Just got my TS 55 REBQ. Oh my!

[hobbyist]

Hello everyone,

I just got my brandnew 07/2020 TS55 REBQ delivered from an official Festool dealer. Took it out of the box and thought the days of fiddling around with my 100$ saw are finally over.
So I checked the bevel setting first. The 0° bevel stop shows something around -0,5° on the scale (alright I can fix that, no problem). The screw that's supposed to touch the base plate for support is floating. (well I'll just screw it down a bit) The 45° bevel stop shows a scale reading of 44°!! (alright now I'm starting to get a bit annoyed, because there's no way I can fix that, since it's printed on there and you can't adjust 45° and 0° stop seperately if I'm not mistaken)
Alright so I'm already in a mood to never touch that thing again, I took out my digital inclinometer just out of curiosity to see if anything about the angles is right on the saw. Nope 0° stop gives me a reading of 89.4° at the blade.
If this isn't the most disappointing unboxing of a tool I will ever have in my life. I don't know.
I mean it's annoying to send in my brandnew saw and wait weeks for it to arrive again to have it calibrated correctly. But what can you even do about bevel readings? If my 0° reading is 0,5° off I would have expected the 45° angle to be the same.  [unsure]

 

[ultane]

Welcome to the forum. I hope someone can help you.

 

[macrutt]

Hi ,

It’s a great saw and there is a link to “Festool Supplemental Manuals” .
http://www.waterfront-woods.com/festool/

I find them very helpful , hope you do too .

Take care,      George

 

[six-point socket II]

Have you actually cut something with that saw yet, that was off - or are you just playing around with some measuring equipment (that might, or might not be accurate depending on surrounding factors ...)?

When I got my TSC, I put in some batteries and cut something. Put a major smile on my face! Then cut the splinter strips/tracks. Then used the the saw. To this day, I couldn't even tell you what the scale reads when it's at the 90° or 45° degree stop. All of the cuts were square/perfect.

Go cut something - and if that doesn't work out - think about having it adjusted.

Scales on tools are approximate values.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[hobbyist]

Hi ,

It’s a great saw and there is a link to “Festool Supplemental Manuals” .
http://www.waterfront-woods.com/festool/

I find them very helpful , hope you do too .

Take care,      George

I got a newer version than the versions available on this site. My bevel indicator is adjustable and made of plastic. But adjusting it makes no sense if the 0° and 45° aren't 45° apart. ;-)

Have you actually cut something with that saw yet, that was off - or are you just playing around with some measuring equipment (that might, or might not be accurate depending on surrounding factors ...)?

When I got my TSC, I put in some batteries and cut something. Put a major smile on my face! Then cut the splinter strips/tracks. Then used the the saw. To this day, I couldn't even tell you what the scale reads when it's at the 90° or 45° degree stop. All of the cuts where square/perfect.

Go cut something - and if that doesn't work out - think about having it adjusted.

Scales on tools are approximate values.

Kind regards,
Oliver

That might be fine if you're just using the hardstops on the saw. But I don't even know what to set it at when I want to do a 22,5° cut.
I haven't cut anything yet, because I'm contemplating about returning it.

 

[semenza]

Hi,

  Check the return policy for your country. In the USA you have 30 days to return a tool for any reason. You can even use the tool and simply return it because you don't like it.

  If I were you I would consider exchanging it rather than sending it for re-calibration. 

 

          Good luck with it and I hope you can get something worked out. Maybe your dealer can help?

Seth

 

[six-point socket II]

Set it to 22,5 and make a test cut. Like I said, the scale is an approximate value. If I need X, I make a test cut check if it is X. If it is not, I adjust accordingly and make the cuts.

It's the same for the depth adjustment. If crucial, set it, test cut, adjust/ fine adjust.

But that's just me.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[hobbyist]

So I don't want to look like I'm complaining about nothing. I just took a measured of the maximal amount of bevel I can set. I zero'd the inclinometer at the 0° stop. It read 44.56° with the 45° hardstop in place and 46.62° for the extended bevel. So it's virtually impossible that both the 0° and 45° bevel can be set correctly. This replicates exactly what the printed scale reads.

 

[ChuckM]

I can understand why you felt disappointed as a pricey tool should arrive properly tuned (when I take possession of a luxury SUV, I expect the dealership to have checked everything, including the tire pressure and fluid levels). But QA is never fool-proof.

It's good advice to make some test cuts -- at the very least, when you return it (for an exchange or a refund), you can add that both the digital angle device and the actual cuts confirmed the saw was a lemon. We do test cuts anyway day in and day out after resetting, say, a table saw with the inclinometer

Most factory calibrations I have had experience with were between lousy to acceptable, and that includes the Kapex. I spent over an hour setting it dead-on for square and miter cuts with the four-cut calibration method (the bevel cuts were accurate upon arrival). Even the DF500 sight piece was off a hair.

The only exception was the SawStop PCS which required only assembly and no tune-ups on the machine itself (the fence, of course, needed to be mounted and adjusted).

 

[Svar]

If this isn't the most disappointing unboxing of a tool I will ever have in my life. I don't know.

It won't be most dissapointing if you do the same measurements on you $100 saw.

But seriously, put away your digital inclinometer. Cut someting at 90, measure the workpiece, adjust pointer accordingly. Cut at 45, measure the results. Only then make conclusions.

 

[hobbyist]

After doing some cuts now. I started to notice some burnt smell (not from the wood though). Did some quick research on the net and this seems to be normal when the saw is new?
The blade also seems to run pretty rough and the saw vibrates a lot. I also found some evidence on the net that this is due to the power regulation.
However if I remove the blade and let the saw run, there's absolutely no vibration and/or strange noises coming from it. I don't have a replacement blade yet to check if the blade is out of alignment. From my experience, it sure feels like it is.

 

[six-point socket II]

Please return the saw for a full refund and buy either a Mafell, Bosch, DeWalt, Milwaukee, (...).

You're done with the TS 55, as you're already starting to put into question the whole/complete integrity of the tool.

Without returning it, there will be no happy end. I'm sorry.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[TwelvebyTwenty]

Please return the saw for a full refund and buy either a Mafell, Bosch, DeWalt, Milwaukee, (...).

You're done with the TS 55, as you're already starting to put into question the whole/complete integrity of the tool.

Without returning it, there will be no happy end. I'm sorry.

Kind regards,
Oliver

Or he could return it for a replacement and see if maybe he just got a lemon the first time round if he wants to stick with the Festool brand if possible. No need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

If he does want to go for a different brand I agree with the first two recommendations on your list - Mafell and Bosch.

 

[six-point socket II]

OP, sad that the post in which you accuse(d) me of wanting to stir up some drama is gone.

You made some cuts, great. But instead of telling us how that went, you went straight over to listing more issues you have with the TS55. That sounded like you were trying hard to find "issues" to not like the saw. And that's perfectly fine, but that's also why I posted what I posted.

So how did the cuts go? Perfect/Spot on? Good? OK? OK-ish? Bad? Worst cuts ever?

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[BMH]

Just curious with the current scenarios, I am so happy I bought a Festool product, I am so reasonable as I correct some minor QA issues. Oh I find a big “issue”, get called on it,  switch to new issue.

Funny on this website it is usually I have a concern/problem, is it operator or machine induced, should I be concern or not, and how can I fix/improve results and this community réponds in a constructive fashion.

I am not very net savvy but the above initial scenario, is it trolling?

 

[hobbyist]

OP, sad that the post in which you accuse(d) me of wanting to stir up some drama is gone.

You made some cuts, great. But instead of telling us how that went, you went straight over to listing more issues you have with the TS55. That sounded like you were trying hard to find "issues" to not like the saw. And that's perfectly fine, but that's also why I posted what I posted.

So how did the cuts go? Perfect/Spot on? Good? OK? OK-ish? Bad? Worst cuts ever?

Kind regards,
Oliver

How am I trying hard to find issues? The saw literally smelled like something made of plastic burned up in there. I'd rather like you to tell me I made this up instead of this. For me that is a big concern at least.
And I gladly repeat my statement about stirring something up, if this is still your opinion on the two additional 'problems' I posted. Because they do worry me and they should worry everyone using the saw. (imho)
And before anyone tries to push me in the Anti-Festool corner, this is not my first Festool tool.

So onto the cuts. The bevel was off, as expected because the bevel setting wasn't even able to move full 45°. Took me about 2 hours to calibrate it, now I'm happy. Seems like the rear stop was mounted in a crooked way, which prevented the saw to tilt correctly. Could've contacted the Festool service for this, I'm just not to happy about sending my saw back to service when I just got it.

Regarding the smell, it's still there, but seems to fade away. If it keeps coming up, I'll send it in for service.

 

[peter halle]

OP, sad that the post in which you accuse(d) me of wanting to stir up some drama is gone.

You made some cuts, great. But instead of telling us how that went, you went straight over to listing more issues you have with the TS55. That sounded like you were trying hard to find "issues" to not like the saw. And that's perfectly fine, but that's also why I posted what I posted.

So how did the cuts go? Perfect/Spot on? Good? OK? OK-ish? Bad? Worst cuts ever?

Kind regards,
Oliver

How am I trying hard to find issues? The saw literally smelled like something made of plastic burned up in there. I'd rather like you to tell me I made this up instead of this. For me that is a big concern at least.
And I gladly repeat my statement about stirring something up, if this is still your opinion on the two additional 'problems' I posted. Because they do worry me and they should worry everyone using the saw. (imho)
And before anyone tries to push me in the Anti-Festool corner, this is not my first Festool tool.

So onto the cuts. The bevel was off, as expected because the bevel setting wasn't even able to move full 45°. Took me about 2 hours to calibrate it, now I'm happy. Seems like the rear stop was mounted in a crooked way, which prevented the saw to tilt correctly. Could've contacted the Festool service for this, I'm just not to happy about sending my saw back to service when I just got it.

Regarding the smell, it's still there, but seems to fade away. If it keeps coming up, I'll send it in for service.

If it is new, just make your life easier and get a replacement.  Festool offers that in the USA within 30 days of purchase.

Just my advice.

Peter

 

[rj_mccall]

OP, sad that the post in which you accuse(d) me of wanting to stir up some drama is gone.

You made some cuts, great. But instead of telling us how that went, you went straight over to listing more issues you have with the TS55. That sounded like you were trying hard to find "issues" to not like the saw. And that's perfectly fine, but that's also why I posted what I posted.

So how did the cuts go? Perfect/Spot on? Good? OK? OK-ish? Bad? Worst cuts ever?

Kind regards,
Oliver

How am I trying hard to find issues? The saw literally smelled like something made of plastic burned up in there. I'd rather like you to tell me I made this up instead of this. For me that is a big concern at least.
And I gladly repeat my statement about stirring something up, if this is still your opinion on the two additional 'problems' I posted. Because they do worry me and they should worry everyone using the saw. (imho)
And before anyone tries to push me in the Anti-Festool corner, this is not my first Festool tool.

So onto the cuts. The bevel was off, as expected because the bevel setting wasn't even able to move full 45°. Took me about 2 hours to calibrate it, now I'm happy. Seems like the rear stop was mounted in a crooked way, which prevented the saw to tilt correctly. Could've contacted the Festool service for this, I'm just not to happy about sending my saw back to service when I just got it.

Regarding the smell, it's still there, but seems to fade away. If it keeps coming up, I'll send it in for service.

Take a breath...... Return the saw

 

[hobbyist]

I took some very deep breaths. 
I'll work with the saw for a few days/weeks and then decide to leave it as it is or send it in for service. Thanks for the help.