Festool TS 55 F Fan Edition

[Frn]

I'm new to the forum, but I'm a long time Festool user.
However, I only recently purchased my first Festool track saw! I have the domino machines (both yes), the Rotex, Cordless drills etc.. But today I placed an order for the Festool TS 55 F Fan Edition - that's right a 'Fan Edition'. As far as I can find on the web the difference between a standaard TS 55 REBQ or FEBQ is that the fan edition comes with a pica pencil, tape measure and special systainer. It would be logical if the price of the fan edition was higher, but it's actually ± € 150 cheaper.. So I'm wondering, is the fan edition a downsized model of the standard TS 55? What are the technical differences and why is it a lot cheaper? I bought the tool in Belgium, not sure where the Fan Edition is available in the rest of the world..
Does anyone have experience with this model and know about the differences? If any...  [big grin]

 

[squall_line]

Fan Editions are a EU thing, as far as I know.  This forum has worldwide users, but is run by Festool USA, so you will likely not get an 'official' answer from a corporate entity on this question.

My best guess as to why a tool would be cheaper in the Fan Edition than a non-Fan edition would be the age of the tool.  Is the Fan Edition a previous revision/model?  Or it's just on sale because the package isn't moving as quickly as they'd like?  We don't get sale prices here in the USA.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I saw someone else mention a fan edition of something, maybe [member=61254]mino[/member]?

Here in the US there were special labels on the T-loc knob that commemorated "90 years". Those were back in '15 or '16? I don't remember anything else different in the package though?

 

[Bomba]

I got the TS 55 FEBQ, great saw!

The main difference from the TS 55 R is the blade width, 1.8 mm blade instead of 2.2 mm.

Which make it cut more faster and more effortless, at least that’s what they say  8)

/Bomba

 

[mino]

I saw someone else mention a fan edition of something, maybe [member=61254]mino[/member]?

Here in the US there were special labels on the T-loc knob that commemorated "90 years". Those were back in '15 or '16? I don't remember anything else different in the package though?

It was sure not me, though I am a fan. Heh.

Checked it anyway. Seems this is indeed an European promotional package where a Festool-branded 5m tape and a Pica marker are added to the normal "Plus" bundle.

There is a separate limited-quantity SKU (577209). I guess it depends on each dealer how much they order or they get allocation.
Not seen it on any Festool site, just at dealers. So definitely a dealer-driven thing.

 

[Frn]

An update - I received the TS 55 F - no fan edition, just the standard one - also without the pica marker and tape measure. All Fan editions where sold out... So I cant say if there would be a difference.

 

[Coen]

I did get one of the Fan Editions. €476 including VAT, marker and tape measure and also a 1400 rail. Sold on the rail. Now I have to sell my older TS 55 EBQ in classic Systainer.  [big grin]

This was at the Dutch Toolstation. Other sellers were ~€30 lower, but without the 1400 rail...

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I did get one of the Fan Editions. €476 including VAT, marker and tape measure and also a 1400 rail. Sold on the rail. Now I have to sell my older TS 55 EBQ in classic Systainer.  [big grin]

This was at the Dutch Toolstation. Other sellers were ~€30 lower, but without the 1400 rail...

Is the VAT a percentage-based thing in your country, or some kind of flat rate?
We don't have that here. We have sales tax, which varies by location. It's usually somewhere around  4-8%?

 

[krudawg]

I got the TS 55 FEBQ, great saw!

The main difference from the TS 55 R is the blade width, 1.8 mm blade instead of 2.2 mm.

Which make it cut more faster and more effortless, at least that’s what they say  8)

/Bomba

Can you put the skinnier blade on the older style TS-55?

 

[Coen]

I did get one of the Fan Editions. €476 including VAT, marker and tape measure and also a 1400 rail. Sold on the rail. Now I have to sell my older TS 55 EBQ in classic Systainer.  [big grin]

This was at the Dutch Toolstation. Other sellers were ~€30 lower, but without the 1400 rail...

Is the VAT a percentage-based thing in your country, or some kind of flat rate?
We don't have that here. We have sales tax, which varies by location. It's usually somewhere around  4-8%?

Isn't a percentage and a flat rate the same? It's 9% for things like food and some other stuff, 21% for everything else. It varies by country. Germany has 19%. All advertized prices are incl. VAT. So we don't have the American problems where you never know what the final price is gonna be because of some 8.25....% wasn't included on the sticker.

And then some things were excluded alltogether from VAT I think.

I got the TS 55 FEBQ, great saw!

The main difference from the TS 55 R is the blade width, 1.8 mm blade instead of 2.2 mm.

Which make it cut more faster and more effortless, at least that’s what they say  8)

/Bomba

Can you put the skinnier blade on the older style TS-55?

No it would conflict with the riving knife thickness

 

[team_kap]

I got the TS 55 FEBQ, great saw!

The main difference from the TS 55 R is the blade width, 1.8 mm blade instead of 2.2 mm.

Which make it cut more faster and more effortless, at least that’s what they say  8)

/Bomba

Can you put the skinnier blade on the older style TS-55?

I have not tried it yet, but after watching this YouTube video by mark thomas it seems doable -

It is "not" recommended as per festool instructions found here -https://www.festoolusa.com/-/media/tts/fcp/festool-usa/downloads/manuals/tsc55-manual.pdf

 

[mino]

I have not tried it yet, but after watching this YouTube video by mark thomas it seems doable -

[member=76382]team_kap[/member] WRONG

Listen what Coen said. The riving knifes on original TSC 55, and all TS 55 models /except TS 55 F/ are NOT COMPATIBLE with thinner blades.

The riving knifes are 2.1mm wide, wider than a cut made by a 1.8 blade. This is both a security risk and will just not work as the saw will get "stuck" in the cut by the riving knife.

Using wider blades is /technically/ possible as it is "just" a security risk*). The riving knife no longer doing its function.

*)
It is safe-ish to use wider blades when cutting aluminum or plaster as there the riving knife has no function. Never do it with wood.

 

[team_kap]

I have not tried it yet, but after watching this YouTube video by mark thomas it seems doable -

[member=76382]team_kap[/member] WRONG

Listen what Coen said. The riving knifes on original TSC 55, and all TS 55 models /except TS 55 F/ are NOT COMPATIBLE with thinner blades.

The riving knifes are 2.1mm wide, wider than a cut made by a 1.8 blade. This is both a security risk and will just not work as the saw will get "stuck" in the cut by the riving knife.

Using wider blades is /technically/ possible as it is "just" a security risk*). The riving knife no longer doing its function.

*)
It is safe-ish to use wider blades when cutting aluminum or plaster as there the riving knife has no function. Never do it with wood.

Agreed on all the safety concerns and thank you sincerely for taking time to educate us. I did read what Coen wrote "No it would conflict with the riving knife thickness"

Agree to disagree with you about OP's question "Can you put the skinnier blade on the older style TS-55?" and as per the YouTube video (which I assume you watched by now), one should be able to.

In an ideal world everyone should be reading the instruction manuals, follow safety procedures, securing work pieces, practicing cuts and should have a great time woodworking, just my $0.02, but...

 

[mrboult]

That video does nothing for this topic.
He doesn't mention the riving knife concern at all, and then cuts such a thin sliver off the end of that work top that the test is irrelevant. The off-cut is bowing away from the cut line on it's own, more than enough for the marginally thicker riving knife. The story would likely be different on almost any other cut.

 

[team_kap]

That video does nothing for this topic.
He doesn't mention the riving knife concern at all, and then cuts such a thin sliver off the end of that work top that the test is irrelevant. The off-cut is bowing away from the cut line on it's own, more than enough for the marginally thicker riving knife. The story would likely be different on almost any other cut.

I see your view point, but once again the response was posted for the ask "Can you put the skinnier blade on the older style TS-55?" by krudawg, and the video proves you can sans riving knife/kick back safety features

 

[ChuckM]

"Can you put the skinnier blade on the older style TS-55?"

I don't know anything about the poster, but I'd assume that the poster is an average woodworker who prefers safe woodworking practice. My assumption can be wrong, but it's an assumption that I always make when giving out advice or opinion in this forum and elsewhere.

So my answer without splitting hair is NO. Final answer. [tongue]

Edit: Same answer if a SawStop user asked if she or he could use a 10" stack dado cutter on her or his PCS/ICS.

 

[mino]

--snip--
Agree to disagree with you about OP's question "Can you put the skinnier blade on the older style TS-55?" and as per the YouTube video (which I assume you watched by now), one should be able to.
--snip--

/Mods will hopefully excuse me./

If was not obvious, of course you can (ab)use ANY tool in MANY improper and unsafe ways. You may even kill people doing so. But you should NEVER ADVICE SUCH on a public forum. Period.

Making such a statement like yours on a public forum where novice users come for advice is either idiocy, ignorance or, worst, intentional malice with the goal to cause harm to people. Please do not do that.

To paraphrase, what you did is equivalent to:
-----
... aswering a question of:
"Is it possible to jump from a cliff? (ed. safely)"
... asked by someone who does not know what a cliff is ... with:
"Look here, here is a video of a guy jumping from one. It looked fine."
-----

Completely ignoring that the video did not show the height involved nor explained when such jump (may) be (still) safe.

/Goes get a beer to cool down a bit.

 

[peter halle]

Technically you can mount a thinner blade on the saw designed for the thicker blade.  But just because it fits doesn't mean that it should be used in this configuration.  As has been said, that is not safe.  Festool USA had covered that point in one of their Friday Live events.

If you want to carry on and use it in the modified manner safely, just remove the plug-it cord and use it on a bookshelf as an expensive bookend.

Peter

 

[team_kap]

Technically you can mount a thinner blade on the saw designed for the thicker blade.  But just because it fits doesn't mean that it should be used in this configuration.  As has been said, that is not safe.  Festool USA had covered that point in one of their Friday Live events.

If you want to carry on and use it in the modified manner safely, just remove the plug-it cord and use it on a bookshelf as an expensive bookend.

Peter

Peter,

I edited my original response to include festool recommendation from the tsc55 instruction manual i.e.https://www.festoolusa.com/-/media/tts/fcp/festool-usa/downloads/manuals/tsc55-manual.pdf

However, this entire discussion made me more curious, forgive me if this was already covered elsewhere on this forum, but owning both HKC55 and TSC55 REB, I referred both instruction manuals below -

HKC55 -https://www.festoolusa.com/-/media/tts/fcp/festool-usa/downloads/manuals/706157_004_hkc55_14_spr.pdf
TSC55 REB -https://www.festoolusa.com/-/media/tts/fcp/festool-usa/downloads/manuals/tsc55-manual.pdf

In the HKC55 manual it clearly states that you can put a 2.2mm blade "with restricted function of guide wedge", however with newer thin kerf blades coming out for the TS55 does it not make sense to update the older TSC55 manual to add the same clause verbiage/warning's and avoid this debacle once and for all? As I am sure this is not going to be the end of this discussion.

By the way Festool Friday Live rocks, big fan of Sedge and Big D and the whole crew!

 

[squall_line]

In the HKC55 manual it clearly states that you can put a 2.2mm blade "with restricted function of guide wedge", however with newer thin kerf blades coming out for the TS55 does it not make sense to update the older TSC55 manual to add the same clause and avoid this debacle once and for all? As I am sure this is not going to be the end of this discussion.

It does not actually make sense to update the TSC manual with the same clause, for the following reason:

A riving knife should be the same thickness as the blade ('s kerf).

If the riving knife is narrower than the blade (using a 2.2 mm blade on an HK/HKC-55), the riving knife's benefits will be reduced because the material could still potentially close to a 1.8mm gap, pinching the blade.

If the riving knife is wider than the blade (using a 1.8 mm blade on a TS/TSC-55), the riving knife will not actually fit in the kerf left by the cut of the blade, and could bind and grab on the material or stop the saw altogether.

You're moving in two different directions, therefore the warning would not apply equally.