My first uh oh with my Festool

[pghmyn]

I have a TS55, and love it. But, I did my first uh oh today and didn't even know it.

I was using it to cut laminate wood flooring. Pergo, to be precise. And it dulled my stock blade pretty quickly. I hope I can sharpen it myself, but I bet I will have to buy a new one before I expect picture perfect cuts on my sheet goods again.

Live and learn, I guess [embarassed]

 

[duburban]

I have a TS55, and love it. But, I did my first uh oh today and didn't even know it.

I was using it to cut laminate wood flooring. Pergo, to be precise. And it dulled my stock blade pretty quickly. I hope I can sharpen it myself, but I bet I will have to buy a new one before I expect picture perfect cuts on my sheet goods again.

Live and learn, I guess [embarassed]

been there, but with cheap blades and a miter saw.

 

[tbellemare]

Would it be unreasonable to send it to a qualified sharpening service?

Tom

 

[jmbfestool]

Y not send it of to get sharpened? 

 

[sgryd]

I don't know the US prices for blades vs sharpening. Here in Sweden the ratio is about 1 to 7. 15-20 $ to sharpen and about 100 $ to buy a new blade. If you have lost a tooth on the blade it will cost some more, but still worth it.

I'd try to locate a sharpening firm somewhere near. Buy two Festool blades of every kind (the kind of blades you are using). That way you can send the dull blades for sharpening while using the other set of blades. Mark the blades with a pen so you can keep track of them.

Before sending blades for sharpening, I'd suggest cleaning them. Clean blades cuts cleaner and burns less than dirty ones. (Note to self: clean my blades)
//Michael

 

[Waka]

I'd go for a sharpening service as well, it will work out much cheaper. I'd get it sharpen and also buy another blade that way you will never be kept short.

 

[Timtool]

I had it happen as well, was installing some laminate stair covers which all had to be cut to size. At the end of the day i had ruined my kapex blade and both TS55R blades.
It was extremely dense mdf covered with fake oak laminate, that thing grinds you blades down like cutting in concrete. I had them sharpened but they don't feel the same anymore.

Thats probably the last time i work with that, or else i will count in the cost of new blades.

 

[hhh]

send it to forrest's sharpening service -- they are one of (if not the) best.  if it's toooo bad, you can get a new blade from them at the same time...

 

[tbellemare]

There's a Solid Surface/Laminate blade for the TS 55, 496309. It's a triple-chip grind so it won't dull so quickly. The stock blade is ATB for slicing fibers and dulls quickly on tough stuff.

Tom

 

[tjbnwi]

Have the blade sharpened.

If you're going to do a lot of laminate floors buy a guillotine. Next choice is jig saw, blades are cheep.

I have the solid surface blade, but use it for solid surface showers and counters. I know it will work on laminate floors but would rather task it to the sheet goods.

Tom

 

[Deansocial]

Laminate is hdf core so real hard on blades especially those no designed to cut it

 

[pghmyn]

I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Does anyone have any recommendations of places to sharpen my blade? Like Ace Hardware, or something similar?

 

[tbellemare]

This comes up pretty often...

Leitz makes the blades and will sharpen them. There are several locations across the country.

I consider them a default sharpener. There are several others that are qualified.

Tom

 

[pghmyn]

This comes up pretty often...

Leitz makes the blades and will sharpen them. There are several locations across the country.

I consider them a default sharpener. There are several others that are qualified.

Tom

Seeing as their locations are quite a ways away from me, would I just mail the blade to them?

 

[tbellemare]

That's pretty common. I would call to find out what the price and options are.

Also, if you have a woodworking supply/retailer nearby, you might call them and see if they have a sharpening service that comes by. That's also pretty common.

Tom

 

[sancho57]

One of my hardwood suppliers offers blade sharpening. Bring it to them by Tuesday, Pick it up on Fri.

To me when I get a blade back from the shapeners it cuts better then when its new with the factory edge.

My mentor used to take all his blades and get them sharpened even when they were brand new. He felt the same way.

 

[jmbfestool]

One of my hardwood suppliers offers blade sharpening. Bring it to them by Tuesday, Pick it up on Fri.

To me when I get a blade back from the shapeners it cuts better then when its new with the factory edge.

My mentor used to take all his blades and get them sharpened even when they were brand new. He felt the same way.

Wish it was same with me I find resharpened blade to dull a lot faster than when I bought the blade new.  At first I thought it was just me. But I have had them done few times now and I'm pretty sure.

 

[pghmyn]

That's pretty common. I would call to find out what the price and options are.

Also, if you have a woodworking supply/retailer nearby, you might call them and see if they have a sharpening service that comes by. That's also pretty common.

Tom

I am close to a Woodcraft and Rockler, so I will have to check them out. If they do not offer the services, they can possibly point in the right direction to a local place that will.

Thank you for the help

 

[jjehowski]

the woodcraft on greenfield has sharpening services. 

 

[jacko9]

send it to forrest's sharpening service -- they are one of (if not the) best.  if it's toooo bad, you can get a new blade from them at the same time...

I use Forrest Blades exclusively and their sharpening service is excellent.

Jack