How much depth do you need to add to the TS55 dial for the FS/2 Guide Rail?

[zzzzdoc]

How much extra depth do you need to add to the dial on the TS55 in order to totally cut through a piece of wood when using the FS/2 Guide Rail?

I was surprised that setting the TS55 for 19mm (0.75") didn't go entirely through the 0.75" plywood.  Clearly more has to be added to clear the guide rail (not sure why it was designed that way, or what I'm missing here.)

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

What?

 

[zzzzdoc]

I wrote it badly.  When on the guide rail, when I set the depth of the cut, it doesn't reach the bottom of the wood.  Obviously, some additional amount needs to be added to account for the depth of the guide rail.  I was wondering how much that amount is?  Either that, or I somehow don't have it zeroed correctly.

 

[zzzzdoc]

Actually, I just found it in the supplemental manual.  Festool says to add 5mm.  Is that what people are using?

 

[Waka]

I'm confused are you talking about the Kapex or the TS 55?

 

[zzzzdoc]

Now I understand the confusion.  Yeah, pretty dumb if I was talking about the Kapex.

I'm asking about the TS 55.

 

[tbellemare]

5mm

Tom

 

[Neill]

In general  I believe that 8mm is to be added to the thickness of the material, if you have the MFT.  This allows 5mm for the baseplate and a 3mm cut into the table top.  So if you are cutting 3/4" material, the setting would be 27mm, (3+5+19)

Neill

 

[justinmcf]

hi zzdoc.
this is a great thread for people who have just bought their ts-55 and want to know about the depth setting.
may i suggest that you modify your original post and delete the word kapex so in the future when lots of other new members want to read this topic, there will be no confusion at all.

regards, justin.

 

[zzzzdoc]

hi zzdoc.
this is a great thread for people who have just bought their ts-55 and want to know about the depth setting.
may i suggest that you modify your original post and delete the word kapex so in the future when lots of other new members want to read this topic, there will be no confusion at all.

regards, justin.

I'm ahead of you.  I absolutely agree.  Had a little brain fart with the original title / post.  I own both a Kapex and a TS 55, and, well, whoops...

Somehow, I think the design of the TS55 should have the track depth built in as 0.  Would be easier to just dial in the depth of the wood you are cutting.

 

[Kevin D.]

hi zzdoc.
this is a great thread for people who have just bought their ts-55 and want to know about the depth setting.
may i suggest that you modify your original post and delete the word kapex so in the future when lots of other new members want to read this topic, there will be no confusion at all.

regards, justin.

I'm ahead of you.  I absolutely agree.  Had a little brain fart with the original title / post.  I own both a Kapex and a TS 55, and, well, whoops...

Somehow, I think the design of the TS55 should have the track depth built in as 0.  Would be easier to just dial in the depth of the wood you are cutting.

I think it is that way for if you are not using the guide rail, so that the saw is perfect to the indicator at zero.  Ya gotta have your math cap in the shop, even with Festool by your side.

 

[mouppe]

I think a good idea would be to have two scales on the pointer, similar to a ruler with a 30cm metric scale on one side and a 12" imperial scale on the other.

One could be zeroed to a guide rail, and the other to no guide rail.

Or about a pointer with a metric scale on one side and an imperial scale on the other?

 

[ccarrolladams]

The guide rails are 5mm thick. When I started using my original TS55 I would place the rail at the edge of a piece of material. With the saw unplugged I would plunge the blade until it cleared the material slightly.

My experience is the TS55 is most effective when the work is supported on a sacrificial surface. Normally on cross grain cuts of typical cabinet plywood I aim for 2mm excess cut. So with 19mm (0.75") material I set the stop for 26mm (19+2+5)

Cutting with the grain, especially if the cut is more than 40" I set the stop for 27mm.

 

[richard.selwyn]

The real answer is buy the Mafell - their scale adjusts for with or without rail depth settings (plus several other features lacking on the Ts 55)

Richard

 

[fdengel]

Maybe they could add something to a future version of the saw that detected when it was on the rail and adjusted its scale accordingly?

 

[jmbfestool]

I dont mined adding the 5 mm but to me it seems silly because who uses the saw with out the rail?!  I dont any way and if you did 99% of the time the saw is used on the rail so it would of made sense to have it 0 on the rail and you just set the depth you want with no adding. 

Also its kinda feels like your being sold a ly when I first bought the TS55 I didnt know you had to add the extra 5 mm so I thought this saw would cut 55mm deep but then realised it only cuts 50 mm deep on the rail.

JMB

 

[speed]

will the saw actually work of without a rail?

 

[jmbfestool]

will the saw actually work of without a rail?

Yes you can but I wouldnt bother!!!  And you can get an accessory a fence guide which allow you to run along a wall or an edge which is the only time I would use if off the rail.  

The first time I used it with out the raill it made me Poo my self!  The saw kicked back at me.   I tried cutting 4x2 with it definitely not a good idea.  One hand holding the 4x2 the other holding the TS55.     The second time I did it I was kneeling on the 4x2 and had two hands holding the TS55 one hand I had holding the base of the TS55 so I had the TS55 plunged fully before cutting it it worked fine but its just not worth the hassle just use a normal circular saw.

JMB

 

[Neill]

will the saw actually work of without a rail?

Speed,

There is a German company by the name of Kaindl that makes power carving and saw blades.  On their website they show the TS-55 (I believe) freehand cutting pipe and metal channel with their blade attached.  Actually looks very cool.

Neill

 

[Mac]

The real answer is buy the Mafell - their scale adjusts for with or without rail depth settings (plus several other features lacking on the Ts 55)

Richard

GASP...sacrilege!!!
[ban]