Dewalt DWS520SK vs Festool TS55EQ - long with pictures

[roadking06]

Every newly designed tool, will initially come out at a higher price to recoup some of the development costs. Dewalt has research and development time invested in the new track saw. In 18 months or less, Dewalt will significantly drop the price because their time to market and manufacturing speed will fill in the profit margin of the saw, to be sold in quantity.

This is awesome because it will force festool to adjust price if they want to be competitive in this market.

While most of us who already own festool tools know the quality, fit and finish of our saws, regular joe on the street looking to buy a track saw will see a dewalt at $250 and the festool at $475. Fundamentally both saws complete the same task. Guess which saw is going to be bought.

 

[bruegf]

I think that would be true if Festool was trying to compete in the mass market, but that hasn't been the case.  There are countless drills and sanders available and its not obvious to me that this fact has driven the prices of the festool products.

I believe Festool focuses on quality and functionality and prices their tools accordingly.

Fred

 

[Frank Pellow]

I think that would be true if Festool was trying to compete in the mass market, but that hasn't been the case.   There are countless drills and sanders available and its not obvious to me that this fact has driven the prices of the festool products.

I believe Festool focuses on quality and functionality and prices their tools accordingly.

Fred

And I certainly expect them to continue to focus on quality and functionality.

 

[Pete Pedisich]

The DeWalt saw looks like a great saw, and I would consider buying one if I didn't already have an ATF55, but one thing I always look at since I work at a manufacturing firm: All the Festools I own were made in Germany, and I think the only one made outside is the linear sander.
I would never expect Festool to be able to compete price-wise with a product made in the Czech Republic, or China, or Malaysia, etc... That's just not reasonable. But that does not mean that the DeWalt is less appealing to me, they did a great job with that saw, if it was out in '05 I might have got it instead of my ATF55.

But, and this is just my personal feelings/preference, I respect Festool immensely for their commitment to German manufacturing and to the workers in their country.

I wish DeWalt, P/C, Milwaukee had done the same for American workers! Although I understand they did what they had to do to survive.

-pjp

 

[greg mann]

The DeWalt saw looks like a great saw, and I would consider buying one if I didn't already have an ATF55, but one thing I always look at since I work at a manufacturing firm: All the Festools I own were made in Germany, and I think the only one made outside is the linear sander.
I would never expect Festool to be able to compete price-wise with a product made in the Czech Republic, or China, or Malaysia, etc... That's just not reasonable. But that does not mean that the DeWalt is less appealing to me, they did a great job with that saw, if it was out in '05 I might have got it instead of my ATF55.

But, and this is just my personal feelings/preference, I respect Festool immensely for their commitment to German manufacturing and to the workers in their country.

I wish DeWalt, P/C, Milwaukee had done the same for American workers! Although I understand they did what they had to do to survive.
-pjp

While this is a little OT, it comes up occasionally. Pete, I agree with your assessment. I always feel better about spending a little more for the intangibles, especially if I know the company has a long term view regarding product quality, customer needs and service, and commitment to employees. I bolded your last statement because I do feel it did not necessarily need to be that way. Witness the new Unisaw made and assembled here in the U.S. as an example. 

 

[RogerF]

I don't think I would be trimming the bottoms of doors while they are hanging on the jamb. But thats just me and I'm not doing mutiple unit contractor jobs.

Is it really that much of a time saver to not just remove the hinge pins and work on the door on some padded saw horses ?

  I would feel that I would have much better control of the cut working from a more stable position. Not to mention the dressing of the finished cut like a small lightly sanded chamfer on all 4 edges. And then theres the bottom of the door. You gonna just leave the exposed raw cut to stay in good condition and not become a new problem down the line ? Outa sight outa mind kinda thing. Do you not seal it with a little primer or something to keep moisture out to prevent swelling and delamination ? A 5 minute process.

I don't see this feature as anything special but then I'm getting older and laying on the floor to attempt a fine cut isn't something I'm in any hurry to try. 

I don't think it is the bottom of doors that one would use the saw that way. I think it is for floor installers. Let say you're putting down some 3/4" T&G flooring. You want it to fit under the door jambs and casing. By laying the saw on its side and parallel to the floor one could undercut the casings that way.

 

[sw1211]

I don't think it is the bottom of doors that one would use the saw that way. I think it is for floor installers. Let say you're putting down some 3/4" T&G flooring. You want it to fit under the door jambs and casing. By laying the saw on its side and parallel to the floor one could undercut the casings that way.

Roger, If you check out the link above for the Dewalt site it shows the saw being used to trim doors without taking them down.

 

[Frank Pellow]

I don't think it is the bottom of doors that one would use the saw that way. I think it is for floor installers. Let say you're putting down some 3/4" T&G flooring. You want it to fit under the door jambs and casing. By laying the saw on its side and parallel to the floor one could undercut the casings that way.

Roger, If you check out the link above for the Dewalt site it shows the saw being used to trim doors without taking them down.

Just becuase the site shows it, it does not mean that this would be a good thing to do.  I am almost certain that I would never cut the bottom off a (removable) door this way, even if I had the tools to do so.

 

[fshanno]

It has a T-SQUARE that looks like it ACTUALLY WORKS!!!  Looks like it might fit in our guide.  OH PLEASE GOD!  PLEASE LET IT FIT! 

Did anybody else see this?  They have a little blurb on their applications page....

T-Square demo

I'm I seeing this right?  It's not adjustable.  It's set to 90.  It won't come undone.  HELLO!  FESTOOL!  ANYBODY THERE!

I bet it won't fit our guides.  Of course it won't.  DeWalt would be stupid to let that happen.

 

[nickao]

The Eureka zone system also has had a T square for a few years already. I modified one to work in the Festool rail and it worked nicely. I sold it with all my Eurekazone stuff, but it is no big deal.

Festool already sold and made one that they discontinued I think when they were still Festo. It also cuts at any angle not just at a 90.

I will dig it out of a box and put up a picture of it.

As far as cutting the doors in place I am NOT a believer and think the jamb saw  cut function should be left for the flooring installer to cut casings, etc.

 

[BloomingtonMike]

The Dewalt clamps fit in the Festools track so I do not see why the T square will not fit.

 

[fshanno]

The Dewalt clamps fit in the Festools track so I do not see why the T square will not fit.

I hope you're right.  I just ordered one from Tyler Tool.

Perhaps with this new competition we'll see a whole new generation of accessories that will work with either system.  If that does happen then I love the DeWalt saw even though I'll probably never own one.

 

[mwhafner]

Regarding cutting doors in place -

It is my preference to remove the door and cut it in a more controlled environment.  However, I have also regretted taking a door down to trim.  On a couple of occasions, it has taken me longer to re-hang a door than it did to take it down and cut it.  I frequently work in an area where houses are 80+ years old.  If the hinge pins cannot be removed without marring, or a hinge has been excessively shimmed, it can make more sense to cut it while hanging.

 

[Frank Pellow]

It has a T-SQUARE that looks like it ACTUALLY WORKS!!!  Looks like it might fit in our guide.  OH PLEASE GOD!  PLEASE LET IT FIT! 

Did anybody else see this?  They have a little blurb on their applications page....

T-Square demo

I'm I seeing this right?  It's not adjustable.  It's set to 90.  It won't come undone.  HELLO!  FESTOOL!  ANYBODY THERE!

I bet it won't fit our guides.  Of course it won't.  DeWalt would be stupid to let that happen.

What's the big deal?   There is nothing you can do with DeWalts T-square that you can't do with Festools Angle Unit (see:http://www.festoolusa.com/products/guide-rails/kits-and-other-accessories/angle-unit-491588.html).  In fact, you can do more with the angle unit.

 

[Tinker]

Come on, Frank,
We have had all sorts of discussions on that FS-KS angle unit.
I thought i had the answer on how to make it work RELIABLY REPEATABLY.  Others have come up with their solutions.
After shooting of my mouth that I had finally solved it, i later discovered the error of my ways.

I have not come across anybody here on the FOG who has actually solved the problem.
If you have discovered the secret, you would do all a favor if you would kindly enlighten us.

Some have placed a bolt to keep it at 90.  Others have treid my suggestion to place a washer in the center.
The washer works for a short while, and then it's back to the drawing board.

I'm not tryng to start another hullaballoo here.  I would just like to know if there really is a solution to make that angle unit work reliably.  AND repeatably.

The 90 on the DeWalt looks to be fool proof.  Maybe the answer for Festool might be a series of locked units of the more common angles used.  For now, tho, my angle unit takes up space in a drawer that is seldom opened.

Tinker

 

[Frank Pellow]

Maybe I got lucky.  My angle unit seems to work fine.  And, I have used in the field under far from ideal conditions.

 

[fshanno]

Maybe I got lucky.  My angle unit seems to work fine.  And, I have used in the field under far from ideal conditions.

I have an angle unit and use it occasionally. I square it pretty often using the edges of my MFT.  I use it the way I saw the girl do it at Wood Shop Demos.  It seems to work but it's tricky.  Mine has extra holes in it from abortive attempts to turn it into a t-square. 

I called Tyler Tool and had them add a couple of the DeWalt clamps to my order.  The lady said the t-square was on back order and it would take a couple of weeks.  As soon as I get it I'll check it out and report back.

Looks like DeWalt has a nice saw.  Still got my doubts about cut quality on the side away from the guide where there's no tear out protection.  I watched all the testimonials and checked out all the accessories and it looks like good stuff.  The 59 inch guide would be a little more comfortable than my 55, a little extra room crosscutting a sheet.  For someone just now getting into guided saws it will be a tough decision. 

 

[BloomingtonMike]

Is the $49.99 for a pair of clamps or one?? Hopefully for a pair. I have a set already and I do not think they are worth $50 each!!

I want the router adapter and the T-square add ons.

How are the shipping chargeds from Tyler?

BTW - thanks for the heads up that Tyler had the prices published! I added that info to the threads I had out there on the review.

 

[nickao]

Tyler has them on back order and told me I would be lucky to get anything by Christmas or before 2009. Back order meaning they never ever even had them at all yet. So technically they are not on back order but waiting on a first shipment. Hopefully they can get the DeWalt stuff sooner I would like to try the entire system saw and all.

Tylers shipping is not bad, the last time I ordered I think it was 6.99 for a sander.

Nickao

 

[nickao]

The Eureka zone system also has had a T square for a few years already. I modified one to work in the Festool rail and it worked nicely. I sold it with all my Eurekazone stuff, but it is no big deal.

Festool already sold and made one that they discontinued I think when they were still Festo. It also cuts at any angle not just at a 90.

I will dig it out of a box and put up a picture of it. Not the current item they sell.

As far as cutting the doors in place I am NOT a believer and think the jamb saw  cut function should be left for the flooring installer to cut casings, etc.