New TSC 55 K saw and TPC 18 drill

[mino]

My experiences with the thinner blades (1.8 mm) on the HKC 55:
CONS
- getting dull faster
- can be sharpened fewer times
- FS guide rail has to be realigned or renew
- blades are bending to easily when taking of small pieces or skew direction
PROS
- faster sawing
- less dust
- less battery drainage
- less tearout
- FSK rails are great
Despite the CONS on the blades it's still a nice saw and I use it everyday.
Shame that the old and new blades are not interchangeable between the TS/TSC/HK/HKC, also when used on guide rails.
Maybe Festool should design different spacers for every type of blade to align to the guide rail strip.

Do you have the 32-tooth fine blade and/or the Panther for the HKC?
Can you measure the "disc" width ?

The 2.2mm blades are 2.2/1.6 so in theory an 1.8 would have to be super-thin as 1.8/1.2 to be "compatible" if used in same machine rail combo.

CMT makes super-thin blades which are  1.7/1.1 that would fit on a TS/TSC55 were it not for the riving knife being too thick for them. We use the 1.7/1.1 for ripping on our Lidl/Parkside tracksaw along with the Festool 2.2/1.6 ones and the have the exact same contact with the guard. We even use special aluminum-cutting blades which are 2.8/2.2.

As long as the different between the kerf and the disk width is the same, the only compatibility limitation is the width of the riving knife which tends to be optimized for specific kerf.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I wonder if the hammer function sounds any better than the PDC? Man that sound was tough to deal with.

The new right angle chuck looks smaller, which is nice. But I hope compatibility with the old chucks is there.

I'll definitely be getting the new drill. The PDC that I own works well but the speed control is dodgy, and having more than one drill that kan use the different chucks  I already own is a smart move in the system when the  existing PDC drill broke or I had a helper on a job.

 

[JEKL]

I have TPC 18 EC-TEC  at home for a short time. You can ask questions.

The extensions fit all - DRC / PDC and T 18 and C18 ;-)

 

[six-point socket II]

Now that they moved the torque setting to the back, it wouldn't happen to have a selector to switch between drilling and driving screws, like the C18 has? (So the torque setting is simply taken out of the game while drilling and remains set for driving screws.)

Thank you!

Oh, and if you happen to have a PDC, it would be great to see some comparison shots.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[JEKL]

Combined rotary switch: 1-13, drilling, light off, light on (lit for 30 s). There is no separate switch. I'll take a photo with PDC tomorrow . TPC 18/4 EC-TEC seems more robust.

 

[Spandex]

Does the hammer action have the same high speed scream as the PDC? Or have they toned it down more in line with other manufacturers hammer function?

 

[Coen]

Now that they moved the torque setting to the back, it wouldn't happen to have a selector to switch between drilling and driving screws, like the C18 has? (So the torque setting is simply taken out of the game while drilling and remains set for driving screws.)

Thank you!

Oh, and if you happen to have a PDC, it would be great to see some comparison shots.

Kind regards,
Oliver

Wheel + switch was one of the things in my list going for the Festool drills. In the end... Buying 3 Bosch drills for the same price won me over to the camp with the bigass boxes with dumb inlays (Bosch GSR 18v-6 + GSR 12v-35 + GSR 12v-35 FC)

 

[mrboult]

Does the hammer action have the same high speed scream as the PDC? Or have they toned it down more in line with other manufacturers hammer function?

This.

Also is it lighter/smaller than the pdc?

Are you saying old c18/t18 chucks fit as well as old pdc chucks? (Obviously the regular chucks will all fit, but the right angle & eccentric ones are the question)

Cheers

 

[wpz]

Hi Otakar,

Could you measure the weight of the drill without battery or chuck?
Also interested in the size comparison to the PDC.

thank you.

wpz

 

[Josh2]

Looks like there also is a new corded TS 55 S. Here is a short article in German:https://www.h3.plus/de/c/akku-tauchsaege-mit-noch-mehr-durchzugskraft-festool-schweiz-ag

Makes sense that both tools use the same blades. It’s not entirely clear but the TS 55 S might get the brushless motor. The new blades will work with TSC 55 K, TS 55 S und HK(C) 55.

It’s also not entirely clear but it might be the case that only the TSC 55 k will get the anti kickback system.

Both seem to go on sale on Feb 16 in Switzerland. The article is from early December though.

 

[JEKL]

Does the hammer action have the same high speed scream as the PDC? Or have they toned it down more in line with other manufacturers hammer function?

TPC has a classic hammer (same as PDC ) If you want a pneumatic hammer, buy BHC (SDS -plus)

 

[JEKL]

Does the hammer action have the same high speed scream as the PDC? Or have they toned it down more in line with other manufacturers hammer function?

This.

Also is it lighter/smaller than the pdc?

Are you saying old c18/t18 chucks fit as well as old pdc chucks? (Obviously the regular chucks will all fit, but the right angle & eccentric ones are the question)

Cheers

The right angle & eccentric ones also fit.

 

[Frank-Jan]

How does the combined rotary switch work for the light? Is the light on/off activated by pressing on the same switch, or is it a rotary position,so you can't use the light while driving screws with a clutch setting?

 

[mrboult]

Does the hammer action have the same high speed scream as the PDC? Or have they toned it down more in line with other manufacturers hammer function?

TPC has a classic hammer (same as PDC ) If you want a pneumatic hammer, buy BHC (SDS -plus)

It’s the noise we are asking about. The PDC made the most horrendous screaming sound in hammer mode, literally the reason I eventually parted with mine. If you don’t understand what I’m talking about I’m shocked

Thanks for the replies.

 

[mino]

It’s the noise we are asking about. The PDC made the most horrendous screaming sound in hammer mode, literally the reason I eventually parted with mine. If you don’t understand what I’m talking about I’m shocked

But the "noise" is not a property of the mechanism but of the sheer speed of the drill.

Other percussion drills do not have the high 4000 style RPM so they have a different, more amenable, sound. If it bothers you try using the 3rd or even 2nd gear. It will go slower (into masonry) and better into concrete (which one should not use it for) but will be easier on the ears. I.e., it will perform about the same as a Makita or Bosch at 1500 rpm in both departments.

Classic percussion power drills are screamers too percussion is used at their high rpm settings.

On top of that the 4-speed gearbox has more moving parts, so it will always rattle a -bit- more always. But the annoying high pitch is from the sheer speed. I have an 1100/3000 rpm percussion drill, and it is similarly obnoxious at the high speed setting.

 

[six-point socket II]

Combined rotary switch: 1-13, drilling, light off, light on (lit for 30 s). There is no separate switch. I'll take a photo with PDC tomorrow . TPC 18/4 EC-TEC seems more robust.

Thank you very much, Otakar!

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Spandex]

Does the hammer action have the same high speed scream as the PDC? Or have they toned it down more in line with other manufacturers hammer function?

TPC has a classic hammer (same as PDC ) If you want a pneumatic hammer, buy BHC (SDS -plus)

As Mr B said, I’m talking about the noise only. I have a BHC and am aware of the mechanical difference, but the PDC has a ‘unique’ sound (to put it politely) and I’m curious if the TPC is the same.

I have an 1100/3000 rpm percussion drill, and it is similarly obnoxious at the high speed setting.

I’ve used lots of different hammer drills and none have anything like the scream of the PDC, regardless of rpm. Perhaps the PDC does more ‘hammers’ per revolution, perhaps it’s something else that causes the difference, I don’t know. Whatever it is, the PDC is unpleasant to use on hammer, which is a shame.

 

[JEKL]

How does the combined rotary switch work for the light? Is the light on/off activated by pressing on the same switch, or is it a rotary position,so you can't use the light while driving screws with a clutch setting?

The light illuminates when screwing and drilling. Then the rotary switch can be switched to the "light off" position (full drilling torque). The last position is "light on" (full drilling torque) and the light is still on 10 minutes after releasing the drilling switch.

 

[Frank-Jan]

Thanks for clarifying, it's a pity they didn't make the light trigger activated like on most drills.

 

[semenza]

How does the combined rotary switch work for the light? Is the light on/off activated by pressing on the same switch, or is it a rotary position,so you can't use the light while driving screws with a clutch setting?

The light illuminates when screwing and drilling. Then the rotary switch can be switched to the "light off" position (full drilling torque). The last position is "light on" (full drilling torque) and the light is still on 10 minutes after releasing the drilling switch.

Thanks for clarifying, it's a pity they didn't make the light trigger activated like on most drills.

I think he means that it works by the trigger as well as the two wheel positions.

Seth