The TS 75 is of Legal Age???

[onocoffee]

As I've been trolling the used market for Festool I've noticed some quite old TS 75 EQ saws for sale. After looking at quite a few of them and comparing them to the current offerings, I've noticed that today's TS 75 EQ is the same as the TS 75 EQ that came out around the time the ATF 55 E was being discontinued. I'm presuming that the TS 75 EQ came out right around the same time as the TS 55 EQ - especially since much of the design looks similar.

The other day, we were ripping 4/4 white oak and noticed that the 75 would cut the rip a bit slower than my TS 55 FEQ. I'm presuming that part of that is due to the wider 2.2mm kerf.

With continued updates to the TS55 and the introduction of the TS 60, I'm wondering why Festool hasn't updated the TS 75 for such a long time?

 

[smorgasbord]

Yeah, Festool is slow to update. When the DF700 came out with fence and cross stop improvements over the DF500, I would have thought they’d update the DF500. But, except for single paddles replacing pins, nothing updated for several years.

 

[usernumber1]

Does the TS75 have any competition as a plunge saw? I don't think Mafell has one, let alone the rest of the peanut brands
That alone might be enough for lack of motivation

oh and isn't kerf 2.4? They probably didn't want risking any deflection back then and it's never been updated
I imagine bevel plunges are pretty challenging for that size

 

[peter halle]

Festool won’t usually speak about marketing strategies, so we won’t probably hear officially why. Guessing I would say that it probably sells just enough in its market segment that the scales won’t tip enough to justify development costs one way and volume won’t tip it the other.  You usually see it on social media when straight cuts are needed on slabs and it does this well.

Or

I could be wrong and one is right around the corner.  Who knows?

Peter

 

[Cheese]

I'm presuming that the TS 75 EQ came out right around the same time as the TS 55 EQ - especially since much of the design looks similar.

The TS 55 was introduced in 2003 while the TS 75 was introduced in mid 2006. Here's a page from the 2006 Festool catalog.

[attachimg=1]

 

[waho6o9]

Panther blades work well for ripping. 

 

[Coen]

TS 75 kerf from original blades is 2.4 or 2.6, depending on blade type.

The reason for it lacking the more modern updates the TS 55 R and TS 55 F have is probably because it sells a lot less. So the molds for injection molded parts and probably the magnesium parts too might not need replacement yet. If they do need replacement, I would figure Festool would implement the same improved guide notches the TS 55 R got. And the dual depth setting for use with and without rail.

I have the impression that the TS 75 sells a lot more in the USA relative to Europe. We (speaking as a European) don't build as much with wood as you (USA) guys. So while in the USA probably more TS 75's are sold, more wall chasers for concrete/brick/block walls are sold in Europe

Also keep in mind that in Europe we have the HK 85 that sells for less than a TS 75. HK 85 is also compatible with FSK rails. So besides the guys that do cooktop conversion from gas to electric (needs 10mm deeper cutout in counter top) or otherwise definitely need the plunge feature or lower weight, the HK 85 is an easier buy with 10mm added cut capacity and ~10% cheaper.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I primarily use mine for reclaimed wood projects, like mantles or shelves, from barn beams. It does occasionally get into a rough slab.
The cabinet shop, where I work, bought one for a specific project. It was a modification of something on-site, that just couldn't be moved. It even had a second 1900 rail, because of that job. It basically just sat in the supply room after that. I would use it occasionally, when an assembled cabinet needed to be cut down, but it was such a heavy beast, plus too much rail, for that task. That's why I essentially avoided it, having no idea how much better a TS55 would have been. This was all 15+ years ago, and I was pretty clueless about Festool in general.,
Bottom line, I don't use it often, but wouldn't give it up.

 

[onocoffee]

[member=7659]waho6o9[/member] Panther blades - no doubt!
[member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member] The TS75 belongs to a friend and i don't think he'll get rid of it. It's his only track saw.

I was just surprised that the TS75 is, generationally, so old. As we were cutting the slab, I noticed it seemed to have almost as much difficulty with the cut as the crosscut I was doing on 8/4 walnut with my ATF 55 E and had to resort to finishing the cut with the 55 FEQ - so much of an improvement.

And since I've been out trolling the used market, I also noticed that the RO150 FEQ hasn't been updated in quite some time. Just surprised that updates to the tools aren't more frequent - not to say that I've found a diminishment in using them (just to note).

 

[Crazyraceguy]

[member=82312]onocoffee[/member] The thing I find lacking with the TS75 is the cam mechanism for adjusting the base plate to track interface. They can move, with the slightest friction, which causes the saw to bind on the track, whereas the newer style is much smoother.
Power-wise, mine has never let me down, but I have heard that complaint.

 

[onocoffee]

[member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member] I don't know if it's power. We've used the TS75 to cut 8/4 white oak and it was fine. But now that I have the FEQ, I do wonder if it's just more resistance due to the wider kerf? And from videos that I've seen on YouTube where people were comparing the TS55 FEQ to the REQ, the FEQ cut faster.

 

[Coen]

[member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member] I don't know if it's power. We've used the TS75 to cut 8/4 white oak and it was fine. But now that I have the FEQ, I do wonder if it's just more resistance due to the wider kerf? And from videos that I've seen on YouTube where people were comparing the TS55 FEQ to the REQ, the FEQ cut faster.

Not just the kerf. The F blades have few teeth too.

 

[Cheese]

I also noticed that the RO150 FEQ hasn't been updated in quite some time. Just surprised that updates to the tools aren't more frequent - not to say that I've found a diminishment in using them (just to note).

The RO 150 FEQ was also introduced in mid 2006.

[attachimg=1]

 

[RonMiller]

I've had my TS 75 as my only track saw for 17 or so years. I use it regularly on 5/4 and 8/4 rough lumber and the occasional ply. I had it serviced by Festool about 2 years ago just to get it tuned up. I'm really really happy I bought it. Yes, it's undoubtedly heavier than its newer smaller brothers, but its power and depth of cut have given me what I need.

 

[squall_line]

Just surprised that updates to the tools aren't more frequent - not to say that I've found a diminishment in using them (just to note).

It's a core philosophy, as is the design of the tools to be serviceable by assembling with screws rather than snap-together or glued-shut plastics (potted circuit boards notwithstanding).

It engenders brand loyalty knowing that you will likely still be able to get a spare part 10 years from now for a tool you bought last week.

They're also not chasing the commodity space, which relies heavily on marketing and one-ups-manship (both against competitors as well as yourself) to keep investors happy.

 

[onocoffee]

It's a core philosophy, as is the design of the tools to be serviceable by assembling with screws rather than snap-together or glued-shut plastics (potted circuit boards notwithstanding).

It engenders brand loyalty knowing that you will likely still be able to get a spare part 10 years from now for a tool you bought last week.

They're also not chasing the commodity space, which relies heavily on marketing and one-ups-manship (both against competitors as well as yourself) to keep investors happy.

I understand the idea with that approach - just more that in the years since the TS 75 EQ's introduction, Festool has also updated and released the TS 55 EQ, REQ and FEQ. And after having seen the differences with the TS 55 FEQ and REQ, and presuming that the original was more like the TS 75 EQ, an updated TS 75 "FEQ" would be so much nicer to use.