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Tips on Setting Up an ATF 55 or AT 65 circular saw
The amazing Festool pendulum saw will live up to its reputation right out of the box—that it
will ride on a guide rail that sticks magically to the workpiece, that it can crosscut plywood
without chipping, that it can give a cabinetsaw grade cut, and so on and so forth. It will do
all this, however, if it is first set up properly. There's not much to do, but it's essential to get
the most out of your saw.
So what should you do when you first get your saw? Read the manual, of course! (Hey—
there's important information there). This photo essay complements the manual, offering
more detail of some aspects of set up and tuning, as well as a few tips not found in the
manual.
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Table of Contents
Related Manuals for Festool ATF 55
Summary of Contents for Festool ATF 55
- Page 1 Tips on Setting Up an ATF 55 or AT 65 circular saw The amazing Festool pendulum saw will live up to its reputation right out of the box—that it will ride on a guide rail that sticks magically to the workpiece, that it can crosscut plywood without chipping, that it can give a cabinetsaw grade cut, and so on and so forth.
- Page 2 You can also use a “Toolie” to do the job (as shown). It has the right slot screwdriver on it (as well as every torx and hex head needed to tune the tools). Frankly, I think Festool should sell the saws for $15 more with a Toolie included as standard delivery.
- Page 3 www.festoolusa.com I spray coat the guide rail and the bottom of the saw with a dry lubricant such as Topcote. Silicone and wax will also work well. Is this a necessary step? Not at all. The saw and guide rail work excellently without any lube. I just find they work even better with it. There’s your first $10 tip.
- Page 4 www.festoolusa.com Trim the rubber very slowly and steadily. The saw won’t be able to cut the scrap well at such a slow speed. Anyway, what’s the rush? Here’s a closeup of the blade eating away the new rubber. When you’re done trimming, the rubber edge of the guide rail will be the exact line of cut.
- Page 5 www.festoolusa.com Take a look at the edge you’ve just sawn and measure its squareness. It will be glassy smooth and exactly at 90 degrees. Pretty amazing. Try a crosscut on something that splinters easily, such as red oak plywood. Admire the perfect, splinter free edge and be content knowing your saw and rail are all set up and ready to go.
- Page 6 www.festoolusa.com If for some reason your cut is not perfect, first troubleshoot the situation. Is the guide rail sitting flat on the workpiece? Is the workpiece warped? Did the guide rail slide during the cut? If the problem is the angle of the saw, you can adjust it. First loosen the two rotary knobs and the saw will tilt up to 45 degrees.
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