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[Michael Kellough]

You don't want to be plunging using a recoil track. Use a standard track for that, which all daed of this nature are compatible with

Can you explain why not?

 

[GhostFist]

The recoil  track has a spring action to it and would be finicky to accurately place a plunge as a result. The tracks are meant for cross cuts, standard tracks for plunges

 

[Michael Kellough]

Have you tried it? I have not.

But the video I've seen seems to indicate that the "spring" is nowhere near strong enough to move the saw on the track. There isn't movement relative to the two until the operator pushes the saw or the operator lifts the saw/track off the work reducing friction enough for the track to recoil.

Again, I have not tried it.

 

[GhostFist]

I have not tried it on an hk but I own and Daily use mafell saws that have long had these types of rails. Much simpler to plunge on a standard track.

 

[jimbo51]

"It sorta bothers me that the saw can't cut a 45° bevel at 1 1/2 inches.  It's supposed to be a construction saw, but it can't cut a 2x4 on a bevel."

This is a very interesting point. The big advantage of this saw is the rail system. If using the rail to make a 45 degree bevel leaves a millimeter of wood left uncut (depth of cut at 45 is 42 mm - 5 for the rail = 37 mm, 1 1/2 in = 38.1 mm), then how much of a limitation is this in framing work? I have done so little roof framing that my knowledge of common compound cut angles is non existent.

Will many framers be buying this saw and then returning it because the cut depth on the rail is too shallow?

 

[Brice Burrell]

"It sorta bothers me that the saw can't cut a 45° bevel at 1 1/2 inches.  It's supposed to be a construction saw, but it can't cut a 2x4 on a bevel."

This is a very interesting point. The big advantage of this saw is the rail system. If using the rail to make a 45 degree bevel leaves a millimeter of wood left uncut (depth of cut at 45 is 42 mm - 5 for the rail = 37 mm, 1 1/2 in = 38.1 mm), then how much of a limitation is this in framing work? I have done so little roof framing that my knowledge of common compound cut angles is non existent.

Will many framers be buying this saw and then returning it because the cut depth on the rail is too shallow?

Is the 42mm depth of cut including the rail??  I have the red brand of this saw and it can cut a 2x4 at 45 degree bevel.  I'd be surprised if the Festool couldn't.

 

[awil66]

Is the blade 160mm or 162mm. The red has both

 

[Shane Holland]

Is the blade 160mm or 162mm. The red has both

The Festool HK/HKC has 160mm blades.

 

[awil66]

Thanks Shane yes. My question was directed at Brice. I wonder what blade he is running to be able to cut through a 2 by on a 45

 

[Shane Holland]

Thanks Shane yes. My question was directed at Brice. I wonder what blade he is running to be able to cut through a 2 by on a 45

Oh, sorry.  [embarassed]

I'm guessing he might be using the KSS 400, which has the capacity needed with a 160mm blade.

The Festool HK/HKC would need to be used off the rail to cut a 2x at a 45.

 

[tjbnwi]

Thanks Shane yes. My question was directed at Brice. I wonder what blade he is running to be able to cut through a 2 by on a 45

Oh, sorry.  [embarassed]

I'm guessing he might be using the KSS 400, which has the capacity needed with a 160mm blade.

The Festool HK/HKC would need to be used off the rail to cut a 2x at a 45.

It appears in this video the saw will cut 1.5" at 45º. About 3/4 of the way through Sedge does a compound cut, it appears to be a 45º angle.


Tom

 

[Shane Holland]

[member=4105]tjbnwi[/member], watch the video again. Sedge backs off from 45 in that video. It's actually more like a 25-degree that he sets it to. You can also tell from the resulting cut that it's not a 45.

I have confirmation from multiple sources that the HK/HKC cannot cut all the way through a 2x at a 45 while it's on the rail. Off the rail, yes. On the rail, no.

 

[tjbnwi]

I saw him back it off. Figured he went from 50 to 45.

Tom

 

[Shane Holland]

There are marks on the scale at 0, 15, 30 and 45. He stops somewhere between the 15 and 30 marks. On the YouTube video, click on the gear icon and choose speed = 0.25 to slow it down.

 

[Brice Burrell]

[member=4105]tjbnwi[/member], watch the video again. Sedge backs off from 45 in that video. It's actually more like a 25-degree that he sets it to. You can also tell from the resulting cut that it's not a 45.

I have confirmation from multiple sources that the HK/HKC cannot cut all the way through a 2x at a 45 while it's on the rail. Off the rail, yes. On the rail, no.

Wow, that seems to be a very big oversight in the design.  What a shame. 

 

[Brice Burrell]

Is the blade 160mm or 162mm. The red has both

160mm blade, yes I have the KSS 400.

 

[tjbnwi]

There are marks on the scale at 0, 15, 30 and 45. He stops somewhere between the 15 and 30 marks. On the YouTube video, click on the gear icon and choose speed = 0.25 to slow it down.

Not sure I'll purchase one with this limitation.

Tom

 

[itchy]

There are marks on the scale at 0, 15, 30 and 45. He stops somewhere between the 15 and 30 marks. On the YouTube video, click on the gear icon and choose speed = 0.25 to slow it down.

Not sure I'll purchase one with this limitation.

Tom

Wow i'm very surprised by this limitation, I thought this saw was perfect for me but I need to be able to 45 2x material.

 

[jimbo51]

So, with launch less than 10 days away and product in the distribution channels, we find out that this saw aimed at framers cannot handle a standard framing cut when used with the key component, the rail.

A bit of Google effort indicated that 36 mm lumber is a standard lumber size in Europe. Thus a 37 mm cut depth at 45 degrees is fine. Didn't anybody at Festool USA ever happen to mention to the folks back in Germany that in North America 2x material is 38 mm thick. Did Festool do any acceptance testing in the US? Did everybody who did the testing forget to test 45 degree bevel cut on 2x material? Did Festool ignore the comments about incomplete cuts?

Mafell could do a great You Tube video with the title something like; Festool HK/HKC 55 just doesn't make the cut. Mafell saw makes nice clean cut. Festool saw makes cut that has to have a mm of wood broken through.

Festool had plenty of time to get a 162 mm or maybe even a 163 mm blade produced. How/why did they overlook this simple issue. I look forward to hearing how a 162 mm blade might solve this problem.

I have an HKC on preorder. It might be the first Festool that I give back during the 30 day trial.

 

[Ajax]

Too bad.  I was thinking of spending 4x what the Bosch 18v circ saw goes for (bare tool ~$119).  Love my Festools and my Boschs....but sometimes simpler cheaper is better...here I come Bosch.