HKC 55 EB review

[Lbob131]

Very happy with  the  HK 85. [smile]
Doing full depth cuts  through    stacks of plywood    and  various  angle cuts on 3" x 3"  and  6" x 3"  and the machine  proved itself a  work  horse. I found it very fast to change between straight and angle cuts. The scale  very well laid out.

The scms  operator  was made redundant today. [big grin]
Though he wasn't complaining  as it was  quite a traisp  back and forward. Says he is interested  in buying  the hk 85.
Other guys on the floor  I noticed  were  gazing in wonderment  at  what I was using. No time for  personal demos  though  as  we were  under the gun to get 16  big trusses out.

 

[pixelated]

I took my plunge today with an HK 55 + the FSK.
We have various projects going, one of them being cutting fitting some window trim for a couple of newly replaced windows.
Just for the heck of it I set up on the vac with my sys MFT holding the work in the corner of the kitchen to test the dust collection.
I was amazed that there were just a few flakes of sawdust directly below where I was cutting on the front of the vac.
The cuts were beautifully smooth, but I managed to do one cut off square, which I chalk up to learning.

My only negatives are that the FSK 420 seems a little ungainly for cutting 4 inch wide stock, and the angle stops are thicker than 1 inch (3/4) stock. Elevating the workpieces on some scrap resolved that, and I expect I'll get used to working with the FSK.

Overall, I'm very pleased.

 

[chrisrosenb]

I took my plunge today with an HK 55 + the FSK.
We have various projects going, one of them being cutting fitting some window trim for a couple of newly replaced windows.
Just for the heck of it I set up on the vac with my sys MFT holding the work in the corner of the kitchen to test the dust collection.
I was amazed that there were just a few flakes of sawdust directly below where I was cutting on the front of the vac.
The cuts were beautifully smooth, but I managed to do one cut off square, which I chalk up to learning.

My only negatives are that the FSK 420 seems a little ungainly for cutting 4 inch wide stock, and the angle stops are thicker than 1 inch (3/4) stock. Elevating the workpieces on some scrap resolved that, and I expect I'll get used to working with the FSK.

Overall, I'm very pleased.

Thank you for this review. This helps in my decision. 

 

[Samo]

I took my plunge today with an HK 55 + the FSK.

My only negatives are that the FSK 420 seems a little ungainly for cutting 4 inch wide stock, and the angle stops are thicker than 1 inch (3/4) stock. Elevating the workpieces on some scrap resolved that, and I expect I'll get used to working with the FSK.

Overall, I'm very pleased.

I wish they offered the tool with other rail options, still deciding on which saw? Cordless or not, but I know I will need the FSK 250 to start.

 

[pixelated]

I wish they offered the tool with other rail options, still deciding on which saw? Cordless or not, but I know I will need the FSK 250 to start.

Agreed, I think a discount on (any) track purchased with the saw along the lines of the discounts offered for the vacs and MFT's would be a better arrangement. I probably would have chosen an FSK 250 had it been cost-effective. I expect that most of my use will be for either work a lot smaller than the 420's capacity or else much larger using an FS rail.

 

[Lbob131]

I'm still in awe  of the hk 85.
Single handed use is so easy. Just glides  across  the cut.
And plenty of room  for big fat fingers. [big grin]

 

[Samo]

Would buy the HK 85 in a heartbeat!

Festool is so slow..... [mad]

 

[tjbnwi]

I've had the opportunity to use the HK-55 for the last 10 days or so (the HK belongs to a contractor I work with from time to time).

Below is my opinion of the saw, take it as that, just one mans opinion...

As a framing saw, the HK is limited. Cutting a bevel in 2x material the saw struggles badly. I'm not talking 45º bevels for jack rafters, any bevel more than 15º it does not do well in framing material. Angle and square cuts are slower than with my worm drive saw.

As what I've heard referred to as a "second fix", the HK-55 does very well----as long as the material is 1" or thinner. Bevels through 1x and 5/4 cedar the HK 55 works very well. Miters are very accurate, for exterior trim work, this could be the only saw you may need.

I wish the HK-85 was available here, I have a feeling it would be a very good framing saw.

Tom

 

[Samo]

As a framing saw, the HK is limited. Cutting a bevel in 2x material the saw struggles badly. I'm not talking 45º bevels for jack rafters, any bevel more than 15º it does not do well in framing material. Angle and square cuts are slower than with my worm drive saw.

That blows  [eek] 

 

[ScotF]

The red brand offers the 80 or 85 capacity and it works very well.

 

[demographic]

Got mine today from FFX, only ordered 2 days ago as my French supplier could not deliver until August. Won't have a chance to try until Tuesday... feels good quality though.

Bet they didn't send a receipt with it. Pack of numpties.

Yeah I could fart on and register with them so I have downloadable receipts but all their competitors just put a proper receipt in the box and I don't have to fart on printing one off to show my accountant. Just pull it out the box and bung it in my file.

The saw is nice though.

 

[Larryddawg]

Looking for opinions. Will the HKC 55 EB handle doors and finish sheet goods?

 

[ScotF]

Looking for opinions. Will the HKC 55 EB handle doors and finish sheet goods?

Yes, but on thicker stock you need to feed slow and it can bog. I find the corded HK to be a much more capable saw. With the fine-tooth blade both perform well on sheet goods. DC is not as good as the TS saws, but still pretty good for a circular saw. I really like them both.

 

[Larryddawg]

Thanks for the reply. I have a TS75 for the heavy stuff. Just been thinking about going to the cordless for framing and punch out work. Would be much faster for trimming off a door or two.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Thanks for the reply. I have a TS75 for the heavy stuff. Just been thinking about going to the cordless for framing and punch out work. Would be much faster for trimming off a door or two.

I use the cordless for framing work, it has been excellent. Since I had to do a lot of rip cuts on the recent project I added the corded and I am very glad I did.

That TS75 you have is a very capable saw (owned one many years back). For trimming off a door or two the cordless is "ok" but the corded is clearly better. I run the cordless with the dustbag and the corded hooked up to a vac and I am happy with the workflow with them both, leaves me with the right blade on each saw for most tasks. Also, the corded is much more forgiving with a finer tooth blade for occasional ripping.

 

[ScotF]

Thanks for the reply. I have a TS75 for the heavy stuff. Just been thinking about going to the cordless for framing and punch out work. Would be much faster for trimming off a door or two.

I use the cordless for framing work, it has been excellent. Since I had to do a lot of rip cuts on the recent project I added the corded and I am very glad I did.

That TS75 you have is a very capable saw (owned one many years back). For trimming off a door or two the cordless is "ok" but the corded is clearly better. I run the cordless with the dustbag and the corded hooked up to a vac and I am happy with the workflow with them both, leaves me with the right blade on each saw for most tasks. Also, the corded is much more forgiving with a finer tooth blade for occasional ripping.

I do the same...having both gives lots of options.

 

[willips]

Quite a thread this- turns out Trend make a 165mm blade with a slightly thinner 1.6 kerf...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TREND-16...068539842?epid=6016720450&hash=item5b491b25c2:g:FUIAAOSw4CFYxqYP