Cover Plate Review TS55

Hi,

  Yes, the Cover Plate does close off the hole in the blade shroud with no provision to preserve air flow.  So I don't know about that airflow design.  Regardless of the airflow the DC is better with the plate than with out. So it must be getting enough with the hole covered anyway.

    On the TS55 the d36 hose does seem better but I would not say it is markedly better. I don't think I ever tried the d36 hose with out the cover plate so that may give a differing result.  I do not think the d36 improves DC enough to justify getting the d36 just for the TS55 saw.

    I could see the possibility of the D36 hose making more of an improvement on the TS75 than the 55 because the increased airflow of the d36 may work better in conjunction with the larger (because its longer) opening in the 75s blade shroud.

Seth
 
Could be, I never tried the bigger hose with the TS55 only the TS75. I could tell a difference immediately. Bag was half full. It could be the larger hose works better when the bag in the CT33 is getting full in comparison the the smaller hose with the bag half full. There are so many different scenarios to consider.

What I do know the larger hose can't hurt any application I have ever seen. The larger hose can be an issue if you are not using the table and bringing the saw to the stack, Its not as flexible and easy to work with.

Nickao
 
I upgraded to the D36 hose prior to getting the Cover Plate for my TS55 and found the larger hose to be an improvement, especially cutting MDF.  Haven't used the TS55 with the D27 hose since.  Thus far, I have only used the Cover Plate for those 'near the edge' cuts, as described above, and agree that works nicely for those cuts.  But I haven't played with taping over the holes -- did learn here to tape the kerf line in the table (or backer) to help with dust control at that end and like that a lot.

I would think that Festool would/should have added intake holes in the Cover Plate if needed -- the Plate would still cover the lower area where the dust escapes, but include intake passage(s) closer to the center of the blade.  Don't really want to try with my Cover Plate... but maybe Festool could/should if they haven't already.
 
There are two questions here.

1. Does the cover plate improve dust collection?

2. Does a bigger hose improve dust collection?

In general, without saying so, I assume anyone reading anything I write considers that it is just my opinion, and takes it with a grain of salt. But the answers to the above questions are so clear I'm telling you, it ain't just opinion.

The answers are yes to both questions. With a little more detail...

1. I now have both the ATF 55 and the TS 55. Despite the improvements in the TS I still use the ATF for 90 degree bevel cuts because it has the dust cover and it is a huge improvement in containing dust. Even with the cover plate there are a couple of spots in the front that need to be covered with tape because of the high force of the debris being plowed out of the wood.

The idea that the cover plate or tape will adversely restrict air flow is lame brained (no offense intended, it happens to the best of us from time to time). Just lay the saw on it's right side and look. There are plenty of holes for take up air. Generally you can just listen to the vac to get the answer to questions about air restriction but I'll admit that in the case of a circular saw you do want to get your take up air from near the front of the blade. If you look you'll see that that isn't a problem here even with a dust cover in place.

2. There isn't really much more to say about the bigger hose. It improves dust collection about 20 percent. It costs a lot more than the cover plate but it can be used for bevels too, when you have to remove the cover plate. Also, the bigger hose can be used on other tools, but it is heavier and stiffer in all cases.

Sorry if I sound too cranky but this is such a "duh" issue, like, "will gas milage improve if I put more air in my tires?".
 
I have the cover plate for my ATF and almost never make a cut without it.  If I ever upgrade to the TS, I would guess it'll be the same way.  Since I rarely (at least when my blade is sharp) have a tearout problem, the little splinter guard isn't on my "must have" list.

With the cover plate on a small smattering of dust pieces come out of the front of the saw onto the rail, then the saw comes by and sucks them back up.

The real key to catching all the dust is to cut into something below also.  If you use some 2x4s or a cutting grid on sawhorses, some of the dust will all go out the bottom anyway.  So there's no real point in having a dust cover.  If you cut into a piece of foam and have the dust cover, that's the way to get the 99% dust collected that's talked about.  If you give the dust nowhere to go but into the vac, that's where it goes (as Michael stated so eloquently ... "duh").  The only time I have any real dust to speak of is when I take just a little of the edge and the blade isn't buried.
 
JayStPeter said:
I have the cover plate for my ATF and almost never make a cut without it. ...

The only time I have any real dust to speak of is when I take just a little of the edge and the blade isn't buried.
Click to expand...

In this case, put another piece of wood (the same thickness) alongside the work as close as you dare. If you really want to capture the dust put the extra piece hard up to the work and cut it too. If I can't clamp the extra piece I just tape it to the work.

Sorry I cut out the part about the sacrificial board underneath Jay. That's just a given in my mind if anyone is at all interested in dust collection.
 
Hi,

        It is good to see that several others  have found the same or similar results using the cover plate.  Make the info in the review that much more valid. Thanks for the add ons and such.

Seth
 
  I re-read this and I would say that it still reflects what I think about the CP pretty well.  I tend to use the D27 hose  unless cutting MDF just for the handling factor.  The D36 hose does improve the DC. But for me it is not enough unless a lot of super fine dust is involved to use it in place of the D27. I also like the D36 for rip cuts with the Panther blade because of the larger chips and sometimes "stringy" pieces that can jam at the hose connection.

    I also have the TS75 now, and I wish there was a cover plate for that too.

Seth
 
I have access to a 3D printer that can print rubber material - I've been thinking about printing a rectangular plug specifically for the arbor bolt opening, as I too have found tape over that large opening to help considerably with DC.
 
dpetrzelka said:
I have access to a 3D printer that can print rubber material - I've been thinking about printing a rectangular plug specifically for the arbor bolt opening, as I too have found tape over that large opening to help considerably with DC.
Click to expand...

Good idea
 
SRSemenza said:
   
    I also have the TS75 now, and I wish there was a cover plate for that too.

Seth
Click to expand...

This post got the gears to spinning. I upgraded during the TS55 recall and have not been completely satisfied with the DC. I think a CP could be built for the TS75 and a splinter guard could be included. I used Half Inch Shy's fix for the TS75 splinter guard during shallow cuts. A piece of l-shaped hard maple and two rods drilled and tapped on the ends and I'm in business. I'll be sure to post some pics when I get it done.
 
One thing I noticed and maybe wasn't mentioned here is that while the TS 55 EQ is cutting the wood the cover plate does seem to help but as it exits the cut and the end of the board passes away from the front of the saw there is quite a bit of dust coming out of the front of the unit. In fact, after many cuts there is more dust on the floor in front of the table than anywhere else. So, why not have a piece of plastic or similar material between the front of the saw and the side of it to stop the dust from shooting forward? Similar to this discontinued clear dust/splinter guard for the Updated TS 55 REQ.

http://www.woodwerks.com/festool-replacement-clear-dust-guard-for-ts-55-req.html
 
Eli said:
or slap some tape on the outside of it.
Click to expand...
That is what I did this weekend to my TS75 while doing some flooring. It made a considerable improvement in dust collection.
 
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