cordless tracsaw

[Rollin22Petes]

Hey guys I've been looking at the new cordless track saw but I wanted some input from some people who had it for a while before I purchase one. I can't really find any good real world reviews I would like to know what you guys think about battery life and how it preforms in various materials.

 

[Shane Holland]

I'm sure you'll get some good, candid feedback from members here. But, remember that the best review is your own. Festool offers a 30-day money back guarantee on their tools. So, get one and use the heck out of it for a month. If it doesn't live up to your expectations, just return/exchange it.

 

[KescoNY]

I ve been using one for several weeks now and just picked up another one for job sites.
  I can't comment on the battery life yet since almost every time we used it, it was not being used all day.  Dust collection is impressive with the bag (very close to having it hooked to CT). The saw feels well balanced with the added batteries  I actually prefer the TSC over my TS for the way it feels.  This might be just me but i felt that it had less of a tendency to tip when i was making bevel cuts even tho in theory its hard to believe.

If you will be using it in the shop all the time, i would suggest going with the TS instead of TSC but if you need to set up for few quick cuts, trimming doors, fillers etc remotely then go with the TSC.  I love the fact that i can set up in my trailer on an mft between 1-2 minutes for a quick cut with the cordless . Time saved for me is priceless. 

 

[Holmz]

Hey guys I've been looking at the new cordless track saw but I wanted some input from some people who had it for a while before I purchase one. I can't really find any good real world reviews I would like to know what you guys think about battery life and how it preforms in various materials.

Why cordless?

If it is for more of carpentry work the Festool HKC55, or Mafell KSS40/KSS400 types, have their rails attached. I have not used them, but they appear to be good, and there is much positive raving about them.
For decks, general building work,  etc they have some usefulness.

For sheet goods in a shop, then the TS55 (or others corded versions) are good as they can turn a vacuum on. Once you get the cord and hose to not catch on things it is nice.
Also the battery cannot go flat with a corded version.

 

[Rollin22Petes]

Mainly for site work as power can sometimes be limited to one temporary source at the most inconvenient location plus you have to compete with all the other trades for power. I have the TS55 & TS75 for the shop so I covered there most of the materials I wood be cutting are finished plys, countertops and melamine so a quality is a must

 

[KescoNY]

Mainly for site work as power can sometimes be limited to one temporary source at the most inconvenient location plus you have to compete with all the other trades for power. I have the TS55 & TS75 for the shop so I covered there most of the materials I wood be cutting are finished plys, countertops and melamine so a quality is a must

If thats the case, go for it. You will not regret it. Only thing i can recommend is if you are not invested in festool batteries, get the third battery.  If you run 2 batteries flat at least you can finish the job with one full spare battery. 

 

[tjbnwi]

I really like the TSC. With the other cordless Festools I have 8 batteries to use in it.

Tom

 

[Rollin22Petes]

Yeah I was thinking a few extra batteries would be a good idea I already have a pdc so there's a couple in a pinch. I know it depends on the material and blade selection just seems like you could go through batteries pretty fast.

 

[tjbnwi]

Yeah I was thinking a few extra batteries would be a good idea I already have a pdc so there's a couple in a pinch. I know it depends on the material and blade selection just seems like you could go through batteries pretty fast.

They last a lot longer than I expected.

Tom

 

[DB10]

  I went the TSC route as I got fed up with the limitations of power cords on site and having to deal with electricians cutting the power then deciding that they need to go off site for whatever reason and leaving you without power.

My thoughts
I like the independence of being cordless.
  The dust bags can fill up really quickly and it's easy to forget to check it when your in the zone, when this happens the dust will spew out everywhere, obviously this can be avoided with regular checks.
You are going to need at least four batteries as running the saw on one battery will frustrate you. Four batteries will last me all day.
Quick and easy to set up, lay down the track and cut, no messing with cords and hoses getting in the way or caught up. [2cents]

 

[Cheese]

Sometimes that vacuum hose just becomes a nemesis.

I was cutting some poly downstairs with the TS 55 and with the limited space available, the cutting bench became a severely compromised situation. I decided that I needed a perfect cut on the poly and the only way to prevent interference with the vacuum hose was to eliminate it. So I attached the dust bag instead.

A nice simple solution to the problem while containing all the crumbs.

 

[Kev]

Battery life in the TSC and the HKC are "what I'd expect" .. I'm in Oz so I got mine with the "dud" 4.0Ah batteries. I haven't measured performance or duration but I'm not in any way disappointed.

 

[mrboult]

If you already have the TS 55 I would go with the HKC 55 as your battery saw.

It can achieve what the TS does (Plunge cuts are not as quick/easy) but also has the ability to use the attached cross cut rails! Which will likely come in useful down the road . .

Also I wonder if the single battery is a better/easier use of someones battery collection? Does the thinner kerf actually give better performance? I wonder if the HKC would do more with 2 batteries than the TSC?

 

[Rollin22Petes]

Thanks guys sounds like you are all very pleased with your saws. I have some pretty big jobs coming up that are going to require a decent amount of cutting on site. So I think I will time my purchase around them and use Shanes advice and use the heck out of it for 30 days and decide if I like it.

 

[ear3]

HKC is still NAINA

If you already have the TS 55 I would go with the HKC 55 as your battery saw.

It can achieve what the TS does (Plunge cuts are not as quick/easy) but also has the ability to use the attached cross cut rails! Which will likely come in useful down the road . .

Also I wonder if the single battery is a better/easier use of someones battery collection? Does the thinner kerf actually give better performance? I wonder if the HKC would do more with 2 batteries than the TSC?

 

[Holmz]

HKC is still NAINA

If you already have the TS 55 I would go with the HKC 55 as your battery saw.

It can achieve what the TS does (Plunge cuts are not as quick/easy) but also has the ability to use the attached cross cut rails! Which will likely come in useful down the road . .

Also I wonder if the single battery is a better/easier use of someones battery collection? Does the thinner kerf actually give better performance? I wonder if the HKC would do more with 2 batteries than the TSC?

Ooops.  [embarassed]
That is one item that I like the look of, but it seems bewildering not to have it in NA if it battery powered.
Getting it via Europe then requires a 220v outlet to charge the batteries unless one goes to a UK 110v charger.