Festool Metal-Cutting Blades Discontinued (US)

[Shane Holland]

All saw blades intended for cutting metal on the TS 55, TS 75 and Kapex saws have been discontinued, effective immediately. Festool no longer offers the spark trap in the U.S., which is intended to arrest any hot metal particles from entering the dust extractor and possibly becoming a fire hazard.

495383 Saw blade Alu/Plastic 72t
495384 Saw blade steel 36t
495385 Saw blade aluminum 68t
496307 Saw Blade Alu/Plastic 52t

Note that we do have blades from other manufacturers that fit these saw and are designed for cutting metal. Use caution when cutting metal and it's best if you do not use dust extraction to prevent a risk of fire.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Do this mean dealer stock has to be returned to Festool rather than selling out?

 

[Shane Holland]

Do this mean dealer stock has to be returned to Festool rather than selling out?

Michael, there's not a requirement for inventory to be returned. However, Festool has not shipped these blades for many months now. So, most dealers are likely sold out of them.

Like I said, we have the equivalent blades from another manufacturer on our website. Searching the Festool product number will show them.

 

[Kev]

[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] is there a story behind the spark trap being taken off sale? Seems Festool are removing more products from the US than they're releasing.

 

[Shane Holland]

[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] is there a story behind the spark trap being taken off sale? Seems Festool are removing more products from the US than they're releasing.

[member=13058]Kev[/member], no reason or info was given about why it was discontinued. The spark trap was actually dropped last October in the U.S.

If I had to take a guess, I would say lack of interest/sales.

 

[Cheese]

FWIW...These blades are getting harder to find than the MFS Templates. [crying]

I tried 4 local distributors including Woodcraft...nada. Woodcraft said that Festool Germany was no longer shipping the blades to Festool USA. So Woodcraft sold their last two Kapex 495385 blades 2 weeks ago.

I then tried Bob Marino, Toolnut, The Tool Barn, U.S. Tool & Fastener...all backordered (which is pretty much equivalent to unavailable) or unavailable.

Finally from Woodwork PRO on Amazon I managed to order one of the few blades they still have in stock.

Just wondering [member=57769]TylerC[/member] if this is a discontinued US item only, or is it worldwide?

 

[Shane Holland]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member], like I said, we do have metal cutting blades that will work from another manufacturer. We haven't received any of the Festool branded blades for many months. Maybe even as far back as the beginning of the year.

 

[Cheese]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member], like I said, we do have metal cutting blades that will work from another manufacturer. We haven't received any of the Festool branded blades for many months. Maybe even as far back as the beginning of the year.

Hey Shane, Woodcraft said that they were going to start sourcing Tenryu blades for the Kapex & track saws and noted that Festool USA wasn't very happy with that decision.

I'm just curious if Amana manufactures an aluminum blade and if so do you know the kerf size?

 

[Kev]

FWIW...These blades are getting harder to find than the MFS Templates. [crying]

I tried 4 local distributors including Woodcraft...nada. Woodcraft said that Festool Germany was no longer shipping the blades to Festool USA. So Woodcraft sold their last two Kapex 495385 blades 2 weeks ago.

I then tried Bob Marino, Toolnut, The Tool Barn, U.S. Tool & Fastener...all backordered (which is pretty much equivalent to unavailable) or unavailable.

Finally from Woodwork PRO on Amazon I managed to order one of the few blades they still have in stock.

Just wondering [member=57769]TylerC[/member] if this is a discontinued US item only, or is it worldwide?

[member=44099]Cheese[/member]

It's deffo a US only thing. The HK85 has just been release here - 5 Festool blades available and one of those is a metal cutting blade.

 

[Kev]

Imagine if we start to see KAPEX and other saw warranty issues rejected due to the blade used ... May be good to check the warranty clauses on the various saws [blink]

 

[Svar]

FWIW...These blades are getting harder to find than the MFS Templates. [crying]

I tried 4 local distributors including Woodcraft...nada. Woodcraft said that Festool Germany was no longer shipping the blades to Festool USA. So Woodcraft sold their last two Kapex 495385 blades 2 weeks ago.

They have 495385 on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Festool-4953...e=UTF8&qid=1470082521&sr=8-5&keywords=festool+kapex+blade

 

[Shane Holland]

I'm just curious if Amana manufactures an aluminum blade and if so do you know the kerf size?

[member=44099]Cheese[/member], yes, that link is to blades for aluminum. The kerf (under the technical specs tab on our website) is 2.5mm for them.

 

[TylerC]

Just wondering [member=57769]TylerC[/member] if this is a discontinued US item only, or is it worldwide?

They've been discontinued in North America only.

 

[rst]

I use aluminum/plastic AGE blades for my 55,75, and Makita that I buy throughhttp://www.toolstoday.com/p-6095-festool-and-other-track-saw-machine-compatible-saw-blades.aspx  They sell steel cutting blades but not for Festool.  I use them in my 18Vcordless Milwaukee, PC saw boss, and the big stuff with my Skil 8 1/4" worm saw.  I use a router speed controller with my PC to slow the speed.

 

[Christopher Fitch]

So that explains why I could not find one of those and ended up buying an AGE blade.

Oh well...

 

[Kev]

Just wondering [member=57769]TylerC[/member] if this is a discontinued US item only, or is it worldwide?

They've been discontinued in North America only.

[member=57769]TylerC[/member] curious to the reasoning ... I would have thought they'd have been modestly popular for aluminium profiles. Was it a UL issue with the spark arrestor that precipitated this? If so, that'd probably remove any chance of the PF1200 getting "stateside".

 

[rst]

I cut wood, plastic, and aluminum regularly.  I literaly have cut 55 gallon drums full of anodized aluminum in the last 36 years as a storefront contractor.  All my chips go into the same collector, years ago Sears vacs, now Feins and Festools, thru three Oneidas.  Aluminum does not spark, although anodized has the potential.  I've never seen any sign that heat or sparking could cause a burning problem.  I worry more about staining and finishing rags.  I will admit that aluminum chips have me using a glove if I'm holding close to the cutting...those little chips smart.  [crying]

 

[Klemm]

this whole issue sounds to me like a measure of understandable German apprehension based on our litigious legal system in the U.S. - rather than a regulatory compliance or product performance issue.
FESTOOL still sees itself exposed even if blades from another manufacturer are involved. Any ensuing litigation will name every manufacturer involved in the incident and everyone of them will spend money to defend themselves.
They, or their respective insurance carrier, will settle rather than face the cost of going to trial. The cost of settlements will be a factor in the premium rates during following year(s). The legal profession wins  every time. In Germany there is a cost to suing if you lose - quite a deterrent.
I think FESTOOL is making quite a prudent economic business decision in this regard.
For what its worth.
Hans

Hans

 

[Cheese]

This whole issue sounds to me like a measure of understandable German apprehension based on our litigious legal system in the U.S. - rather than a regulatory compliance or product performance issue.
Any ensuing litigation will name every manufacturer involved in the incident and everyone of them will spend money to defend themselves.

I agree, this reminds me of when a lawsuit was brought against multiple semiconductor manufacturers under the gross negligence domain. A wafer fabrication person was not properly suited up and when some of the chemicals/acids/bases contacted her skin, she received multiple burns. The simple way out was to sue each manufacturer for a stipend...think $20K... and if you sue 20 different manufacturers for $20K the net result is $400K. That's a lot easier than trying to sue one manufacturer for $400K. As a result, DEC, Harris semiconductors and Delco, among others are no longer providers in this area.

 

[TylerC]

[member=57769]TylerC[/member] curious to the reasoning ... I would have thought they'd have been modestly popular for aluminium profiles. Was it a UL issue with the spark arrestor that precipitated this? If so, that'd probably remove any chance of the PF1200 getting "stateside".

The reason is related to the spark arrestor. I'll have a more thorough for you all tomorrow.