HKC 55 Max Crosscut with 250 Rail?

[AeroShop]

Could a HKC owner please tell me the maximum width board I can crosscut with the HKC 55 and the 250 guide rail?  Is it really only 9-13/16 (per Festool tech support), or, in the real world, can I crosscut a 10.5" wide board?  Thanks.

 

[FestitaMakool]

Hi, I believe the US or UK owners are the right to answer this as inches measuring boards aren’t always true inches.

It will crosscut 250mm or 25cm if you will. Converted that’s about 9,8 inches. From my experience (I cannot access and measure it thoroughly right now) it’s official capacity is a bit shy of actual capacity. It will also depend on how deep you plunge, or need to plunge - this has to do with how far the blade reach, the deeper the longer, the shallower the shorter.

 

[AeroShop]

Thanks much.

 

[woodwise]

I can check this afternoon. What is the depth of the board you are trying to cut?

 

[AeroShop]

I can check this afternoon. What is the depth of the board you are trying to cut?

Thanks much.  I got my hands on a 250, and folks are correct.  Technically, it will do about 9.8 inches, although I was able to cut my full 10" boards by just allowing the saw to stick its nose off the rail.  I sucked it up and bought both the 250 and the 420 rails because I will also need to do mitered cuts on the 10" boards.

 

[SoonerFan]

I can check this afternoon. What is the depth of the board you are trying to cut?

Thanks much.  I got my hands on a 250, and folks are correct.  Technically, it will do about 9.8 inches, although I was able to cut my full 10" boards by just allowing the saw to stick its nose off the rail.  I sucked it up and bought both the 250 and the 420 rails because I will also need to do mitered cuts on the 10" boards.

Hope you like the saw.  I have been considering one myself for an upcoming outside project which requires lots of dimensional lumber.  While I don’t have to do 45 degree cuts bevel on dimensional lumber often, I wish this saw had that capacity.  That is basically my last consideration before deciding.  I looked at the Mafell that has this capacity but price not justified for my usage.  If I get one, I plan to start with the 420 rail and see how it goes.

 

[AeroShop]

SoonerFan, I am happy with the saw.  I also looked at the Mafell, because of the greater depth of cut and greater power, but, like you, I could not justify the cost.  I think it is silly that Festool didn't add the additional 3mm to the saw blade diameter to ensure a clean cut on 2x American lumber.  That said, Sedge did a demo where he made it work.  He had to push down a bit more than was reasonable, but he got there.  I'll do the same trick and make it work for 45s.  Otherwise, I have to say that the saw is really handy.  In a week of ownership, I have used it a ton, and I have been really glad to have it. 

If you get one, double check a couple of items on the rail.  The first rail I received had a very brittle splinter guard strip.  I've never seen that before on a Festool rail.  Those strips are usually soft and pliable.  When I went to trim it, it literally chipped and splintered, sending shards toward my face.  Not good on any account.  The second thing on that rail was that the alignment numbs on the bottom were not quite right.  I was about 1/32" out of square on a 10" cut.  Sam at Highland Woodworking kindly replaced the rail, so problem solved.

 

[SoonerFan]

[member=72801]AeroShop[/member] thanks for the suggestions on the rail.  I will look into those items.  Will also look at Sedge’s video if I can find it.  Just wish they made it an HKC60……

 

[SoonerFan]

I found Sedge’s video and he might have convinced me to get an HKC by showing how it will cut 2 X material at 45 degrees.  Maybe not an ideal solution but I don’t need that capability that much either.