Stick with only the TS55, or only the TS75, or keep both?

[urbanecowboy99]

Hello Everyone

I apologize if this question has been asked and answered before; I looked but couldn't find it.

Here's my situation.  I have had the TS55 and a CT Mini for years, and love it. (Have a bunch of other Festools as well).  Well, the other day I snagged a pretty decent Craigslist buy and wound up with a new TS75, a new TS55, as well as my original TS55.  So, I now have three saws. 

One TS55 will go to my son.  This leaves me with one TS55 and one TS75.  I would kind of like to sell one, to recoup some of my Craigslist expenses.  Obviously, the TS75 will do everything the TS55 will do, with a deeper cut.  So far I have never had to cut more than the depth of the TS55.  But, I know it could happen, once in a while, and I would be glad to have the extra capacity.  But, is the TS75 more awkward to use on a frequent basis, when I am usually cutting 4/4?  Will the extra size and weight make me wish I had kept the TS55, since it will work 99% of the time? 

Keeping both is a possibility, except I will lose the money I could sell it for.  And, I know if I really needed the TS75,  I would be at a job-site, without the big one!  That is why I want to go with one saw, if possible.

Any advice? 

Thanks in advance!

Tom

 

[Wooden Skye]

If you have a table saw, I would sell the 75 and keep the ts55.

 

[semenza]

Tough question for other people to answer. But based on your description I would keep the 55. If you only need the 75 1% of the time.

Some things to consider ....

    How long are your guide rails, will they accommodate the extra that the 75 needs for 4' and 8' cuts?

    What blades do you already have for each saw?

    Have you used the 75 enough to decide that you are willing to put up with the extra size and weight  all the time?

    Do you use the saw on the MFT? The 75 will reduce your cutting capacity.

    How close is your son  [big grin]

Seth

 

[green fever]

hi cowboy , i have 55s and a 75 all are used on a regular basis's , i would say stay with the 55 as you kinda answered your own question because the 55 sounds like your go to saw and fits 99% of the time and i love the power and depth the 75 allows me it's a heavy beast to handle all day unless it's track mounted and you do not have to carry the saw around , Seth got it right with loss of track length and mft usage, i think if the 75 saw was as popular as the 55 festool would have upgraded that the  same as the 55r, stick with the 55 as this would be the fist saw you would go to if they were side by side , green.

 

[Kev]

Keep both.

You can always sell something down the track, but you can't always find a again.

My tactic would be ... give the TS75 to the son, cash the oldest TS55 and always have the TS75 within family reach !

 

[RussellS]

The 55 will cut 3/4" plywood, particleboard, MDF.  And the 55 will put a straight rip on 4/4 hardwood boards.  The 75 will put a straight rip on 8/4 hardwood boards.  Do not think the 55 will rip 8/4 when on the rail.  This last fact is the only reason I want a 75.  Otherwise I use the 55 to cut plywood mostly and 4/4 boards.  Love the lightweight of the 55.  I would be cussing Festool every day if I only owned a 75 saw.  Can't think of anything more miserable than using that heavy saw to cut 3/4" plywood.  Its a joy to cut 3/4" plywood with the 55 saw.  Misery with the 75.

 

[thebicyclecafe]

Do not think the 55 will rip 8/4 when on the rail.  

Rough 8/4, you're correct it won't; surfaced 8/4 yes it should. The TS-55 gets close to 50mm when on the rail; surfaced 8/4 is around 45mm.

 

[Alan m]

Keep both.

You can always sell something down the track, but you can't always find a again.

My tactic would be ... give the TS75 to the son, cash the oldest TS55 and always have the TS75 within family reach !

i agree with kev.
keep the ts75 close. you might only need it once a year.

 

[Jonhilgen]

Like you, I scored an extra track saw on Craigslist for a steal.  I already had a ts55 but could not pass up a mint 75.  I hardly, if ever use it.  But the main reason I do hold on to it is because I know I will need to send my 55 in for service once a year or two so I hold onto it for a backup.  As a cabinet installer, I cannot be without a tracksaw anymore.

Hang on to it, you can always sell it later.  But chances are you won't regret keeping it on hand.

Jon

 

[fastbike]

Interesting. FWIW the Dallas / Fort Worth Craigslist has exactly zero results for Festool.

 

[sancho57]

Id keep it., There are times, depending what you do that you will need the 75.

face it, if your worried about spending money, festool isnt for you.

 

[urbanecowboy99]

Wow!  Great replies, and great insight.  I thank everyone for their thoughts and perspectives. 

One issue that several people mentioned was do I have a table saw.  I do (SawStop), and I love it.  I generally do all my narrow and smaller pieces on it.  Gorgeous cuts, right out of the carton. 

I also do have an MFT, and I had not thought of the fact that that would limit the cut of the TS75.  Of course, with that depth, I will have to be extra careful.  Once I was switching back and forth between cutting 1/4 inch plywood and 6/4 hardwood, I lost track of what depth I was set at, and I cut right through the old 1080 top (missed the aluminum).  This made the top sag slightly, and ruined the flatness of the top.  I had to brace  it up underneath until it was flat, fill all the cuts with wood putty, then reverse the top.  Sold it after that ($175).  The top was pristine, while the bottom looked like hell. 

And, thanks, SRSemenza, for the insight into how much each would cut, rough vs surfaced.  Had not thought of that.  Another factor I had not considered was the extra length of track that would be required.  Fortunately, I do have plenty:  the 2424 track with holes, plus a 1900 and several shorter ones.  (I just sold my 3000 track; which I may regret.  I figured the connecting rods work well, and driving around with almost ten feet of track was a problem.  Hard to even get it into some houses!) 

As far as blades, for the TS55 I have the universal, and a Panther (?) blade.  Very aggressive teeth, with deep gullets?  Haven't used that.

One thing I hadn't mentioned was that I haven't used the TS75 yet, because I was hoping to maximize the price by selling a never-used saw. 

Based on all this, I will keep both.  The day may come when only a TS75 will do, and I will whip it out (the saw, I mean) and other family handymen will step back in awe.  Thank you, fellow enablers!

Let me add that I was in the Rockville, MD, Woodcraft (at a new location; great store with a huge classroom/woodshop space and knowledgeable people) the other night and there was a gentleman there looking at the Festool.  He wanted to by some systainer carts, but they were out of stock. I mentioned to him that I use these tiny dollies from Harbor Freight, and he looked at me like I had two heads!  Said he had been buying Festool for 15 years, and had 42 Systainers!  42! 

Fastbike mentioned that Festool rarely show up on Craigslist in his area.  I have done pretty well on Craigslist, in part because my usual territory spans three major cities.  Even then, most of the time there are no Festools available, or things I wouldn't consider.  (For example, in DC right now a guy wants $400 for a 1080 table.  The top is chewed up, and there are big scratches on the track.)    Of course, if Festool tools do show up at a decent price anywhere, they go fast.  I have actually sold Festool tools at what I thought was a fair price (essentially 2/3 to 3/4 of retail) and had them sit for awhile, getting lowball offers and the usual scams.  They always sell eventually.