Disappointed with TS 55

[Cliff Polubinsky]

I recently sold my Dewalt track saw and bought the Festool TS 55. Yesterday was the first time I used it. We were cutting 4 - 16" x 8' 8/4 Sapele slabs to fit them through my 12" planer. I was surprised when the saw didn't cut all the way through the slabs, it was 1/8" short. I ended up using the rip side of a large ryoba to finish the cuts.

Obviously it's my fault for not checking the specs on the saw, but I never expected a track saw wouldn't cut 2". Unfortunately this is one of the things I use a track saw for. I guess I'll have to sell the Festool and buy a new saw, probably the Makita.

And so it goes.

Cliff

[Patrick Kane]

Sounds like the tool you really wanted was the TS75. Another issue that could be working against you is rough 8/4 should be more like 2.25" thick. Too bad you are ripping such wide stock down to fit through your planer.

I own a TS75, and think its the best of the bunch. It is slightly underpowered for making heavy cuts through hardwood, but i think if you can only own one then the TS75 is where its at. The other track saws are really intended for sheet good processers.

[Brian Holcombe]

The ts75 seems to be temporarily discontinued….

[Patrick Kane]

Definitely out of stock. The skyrocketing prices ive seen on craigslist and ebay certainly have me thinking about selling my beloved tool. PM me if anyone is hankering for a TS75 and wants to grossly overpay for a used one : )

[Richard Coers]

I'd suggest a bandsaw is a much better way to rip 8/4 stock. Can't say I ever bought something without checking the specs.

[johnny means]

What you really want is this girl.

[Brian Holcombe]

Yes, that is correct. I did not realize Mafell’s saws in that range were 120v and would run on a track.

Sweet!

[Mike Hollingsworth]

To the OP:

Why did you sell the Dewalt?

[Patrick Kane]

What you really want is this girl.

With the price i keep seeing the TS75's sell for, the Mafell is a bargain. If i ever do another timber frame, i would love to own the biggest boy in the stable for a brief period of time.

[Cliff Polubinsky]

Too bad you are ripping such wide stock down to fit through your planer.
......
It is slightly underpowered for making heavy cuts through hardwood,...

Patrick,

We're planning on gluing the parts back together. It's fairly straight grain so I think the seam will dissappear. And the underpowered comment is what's making me consider the Makita. I wasn't pushing the cut hard at all and the 55 overheated. I never had that problem with the Dewalt.

Cliff

[Cliff Polubinsky]

To the OP:

Why did you sell the Dewalt?

I wanted access to the track accessories the Festool/Makita tracks have, like the track guides and right angle accessories. I haven't found anything like those for the Dewalt. Other than that it handled everything I needed it to.

Cliff

[Cliff Polubinsky]

I'd suggest a bandsaw is a much better way to rip 8/4 stock. Can't say I ever bought something without checking the specs.

I completely agree. But I was planning on gluing the pieces back together and I thought the track saw would give a cleaner line and be less noticeable.

And normally I get obsessive about comparing specs. I repeatedly went over everything but the depth of cut. It just never occurred to me that it would be so shallow.

Cliff

[Jamie Buxton]

The TS55 ships with a plywood blade: lots of teeth, negative tooth angle. It does not rip solid lumber well at all. Buy a rip blade and you’ll have a whole new machine.

[Joe Hendershott]

Like always- the right tool for the job.

[Patrick Kane]

I completely agree. But I was planning on gluing the pieces back together and I thought the track saw would give a cleaner line and be less noticeable.

And normally I get obsessive about comparing specs. I repeatedly went over everything but the depth of cut. It just never occurred to me that it would be so shallow.

Cliff

Its a little confusing, because they quote depth of cut WITH and WITHOUT the track. Without the track, the TS55 can make a 2"+ depth of cut. With the track, it only does 1 15/16"

Is it within 30 days of purchase? Return it for free.

[Mike Cutler]

Cliff
I have the TS75 for exactly the use you need. It does nice work, but they are wicked expensive.
If you run into the problem again, flip the track around and use the back side of the guide track as a reference fence for a regular circular saw. You'll need the clamps and maybe a few in the middle so that the saw base doesn't force it's way under the track.
It sounds as if you're using rough cut lumber, and the sawyer was maybe a little generous with the 8/4 dimension. A TS55 can cut through dimensioned 8/4, and the gullets will be exposed underneath. Doesn't help you with your current problem though.

[Phillip Mitchell]

There was a decent looking TS75 on the Charlotte, NC Craigslist yesterday for $600 that I noticed when I was cruising last night. Might be a good deal for someone? Not sure what they cost(ed) new.

[Cliff Polubinsky]

Philip,

That's not a deal. I see them listed new for $675. Of course that's if you can find one in stock.

Cliff

[mreza Salav]

I started with TS55 and soon realized was under powered and too small for 8/4. I got lucky I was offered a free swap/upgrade to TS75 when they recalled the initial updated TS55. TS75 is bulkier/heavier for most works but works well for 8/4.

[Brian Holcombe]

Neice Lumber has the TS75

[Keegan Shields]

Changing to a ripping blade will help a bunch. I have a TS-75 and like the power increase over the smaller Makita version. However, the offcut splinter guard doesn’t engage on 3/4” plywood unless you plunge it way down past the material. My only complaint.

[Cliff Polubinsky]

Brian,

Do you have a link? I can't seem to find it on the site.

Cliff

[Christopher Glanton]

I just finished an audio rack made of 2" Sapelle for the tables...my TS75 w. stock blade cut thru like butter. 1 15/16"...so close!! ;))

[Brian Holcombe]

Brian,

Do you have a link? I can't seem to find it on the site.

Cliff


Cliff, I would just call them. I spoke to one of the staff members Thursday evening and he mentioned three in stock.

I’m passing this along because I ordered a Mafell E85 so I no longer need the festool deal.

I think I’ll sell my TS55 once this one arrives.

[Alan Lightstone]

I’m passing this along because I ordered a Mafell E85 so I no longer need the festool deal.


$1,585???? Ouch. Does this cut the wood while you're in another room having coffee?? Looks nice, but OMG!!!:eek:

Could be worse, I guess. The Mafell MSK 185Ec is $6,208.00. For a circular saw. What am I missing?

I am also looking to upgrade my TS55, but the upgraded version still doesn't look like it competes with the TS75. Doesn't sound like there is an upgrade coming for the TS75. Is that correct?

[Brian Holcombe]

What your missing is the large cost of machinery that does not perform its task effectively. I had a feeling I would eventually be just as disappointed with the TS75 as I am the TS55 and the cost of buying things only to have them struggle when you put them to the test and eventually replacing them gets very annoying and is cost/time ineffective.

When I hymn and haw then buy something almost as good it is inevitability a decision I regret and ultimately reverse later.

As example, I wasted a lot of time and energy on the Kapex only up eventually buy the Omga that was recommended to me a year prior. That Omga and the larger one I have now are/were both super nice ‘set it and forget it’ machines. I check their settings once every few months and they remain just as accurate as when they were first setup. They are also strong enough that I can use them to cut extruded aluminum accurately, so this past year when there was a three month backlog on cut-to-length aluminum extrusions I bought an aluminum blade and cut my own. Had the projects finished in two days rather than three months.

[Jim Dwight]

Another option might be to get an inexpensive Evolution track saw. I think you could use your Festool or Makita track with it. It has a 15A motor and can use a 7.25 inch blade to cut 2 5/16 deep with the track. I picked one up for our volunteer group at church and have used it several times. With a 60 tooth Milwaukee 7.25 inch blade I am getting nice clean cuts. It is not a plunge saw, however, the blade guard works like a circular saw. At Home Depot it's available for just under $140. Might not be what you want to use all the time but for ripping 8/4 it seems better suited than 6.5 inch track saws. The TS75 only has a 1600W motor - so the Evolution saw is more powerful. I don't think your sacrificial strip will be in the right place with this saw but that may be a good thing if you keep the TS55 for shallower cuts. You put an adapter on the arbor to use 7.25 inch blades which pushes them further from the guide rib of the track. If you did want to use this saw for all your work you could put on a new strip but it might work best if you like your TS55 for most things and just need to do the occasional rips of 8/4.

I would never use my bandsaw for this sort of thing. It can handle it but I do not have the infeed and outfeed support that would be required. I too like ripping 8/4 with my track saw. I use a DeWalt but I have found it's depth of cut lacking before - apparently because the wood was a little over 2 inches thick. I also had to get a ripping blade but it is a 160mm freud so I loose rip capacity. Sometimes the stock 165mm blade will work.

[Brian Holcombe]

I made a purchase that I’m happy with, I weighted the options available.

[Ron Selzer]

"When I hymn and haw then buy something almost as good it is inevitability a decision I regret and ultimately reverse later."

So true, every time I try to save money I waste a lot of time.
This was reality when I was young and had little money, now not so bad.
Still can't afford the industrial quality even though I can appreciate it.
I try to by the best I can afford, sometimes spending way more than I can afford, then just have to wait longer for next purchase.
Ron

[Cliff Polubinsky]

Jim,

The Evolution looks interesting. I'll have to research it a bit and see if it solves the problem. Would be a low cost solution for the occasional deeper cuts.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Cliff

[Patrick Kane]

$1,585???? Ouch. Does this cut the wood while you're in another room having coffee?? Looks nice, but OMG!!!:eek:

Could be worse, I guess. The Mafell MSK 185Ec is $6,208.00. For a circular saw. What am I missing?

I am also looking to upgrade my TS55, but the upgraded version still doesn't look like it competes with the TS75. Doesn't sound like there is an upgrade coming for the TS75. Is that correct?

Mafell's specialty lineup puts Festool's prices to shame. I briefly used a Mafell chain mortiser, and it was maybe slightly better in its function than the Festool/Protool chain mortiser. Both of those tools were similarly priced. However, with these track saws, they are in a league of their own. There is no competition to the 85E or 185E. If you need to make a portable tool cut of 3.5" thick, then it doesnt matter how much it costs. You need the 85E. Same can be said for the 185E, which is a 220v tool that is in its own league. Overall, they make some of the best and only tools in that class and therefore have an associated unique price.

I really havent had any issues or complaints against my TS75. I havent personally compared it against a Mafell, but i dont think it is a junk tool.

[Jim Dwight]

The OP is past this point but I made parallel guides for my DeWalt track but I don't use them. I think the idea was posted here. They work fine but I don't like handling especially the long track with the parallel guides attached. What I use instead are what I call track positioning guides. Simple plywood jigs with a sliding block and hairline pointer for it. One end has a dado that is a tight fit for the rib of the deWalt track. I have to position both ends of the track - and then go back and check the first end. But I like them better than a parallel jig. Makes repeated cuts very simple. I can also make a cut without marking and cutting to the line. Just set the movable block of the jig with the hairline pointer and installed sticky rule and use the jig to position the track. I'm sure it's possible to make something like this for a Festool style track but the DeWalt track with the one rib makes it easier.

[Jim Becker]

I'm surprised nobody has made the "Tim the Toolman" recommendation for cutting thick slabs...that giant Skill beam saw. :) Yea, you'd need to make a beefy track, but...

https://www.skil.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1671d441f97fceb198eed690825ce72e/s/p/spt7ov-11_profile_hi.png?auto=webp&optimize=medium

[Patrick Kane]

I'm surprised nobody has made the "Tim the Toolman" recommendation for cutting thick slabs...that giant Skill beam saw. :) Yea, you'd need to make a beefy track, but...

https://www.skil.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1671d441f97fceb198eed690825ce72e/s/p/spt7ov-11_profile_hi.png?auto=webp&optimize=medium

It has such a great name too, the Super Sawsquatch. If i ever do another timber frame, that is the saw i would buy. Perhaps not applicable for doing glueline rips on big slabs, like the OP is doing, but its relatively inexpensive and all the framers love it.

[Jim Becker]

Yea, it's a beast and a "reasonably priced" beast at that. I just posted it more for a chuckle. It wouldn't be the best for a "glue line rip" for sure, but those things will cut 6" timbers in one pass, depending on the species. I post framer I follow on the 'Tube uses one for exactly that...6" cedar timbers used for porch framing. He's doing some pretty tight miter cuts with it, too. Most recently, he's running it off a big Milwaukee battery power pack thing to avoid using a generator on-site.

[Dillon Murski]

What your missing is the large cost of machinery that does not perform its task effectively. I had a feeling I would eventually be just as disappointed with the TS75 as I am the TS55 and the cost of buying things only to have them struggle when you put them to the test and eventually replacing them gets very annoying and is cost/time ineffective.

When I hymn and haw then buy something almost as good it is inevitability a decision I regret and ultimately reverse later.

As example, I wasted a lot of time and energy on the Kapex only up eventually buy the Omga that was recommended to me a year prior. That Omga and the larger one I have now are/were both super nice ‘set it and forget it’ machines. I check their settings once every few months and they remain just as accurate as when they were first setup. They are also strong enough that I can use them to cut extruded aluminum accurately, so this past year when there was a three month backlog on cut-to-length aluminum extrusions I bought an aluminum blade and cut my own. Had the projects finished in two days rather than three months.

Brian,

Was it the added cutting depth/power that lead you to the E 85 over the MT55? I am looking at setting up an MFT style bench with a track saw until I have enough space one day for a proper cabinet saw. I am eyeing the Mafell saws heavily.

[Phillip Mitchell]

Not Brian, but I have experience with Mafell and can chime in.

85 gives you 3 3/16” depth (on the track) vs 2” on the track with the MT55. 17 amp vs 13.5 amp motor, respectively.

The Mafell 55 is probably a great choice if you work with mostly 4/4 material or sheet goods, but if you have a need for a track saw and work with 8/4 and above regularly, then the 85 is going to be a better choice, especially for ripping just from the motor size alone, but of course the added DOC is a nice option for those times when you need it.

I have never regretted a Mafell tool in a professional setting.

[Alan Lightstone]

Is the Mafell 85 or 55 vacuum outlet compatible or easily adaptable to Festool vacuum hoses? As expensive as they are, they are getting tempting with selling my TS55. Today again I had real issues with the saw stalling on 5/4 hardwood on the track. Just not powerful enough.

[Dillon Murski]

Thanks Phillip. This is helpful. I might consider the 85 at this point for the headroom down the line.

[Brian Holcombe]

Mafell 85 didn’t even blink in 2.25” material.

[Rich Engelhardt]

85 gives you 3 3/16” depth (on the track) vs 2” on the track with the MT55. 17 amp vs 13.5 amp motor, respectively.
Wow. 17 amp is a really heavy draw. A couple of my 15 amp tools balk at starting at the end of even a short (10 ft) 12 ga extension. I can't imagine trying to spin up 17 amps.

[Phillip Mitchell]

I have used some other Mafell tools that are rated at 20 amps @ 120V. It’s a good idea to use a dedicated 20 amp circuit or at least a circuit that you have some control over the remaining circuit load while using the tools ie; not a circuit with lights or a similar utility. I have popped 20 amp breakers a handful of times using the chain mortiser (20 amps) only when there was additional load on the same circuit. When using on a dedicated circuit, I’ve never had an issue on 20 amp breakers. Often times, Mafell tools come with long cords to help cut down on the use of extension cords.

A 12 gauge ext cord (should be) rated the same as 12 ga wire (20 amps) and 10’ of length shouldn’t be the problem. There was likely other loads on that circuit if you were having trouble starting a 15 amp tool.

[Alan Lightstone]

I'm seriously looking at the Mafell KSS80EC now. But ouch, the price, and availability is?

[Jeff Ramsey]

Niece Lumber has a fine selection of Festool products.

[Curt Harms]

Niece Lumber has a fine selection of Festool products.

A couple people have mentioned Niece Lumber. They're in Lambertville NJ. 609 397 1200. I used to live just across the river. Lambertville has a couple interesting stores, Niece Lumber and Finkle's Hardware.

[Brian Holcombe]

Running the Mafell 85 on a 20amp circuit, no problem to speak of. I hook up a vacuum for dust but run the vac on another circuit so as not to strain things.

[Rich Engelhardt]

A 12 gauge ext cord (should be) rated the same as 12 ga wire (20 amps) and 10’ of length shouldn’t be the problem. There was likely other loads on that circuit if you were having trouble starting a 15 amp tool.Nope - 20 amp GFI coming right from the sub panel with nothing else running on that circuit.
Coleman 20 gal 5hp (yeah right - 15 amp but who knows what the real hp was ) compressor.

In cold weather it wouldn't start even when empty. In warm weather it would start empty, but, if it tried to run against pressure in the tank it would just sit there and hum.

My Milwaukee 5625-20 (3.5hp) is another one that doesn't care for an extension cord. It starts and runs, but, you can tell a difference in the sound of it plugged into the outlet & on a short extension cord.

The compressor is gone & I use the router in a table that I can get right next to an outlet.

I do wonder about our service sometimes though. We go through light bulbs like crazy & just about everything electric we run seems to have shorter lives than what everyone else experiences with similar stuff.

It would be just my luck to buy a really nice Malfell, then have it not run because of the draw.

[Jim Becker]

A couple people have mentioned Niece Lumber. They're in Lambertville NJ. 609 397 1200. I used to live just across the river. Lambertville has a couple interesting stores, Niece Lumber and Finkle's Hardware.

Niece Lumber is a really good, locally owned outlet.

For folks not in this area, Finkles is an enigma these days...it's an old fashioned "hardware store" that's chock full of "stuff" floor to ceiling. A rare breed these days and one of the few left! If you come to the area for the arts and other attractions, they are worthy of a visit, too.

[Alan Lightstone]

So I pulled the trigger and bought a Mafell K85 EC with tracks and some accessories. My Festool TS55 was driving my crazy stalling in relatively thick wood that it should have been able to handle. If Festool had announced a replacement for the TS75 I would have, perhaps, waited on that, as I have plenty of rails for it, but the Mafell seemed in another league.

I'll post my thoughts of it when it arrives in a few days. Timberwolf Tools had it in stock, which surprised me. I've just been going with the assumption that everything is backordered these days.

[Brian Holcombe]

Awesome, enjoy the new saw.