Track saw blade thickness
- Thread starter emlclcy
- Start date
Willy Eckerslike
Member
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2019
- Messages
- 47
No. The kerf would not be wide enough for the riving knife.
true, i also had a look herehttps://www.festool.co.uk/campaigns/landing-page/circular-saw-blades#Performancefeatures and that confirms to. i thought it might be a simple spacer.
usernumber1
Member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2018
- Messages
- 406
could try and grind down the riving knife
mino
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2016
- Messages
- 1,984
Just to make clear, there will be no issue with the splinter guard. The factory cut line on both saws is the same. And if was not so when bought, it can be calibrated to the same position.
This is because the cut position is note defined by the kerf but byt the KERF-DISK thickness difference.
The "2.2" blades are 2.2/1.6, so 0.3mm offset. The new blades are 1.8/1.2, so the same 0.3mm offset. Both blades will have the same (rail-side) cut line when used on the sam saw.
Also it should be possible the 2.2 blades safely with the new TSC KEB as it does not have a riving knife. But keep it mind this will never be endorsed by Festool as it was not tested.
You definitely cannot use 1.8 blades with the 2.2 mm blade configured TS55 nor TSC55 due to the riving knife not being able to fit into the cut left behind the blade. Trying this is a safety hazard the same way as filing the knife. You are outside of operating/design parameters as well as in an explicitly incompatible territory there.
As for the 2.2 blades on the new TS FEBQ, that is also a risk, as the riving knife will not be able to provide its function - it would be too thin for it.
Summary:
Aligning TSC 55 K to TS55/R splipter distance => should work form factory, if not is possible to calibrate. Fully supported scenario.
Using 2.2 blade in TSC 55 K => not supported, though physically there should not be a risk.
/I use 2.8/1.8 blades even with my TSC 55 for Aluminum and drywall - i.e. tasks where riving knife has no function. The TSC 55 K has the anti-kickback build in even./
Using 2.2 blade in TS 55 F => not supported, not advised, would operate the same as if you removed the riving knife
Using 1.8 blade in TS 55/R or TSC 55 (2.2 saws) => not supported, MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD!
This is because the cut position is note defined by the kerf but byt the KERF-DISK thickness difference.
The "2.2" blades are 2.2/1.6, so 0.3mm offset. The new blades are 1.8/1.2, so the same 0.3mm offset. Both blades will have the same (rail-side) cut line when used on the sam saw.
Also it should be possible the 2.2 blades safely with the new TSC KEB as it does not have a riving knife. But keep it mind this will never be endorsed by Festool as it was not tested.
You definitely cannot use 1.8 blades with the 2.2 mm blade configured TS55 nor TSC55 due to the riving knife not being able to fit into the cut left behind the blade. Trying this is a safety hazard the same way as filing the knife. You are outside of operating/design parameters as well as in an explicitly incompatible territory there.
As for the 2.2 blades on the new TS FEBQ, that is also a risk, as the riving knife will not be able to provide its function - it would be too thin for it.
Summary:
Aligning TSC 55 K to TS55/R splipter distance => should work form factory, if not is possible to calibrate. Fully supported scenario.
Using 2.2 blade in TSC 55 K => not supported, though physically there should not be a risk.
/I use 2.8/1.8 blades even with my TSC 55 for Aluminum and drywall - i.e. tasks where riving knife has no function. The TSC 55 K has the anti-kickback build in even./
Using 2.2 blade in TS 55 F => not supported, not advised, would operate the same as if you removed the riving knife
Using 1.8 blade in TS 55/R or TSC 55 (2.2 saws) => not supported, MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD!
So can a TSC55 2.2 kerf blade be used in a HKC55 1.8 kerf saw? After I bought my saws. I bought some used Festool blades on E-Bay and was not aware of all these differences. (I never had to worry about kerf on a regular contractor's saw) I need to go check those used blades-being my luck they are probably the 2.5 kerf blades from 10 years ago.
mino
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2016
- Messages
- 1,984
As Paul said. No. Using a thicker blade is the same as if you removed the safety riving knife.Yardbird said:
The only situation where a riving knife-equiped saw can safely use thicker blades is when both are true:
A) the material being cut is thin and cannot kickback itself (aluminum, insulation foam, etc.)
B) rail is being used to guide the saw, preventing accidental movement sideways
In other words, the same situation where a saw without a riving knife would be safe.
Then I specifically mentioned the TSC KEBQ as the OP was considering it. The KEBQ saw model does not have a riving knife though. It relies on a sensor+electronics to prevent a kick-back. The electronic anti-kickback is not affected by a slightly thicker blade. Also, with no riving knife, a slightly thinner blade (like the CMT 1.7/1.1 thin blades) work as well. Still not supported and cannot be advised. Definitely not in an insured commercial setting.
mino
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2016
- Messages
- 1,984
EDIT:
As noted below, when one replaces also the riving knife with appropriate one, almost any blade can be used. Uninsurable, but it would work generally OK.
=========================
The 2.2mm Festool saws (TS55/R and TSC 55) use 2.1mm wide riving knife.
If you use a 1.7 blade, the riving knife would have to be "forced" inside the cut. May work with soft or thin material with sufficient push. But you would get a very hard time cutting hardwood with that ...
Did it once by mistake and it wasn't pretty. The saw got stuck once the riving knife got inside the cut and I got a nice burn-in. Was 1.6/1.0mm blade from a Makita saw. Had to switch blades and re-cut