FSK rail choice

[mino]

Hi all,
Just new to the forum and a newbie to the Festool as well, just a regular homeowner who likes to do some project everything around the house. Recently purchase the first Festool HKC55, just looking for advice from the PRO!
I am thinking could get FSK 250 + FS 1900 should be cover everything I could do, or I could just get FSK670 for all the applications.
Not ripping a lot sheet though.

If just one FSK rail, which one are you going to choose?

thanks, and happy to find here.

Firstly, with FS/2 rails
- you really want a 2800-3100 length option between them for full rips of sheet goods
- you really want three of them (so one can be used as a reference when joining)
- above means you want 1080, 1400 LR32 and 1900 KP version, ideally

What to get first ?

FSK 250 is the better option, as mentioned.
From the FS/2 rails, I would vote for an FS/2 1400 LR32 as the golden middle ground. 1080 is too limiting as a sole rail and  1900 is just too unwieldy. Just keep in mind you will want to add to it a 1900 and a 1080 in short order.

If tight on a budget, look to get a used ATF 55 or TS 55. There stil spare parts for them in eKat and those saws are very much serviceable and a plunge saw is a plunge saw. No way around that.

 

[rst]

The HKC is great for cutting stair stringers.  I have all three sizes and made quite a few deck strings by setting each rail for the different angles needed

 

[Coen]

Thanks for everyone's input, seems like a couple of options here:
FSK 250 X 2
FSK 420 X 2
FSK 670 X 1
FS 1400 X 2
FS 1900 + 1400
It makes me even harder to decide  [eek]
For sure will get 1400 at least one but for FSK still debating, I was thinking 250 + 670 but seems like not lot people like 670.
Is longer the better applied here as well?  [big grin]

Are you counting votes or rails? Nobody is saying to get multiple identincal length FSK rails?

I have the HK 85 and since I don't do any cuts up on a half finished roof frame or things like that.. the extra length doesn't bother me... I got the FSK 670. Worked pretty well cutting into four 150x150 poles in one cut.

As for the 1900; not long enough to cut a full 2440mm sheet. A bit to big for cross cutting a quarter sheet (610mm). However, the 1400 is really a bit too short for crosscutting full sheets (1220mm). Maybe get a 1900 + a 1080? Joined it's 2980, long enough for full sheet cuts. The 1900 alone is fine for cross cutting a full sheet and ripping a quarter sheet while the 1080 is good for cross cutting quarter sheets.

Personally I don't (yet) own a 1900, but every time I cut 1220mm... I am pissed at a 1400 rail for being too short.

Makita went 1500 for the rails and Mafell / Bosch went 1600. Sadly, Festool sticks with 1400..

 

[patches]

[member=81681]patches[/member] From my experience with the FSK to my mind they're a little more agricultural compared to using FS guides. Granted I'm using the HK85 which can be a bit unwieldy, but personally I see the FSK as being more useful and practical for construction, and the FS guides along with the 90 degree guide for more precise cabinetmaking type work.

I thought that might be the case. I really like the FSK concept and I was wanting it to work for the TS 60 in my application, and as others have stated, plunging on an FSK might feel awkward.

At some stage I'll add an HKC to the arsenal, maybe then the FSK will be justified and I can test it on the TS 60, but for now I figure my money is probably better spent on something like a Benchdogs Quad MFT hinge (I have an old MFT 1080 without the OEM rail hinge)

 

[luvmytoolz]

[member=81681]patches[/member] From my experience with the FSK to my mind they're a little more agricultural compared to using FS guides. Granted I'm using the HK85 which can be a bit unwieldy, but personally I see the FSK as being more useful and practical for construction, and the FS guides along with the 90 degree guide for more precise cabinetmaking type work.

I thought that might be the case. I really like the FSK concept and I was wanting it to work for the TS 60 in my application, and as others have stated, plunging on an FSK might feel awkward.

At some stage I'll add an HKC to the arsenal, maybe then the FSK will be justified and I can test it on the TS 60, but for now I figure my money is probably better spent on something like a Benchdogs Quad MFT hinge (I have an old MFT 1080 without the OEM rail hinge)

Absolutely! I only got the HK85 so I can easily cut up slabs in one pass and for rough framing type work, if I had to choose just one I'd get the TS60 over the HK85, or the ATC55 if you wanted cordless.

 

[mino]

Absolutely! I only got the HK85 so I can easily cut up slabs in one pass and for rough framing type work, if I had to choose just one I'd get the TS60 over the HK85, or the ATC55 if you wanted cordless.

Just a point. The FSK is the "argicultural" part, not so much the HK saws themselves, and especially not the HK85.

On an FS/2 rail and with the right blade, the HK 85 is very much a precise cutting instrument. It is no plunge saw (is there even one with 85mm cut depth ?) but neither is it a carpentry-only tool.

You should try getting the FINE CUT 48T blade for your HK 85. With it and on an FS/2 rail, it becomes a non-plunging "TS 85" of sorts. Besides, it actually can plunge as well ...

 

[luvmytoolz]

Absolutely! I only got the HK85 so I can easily cut up slabs in one pass and for rough framing type work, if I had to choose just one I'd get the TS60 over the HK85, or the ATC55 if you wanted cordless.

Just a point. The FSK is the "argicultural" part, not so much the HK saws themselves, and especially not the HK85.

On an FS/2 rail and with the right blade, the HK 85 is very much a precise cutting instrument. It is no plunge saw (is there even one with 85mm cut depth ?) but neither is it a carpentry-only tool.

You should try getting the FINE CUT 48T blade for your HK 85. With it and on an FS/2 rail, it becomes a non-plunging "TS 85" of sorts. Besides, it actually can plunge as well ...

Sorry I didn't mean to imply the finish was no good, the cut edge with the HK85 is astoundingly good, especially for a saw that size. It's more the experience, and as you mention, the FSK rail, that is agricultural. The dust extraction also could be better I found, I had to tape up a section on the inside as it would blow dust out and up during use.

For what it is it's definitely a sensational saw and handled ripping through some very old and super hard 4" thick slabs of English Oak with ease, but for me I consider it more of a "grunty" task specific tool. I'm likely getting the ATC55 the next time it's in a promo, so I'm really looking forward to that as an everyday saw.

 

[mino]

Sorry I didn't mean to imply the finish was no good, the cut edge with the HK85 is astoundingly good, especially for a saw that size. It's more the experience, and as you mention, the FSK rail, that is agricultural. The dust extraction also could be better I found, I had to tape up a section on the inside as it would blow dust out and up during use.

For what it is it's definitely a sensational saw and handled ripping through some very old and super hard 4" thick slabs of English Oak with ease, but for me I consider it more of a "grunty" task specific tool. I'm likely getting the ATC55 the next time it's in a promo, so I'm really looking forward to that as an everyday saw.

I would urge you to try the HK with an FS/2 rail (clamped), definitely before getting a TS 75.

It sure is no daily driver, but I see it as definitely serviceable for the tasks which are beyond the TS 55/60 capabilities.

I have the big daddy of it - a 380 mm blade Protool CSP 145 E - and while it is as well officially a carpentry tool with a -minimum- cut depth of 60 mm, with a 120T Leitz blade and a proper guide (which it natively supports) it can rip a 6" beam so smooth that it is not funny.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I would urge you to try the HK with an FS/2 rail (clamped), definitely before getting a TS 75.

It sure is no daily driver, but I see it as definitely serviceable for the tasks which are beyond the TS 55/60 capabilities.

I have the big daddy of it - a 380 mm blade Protool CSP 145 E - and while it is as well officially a carpentry tool with a -minimum- cut depth of 60 mm, with a 120T Leitz blade and a proper guide (which it natively supports) it can rip a 6" beam so smooth that it is not funny.

I did strongly consider the TS75 when I looked at the HK85 and I know Crazyraceguy is very happy with his, but as I'm planning on getting the SYS 50 and as a consequence are now committing to the Festool cordless range, my next saw needs to be a cordless plunge as I can't stand my Makita cordless.

I'd actually love to get a cordless TS60K but no such beast, so the smaller TSC55K will serve me very well for the constant smaller, precision work. And between the dropsaws, bandsaw and HK85 they nicely cover all my requirements for the large stuff I do infrequently.