Cordless blades flexing/warping.

[Cheese]

1. Well, is that why 4-year old used TS 55 R's without blade are locally selling for 75% of the price of a new TS 55 F with blade? Maybe there are more people that don't like the thin blades.

2. And Festool deciding to apply the same thin blades to the mains-powered saws... they could have easily opted for a stronger motor there. Or a more efficient one maybe.

3. I still don't understand how slightly changed teeth and a 20% thinner blade results in 100% faster cuts. If you ask me... some cut quality was sacrificed. But that's my gut feeling, have not seen actual real-world comparisons.

1. Don't know what others want or think they want but I became a true believer in the 1.8 mm kerf blades after I purchased a Mafell MT 55. Mafell offers both of their 55 saws (corded & cordless) with 1.8 mm kerf blades. I believe that the Festool & Mafell blades are both manufactured by Leitz. After a summer of Mafell MT 55 use, the situation was clear from my perspective, go thin to win. I was much happier with the results especially when ripping solid wood. I purchased a MT 55 and I noticed the rip cuts were cleaner than what I was getting with either the TS 55 or the TSC 55, both of which used 2.2 mm kerf blades.

Interestingly enough, here's a comparison of rip cuts in aromatic cedar, which has a Janka hardness level similar to Mahogany, Maple, Cherry & Birch.

In the 2nd photo the TSC 2.2 mm (2 batteries) cut is on the top while the HKC 1.8 mm (single battery) cut is on the bottom.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

2. Ya I agree, attaching a thinner kerf blade to the saw instead of incorporating a stronger motor was a copout. Pennies saved at the moment, yet for the future we all know there will need to be some further motor/power enhancements, 50+ years of tool improvements have validated that premise.

3. I don't know either, some of the Festool math is suspect.  [smile]  However, I can't imagine that Mafell would jeopardize their reputation by supplying their saws with inferior blades...way too much to lose from their perspective.