Hi! FT newbie considering the HK 55....

[1vibe]

Hi folks, looks like a great forum!

I am considering jumping into Festool buying the HK 55 corded with FSK.

I have a couple of questions:

1) With track, can this really replace a compound miter saw and table saw for most applications?

2) I’ve read here that with a dewalt 165mm blade, you can cut a 45 degree bevel, is this the only/best option?

3) I believe I read also that the FSK 250 will cut through a 2x12... is that at 90 degrees only?  The HK 55 comes with the FSK 420.... is the 250 more practical?

4) Any HK 55 love/hate stories out there?

Thank you!

 

[Hawkeye0001]

I've got the cordless variant, love it.

You can do a lot of things that you'd otherwise require a dedicated miter saw for, but your workpiece obviously needs a certain minimum width to safely butt the rail against it, some  8-10" at least.

Doing 12" lumber requires the 420 rail (since 250mm = 10"). The 250 is a bit easier to handle but the 420 is not as unwieldy that it'd impair your movement.
The 420 gives you 16.5" art 90° and would just about manage a 2*12" @45°.
Please note: the 250 only gives -45° to +60°, the other rails offer +-60°

 

[Imemiter]

1) With track, can this really replace a compound miter saw and table saw for most applications?

I'd say not most, but some. What I'm finding is that with the right blades, the HK will replace having to haul around a saw and a track saw.

 

[1vibe]

Thanks so much!

I think I’ll give it a shot, and see how it turns out.

I never regret buying good gear after the initial sticker shock

 

[rst]

Buy the HKC and a couple extra batteries if need be.  I have the HKC and TSC and love them both. I have more 18v Festools so having extra batteries, for me, is not a problem.  I use them with my drills and Carvex, so have six that I keep either with the HKC or TSC depending on what I'm doing.  I cut up 8 sheets of 1/4" polycarbonate yesterday with batteries that only had two bars, three crosscuts per sheet (Seneca and Incra guides) and batteries were still cutting at the end, although blinking - "Charge me please".  TSC was hooked up to CT 25 with myself made arm...no cleanup necessary.  I lOVE my Festools

 

[Birdhunter]

I’ve looked at the HK55 and come to my conclusion that it would be a great framing saw, but in no way a replacement for either a compound miter saw of a cabinet saw.

 

[FestitaMakool]

I have the HKC and love it!
The speed of work you can do with it is phenomenal. For my kind of use it replaces my Kapex on many occasions. The fact that you carry a plunge saw, miter saw and a circular saw in one systainer is downright awesome. My latest use was doing first aid help for my girlfriends gate, I had to cut some mitres in order to make “toes” for the pole holding one gate. A chisel, Drill and the HKC made it soo easy. I’ve done finer cuts in plywood and MDF, used as a plunge saw, it’s capable of finer work. I like the fact that it locks on the set depth. DC is obviously better on a dedicated plunge saw - but then again a plunge saw is a specialist saw, not very suitable for general sawing. That’s where the HK(C) shines. Dust collection is generally very good even with just the dust bag, I’m impressed. Now, you can do many of the same cuts with a circular saw and a speed square, and a parallel guide of some sort, but it’s very slow.
The fact that you can do a bevel cut holding the piece and the thumb on the FSK rail makes every difference, it feels stable and safe in comparison to other makeshift methods, as the HK(C) is securely attached to the FSK rail. The FSK 250 is very very handy for narrow stock and framing. I have all FSK rails, but the 670 haven’t been put to use yet.

 

[ChuckM]

I’ve looked at the HK55 and come to my conclusion that it would be a great framing saw, but in no way a replacement for either a compound miter saw of a cabinet saw.

Agreed.

If the intention is to find a track saw that can replace a miter saw and/or cabinet saw, I highly recommend that the OP search threads in this forum about how many after-market accessories people have to spend on to try to do that. Track saws have their roles, but are not designed to replace either the miter saws or the cabinet saws. Something has to give, if a track saw is used to cover the functions of the other two machines.

 

[Thompmd]

I’m pretty new to FT as well. I want to buy an HK55. The reason is Ive bought into the dust Collection and have a CT36. I love keeping the shop as clean as I can and love their system!

The reason I have not is due to its cut depth, just make sure it works for you. I also work with live edge slabs and most are 2-2.625” and it won’t work.

I would also search the hk vs hkc, the reviews I read said there was a noticeable diff in power? Just make sure it all works for your applications.

Wow, I feel like I’m kinda hard on them and I love their stuff And truth be told I’ll likely have one in the future and use my TS75 for the thicker slabs.

 

[semenza]

I’ve looked at the HK55 and come to my conclusion that it would be a great framing saw, but in no way a replacement for either a compound miter saw of a cabinet saw.

Thompmd, welcome to the forum!  [smile]

      See quote.

    What sort of work do you plan to use it for the most? 

Seth