Hercules has a 158.75mm Track Saw Blade

[onocoffee]

Just came across this while perusing the 'net: 6.25" x 20mm arbor 48T woodworking track saw blade for $20.

Does this mean the TS 55 now becomes the TS 52? (I don't really know how to calculate cut depth)

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-12-in-48t-woodworking-track-saw-blade-71279.html

 

[Michael Kellough]

If I’m not mistaken that’s a little larger than the blades for TS 55, but a little smaller than for TS 60.

Also, it’s 2.2mm kerf.

 

[mino]

If I’m not mistaken that’s a little larger than the blades for TS 55, but a little smaller than for TS 60.

Also, it’s 2.2mm kerf.

TS 55 blades are 160 mm which is 6.3 standard inches.

Assuming the blades in question are exact 6.25", that would mean 0.625 mm or 0.025" less depth as compared to the stock blades and the matching saw scale.

Given the notches are 1 mm apart, just one more notch and that is it if you get those blades.


EDIT:
As pointed below, a blade that is 61/2" is .. more along 6.5" than 6.25" ... that is 165 mm and it DOES NOT fit inside the TS 55 series saws. If you try using it, it will seemingly fit .. and then proceed to "saw" off the metal piece holding the anti-split guard cover in place ..

 

[Michael Kellough]

TS 55 blades are 160 mm which is 6.3 standard inches.

Assuming the blades in question are exact 6.25", that would mean 0.625 mm or 0.025" less depth as compared to the stock blades and the matching saw scale.

Given the notches are 1 mm apart, just one more notch and that is it if you get those blades.

The Hercules blade is 6.5”.

 

[onocoffee]

The Hercules blade is 6.5”.

Ooops, you are right. Turns out that the 6.5" is 165.1mm - and that is too large for the TS 55 EQ (and I'm presuming the REQ/FEQ, as well).

I was a bit curious and since $20 wasn't a crazy amount of money to give it a go, I did. The Hercules blade will seat in the EQ, however, when you pull the trigger you it hits and stops. The teeth look a bit proud of the upper housing and may have nicked a part of the outer shroud, but it definitely impacts with a part of the riving knife mechanism. I did not attempt operation further.

I suspect that the Hercules will fit in the TS60 since that blade is 168mm - though since I only have a 55, I am unable to test it out. On the 60, you'll lose a little cut depth but the Hercules might be a budget option - especially of Harbor Freight releases a wider range of blades when they release their own track saw (which is pictured on the packaging).

 

[Hipplewm]

The TS60 blade kerf is 1.8mm and the HF is 2.2mm doesn't seem like mucvh but that is roughly 0.016" or 1/64" so it isn't negligible either

 

[MacBoy]

The TS 55 KS has a 1.6mm kerf

They really should improve the legibility of the codes on the Festool packaging of the saw blades. I have to squint and think too often.

 

[Packard]

I read, when Trump first announced the punishing tariffs, that Harbor Freight was going to produce a line of top quality tools that would compete with the industry standards.

I’ve been in H-F’s store often enough to view their Hercules line as that answer.

I have not read anything about the Hercules tools, or their saw blades. Has anyone used their saw blades? Or their tools?

I have long admired Harborr Freight’s policy of standing behind their products. It would be nice if the Hercules line was as competitive as they promised.

And with the tariffs collapsing, what will that do to the direction H-F is taking?

 

[Hipplewm]

The hercules stuff isn't bad - you can tell the places where they cut corners on certain things.

I use them in an environment that means they can never leave, so there is no warranty once they are removed from the box...

Don't count on all the Tarrifs going away, the SC opinion only affects certain things, not all

 

[Packard]

The hercules stuff isn't bad - you can tell the places where they cut corners on certain things.

I use them in an environment that means they can never leave, so there is no warranty once they are removed from the box...

Don't count on all the Tarrifs going away, the SC opinion only affects certain things, not all

I think the tariffs are gone. Bot no more talk on it. I’ll just wait and see.

 

[Cheese]

This has been a very circuitous discussion so please excuse my confusion. Why not just mount a Mafell 162 mm blade on the Festool saw and gain the extra cutting depth you desire?

 

[onocoffee]

This has been a very circuitous discussion so please excuse my confusion. Why not just mount a Mafell 162 mm blade on the Festool saw and gain the extra cutting depth you desire?

For me at least, the question of the Hercules track saw blade wasn't about gaining cut depth. I actually thought it was 6.25" which (I think) would have been a loss of cut depth. It was more about whether or not the Hercules blade might be a potential blade in lieu of the pricier blades, like the Festool or even Tenryu. This particular blade cost $20. If Harbor Freight was to roll out additional blades when they release their track saw, like a rip, non-ferrous or laminate, then it might have been an interesting option.

Has anyone used their saw blades? Or their tools?

And with the tariffs collapsing, what will that do to the direction H-F is taking?

Awhile ago, I bought their 10" Hercules non-ferrous blade to cut some aluminum extrusions for a project I was working on to put on my old blue Ryobi miter. Bought it mainly because it was very inexpensive compared to other blades on the market. I've only used it on that one task but it worked perfectly well and the quality of the blade seemed comparable to other brands.

Considering the higher end brands that HF has brought to market - like the Hercules tools or Bremen clamps, I think it indicates that HF was moving in the direction of proving some higher quality tools without consideration of usurious tariffs. I do think that HF has come a long way since its Chicago Electric days. One of my Festool friends has quite a few Hercules power tools and likes a lot of them. The only Hercules tool that I use is the Hercules 20v compact router, which has features that I find superior to the Makita R0701.

And I have found HF's customer service to be surprisingly great. I had an issue with one of the compact routers I bought (got it super cheap during one of their clearance table sellouts), whoever had originally bought it mucked up the collet so that a bit wouldn't fit nor would it unseat, brought it into the store a month or two later (when I finally got around to try using it) and the manager just swapped it out for a new one. It's like the old days of Craftsman and Sears.