55" guide rail with holes or no holes?

[jwjones2000]

I am getting ready to purchase a TS 55 REQ plunge saw and have the option of a standard 55” guide rail or a 55” guide rail for hole drilling set.  Any reason not to get the guide rail with holes in case I want to get a router and guide plate later on?

 

[AIPDX]

I cannot think of a reason to not get a rail with holes. I have both, rails with and without holes, and use them interchangeably with the track saw. When it comes to sawing, there is no difference.

You are lucky (or your local dealer may be very accomodating) that you have a choice because normally a track saw comes with a rail without holes. Then, if/when you get an LR32 set, your only option is to buy exactly the same rail, but with holes.

 

[pettyconstruction]

In my experience , vendors will switch out a holy rail for a five dollar difference in price.
Seems like a no-brainer to me
Btw I have 2-55" inch rails with holes in them , and no LR-32 . Yet.
Charlie

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[peter halle]

Holes!  Once you get into using the router you may want to go the LR-32 route and then you would have to buy an additional rail.  Better to spend that money on something else.

Peter

 

[Cochese]

I'm on record as saying the non-holed rails shouldn't exist, so there's my answer.

 

[Shane Holland]

Festool changed the way dealers can sell the TS 55/75 and rail a few months ago.

The new changes dictate that only the TS 55 + 55" (non-holey) rail can be sold at a discount and likewise the TS 75 + 75" rail.

All other rail and saw combos must be sold at full price. The TS 55 is now $560 by itself, TS 75 is $624.

A bit of a bummer, but the days of holey rail swaps has ended.

Shane

 

[SS Teach]

I’m with Cochese Festool should only sell the holey rail. Since you have to pay full price to get one do so. Once you have a router you will most likely end up with an LR 32, then you’ll need one. That’s what happened to me. Pay me now or pay me later but you will pay me.

 

[Bohdan]

Now that the non holey rails are made in the US they are pushing the local product.

Another case where they are after profit at the expence of user satisfaction.  [scared]

 

[peter halle]

Now that the non holey rails are made in the US they are pushing the local product.

Another case where they are after profit at the expence of user satisfaction.  [scared]

You are certainly entitled to your opinion.  And so I am.  Personally I believe that the guiderail manufacturing in North America is not about profit but rather about helping to meet demand.  Profit is a ways down the road.

Peter

 

[jwjones2000]

Shane,
Thanks for your response.  Disappointing that you can no longer specify which rail you want.  This is going to be my first of what I anticipate many Festool purchases.  I believe in my case it would be better to purchase the saw and rail separate even if it cost an additional $36 dollars. 

 

[J0hn]

As noted before - why do they even sell the 55" rail without holes?

Same exact price with or without
https://www.amazon.com/Festool-491498-Guide-Rail-1400mm/dp/B001495RZE
https://www.amazon.com/Festool-FS1400-2-LR32-55-Drilling-Model-496939/dp/B003C21WZ0

 

[waho6o9]

Holes

 

[Bob D.]

"A bit of a bummer, but the days of holey rail swaps has ended."

That's too bad because I will tell you that one of the options that pushed me to buy the TSC55 and replace my DeWalt TS was the option to get the LR32 compatible rail in place of the standard rail. I bought a second LR32 rail at the same time and the connectors so I could use them together with the TSC55 or with the LR32 kit which I planned to buy in the future and did end up purchasing.

To someone contemplating which TS to buy removing this option brings the competition that much closer to being selected over the TS55. Makitas' saw gets favorable reviews, and now DeWalt has a cordless version of their TS, so the competition is closing the gap. As far as cut quality I did not see a big difference between my DeWalt TS and the TSC55. Dust collection is better yes. I like the cordless option yes, but had I held out a could more months I would have had the DeWalt cordless to consider also. And since I already had two DW rails, plus the router plate that let's me use any make router with their rails, it might have been a tougher decision as I could have saved a few hundred dollars.

Offering the LR32 compatible rails with the TS55 or TS75 would seem to be in keeping with the 'It's a System' synergy that FT promotes as the heart of their line of tools. To me making the solid rail optional and the LR32 rail standard issue would seem like a recipe for more sales of LR32 kits than the path they are on now.