Best general purpose blade for TS55 REQ

[skids]

Panther blade?

Want to keep my 48 tooth in good shape. Looking to swap when needed for something more general purpose for random things like cutting plywood, siding or any other rougher work I can throw at it.

 

[fin]

i got one of these recently

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Trend-TCT-Wood-Plunge-Saw-Blade-160-mm-x-24-Teeth-x-20-mm-Festool-TS55-/121142323318?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item1c34a52876

 

[Brice Burrell]

Get a 28 tooth blade, I use them a lot.  I have a Festool, and couple of Tenryu and I just picked up a couple of Freuds to try out.   I like the Festool but I use these blades hard and they are just too pricey, I don't like worrying too much about hitting a nail.

 

[grbmds]

If you switch back and forth between Festool and non-Festool blades, aren't there problems with matching up the splinter guard on the guide rail? I can see that, if you are a production shop or use the saw in daily remodeling or construction, you would look for a cheaper alternative, but I would think that the Festool blade would last long enough that this wouldn't be an issue for someone who is doing this on the side as a hobby or builds a few pieces of furniture a year. I feel there are enough variables and possible inaccuracies that arise in building furniture, caninets, and even just simple things like birdhouses and shop jigs that I am not interested in introducing any additional variables by using non-Festool bits or blades that might be slightly different in size or tolerances. Just my opinion though.

 

[John Bates]

If you get the same width kerf, I don't think it would matter.

 

[skids]

Get a 28 tooth blade, I use them a lot.  I have a Festool, and couple of Tenryu and I just picked up a couple of Freuds to try out.   I like the Festool but I use these blades hard and they are just too pricey, I don't like worrying too much about hitting a nail.

Thanks Brice thats EXACTLY why I ask..I want something I won't get upset about when I hit a nail or some other material. Which Tenyru do you have? I love their blades.

 

[skids]

If you switch back and forth between Festool and non-Festool blades, aren't there problems with matching up the splinter guard on the guide rail? I can see that, if you are a production shop or use the saw in daily remodeling or construction, you would look for a cheaper alternative, but I would think that the Festool blade would last long enough that this wouldn't be an issue for someone who is doing this on the side as a hobby or builds a few pieces of furniture a year. I feel there are enough variables and possible inaccuracies that arise in building furniture, caninets, and even just simple things like birdhouses and shop jigs that I am not interested in introducing any additional variables by using non-Festool bits or blades that might be slightly different in size or tolerances. Just my opinion though.

You may have a point, and yes it could narrow the field a bit for choices on blades..The tenyru are 2.2mm but the Oshluns which is half the price are 2.5mm for the 28 tooth.

I have a Tenyru blade on my Kapex and although it wasn't any cheaper, I would never go back to the Festool blade. It performs much smoother and has ATAF, which I like. I just want beater blades for my TS since I use it for every possible task I can-and some of it can get ugly.

Sometimes I feel like it's like bringing a scapel to gut a deer with my TS55, but I am getting my monies worth out of this saw if it's the last thing I do!!