First day with new TS55 and Strange problem

[Woza]

I recieved delivery of my first Festool track saw yesterday and spent the day at work today making about 150 rips of 6mm mdf at 40mm and 22mm

I set up a table using advice i read on the forum about ripping down large numbers of small rips and it went really well. I am very impressed with the saw and guide rails i dont know how i have managed for so long without one. I did seem to fill the bag in the vac very quickly however.

The Strange problem i found was that after every rip i made i would get a static electric shock from the metal on the saw and also from the guide rail. It got so bad I tried using gloves and instead began using an offcut to move the rail. At one point a spark jumped from the rail and hit my belt?!?!

I was using the saw outside in the sun.

Has anybody else had issues like this? Could it be because it is new and hopefully a bit of wear will cure this? Any ideas or advice are welcome. It really did effect my productivity by slowing me down as i didnt want to touch the rail.

 

[wow]

That sounds like static build-up, not a problem with the saw.

The saw isn't grounded through the power cord, but *IS* grounded if you have it connected to a Festool DE with an anti-static (green hose). You didn't say what you were using for Dust Extraction so I'm guessing here?

 

[Woza]

Yeah i was using CLT MIDI with green hose. Was deffinetly static but what would cause that?

 

[Roseland]

Bad earth on the Midi's mains socket?

A

 

[wow]

Bad earth on the Midi's mains socket?

A

That would be the next thing I would test. Your ground path (or 'earth' in Metric-ese sounds like it is broken/open. Were you using an extension cord to the Vac?

Can you test your ground connection yourself, or -if not - do you have a friend who can help you?

 

[ceddy]

I would find the problem before going on. I had the same problem but with a dust cyclone. Just ignored the problem and it fried the circuit board on my CT22.

 

[Woza]

Thanks for the replies.

How would i go about testing for a bad earth? Is it just a loose connection in the socket or something else. My brother is a sparky so I could always get him to have a look.

The thing is brand new though. I would hope it would not be something like that. After paying all that money for it to come out of the box faulty is a bit of a piss take. Hopefully its something a bit more innocent

 

[Woza]

And yes i was using a 110v extension to the vac

 

[wow]

I would expect the problem to be in the receptacle on the wall, in the panel, or in the extension cord. I think it's highly unlikely that the problem is in the vac, but testing will tell you for sure.

I'd start by checking for proper ground at the receptacle that you plugged the vac into. If that's OK, work toward the vac to find the problem.

In the USA you can buy a fairly inexpensive tester for this purpose. I did a quick search of Amazon UK and found this:

[attachimg=#]

CostMad UK 240v 13A AMP Mains Power Electric Socket Safety Tester Plug Adapter Adaptor Polarity
by CostMad
Price: £3.80

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CostMad-Electric-Adapter-Adaptor-Polarity/dp/B003XZTBLS/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1400134822&sr=8-7&keywords=outlet+tester

Hope that helps!

 

[Woza]

Ok thanks im sure my bro will have one of them. I will get him to test it and report back

 

[Kevin Johnson]

The solution to the problem has been given in another thread.  There is a problem with the dust port on the saw.  Contact Festool in the UK and see
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/midi-and-ts55-static/

 

[wow]

This problem pre-dates my joining the FOG, so I wasn't aware of this 'UK only' issue. I learned something new today!

This could be the first NAINA that I'm happy not to have...

 

[joiner1970]

Woza I had the same problem , I posted the thread about it. Contact festool they will send you a different dust port.

 

[Woza]

Ok thanks i will give them a call today

 

[fin]

strange one like. i have the same set up. ts55 and midi and have not had any electric shocks off that. i seem to be canny prone to them aswell often get them after ive been driving and get out and touch the car\van door.

 

[Woza]

Rang customer services today and like people have said before was told it is probably the dust port on the midi. Theyre sending me one out so i will let you know if this solves the problem. Thanks again for all the help and replies

 

[joiner1970]

Rang customer services today and like people have said before was told it is probably the dust port on the midi. Theyre sending me one out so i will let you know if this solves the problem. Thanks again for all the help and replies

It's not the port on the midi it's the swiveling port on the saw they changed on mine.

 

[Woza]

Recieved the port today (nice quick delivery) looks a little more flimsy than the other and is Black rather than the blue on the rest of the saw. Think i will just about get over that. I havent had a chance to give it a go yet but will post my findings when i do.

 

[Woza]

Been using my saw all day today with the new dust port attatched and not had a single shock so looks as though its sorted. Thanks for all the replies and advice.

 

[joiner1970]

No worries