I’ve bought this - brilliant! I mark the board either end with a knife slit, lay the guide rail on the board, use the saw to set the offset each end, then stick a small awl each end to hold the rail. Takes longer to write than to do. Expensive but worth every cent.
Yer looks good tool but generally I just run a load off outside on a table saw, and modify the fiddly cuts with a handsaw once inside. It’s not that much dust a a vacuum is always on hand. personally I’m starting to hate having a tool for every job, my van is full up with tools as it is.
Hi Brendan There is a lot of truth in what you say. The curse of this industry is having to buy so many tools. The best paid guy on site by a long way is the caulking guy. He arrives in a little van, takes out a bucket load of silicones etc and goes to work. £225 per house and he does two a day. No stress in his life whatsoever.
I'm surprised that a company like festool didn't have the engineering nouse to make a blade and riving knife for an existing jigsaw. Whilst I get the idea behind more tool sales, there must be a trade off between selling whole new tools and the greater volume achieved by selling a jigsaw attachment. For example, I don't do enough insulation work to justify buying one of these, however I would do enough to justify buying an attachment. Also, if I was buying a new jigsaw, I'd likely consider festool over other brands in the knowledge that the option of an insulation attachment was there.
Thanks Robin, have just invested and now feel up to speed. I had assumed there would be an angle on the machine but looks like I’m gonna be making a jig. Cheers
Just done barn conversion. It's not just that pir board creates dust, the dust is non-biodegradable 'plastic' and I didn't want it in the fields, garden, watercourses or my eyes. Vac didn't work well, being outside, wind blew dust everywhere. Solution? Not Festool. Used alligator type saw, grind blade teeth down and go along sides to make a serrated breadknife-type profile. No dust. Used it indoors then, for small trims did actually use a breadknife, with scallop blade. Could do same with a jigsaw blade, but blades too flimsy to get straight cuts in thick boards. Just found the reciprocating alligator saw easier to use. Foamed the side edges before fitting, deliberately cut 10-20mm too small, like spreading cream on scone, then wedge with little offcuts til sets. Breadknife also fine for Rockwool or cotton batts but need to clamp down with overboard to do it. I used a long garden bench with narrow slot, very useful. I did it myself because the builders were sloppy and were not fitting it snug enough. I would have paid them to do it properly!!
Had this for quite sometime and I think it's great. Works really well on rockwool and makes cutting solid insulation a breeze. Just a tip if you are having difficulty cutting rockwool super easy adjust the set on the blades till it goes smooth.
Love that you can use it on a track, yeah you can do it without one or clamp on a straight edge, but that's kinda like driving a manual in stop start traffic.
In effect the track for this is nothing more than a very expensive straight edge... Doesn't grip on the board difficult to clamp.. Have to allow 50 mm I'm struggling to see the benefit of using a track costing a shed load of money as opposed to a cheap straight edge..
Got this a while ago when Festool had a free battery promotion running. Bought it with one battery and that pretty much lasted all day which was surprising.
Seems a bit specific, especially given the price! I've had good success using a 18v circular saw, plus a handsaw for finishing deeper insulation, corners and fiddly bits.
You'll not get a circular saw blade to cut 150mm deep. Plus, if you're cutting insulation for an entire house a few times per year, that's a huge amount of insulation to be cutting. He's not a DIYer, this is pro tool stuff. Go back to Argos!
I have had this tool since it was available to get in the UK. I would say this is my fav bit of kit as it cuts the board straight and so much less dust down my lungs. Love the bluetooth batteries to turn on my festool vacuum
The worst thing about cutting that stuff with a hand saw is it gives it a static charge and it attracts its self to your eyelashes ! Looks like a quality piece of kit
Brilliant video, AGAIN! I was thinking about the problem of the guide rail slipping on the insulation board. You could drill small holes, wind screws in to the guide rail. This would stop it slipping.Then when your finished, take the screws out.
Have a similar issue with the fed tool rails, Ive started just using one section of rail and doing the mathes to get my straight cuts between two points.
For most contractors this is a very expensive over engineered solution to a problem that doesn't really exist. Most of us work in the house bashing world where perfectly fitting insulation takes more time than we are paid for and building inspectors or any one else don't care so long as it's fitted within a reasonable tolerance! Find me the clients who want to pay a premium for perfectly fitted insulation!?
@@pluffer96 Can you reply in English please? Can't understand WTF you're talking about My point is..... People won't pay extra if you buy this fancy set up.. and they won't pay extra for fucking for days to stick a bit of insulation in. THAT'S THE REAL WORLD!
I had one of these but, for whatever reason, it wouldn't cut square, almost every single cut was out, bought a new blade but still had issues, ended up using there 14 day money back guarantee. I get the feeling it was faulty. If I had the chance again I'd buy the Saw Sword!
I’m doing a loft conversion and we have had to put rafters next to the original to lengthen them And it’s an old roof so nothing parallel maybe on a new build it would be different but haven’t seen the benefit of using it on our current job
@@danielburton5468 so why did the lack of parallel cause you a problem then? If you're just cutting to the narrowest point and foaming in? Apologies if I'm missing something.
But what is is like cutting insulated plasterboard?? That's the tool I'm after at the moment. It looks like it could be this festool, but ive not seem anyone cut one yet
The problem would be having a big riving knife like the festool one where it's stays still and the blade moves. Bosch make jigsaw blades for cutting insulation but they bend all over the place
Hi please can you help me I am thinking of getting a big shed next year and insulating the walls and ceilings BUT I don't know what I should do the job with as there are so many different products on the market. Once I have insulated the walls and ceilings I will put sheet wood across the top of it. Please can you advise me what the best product for me to do the job. Thanks a lot . P.s. I love the videos.
Hi Rob I saw this video and u was saying that the rail is ABIT unsecure a way that I do sometimes that is very cheap mainly when I'm using my router . What about if you put down a rubber mat? You can get them from trend but can get the same thing from the pound shop quick and easy to use 😁
Some people may take the pi** but honestly a clean well organised site is a safe and happy place to work, makes a world of difference. For example with my festool sander attached to it's festool extractor means I can sand a door in a house with literally zero dust, amazing.
I cut 100mm Celotex with a 120mm jigsaw for 50m coverage for the first time and it worked a treat. No setting up on any rails and just cost the the price super long jigsaw blades.
...and here I am, at the job, finding out that I have the wrong blade with my new saw. Oh well, I tried 😂🤦. I came here just to see if you could use the supplied blade to cut PIR.
For over 10 years, I have just used my festool ts55, 10 year old abuse tool now for things like this, also I use bags with zips on bottom, as festool bags are a rip off for things like this.
Hi Robin, as far as I could see the dust was the same as with that normal saw, based on that and the fact that you can buy a jigsaw blade about the same length as the 240 it seems an awful lot of money for no better cut?
@@brickbybric Similar, that's a hot wire. Not sure a hot wire would work totally. Car windscreens are cut out sometimes using a abrasive wire, must be adaptable.
Seriously cool piece of kit 👌🏼. Take a look at Jay Puyenbroeks video ..... A house renovation (11) from old house to new . He is a master builder from Belgium and those boys have all tech and tools to do everything! Check out their insulation cutter ... friggin amazing ! 🧱👍🏼
Out of interest, in what situation would you use a depth setting? Are there many times that you cut in situ? Otherwise, surely it's always in a fixed position like a sawhorse or whatever, in which case it'd be just a nice to have rather than a requirement.
@@ricos1497 I do a lot of conservatory roof replacements, sometimes use existing aluminium roof structure if weight requirements are acceptable, either use 100mm foiled insulation or 150mms EPS to insert between the spar's, then fix down with 4x1 timber into the Ali spare for the ply board to fix onto, so required cut into insulation is 18x 40mm, currently use circular saw but obviously extremely dusty
@@theunambiguous of course, that makes sense. I'm guessing you'd be looking at a Dremel type tool with a thin attachment, or maybe even something for a multi tool, but neither would be that comfortable to use for lots of cutting like you would require. Looks like there's a gap in the market! Although, I'm guessing a set-up like Robin uses for the angled cuts could be used the blade height for straight cuts too.
Why do the festering stools look so antiquated with there square batteries they always feel Micky mouse and uncomfortable in the hand just can't wait to put them down.
Yeah you can saw against an old steel level for straight square cuts. Cut half the board then spin it round and use the factory edge again for second half. Is dusty tbf, especially if they are snug.
Over £800 to get this and the guide if you don't have one ??!! "V" a Jack handsaw at £6 to £7. This is a no brainer for any skilled craftsman unless you cant cut a straight line with a handsaw !! What a completely, stupidly overpriced, unnecessary tool
I'm sure the festool groupies will buy it though.... I'm all for good useful tools but I can't see the benefit of using the track then adding 50mm.thats the whole reason why we moved on from circular saws ith straight edges to track saws as you place it down on the line where you want to cut and go...
Lets get ourselves out of this concept of buying a tool for every little job. And concentrate more on developing skill level for that job in hand. We all have the ability to cut just as good as these tools with our hands the more we do it. All these tools are doing imo is taking away skill and precision by free hand work. Fest tool wasnt around when they built the pyramids!! 😅😂
This is not an advert but my personal view of this tool, I have saved time with this tool and it has made a nasty job more enjoyable, it may not be for everyone but for me it works, thanks for your comment
Great saw especially ruclips.net/user/postUgkxxnKxcY0vm4xjW8xkPbjaHuKt10gr-wG_ considering how drastically cheaper it is than every other track saw on the market. Only things I would mention is replace the blade immediately, the 24 tooth blade supplied leaves a lot to be desired.
I’ve bought this - brilliant! I mark the board either end with a knife slit, lay the guide rail on the board, use the saw to set the offset each end, then stick a small awl each end to hold the rail. Takes longer to write than to do. Expensive but worth every cent.
We always cut this on the table saw....every contruction site has one here...with a dust extraction system of course.
Can't do more than 50mm though I suppose. Yes you could flip it and cut again but that takes time.
I brought this brand new and had to go buy the blade I wanted..tool company's take the piss when they charge so much
Yer looks good tool but generally I just run a load off outside on a table saw, and modify the fiddly cuts with a handsaw once inside. It’s not that much dust a a vacuum is always on hand. personally I’m starting to hate having a tool for every job, my van is full up with tools as it is.
Hi Brendan
There is a lot of truth in what you say. The curse of this industry is having to buy so many tools. The best paid guy on site by a long way is the caulking guy. He arrives in a little van, takes out a bucket load of silicones etc and goes to work. £225 per house and he does two a day. No stress in his life whatsoever.
@@SkillBuilder funny, because my attempts at caulking always make for an incredibly stressful time! I'm like a cat with a roll of sellotape.
2:00 "There's nothing like it on the market. It's just like a jigsaw." 😄
I've seen an upholsterer use a saw just like this to cut foam in a German video about furniture repair from a few years back.
@@Auriflamme i used to use one like that for cutting foam, it was a bosch on i think
I'm surprised that a company like festool didn't have the engineering nouse to make a blade and riving knife for an existing jigsaw. Whilst I get the idea behind more tool sales, there must be a trade off between selling whole new tools and the greater volume achieved by selling a jigsaw attachment. For example, I don't do enough insulation work to justify buying one of these, however I would do enough to justify buying an attachment. Also, if I was buying a new jigsaw, I'd likely consider festool over other brands in the knowledge that the option of an insulation attachment was there.
It will have a longer cutting stroke than a typical jigsaw.
@@ricos1497 there is a blade for jigsaw but its long and bendy so forget straight cuts. This tool would be awesome if not the cost of it🤮
Thanks Robin, have just invested and now feel up to speed. I had assumed there would be an angle on the machine but looks like I’m gonna be making a jig. Cheers
Just done barn conversion. It's not just that pir board creates dust, the dust is non-biodegradable 'plastic' and I didn't want it in the fields, garden, watercourses or my eyes. Vac didn't work well, being outside, wind blew dust everywhere.
Solution? Not Festool. Used alligator type saw, grind blade teeth down and go along sides to make a serrated breadknife-type profile.
No dust.
Used it indoors then, for small trims did actually use a breadknife, with scallop blade. Could do same with a jigsaw blade, but blades too flimsy to get straight cuts in thick boards. Just found the reciprocating alligator saw easier to use. Foamed the side edges before fitting, deliberately cut 10-20mm too small, like spreading cream on scone, then wedge with little offcuts til sets.
Breadknife also fine for Rockwool or cotton batts but need to clamp down with overboard to do it. I used a long garden bench with narrow slot, very useful.
I did it myself because the builders were sloppy and were not fitting it snug enough. I would have paid them to do it properly!!
Had this for quite sometime and I think it's great. Works really well on rockwool and makes cutting solid insulation a breeze. Just a tip if you are having difficulty cutting rockwool super easy adjust the set on the blades till it goes smooth.
Love that you can use it on a track, yeah you can do it without one or clamp on a straight edge, but that's kinda like driving a manual in stop start traffic.
In effect the track for this is nothing more than a very expensive straight edge... Doesn't grip on the board difficult to clamp.. Have to allow 50 mm I'm struggling to see the benefit of using a track costing a shed load of money as opposed to a cheap straight edge..
Got this a while ago when Festool had a free battery promotion running. Bought it with one battery and that pretty much lasted all day which was surprising.
Forgot to add that we used the festool quick action clamp and it did a good job keeping the track in position.
Seems a bit specific, especially given the price!
I've had good success using a 18v circular saw, plus a handsaw for finishing deeper insulation, corners and fiddly bits.
You'll not get a circular saw blade to cut 150mm deep.
Plus, if you're cutting insulation for an entire house a few times per year, that's a huge amount of insulation to be cutting. He's not a DIYer, this is pro tool stuff.
Go back to Argos!
I have had this tool since it was available to get in the UK. I would say this is my fav bit of kit as it cuts the board straight and so much less dust down my lungs. Love the bluetooth batteries to turn on my festool vacuum
The worst thing about cutting that stuff with a hand saw is it gives it a static charge and it attracts its self to your eyelashes ! Looks like a quality piece of kit
That is going to be the look of 2021, face masks and little bits of insulation on your brows and lashes. What's not to like?
We all have had "Celotex sore eyes"
Can’t wait for Makita to join this party so I can own one without having to sell a vital organ on the Chinese black market.
Brilliant video, AGAIN! I was thinking about the problem of the guide rail slipping on the insulation board. You could drill small holes, wind screws in to the guide rail. This would stop it slipping.Then when your finished, take the screws out.
Festool could literally sell snow to Eskimos!!
Have a similar issue with the fed tool rails, Ive started just using one section of rail and doing the mathes to get my straight cuts between two points.
Definitely a game changer. I'm just wondering why festool not have solution about those angles
back in the day it was where can I plug in the kettle, now its the battery chargers, the I phone & uhh where do I park the artic with mi tools in?
Nobody has scrap Festool tracks!
For most contractors this is a very expensive over engineered solution to a problem that doesn't really exist.
Most of us work in the house bashing world where perfectly fitting insulation takes more time than we are paid for and building inspectors or any one else don't care so long as it's fitted within a reasonable tolerance!
Find me the clients who want to pay a premium for perfectly fitted insulation!?
@@pluffer96
Can you reply in English please?
Can't understand WTF you're talking about
My point is..... People won't pay extra if you buy this fancy set up.. and they won't pay extra for fucking for days to stick a bit of insulation in.
THAT'S THE REAL WORLD!
I fit the insulation than wack in some expanding foam if there’s any gaps, though you probably don’t have the time to do that.
Like the jigsaw they use to remove windshield sealer. I’ll never use it but it’s cool
I had one of these but, for whatever reason, it wouldn't cut square, almost every single cut was out, bought a new blade but still had issues, ended up using there 14 day money back guarantee. I get the feeling it was faulty. If I had the chance again I'd buy the Saw Sword!
We’ve just got one and are back using a handsaw. Don’t rate it at all especially for the money
Daniel
That is interesting. What was the problem?
I’m doing a loft conversion and we have had to put rafters next to the original to lengthen them And it’s an old roof so nothing parallel maybe on a new build it would be different but haven’t seen the benefit of using it on our current job
@@danielburton5468 you should have used that tape mentioned in the last video!
No just fit it like everyone else does cut it to the smallest measurement then foam it in
@@danielburton5468 so why did the lack of parallel cause you a problem then? If you're just cutting to the narrowest point and foaming in? Apologies if I'm missing something.
Does it still cut out of square as looks like it in video
Very good video lads, really well presented and filmed.
But what is is like cutting insulated plasterboard?? That's the tool I'm after at the moment. It looks like it could be this festool, but ive not seem anyone cut one yet
I wonder how long till a competitor makes an attachment for a jig saw
The problem would be having a big riving knife like the festool one where it's stays still and the blade moves. Bosch make jigsaw blades for cutting insulation but they bend all over the place
@@a-carpenter9229 Bosch also have a reciprocating saw blade for solid insulation, bought one to try but haven't had a chance yet
@@davidcooke3081 you can also buy one for a multi tool, but good luck running that straight over 2.4m.. Also, I’m pretty sure they’re only 100mm long.
Has anyone tried the sword saw instead? I like the idea that it can cut angles out of the box plus has wider application than just insulation.
I seem to remember that we gave Robin a Fetool Sword but he obviously finds this better
Hi please can you help me I am thinking of getting a big shed next year and insulating the walls and ceilings BUT I don't know what I should do the job with as there are so many different products on the market. Once I have insulated the walls and ceilings I will put sheet wood across the top of it. Please can you advise me what the best product for me to do the job. Thanks a lot . P.s. I love the videos.
Why did they not just make the base go over to the second ridge on the rail for stability.
Hi Rob I saw this video and u was saying that the rail is ABIT unsecure a way that I do sometimes that is very cheap mainly when I'm using my router . What about if you put down a rubber mat? You can get them from trend but can get the same thing from the pound shop quick and easy to use 😁
Insulated plasterboard?
we have our timber frames insulated in the factory before they get to site
I can’t wait for this to take off in Scotland. Will save me worlds of pain!
Great tool! Thanks for the review.
Some people may take the pi** but honestly a clean well organised site is a safe and happy place to work, makes a world of difference. For example with my festool sander attached to it's festool extractor means I can sand a door in a house with literally zero dust, amazing.
Do you know why it has the jigsaw blade at the end?
The RIC jig. The safest, easiest, fastest way to cut pir insulation. COMPLETELY DUST FREE? See tube - Insulation Cutting Jig.
Can anyone link me the insulation tape he uses thanks
Looked at purchasing, £600. Why not use an insulation saw, no dust at all, no need for a vacuum any only £15.
I still got plenty of dust when I last used an insulation saw. Was better than a jigsaw or circular saw, but you could still taste it!
Great video thanks
I cut 100mm Celotex with a 120mm jigsaw for 50m coverage for the first time and it worked a treat. No setting up on any rails and just cost the the price super long jigsaw blades.
Could carve a Sunday roast with it 👍
Jigsaw with 240mm blade. Sorted and fraction of the price
...and here I am, at the job, finding out that I have the wrong blade with my new saw. Oh well, I tried 😂🤦. I came here just to see if you could use the supplied blade to cut PIR.
For over 10 years, I have just used my festool ts55, 10 year old abuse tool now for things like this, also I use bags with zips on bottom, as festool bags are a rip off for things like this.
This is a excellent tool. 👍
Hi Robin, as far as I could see the dust was the same as with that normal saw, based on that and the fact that you can buy a jigsaw blade about the same length as the 240 it seems an awful lot of money for no better cut?
Must be a simpler cheese wire sort of approach. 🤔 Dust doing ceilings is awful, I bet they still throws out dust during the installation.
There is ruclips.net/video/2qEM8hmlwd8/видео.html go to 12 th minute
@@brickbybric Similar, that's a hot wire. Not sure a hot wire would work totally. Car windscreens are cut out sometimes using a abrasive wire, must be adaptable.
@@brickbybric
Interesting tool pal the first time I've ever seen anything like that have you used it before 🤔🔨
Bahco insulation saw @Screwfix £15.99 will do me
Seriously cool piece of kit 👌🏼.
Take a look at Jay Puyenbroeks video ..... A house renovation (11) from old house to new . He is a master builder from Belgium and those boys have all tech and tools to do everything! Check out their insulation cutter ... friggin amazing ! 🧱👍🏼
Much cheaper to buy a jigsaw soft materials blade. No dust.
Can you get one for cutting 140mm kingspan?
This method is Not very fast is it
All good but still not 'the tool' as can't set a depth, a tool company needs to figure this out asap
Out of interest, in what situation would you use a depth setting? Are there many times that you cut in situ? Otherwise, surely it's always in a fixed position like a sawhorse or whatever, in which case it'd be just a nice to have rather than a requirement.
@@ricos1497 I do a lot of conservatory roof replacements, sometimes use existing aluminium roof structure if weight requirements are acceptable, either use 100mm foiled insulation or 150mms EPS to insert between the spar's, then fix down with 4x1 timber into the Ali spare for the ply board to fix onto, so required cut into insulation is 18x 40mm, currently use circular saw but obviously extremely dusty
@@theunambiguous of course, that makes sense. I'm guessing you'd be looking at a Dremel type tool with a thin attachment, or maybe even something for a multi tool, but neither would be that comfortable to use for lots of cutting like you would require. Looks like there's a gap in the market! Although, I'm guessing a set-up like Robin uses for the angled cuts could be used the blade height for straight cuts too.
Why do the festering stools look so antiquated with there square batteries they always feel Micky mouse and uncomfortable in the hand just can't wait to put them down.
Well worth a look
ruclips.net/video/uVEwK9uESQ4/видео.html&feature=emb_logo
zZZZźzźźzźźźzzzźźźzzzzZzZzZzZŹźźzzzźźzzzzZzzZZZźzzzzZzzzzZźzzzZzzZZZZzzzzzzZzzzZZZzzzzZzzzZZZZZzzZQq,,,,,-,,,,++
But why spend all that money when you can do the same job with a hand saw.
Yeah you can saw against an old steel level for straight square cuts. Cut half the board then spin it round and use the factory edge again for second half. Is dusty tbf, especially if they are snug.
Do 50m coverage with a hand saw and see how you feel.
@@end-game2030 I'd rather do that than spend 500 quid on a modified jigsaw
I couldn't justify it but something tells me hes charging 🙄 slightly more a day than myself so he can afford it 🔨
Well said sir!!
There's no way you 'purchased' that Robin..... Festool put it in your hand for the promo. Love their tools tho
All very well if your rich enough to afford those gadgets. Lol
😊👍
👍
Over £800 to get this and the guide if you don't have one ??!! "V" a Jack handsaw at £6 to £7. This is a no brainer for any skilled craftsman unless you cant cut a straight line with a handsaw !! What a completely, stupidly overpriced, unnecessary tool
To do any job to a good standard its 50 % tools and 50% knowledge dull tools dull job
I just blame the tools 😝🔨
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Robin why are you singing its praises when its dust extraction is shite
Wow way overpriced for long cutting jigsaw blade
I'm sure the festool groupies will buy it though.... I'm all for good useful tools but I can't see the benefit of using the track then adding 50mm.thats the whole reason why we moved on from circular saws ith straight edges to track saws as you place it down on the line where you want to cut and go...
Lets get ourselves out of this concept of buying a tool for every little job. And concentrate more on developing skill level for that job in hand. We all have the ability to cut just as good as these tools with our hands the more we do it. All these tools are doing imo is taking away skill and precision by free hand work. Fest tool wasnt around when they built the pyramids!! 😅😂
This could be great trimming the warts off my granny's chin.
Seems like you’re justifying your purchase on this one robin, can’t recommend this to pals
Festool? Over priced rubbish. Is this video an advert for them?
This is not an advert but my personal view of this tool, I have saved time with this tool and it has made a nasty job more enjoyable, it may not be for everyone but for me it works, thanks for your comment
No one forces you to buy Their tools
Yes.. I couldn't agree more, very overpriced..
Great saw especially ruclips.net/user/postUgkxxnKxcY0vm4xjW8xkPbjaHuKt10gr-wG_ considering how drastically cheaper it is than every other track saw on the market. Only things I would mention is replace the blade immediately, the 24 tooth blade supplied leaves a lot to be desired.