an indication of the machine’s accuracy then in our demonstration at Festool UK’s head office, we were treated to what the manufacturer describes as the bank note test. A £20 note was placed on the wood and then completely sawn through without violently depreciating your bank balance by cutting it in half – a task the machine achieved with aplomb.
When secured the rear part of the parallel side fence aligns automatically so that the fence is always aligned perpendicular to the front edge. Add to that ball-bearing mounted sliding table, which positively glides back and forth, and the attention to detail is dramatically demonstrated.
Versatile and powerful
Given its compactness you might expect a trade off in functionality but that’s not the case either. The table surface can be easily enlarged, giving a maximum cutting width of up to 280mm, and a cross cut width of 450mm, with mitre angle cuts of -70 to +70 degrees, or angle cuts with the saw blade of +10 to -10 degrees.
Again, you might assume a compromise on power between a mains and corded machine but, thanks to the combination of brushless EC-TEC motor and two 18V batteries, that’s not the case either. In fact, the CSC SYS 50 has just as much power as its plug-in counterpart, with the manufacturer promising that cuts in over 100metres of chipboard can be achieved on a single charge, which could well be enough power for a week’s work. Moreover, the CSC SYS 50 cordless table saw is supplied with the same fine-tooth examples that come with the TS 60. Whether it’s plastic, laminate, aluminium soft or hard woods there is the right blade for every material.
As ever with Festool, register the tool online and you’ll benefit from the manufacturer’s warranty, with full repair free of charge including all wear parts. If that’s not enough, in the event of theft, the customer can have the tool completely replaced when subject to a £110 payment.
It’s the focus on design that sets a company like Festool apart but it isn’t merely about aesthetics, because precision and practicality are the guiding principles. The Festool CSC SYS Table Saw – the ‘Systainer Saw’ – exemplifies that approach and is the perfect partner to carpenters, joiners and kitchen fitters who carry out any kind of high quality and accurate interior work on site.
For further information on the Festool CSC SYS Table Saw visit https://www.festool.co.uk/
