Hk55 depth of 45 bevel cut

[McKeller]

Hi All,

So I bought my first Festool, the hk55 crosscut track saw. I’ve used it a few times for 90 degree cuts but today went to make some 45 degree bevels on 2x4’s and I couldn’t get an inch an half depth of cut. Deepest I could get is about 1 3/8ths. This is with the attached track. Am I missing something? I just cant imagine they’d sell this saw in the US without the ability to handle a 45 bevel on 2x4 dimensional lumber. Feeling very disappointed.
Thought?

 

[Svar]

You are not missing anything. It's a known shortcoming of HK55. You can search older threads on this issue.
One suggestion was to use a larger 165 mm blade, but I seem to remember someone tried and it did not fit in the housing.

 

[Stephen B]

You might imagine this is a North American imperial measurement system issue, after all its a metric designed saw.  However it still will not cut 90 and 70X45mm timber at 45 degrees  -  [eek] and these are common construction framing timber dimensions in Australia.

Despite this I have found mine capable of most things I formally did with a compound saw outside the Untidy Shop.

[member=70846]McKeller[/member]  - welcome to the FOG.

 

[demographic]

I'm in the UK and most of our framing timber is 45mm thick so its not so much an issue.
This saw cuts to (when on the rail) 50mm at 90 degrees, then thats 50m along the angle, where did you think it was going to get the extra depth?

Every circular saw I've ever used cut to a lesser depth when cutting a bevel thats just how they work.

I understand that 2x is a common thickness to use but how often are you cutting a 45 degree angle on it that way on?

I've had my HKC for three or more years now doing decking, concrete formwork, framing buildings, cladding buildings, making false stair stringers to go beside concrete stairs and a myriad other general carpentery jobs and the main time depth of cut has been an issue has been cutting laminated veneer studs which are 70x220mm.
I've just been cutting one side then flipping it over and its still faster than pulling a big numb sliding compound mitresaw out of the van and setting it up every day.

As a side note, those LVL studs are a right faff, they need a lot more metalwork as theres less wood to nail into and the flanges make it harder to effectively add insulation between them.
I think SIPS panels are a far better idea.

 

[RKA]

It’s a saw marketed for construction tasks that includes a bevel adjustment.  But the bevel can’t be used over it’s entire length on construction timbers.  Given that this saw has its own blade, not one shared with the TS saws, they could have spec’d a 165mm blade.  It was an oversight, IMHO.  You’re not missing anything, it was raised almost immediately when it was released.

 

[ScotF]

Yeah - but you can buy some larger blades - I think DeWalt has one and Mafell, Makita and Freud all make them too. Again, compound cuts on 45's is not a super common task in the work I do, so it has not been a huge inconvenience yet. Still like the this style saw in spite of this oversight.