HKC 55 EB review

[Michael Kellough]

Lbob, read reply #96.

 

[rst]

I used my HKC over the weekend to extend my daughters deck.  Unfortunatedly I had not drank enough bourbon when I placed the order.  I ordered the HKC plus with out the short rail, figuring that the 420 and 670 rails would be the most usedful for me.  I also ordered the bags for each rail and a couple extra blades.  I got the saw Wednesday but no rails turns out the 670 rails were not shipping yet and I had forgot to add the 420 to my order [huh].  The saw worked perfectly for me dispite having to use my 12" speed square for cutoffs.  I wear a large glove size and had no issues with knuckle busting, maybe I just hold the saw differently.  I recieved my 420 rail this morning and love the combo.  I probably won't be using the 45 % much as I don't frame roofs, that being said the fact that the rail lets you make angled cuts with the rail leads me to think that having a sharp chisel in my toolbelt to knock off the tiny lip will still be quicker than having to line any other saw (excepting the pricey Mafells of course) in order to make the horizontal angle.  Also, my 55 side rail fits perfecty on the HKC, I did have to modify the rear clamp plate by grinding a little off each side to fit the slot in the saw base.

 

[Arvid]

mafell handle sits higher up too. sits a touch more above the blade housing.  yes cutting depth looks to be the same.

I have fairly larger hands and I don't have any trouble with the KSS 400.  I'm not sure if the handle sits up any higher, but there is a step in the blade housing to give more room for your hand.
View attachment 1

The KSS 400 has slightly more cutting depth on a 45 degree bevel.  It can cut all the way through a 2x4 on a 45, the Festool HK saws can't.

good info right here. not only does the festool not have the step in the blade housing for more room, but it is the lever that unlocks the plunge feature that steps out from the blade housing that rubs on your knuckles. maybe thats why the russians in the video on the first page are wearing gloves.
I'm not sure but i believe the hk55 can cut a 2x4 beveled at 45 but could be wrong. if it can't then it is even more useless then i thought for me.

Ah OK. So that  distance is  less than 50mm?
If the mafell  doesn't do what you want  then surely its useless also?

Yes if the mafell cannot cut through a 2x at 45 degrees it is useless to me. I do not need another panel saw. The hk55 was marketed to cross cutting framing materials. Not as another panel saw.
They just made sure they didn't demonstrate that it couldn't.

 

[Lbob131]

Lbob, read reply #96.

Thank you.
Brice says...  It can cut all the way through a 2x4 on a 45.

Surely he's mistaken  as  the specs say  only 40mm  @45 degrees  for  the  KSS400  with the track?
But I take on board  the point he makes  about  hand space.

 

[Lbob131]

mafell handle sits higher up too. sits a touch more above the blade housing.  yes cutting depth looks to be the same.

I have fairly larger hands and I don't have any trouble with the KSS 400.  I'm not sure if the handle sits up any higher, but there is a step in the blade housing to give more room for your hand.
View attachment 1

The KSS 400 has slightly more cutting depth on a 45 degree bevel.  It can cut all the way through a 2x4 on a 45, the Festool HK saws can't.

good info right here. not only does the festool not have the step in the blade housing for more room, but it is the lever that unlocks the plunge feature that steps out from the blade housing that rubs on your knuckles. maybe thats why the russians in the video on the first page are wearing gloves.
I'm not sure but i believe the hk55 can cut a 2x4 beveled at 45 but could be wrong. if it can't then it is even more useless then i thought for me.

Ah OK. So that  distance is  less than 50mm?
If the mafell  doesn't do what you want  then surely its useless also?

Yes if the mafell cannot cut through a 2x at 45 degrees it is useless to me. I do not need another panel saw. The hk55 was marketed to cross cutting framing materials. Not as another panel saw.
They just made sure they didn't demonstrate that it couldn't.

Festool UK market the saw as a carpentry saw. No mention of "framing".
I guess its just down to location.

 

[Lbob131]

Festool  HKC55 (corded version)  with  420mm  FSK  rail  from axminster = £355 inc VAT.
Mafell  KSS400  (corded version) with 450mm  rail  from  screwfix = £700 inc VAT.

So I could have two  HKC 55  machines  for  the price of the Mafell.

 

[Arvid]

mafell handle sits higher up too. sits a touch more above the blade housing.  yes cutting depth looks to be the same.

I have fairly larger hands and I don't have any trouble with the KSS 400.  I'm not sure if the handle sits up any higher, but there is a step in the blade housing to give more room for your hand.
View attachment 1

The KSS 400 has slightly more cutting depth on a 45 degree bevel.  It can cut all the way through a 2x4 on a 45, the Festool HK saws can't.

good info right here. not only does the festool not have the step in the blade housing for more room, but it is the lever that unlocks the plunge feature that steps out from the blade housing that rubs on your knuckles. maybe thats why the russians in the video on the first page are wearing gloves.
I'm not sure but i believe the hk55 can cut a 2x4 beveled at 45 but could be wrong. if it can't then it is even more useless then i thought for me.

Ah OK. So that  distance is  less than 50mm?
If the mafell  doesn't do what you want  then surely its useless also?

Yes if the mafell cannot cut through a 2x at 45 degrees it is useless to me. I do not need another panel saw. The hk55 was marketed to cross cutting framing materials. Not as another panel saw.
They just made sure they didn't demonstrate that it couldn't.

Festool UK market the saw as a carpentry saw. No mention of "framing".
I guess its just down to location.

I don't care what the U.K. markets the saw for I am not there.
The video reviews and demonstrations I saw here were in North America and demonstrated on dimensional framing lumber.

 

[Lbob131]

Two saws for the price  of one. I care about that. [big grin]

Those north American  salesmen  will get a slap from  their German counterparts.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Thank you.
Brice says...  It can cut all the way through a 2x4 on a 45.

Surely he's mistaken  as  the specs say  only 40mm  @45 degrees  for  the  KSS400  with the track?
But I take on board  the point he makes  about  hand space.

Here's a quick video of the KSS 400 making a compound angled cut, 45 degree bevel.  It cuts all the way through this piece of 2x 6 pressure treated lumber that is a hair over 1 1/2" (about 39mm).  Sorry there is no sound, but at the end of the video I inserted a still showing the cut.

 

[Lbob131]

Brice.
Why do you  say  2" x 6"  then say  its a hair over  1 1/2"  (about 39mm)
Its so confusing.

Surely its  1 1/2" x 6"?

 

[Michael Kellough]

Brice.
Why do you  say  2" x 4"  then say  its a hair over  1 1/2"  (about 39mm)

Surely its  1 1/2" x 4"?

You may not have noticed but you're replying to guys who live in the US.

Here, "2x4" is the somewhat archaic reference to a standard stick of lumber that (in the olden days) was milled green to 2" x 4". 

Today, what you get from the lumber yard is actually 1.5x3.5". If it is especially high in moisture content it may be a little bigger all around. (The mills do allow for drying and shrinkage)

So, when Brice says the KSS 400 will cut through a 2x4 at 45*, and Mafell says the capacity is 40mm@45*, they're both right.
40mm = 1-9/16", just enough to get the job done.

Buy as many HKCs as you want and be happy.

 

[Lbob131]

So if you walk into a lumber yard  in  Pittsburgh  and ask for a  2" x  6"  plank, they hand  you out  a  1 1/2" x 6"  plank?

 

[Michael Kellough]

Brice, do you know if the TSC 55 is also a little shy of cutting 2x stuff at 45*.
Is suppose all the Festool 55 saws have the same capacity but I haven't tried that cut in so long (if ever, I'm not a framer) I just don't know...

I don't generally need that extra millimeter cut. For the occasions that I might, maybe someone will come up with an outboard (off the left side of the shoe) guide rail that will allow the saw to run directly on the stock. Hans?

 

[Cheese]

Its so confusing.

Surely its  1 1/2" x 6"?

Yes it can be... [eek]

Just to add to this confusion, a 2x6 is actually 1 1/2" x 5 1/2". While a 2x8 is actually 1 1/2" x 7 1/4".

And you thought it was just our imperial measurements that were goofy.  [smile]

 

[Michael Kellough]

So if you walk into a lumber yard  in  Pittsburgh  and ask for a  2" x  6"  plank, they hand  you out  a  1 1/2" x 6"  plank?

Not on your life.          It'll be 1 1/2' x 5 1/2"

Here is a chart.

 

[Lbob131]

I use imperial and metric. Tapes are marked in both here.

 

[Lbob131]

So if you walk into a lumber yard  in  Pittsburgh  and ask for a  2" x  6"  plank, they hand  you out  a  1 1/2" x 6"  plank?

Not on your life.          It'll be 1 1/2' x 5 1/2"

Here is a chart.

So  2"x lumber  is  1 1/2" actual  from that chart.

Now I'm wondering  what Arvid  is complaining about  when both  the HKC  and the mafell  will chop  that  @45 degrees.

But I'm guessing now you're gonna tell me that  "framing"  2"x  lumber  is 2"  actual.
Right?

 

[Michael Kellough]

Lbob, you've got to focus on the details.

The Mafell gives specs for both on the rail and off the rail.

Festool only gives specs for off the rail but it doesn't tell you that's what they're for.

You have to try to find out on your own.
(or ask a Festool employee and even then you can't be sure of the answer...)

 

[jimbo51]

" both  the HKC  and the mafell  will chop  that  @45 degrees."

Depends on how you define chop. The HKC will leave a lip on one side of the cut. The Mafell will not.

As noted, some work with a chisel (or a handsaw) will clean up the cut. If you do not do a lot of 45 degree bevels, then a bit of chisel or handsaw work may be tolerable.

A test with a 162 or 165 mm blade on the HKC would be most informative, though it would void the warranty if something went wrong.

 

[Arvid]

[quote author=jimbo51

A test with a 162 or 165 mm blade on the HKC would be most informative, though it would void the warranty if something went wrong.
[/quote]

162 might work but 165 will bring it very close to the splitter