HK 55 ( or TS 55 ) ability to use 165 mm blades

[Brent Taylor]

If someone else has posted this question, just skip  my post. I use Makita's TS that runs a 165 mm blade, so it can cut through a 2 x 4, using a guide rail at 45 deg. bevel. So can a Festool 55 run a 16 mm blade or is there not the clearance ? And if not,  is the HK going to be released in NA in a 75,  to be able to cut a NA standard 2 x material. Thanks B.

 

[jimbo51]

I will still go with the idea that Festool did a deal with Mafell to not allow the HK55 to have a 165mm blade. I have a simplistic belief that Festool could not make such a clear design error/decision for the NA market. Of course I also argued that the lack of a 20 amp switch on the CMS was not due to simple stubbornness on the part of Festool and I was told I was wrong by someone who claimed to have inside knowledge. 

However, if someone will test a 165 mm blade on an HK55, I would pay $10 to a fund in case the experiment goes really bad for the saw and it needs to be replaced.

 

[Svar]

I will still go with the idea that Festool did a deal with Mafell to not allow the HK55 to have a 165mm blade.

Why would they do that?

 

[jimbo51]

Maybe Mafell has some sort of patent that Festool could not get around. Thus they did a deal.

 

[Svar]

Maybe Mafell has some sort of patent that Festool could not get around. Thus they did a deal.

Could be. It does look like they copied Mafell concept.

 

[itchy]

If someone else has posted this question, just skip  my post. I use Makita's TS that runs a 165 mm blade, so it can cut through a 2 x 4, using a guide rail at 45 deg. bevel. So can a Festool 55 run a 16 mm blade or is there not the clearance ? And if not,  is the HK going to be released in NA in a 75,  to be able to cut a NA standard 2 x material. Thanks B.

I'm using the HK 55 EQ with the Dewalt 165mm (6 1/2") blade. Everything works well, the clearance is close but does not touch the housing (on my saw) you may have to either adjust the riving knife or remove it. Check for clearance before turning the saw on.

 

[Svar]

you may have to either adjust the riving knife or remove it.

That will solve it! Is riving knife removable? I thought it was integrated with blade cover.

 

[itchy]

you may have to either adjust the riving knife or remove it.

That will solve it! Is riving knife removable? I thought it is integrated with blade cover.

It's both removable and adjustable (in that there is some slack as you tighten the screw). Seeing as it's removable I guess they could provide a 2.2mm kerf riving knife.

 

[itchy]

you may have to either adjust the riving knife or remove it.

That will solve it! Is riving knife removable? I thought it was integrated with blade cover.

 

[Svar]

It's both removable and adjustable (in that there is some slack as you tighten the screw). Seeing as it's removable I guess they could provide a 2.2mm kerf riving knife.

Great! Thank you. You could probably make custom riving knife from a piece of aluminum.

 

[Mort]

It's both removable and adjustable (in that there is some slack as you tighten the screw). Seeing as it's removable I guess they could provide a 2.2mm kerf riving knife.

Great! Thank you. You could probably make custom riving knife from a piece of aluminum.

I thought it was odd that with all the griping about the 45 degree cuts that no one thought to do this.

Actually, not having seen one in person, I thought the riving knife was integrated into the blade cover too.

 

[Svar]

I thought it was odd that with all the griping about the 45 degree cuts that no one thought to do this.

It was proposed in some older thread by several people, myself included. It just nobody knew if this would work.
165mm x 20mm blade are not hard to find.
I would also inspect clearance inside the housing. You don't want some splinters to get stuck inside.
After that, I guess, case closed.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Does the HK 55 actually cut all the way through a 2x4" board at 45* with the Dewalt 165mm blade?

 

[Cheese]

Does the HK 55 actually cut all the way through a 2x4" board at 45* with the Dewalt 165mm blade?

I believe so, the only issue was that the one of the ends was cut cleanly, while the other end had a small nib attached. Not a big deal, but certainly an inconvenience.

 

[itchy]

Does the HK 55 actually cut all the way through a 2x4" board at 45* with the Dewalt 165mm blade?

I will try it out tomorrow when I am back on the job site.

 

[tjbnwi]

Does the HK 55 actually cut all the way through a 2x4" board at 45* with the Dewalt 165mm blade?

Don't know anyone who has used the 165mm blade in the HK.

With the stock blade it leaves a nib.

Tom

 

[itchy]

Does the HK 55 actually cut all the way through a 2x4" board at 45* with the Dewalt 165mm blade?

Don't know anyone who has used the 165mm blade in the HK.

With the stock blade it leaves a nib.

Tom

I'm using a Dewalt 165mm blade in the HK 55 EQ I will try and 45 a 2x4 tomorrow and report back.

 

[tjbnwi]

Does the HK 55 actually cut all the way through a 2x4" board at 45* with the Dewalt 165mm blade?

Don't know anyone who has used the 165mm blade in the HK.

With the stock blade it leaves a nib.

Tom

I'm using a Dewalt 165mm blade in the HK 55 EQ I will try and 45 a 2x4 tomorrow and report back.

Thanks.

I'm in the process of purchasing an HK. The only reason I don't have one already is the 45º issue.

Tom

 

[itchy]

Does the HK 55 actually cut all the way through a 2x4" board at 45* with the Dewalt 165mm blade?

Don't know anyone who has used the 165mm blade in the HK.

With the stock blade it leaves a nib.

Tom

I'm using a Dewalt 165mm blade in the HK 55 EQ I will try and 45 a 2x4 tomorrow and report back.

Thanks.

I'm in the process of purchasing an HK. The only reason I don't have one already is the 45º issue.

Tom

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

I thought it was odd that with all the griping about the 45 degree cuts that no one thought to do this.

It was proposed in some older thread by several people, myself included. It just nobody knew if this would work.
165mm x 20mm blade are not hard to find.
I would also inspect clearance inside the housing. You don't want some splinters to get stuck inside.
After that, I guess, case closed.

165mm blades with a 20mm arbor may be easy to find in Europe, and some other markets, but they don't seem to be very easy to find in North America.

The Makita SP6000 is designed to use that size of blade, but makita only seems to sell the standard 48t blade in NA, without offering the other tooth configurations that are sold in other markets. When you search for blades for the makita, 160mm blades usually show up rather than 165mm blades, and common 6-1/2" blades have a smaller 5/8" arbor. There are some innexpensive 20mm arbor blades on Amazon, but most are not from higher end blade manufacturers I've heard of, and they're more likely lower cost chinese made blades.