If you were stranded on a desert island would you bring a TS75 vs. TS55 REQ

[schtumpig]

Hello,

I am sitting here trying to figure out which saw to get a TS-75 or TS-55 REQ so I figure I would turn here for some guidence. I know the simple answer is buy both but my wife has said that is strictly verboden.

I am just a homeowner who is fixing up an 1840's farm house. I had a table saw in our previous home and really hated using it. So in this home I want to replace the table saw with the Festool TS track saw. I know all the arguments for a table saw but for now lets just assume two facts:
1. I am not going to get a table saw
2. I can only afford one tool either the TS 55 REQ or TS 75

Here are the projects I plan on doing:
- remodeling the kitchen (new cabinets, building an island, etc)
- building a farm table for the dinning area
- cutting and replacing cedar siding for the outside
- cutting trim and replacing windows/doors
- instilling new oak wood flooring
- building a front porch

I own a MFT/3 with the rail. Whichever saw I get I am planning on buying the Festool 3000/2 118in rail since I already have the shorter rail on the MFT for cross cuts.

I have searched the forums and here are a few things that stick out about both saw:

TS-75
-Can cut over 2". I want to build a farm table so this would be useful, but most 8/4 solid wood here in Ohio is typically only 45mm thick so theoretically the TS-55 REQ could cut it since the cutting depth is 50mm when on the track.
-The splinter guard is off of the TS-55 so it won't reach the cut surface on shallow cuts, has to be modified (I saw a video by half-inch-shy on youtube explaining this issue)
-The blade is not ideal for cross cuts since it is the 36 tooth blade.
-Has more power but is a little heavier

TS-55 REQ
-Has less power and less cutting depth than the TS-75
-Has been redesigned and updated recently. It is clearly the more popular tool in terms of sales so Festool has more incentive to keep it current. It seems like the TS-55 REQ is the newer and better designed tool and the TS-75 is older and less of a focus for Festool.
-Has a fine adjustment stop.
-The splinter guard actually works on shallow cuts.
-The blade it comes with (48 tooth ATB) is a better for crosscuts.
-Better dust collection than the TS-75 and lighter

So since I can only buy 1 tool and the table saw is not one of the options what do people recommend. What is the one track saw you would have in your shop?

Thank you for all your comments and help!  [smile]

 

[Kev]

I have both and rarely use the TS75 as a track saw (it "lives" in a CMS TS module).

You'll achieve 95% of your work with the TS55 and you can get tricky with double sided cutting if you need to.

 

[sancho57]

According to what you wrote TS 55 will do what you want. I like Kev do own both. My TS75 like Kevs stays in the CMS

 

[andyman]

I'd go for this cordless cutter

 

[Scorpion]

I have a TS55 REQ and use it quite frequently building cabinets.  Most of its responsibilities are related to plywood - 1/4-inch thru 3-4-inch in thickness.  In my experience (with factory blade), it takes some time to cross-cut a piece of 3/4-inch ply.  I cannot imagine doing the same thing with a piece of 2-inch hardwood.  I mean I'm sure it could, but would it feel like it would take FOREVER?

For this reason alone, f I were to get rid of my table saw, I've felt like I'd need to get a 75.

 

[ear3]

Since it's a desert island, I would bring the TSC55 and some kind of solar panel setup to recharge the batteries, since presumably there are no outlets 

I know people work with the TS75 on the MFT, but I think you'll find the 55 ideal for this setup, especially as you are going to try to duplicate the table saw and so use it for things like bevel cuts.  The smaller body of the 55 makes for a less "tippy" saw when you've got the motor housing leaning at 45 degrees off the side of the rail.

Not sure about the corded TS55, but I've used my TSC55 to cut 8/4 material and was pleased with the results.  Maybe you can size the farm table stock so that it comes in under 2"?  Remember that the total depth figure in the specs does not include the rail, so the max cutting depth of is 1 15/16" minus rail thickness.

Also, don't underestimate the utility of different blades for different materials on the track saw.  When you're ripping thicker material with the 55 you'll get better results with a lower tooth count blade.

 

[Iceclimber]

TS75 for sure.

Owners of the 55 will say for my needs the the extra cost of the 75 is not worth it. I say this once i have a tool even if i did not need it i always fimd a use for it.

As for building or restoring a home with just a TS. Well you could do it but i would not want to do it without a TS. A track saw does not replace a TS imop. It is another tool in the stable not a replacment.

Peopel use them like replacments and you can stumble by that way if you want. A real table saw has a place in any real shop imop...

Get the 75 think how many more sheets you can gang cut at once. Wanna straight line some 8/4 or trim a few doors you are gonma want it.

 

[Birdhunter]

I'm pretty fit, but the 75 is a real beast. If I was going to be using the track saw over an extended period (several hours), I'd want the 55 unless I needed the extra power of the 75. In over 25 years of woodworking, I've never needed that much power.

I am firmly in the camp of table saw advocates. I use the track saw and rails, on and off the MFT, often. However, my big heavy powerful accurate table saw (Sawstop Industrial) gets more use than any other power tool other than my drills and sanders.

I find the track saw and the table saw and the miter saw all excell at what they do and don't really overlap all that much.

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

I have a ts75 and use it for everything.  I have a couple different blades and it works great.  The added weight of the saw is not a big deal for me.  I have looked at the ts55 and feel like it's a great saw for sheet goods.  If your planning on cutting thicker hardwoods I would get the ts75.  I would also get a contractor table saw.  If you didn't like your old table saw it probably had something wrong with it. 

 

[blaszcsj]

I am pondering the same thing as I just sold my makita track saw and accessories to my dad. As my festool collection has grown I have found that some of the festool sliding attachments (like end stops) do not fit the makita rails. That said the makita is a ts55 equivalent and have cut 36mm solid surface with the festool laminate blade and not missed a beat and always got flawless cuts. I have also played with the ts75 and found it slightly cumbersome to lug around. Right now I am leaning towards the ts55 as a replacement.

I also find a table saw invaluable and totally agree with [member=15289]Birdhunter[/member] and [member=41244]Iceclimber[/member]. I have used my rigid contractor saw for the last 5 years until I finally restored my uncles unisaw in the past few weeks. I will have to say both a track saw and table saw have their firm places in the shop and in my past home renovations. Would not want to do another one without both.

 

[waho6o9]

Easy get the TS 75 and I'd recommend getting the Panther blade from Festool for

ripping. Enjoy the New Year!

 

[Jeff Zanin]

I ended up with the TS-75 which I used for everything. 

The main reason was that the TS-75 will do everything the TS-55 will do, but the opposite is not the case.

The downsides to the TS-75 are it and the blades for it are more expensive, it is heavier (not really an issue on the track), you need longer rails for the same length of cut, and the offside splinter guard is not very good as supplied but can be improved.

 

[vitosbrother]

I own all 3 saws, the first one I bought was the 75. It has features that spoiled me.  I still use the 1900 rail with every saw.  It has extra space for slop when adjusting it for cross cutting sheet goods.  I find the 1400 just cuts it in length and you have to be more diligent when placing it to give the saw enough room at the start and end of cuts

75 also has the slip clutch, which again spoils you.  Never once experienced kickback until I got the 55

75 cuts up to 1/8th in plate steel.    I bought my 75 when I was a new homeowner, young, and had no idea what all my uses would be. I always choose to go higher in my purchase if I can afford it. Low and behold I now own a building with steel doors and was able to buy 3 salvaged doors as replacements and use the 75 to trim them to fit

I will give the 55 a nod when it comes to weight and size, but this is not a big deal unless you plan on constantly transporting the saw like a pro would do

I do find myself grabbing the tsc55 quite a bit.  Another spoiler with no cords or hoses.  Great to grab for small projects or in a small work area

 

[unityroad]

For what it's worth. No track saw on this planet will replace a table saw. Get the table first. There are many task that a table saw can do that your track saw could never do. You will have a table saw even if you buy the track saw first. One thing about remodeling old homes is there are no absolutes. Yes track saws have there place. That is why we own so many tools. This is why Festool offers 2 saws of different capabilities. Yes the 55 could possibly do what a 75 could do. However that would be more of an occasional event. To rip heavy material with reproducable results the 75. That's why the tool saga continues. I will stand by the table saw for the best do-all machine.

 

[pettyconstruction]

I have the 75 and like it a lot.
Heavy? Yes but manageable .
If you want to cut thin materiel,it will do it easy,but also thicker stuff is a breeze.
You can do that with a 55 bit may have to flip the ,product. Not always convenient .

Can't go wrong with either one,and you may,like others,end up with both.
Charlie

 

[schtumpig]

Thank you for all the help guys!  [smile]

I think the comment that the TS-55 will do 95% of the jobs is so very true. Also I may end up braking down and buying a SawStop of the new Bosch Table saw eventually. But for now I am leaning toward the TS-55 because the 5% I can't do with it is not worth the increased blade cost, poor splinter guard design, tipy-ness, lack of updated model, and weight of the TS-75. I went to my local amish run lumber yard last week and measured all kinds of boards they had and most were between 40-50mm thick. They explained that 8/4 wood is only 2" when they cut it but after they clean it up it is always ¼" thinner making it 45mm. The TS55 should be able to cut that I believe to make the farm table.

So then I went around this old farm-house armed with a ruler and measured everything here is what i found:
-Old doors (1840's) were 35-37mm (1.4")
-Most of the old 2x4's measured 45mm (1.75")
-New 2x4 used in a newer addition only measured 38mm (1.5")
-The largest floor joists measured 47mm (1.85")
-I couldn't measure the oak floor thickness but I don't think it is all that thick.
-Cedar siding is only 20mm thick (.75")

After that I measured all the hand hewn beams and structural beams and they are all way to big for either the TS-55 or TS-75:
-The garage posts are 4x4 (100mm) the porch posts are 6x6 (150mm) and the main timber frame beams in the basement are 12x12 (300mm) and hewn with an axe/adz (they clearly didn't have any outlets or TSC-55 available)

So based of measuring things it looks like the 20mm extra depth of the TS-75 is not really going to be that useful. In reality if I needed to cut something really big I might just use a Jigsaw, hand saw, or chainsaw. For the farm table I will just use wood that is 45mm

The only question is power. Will the TS-55 get bogged down making a cut in 45mm cherry or oak table top? Is it just a mater of technique? Multiple passes with increasing depth or one slower pass? Also what do you guys think about getting the 3000mm (118") rail. I have a work shop in the basement so it can live their and docent need to be moved around much. 

Thanks again and happy new years!

 

[Tinker]

QUOTE>>> I had a table saw in our previous home and really hated using it. So in this home I want to replace the table saw with the Festool TS track saw. I know all the arguments for a table saw but for now lets just assume two facts:
1. I am not going to get a table saw
2. I can only afford one tool either the TS 55 REQ or TS 75

Here are the projects I plan on doing:
- remodeling the kitchen (new cabinets, building an island, etc)
- building a farm table for the dinning area
- cutting and replacing cedar siding for the outside
- cutting trim and replacing windows/doors
- instilling new oak wood flooring
- building a front porch

I own a MFT/3 with the rail. Whichever saw I get I am planning on buying the Festool 3000/2 118in rail since I already have the shorter rail on the MFT for cross cuts.

 

[Tinker]

I just read your most recent post (written while I was writing my reply to your earlier postings).  Even if you are building a farm table, you can do it with your TS 55.  I built a trestle table a year ago and dit a pedestal type base with the bottom feet about 4" and both legs about 3-1/2" with no problem.  I just made each part by gluing a couple of 2" thick pieces together.  I even cut the mortices using my TS 55 before gluing the pieces together.  I tried using the mallet and chisel method (practice) first, but found it quicker to nibble the mortices as dadoes and then glu-ups and voila! mortices appeared. [wink]
Tinker

 

[blaszcsj]

Long rail for the win!

 

[deepcreek]

I own both the TS55 and TS75.  I probably use the TS55 at least 95% of the time.

It's preferable for sheet goods (often stacked) and I've never had any "underpowered" issue ripping hardwoods.  They key is to use the ripping blade and slow down the feed rate.

To be honest, the only time I use the TS75 is for extra thick stock.  It's downright heavy in comparison to the TS55 and I would hate to be lifting it on and off the track for a bunch of cuts.