HK55 cutting at 45 degree angle

[SteveShafer]

So I have several Festool tools and absolutely love them all.  I just got the HK55 and am shocked that it can't cut thru 2x material at a 45 degree angle.  This can't be acceptable to people in the construction field which I believe this saw is geared towards.  The saw/track is fantastic otherwise but the fact that it won't go thru a 2x at a 45...  is there a larger blade you can put on? or some other solution?  I think I'll have to return it if not. 

 

[copcarcollector]

This has been covered here at great length, do a search

And welcome to the fog

 

[sheperd80]

That and the inferior dust collection are the only reasons i dont have one. Its one of those mind boggling Festool decisions. Its frustrating because it could be such a great tool. Many will argue that they dont need to make that kind of cut, but i do, and clearly so do others. So yes, I'm im construction and its a total deal-breaker. I'll just get a Makita tracksaw for sheet goods and keep free-handing 2x material.

Some on this forum have said you can use some 165mm blades like DeWalts and get "pretty much" all the way through a 2x at 45° but youll have to search it out to get specifics.

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[Svar]

165 mm blade in HK55 discussion:http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/hk-55-(-or-ts-55-)-ability-to-use-165-mm-blades/msg482107/#msg482107

 

[ScotF]

There are other brand manufacturers that do make this cut and have had this system developed and implemented long before the HK series of saws...but they also come at a higher price tag.

 

[Davesbuildtips]

55mm at 90 degrees as the name of the saw infers. I really don't see how you would expect it to cut through 2 inches at 45 degrees. The HK85 will.

 

[w802h]

David, I've enjoyed a couple of your videos and their upbeat tone!  Remember, in the US a 2x only measures 1.5"  and the HK85 is unavailable. 

 

[Lbob131]

If you  require  the recoil rail  and you want the machine as compact as possible  then  two other choices  are the mafell  KSS400  and    Mafell  KSS60 CC.
Which is fitted with a  185mm blade  and according to their specs will  cut  through 47mm @45 degrees. On the rail.
Here  in the UK,  2"  converted to metric is  50.8mm. So obviously  its useless for that particular cut.

The corded  version is about  £700 quid  and the cordless  is around  £1000  quid.

I have the HK85  and what an impressive machine.  Light enough  for one handed operation  and heavy enough to act like a work horse.
In fact  I could have  two of them for the price of  a kss60 cordless  machine.

 

[Davesbuildtips]

David, I've enjoyed a couple of your videos and their upbeat tone!  Remember, in the US a 2x only measures 1.5"  and the HK85 is unavailable.

Thanks for the compliment on my videos. I am curious as to why you would refer to 1.5 inch as 2? In Australia we had 4 x 2 that was just that, 4 x 2 inches. We now have 90mm x 45mm which is close enough to 1 3/4" thick by 3 1/2" wide. Unfortunate about not having the HK85.

 

[w802h]

Framing lumber is rough cut to 2"x 4" then it's dressed to a finished dimension of 1.5"x3.5".  In the US, boards are called by their rough dimension... and that's what you pay for too if you are using a board foot price.  8/4 stock (not framing) generally measures 1.75" when it's dressed.  I think it's all about mills getting paid for as much of the original log as possible. 

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

Framing lumber is rough cut to 2"x 4" then it's dressed to a finished dimension of 1.5"x3.5".  In the US, boards are called by their rough dimension... and that's what you pay for too if you are using a board foot price.  8/4 stock (not framing) generally measures 1.75" when it's dressed.  I think it's all about mills getting paid for as much of the original log as possible.

This is supposedly the case.

I've measured old boards in a 200 year old building, and most measure out slightly larger than whole inch dimensions. I'm not sure whether you would get clean, straight, finish plained dimensions, out if the older rough sawn lumber, but it might be close, and that is with timber that would have been originslly used with minimal drying, so over the years it would have dryed, warped, and shrunk somewhat.

Now a Two by Four, is however skinny a planed piece of lumber is, that a lumber yard can sell their customers, without getting sued for being under "standard".

 

[sheperd80]

The frustrating thing about it is that Festool markets this as a carpenters saw. Even the Festool USA commercials show it cutting compound angles on 2x4 but if you look closely the saw is not at 45°. And on their road show demos and other commercials they "randomly" choose to demonstrate it cutting 30° bevels in 2x material.

The Makita track saw can make these cuts. For a tool that seems otherwise very well suited for carpentry, youd think Festool would go to 165mm blades and perhaps make a thinner base plate. This little adjustment would have made it exponentially more useful to me.

But as with most of their lineup... they found a way to make this tool not quite what i want.

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[Lbob131]

The Makita  cuts 39mm @45 degrees  according to their specs which I think is  on the rail.

 

[pettyconstruction]

That saw would be a "rock star" for framing roofs if it would cut the 45deg all the way.
I still may try it for a deck project coming up.
Charlie

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[sheperd80]

That saw would be a "rock star" for framing roofs if it would cut the 45deg all the way.
I still may try it for a deck project coming up.
Charlie

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Yep roofs, mitered fascia, decks, etc. So close to greatness. :-(

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