So anyway, the TS 55 sucks - who knew?! I'm getting a 75.

[tallgrass]

[big grin] That is funny about the cordless 55. I have 2 75s and a 65. I picked up the cordless 55 and I unexpectedly love it. It fills a niche perfectly.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I have the older TS55 and though it has its uses, I am totally not satisfied with this particular Festool, it just bogs down too many times. Luckily I have a few other saws in my arsenal as back up, so I manage, but when this thing kicks the bucket I am getting me another tracksaw from another brand. Mafell, Bosch, Makita, not sure which one because I haven't done my research yet, but I am surely not getting anywhere near something with "Festool" and "55" on it again.

 

[Mario Turcot]

[big grin] That is funny about the cordless 55. I have 2 75s and a 65. I picked up the cordless 55 and I unexpectedly love it. It fills a niche perfectly.

While we are in the Easter mood, please a pict of your 65  [big grin]

 

[Mario Turcot]

I have the older TS55 and though it has its uses, I am totally not satisfied with this particular Festool, it just bogs down too many times. Luckily I have a few other saws in my arsenal as back up, so I manage, but when this thing kicks the bucket I am getting me another tracksaw from another brand. Mafell, Bosch, Makita, not sure which one because I haven't done my research yet, but I am surely not getting anywhere near something with "Festool" and "55" on it again.

I bet some cheese and wine would change your mind  [tongue]

 

[peter halle]

[member=5277]Alex[/member] , the tracksaw arena has changed immensely during my time here.  Patents have run out and it is like the "wild west" out there.  Not any one tool will work for each us the same way it works for the next guy.  I appreciate all your efforts here helping  unknown how many people!  I hope you find what will work for you.

Peter

 

[ScotF]

The cordless 55 is an awesome machine and I really like it - I also have the 75 - so best of both worlds. The 55 is light and nimble and plenty of power for cuts in thick hardwood. Plywood is a breeze. I have 2 sets of batteries so never without power. It is my go-to saw when I do not need the depth of the 75. I highly recommend it.

 

[Cheese]

Give the TSC 55 a test drive. It’s pretty sweet. I own both the TS & TSC and the cordless version has more power.  I am pretty disappointed with the TS. The TSC makes me smile.

The 75 is a great saw but it’s big and heavy, kind of like using that 8 1/4” worm gear saw. Lots of power...lots of weight.

 

[pettyconstruction]

I have the Ts-75 and it works great.
Then I got the cordless -55 and love it , big cuts when needed with the -75and light weight when the -55 is in use.
Get both lol .
Charlie

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Stephen B]

[size=8pt]

[member=5277]Alex[/member] , the tracksaw arena has changed immensely during my time here.  Patents have run out and it is like the "wild west" out there.  Not . . . . . .

Peter

[size=13pt]
How true [member=1674]Peter Halle[/member] - Bunnings our biggest Hardware Chain down here is now selling track saw versions in AEG and the really cheap Ozito brand. The laters tracksaw has 1200W, 2 rails @ 700mm and 2 clamps all for $A189. The clamps look very similar to Festool's. That price is around 11% of the price we pay for a TS55 and as such will attract 'very' ocaisional users.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ozito-165mm-1200w-plunge-track-saw-kit_p6290615

 

[blues]

Good decision to go with TS75. Sell the 55 and stick with the 75. You will seldom have a situation that you can't handle. Yes it is marginally heavy. So what? its going to sit on the rails.

Point is this: you want to have the least number of tools that can help you do most number of jobs. You will also spend the least money with this approach. Ofcourse there are compromises like dealing with additional weight.. but its not much and its worth it.
TS75 hands down wins.

Similarly the 700 domino is a no brainer. Its bigger than the 500 but a much better machine. So well balanced and with the seneca adapter wonder why anyone would buy the 500.

 

[ChuckM]

Having used and/or owned both the TS55, TS75, DF500 and DF700, I agree the weight difference between the TS55 and TS75 is marginal because you are sliding the saw most of the time on the track. Unless the price difference between the saws is a key factor, the TS75 is the preferred choice.

I disagree, however, with the suggestion that the DF700 is as easy to use and control as the DF500. The weight difference between a DF700 and a DF500 is larger than that between the TS's, for one thing. And in use, we are holding and not sliding the machine.

For a small batch of mortises, the heavier weight in a DF700 may not matter (esp. if you have stronger arms), but easily we can be cutting hundreds of mortises, and the cumulative effect is a different story. Of course, if the longer and larger dominoes are what you need, you have no options but to get the DF700.

If double or twin dominoes can meet the joinery needs, even if the price difference is not a factor, I would not want to "abuse" my arms (holding, positioning, and pushing) day in and day out for no added benefits. I find the larger DF700 more straining to use than the DF500, a point also shared by at least two Festool-trained employees at my local store (both are taller and have stronger arms than I). I do not find the higher position of the handle (DF700) a benefit in use vs the handle on the DF500 that is more or less in line with the centre of the cutter.

It is also easier to handle narrower and smaller pieces with the DF500 than the DF700 on some occasions -- trying positioning the DF500 vs DF700 using the intersecting lines technique, and you will understand my point.

Having built tables, cabinets, ladders (and working on chairs now) with no plans for making any exterior entrance doors, I can't foresee benefiting anything from having a DF700 in my work. If a circular saw does the job, why get a wormgear saw is my usual reasoning. (For the record, I can afford owning BOTH the DF500 and DF700 if I want to, as some other members here do.)

 

[Chinski]

Similarly the 700 domino is a no brainer. Its bigger than the 500 but a much better machine. So well balanced and with the seneca adapter wonder why anyone would buy the 500.

Sooooo true.  I got the Seneca 10mm plate and a cheaper 3rd party bit extender and haven’t looked back. Spent all day Friday making an 18mm storage unit with 6mm dominos and its a pleasure to use. Looks a beast fully loaded with Seneca plate, df stop and the side guide extenders...

 

[Bob Wolfe]

I have had the 55 for maybe 10 years and have ripped hundreds of feet of nearly everything, all with one rip blade sharpened many times.

Some people just have no clue what blade to use...……
BW

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.

Some people just have no clue what blade to use...……
BW

The same can be said of some table saw users. I have come across table saw owners who complain about burn marks and bogging down, and blame everything on the power of their saws. They use a combo sawblade for everything.

 

[tjbnwi]

Posted this before......used the wrong blade on purpose.


Tom

 

[Cheese]

I disagree, however, with the suggestion that the DF700 is as easy to use and control as the DF500. The weight difference between a DF700 and a DF500 is larger than that between the TS's, for one thing.

I’m with Chuck on this one.

I own the TS 55, TSC 55 and the TS 75. The TSC is used 80% of the time, the TS 55 10% of the time because it may be more convenient and the TS 75 10% of the time.

I also use the DF 500 90% of the time and the DF 700 10% of the time.

I grab the CXS drill 80% of the time and a Milwaukee M18 drill 20% of the time.

The common denominator in all of these examples is physical size and weight. The smaller & lighter the tool is, the more pleasant the user experience is.

I also own a 19# Milwaukee 1854 drill with a 3/4” chuck. I could use it for drilling 3/16” diameter holes in wood.......but why would I? 
I’d rather use it for augering 7” diameter holes in soil for fence posts.

[attachimg=1]

 

[ChuckM]

In my case (if I also owned a DF700), it were 99% DF500, 1% DF700.

By the way, I am pretty sure balancing and aligning for the slim three-way mitres (completed about five years ago) would be easier with the DF500 than with the DF700.

 

[grbmds]

You know, the tools people feel comfortable depend on how they use them, what they use them for, and what other tools and workbenches they use them with. For example, I own a TS55, Domino DF500, Domino 700XL. I wouldn't use the Domino 700 for much of anything except very large projects. It's just too large and unwieldy for most furniture and drawers. The 700 certainly has some design superiority but, for standard size furniture projects, the 500 is much easier too be precise with. I also had, at one point, had the TS75. Since my use was mostly on the MFT and not for cutting extra thick wood, I found the 75 was cumbersome to use and abandoned it for the TS55 which, for me, works extremely well.

We should never forget that there is not one single design of tool that works for everyone.

 

[mrboult]

I definitely did not realise my TS55 sucked [tongue]  Do you need to use it for more than 10 years before you realise it sucks?

Just because it's a soft wood doesn't mean it will be easy to rip cut. A nice old dry hardwood might rip fine with a 48 tooth blade if you go slowly, but a fresh softwood timber might quickly jam the blade with all it's fresh stringy fibres. For ripping your'e just better off with a rip blade.

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.

We should never forget that there is not one single design of tool that works for everyone.

If there were, all dominoes/tenons would only come in ONE size (and not in so many sizes to choose from, not counting the shop-made ones). [tongue]