Tracksaw Upgrade Options & Opinions

[Bell407]

I won't go into all the mental gymnastics going about in my mind lately but will simply say it's time for a tracksaw upgrade.  For reference, I am not a professional woodworker (meaning it's not my profession) but I do produce a variety of projects that, depending on the customer, brings in a bit of spare change.  The one thing I do like is having nice, high quality tools; and obviously nothing compares to Festool.

My entry into Festool was 12 years ago with the acquisition of an original TS 55 EQ-Plus (No. 561432) tracksaw.  It's served me well with no issues whatsoever.  I'm not into the heavy slab work (yet) that may require the TS 75, but now that new offerings are available in the TS 60/TSV 60, I am looking to upgrade.  I definitely want a TS 60 (of some kind) with all it's nice features rather than today's versions of the TS 55 offerings. 

So, this really comes down to the TS vs the TSV.  I realize the primary difference is the scoring blade feature of the TSV, which I think would come in very handy pretty much anytime I'm cutting something other than hardwood.  However, I don't feel like I need to be doing a lot of melamine, laminate, or other critical surface material in order to justify the TSV.  It's just nice knowing that the option to turn on the scoring blade is there if needed.  The TSV is dimensionally longer so upgrading to the 75" guide rail is almost a necessity at least for width cuts on let's say plywood sheets.  The TS or TSV would be my 1 & only tracksaw assuming I sell my TS 55, therefore it would also be used on my MFT.  I think there is enough length to the MFT guide rail to accommodate most work I do even if using the TSV 60.

Again, realizing this is likely a personnel preference issue I wanted to present the situation to the group.  Any opinions & suggestions are in play.  Heck, I'm not opposed if someone suggests to get both versions & possibly dedicate the TS 60 to the MFT & hardwoods while saving the TSV for the more delicate operations, i.e. plywoods, laminates, melamines, etc. 

Thanks to any/all who have read this and care to comment.

Nick

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Just an opinion, but I don't think the TSV is a "one and only" track saw. It seems like it would be great, for people who need that capability, but too large and cumbersome for everyday use.
I have a regular TS60 and use it very frequently. It's a fabulous machine. I kept the TS55, that I have had for a few years, just to cut down on blade changes. (The TS55 has a triple-chip blade for solid surface material and acrylics) I change saws, rather than blades, but I'm doing this for a living. That changes things.

At this point, assuming that your older saw is still functioning fine, putting that money into a TS75 for your hardwood cutting might be more useful.

 

[sancho57]

its called personal preference, you buy which ever fits your needs

 

[jeh]

The one thing I do like is having nice, high quality tools; and obviously nothing compares to Festool.

Well, except Mafell. The MT55cc has a scoring function built-in that is not a separate blade. It is two passes, but the saw is not unwieldy at 3 lbs lighter (10.4 lbs versus 13.6 lbs).

 

[SoonerFan]

If you are thinking about two saws, I personally would stick with the TS55 and get a TS75 as [member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member] suggested as well.  My reasons being, the new TS models have some nice features but the saw you have is still really capable and still works great. Second, the TS75 has advantages for hardwoods and slabs like you mentioned.  This seems to be more of a need for you than solid surface/scoring capability.  Again, this would be my preference and yours may differ.

 

[Df1k1]

Take this for what it’s worth I’m a guy that chases new stuff continuously. But in this case, I just don’t see it. The 55 is a great saw. If you had a recent kickback or some thing, it scared the crap out of you, OK I can see it. You already said you don’t like working with melamine or don’t see yourself working that much with it, so I think the TSV would be out. I’d either get the 75 and keep the 55 or simply put your money in another direction. I have the 55 and like I said I try to justify the new stuff all the time. Personally when it comes down to it some of these tools are just like buying a new iPhone, and not worth the hassle to me.

 

[Peter Kelly]

@OP You might want to consider getting longer rails if you go with the TSV. That saw's base is quite a bit longer than the TS55 so getting the cut started on a 96" sheet using 106" (2700mm) rail is somewhat awkward.

 

[mino]

If the time for upgrade came, just get the TS 60 and be done with it. I can write 5 paragraphs why that makes sense for you .. but what would be the point if others already did that.

But you still want the 75" rail for full-sheet cross-cuts. And I would shorten it to 70" for convenience - so that when joined with a 55" one you get an equivalent of the 118" rail for those full rips. Never understood the 75" length ... short for the long cuts and too long for the full-sheet cross cuts.

Ref. scoring
It is easy to do scoring with a TS 55/60. Just move the cut depth to 0.1" and make a back-pass. Then continue with normal-depth cut. If you do not need this all the time, there is no point in the TSV 60 for you. Just make sure to clamp when doing multiple-pass cuts.

The one thing I do like is having nice, high quality tools; and obviously nothing compares to Festool.

Well, except Mafell. The MT55cc has a scoring function built-in that is not a separate blade. It is two passes, but the saw is not unwieldy at 3 lbs lighter (10.4 lbs versus 13.6 lbs).

To make the record straight, that "scoring" function on the MT 55 is not comparable to the TSV 60 "proper" scoring blade. It is not even a contest.

I won't go into the particulars here, not a Festool vs. Maffel thread.

Take this for what it’s worth I’m a guy that chases new stuff continuously. But in this case, I just don’t see it. The 55 is a great saw. If you had a recent kickback or some thing, it scared the junk out of you, OK I can see it. You already said you don’t like working with melamine or don’t see yourself working that much with it, so I think the TSV would be out. I’d either get the 75 and keep the 55 or simply put your money in another direction. I have the 55 and like I said I try to justify the new stuff all the time. Personally when it comes down to it some of these tools are just like buying a new iPhone, and not worth the hassle to me.

The OP has the original TS 55. With the "simple" slides. Not the upgraded TS 55 R. For him even the TS 55 F is a major upgrade.

 

[Lincoln]

After handling one a few weeks ago, there's no way I'd be buying a TSV unless you need the scribing blade. I seriously considered one for cutting panels onsite, during installs, but it's a bit too big.
'Permanently' set up on a cutting table, in a shop, it would be awesome for cutting melamine finished materials/veneered board.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

For my personal use, if I were going to upgrade from my original TS55 tracksaw to a newer version, the TSV would likely be the choice because my primary use for the tool at this point is for ripping sheets. In my new shop, I opted for a short stroke slider so it's easier to do sheet goods rips (not a common thing for me) on the support table I have for slab flattening with the tracksaw. The scoring feature would be a no brainer for me as I use that feature on the slider for sheet goods, too. (I work mostly in solid stock, but...)

 

[Cheese]

I would definitely upgrade the TS 55 EQ to the new TS 60 version. The EQ version is pretty long in the tooth by now...12+ years.

The specs for the TS 55 EQ vs the TS 60:
1. 1200 watts brushed vs 1500 watts brushless
2. 2.2 mm kerf vs 1.8 mm kerf
3. 5200 rpm max vs 6800 rpm
4. 55 mm cut depth vs 62 mm cut depth

However, the Mafell MT 55 with the built in scoring feature is a viable alternative to the heavy/long TSV 60. The TSV 60 appears to be targeting those that perform a lot of laminate work.

The specs for the MT 55 compared to the TS 60:
1400 watts brushed, 1.8 mm kerf, 6300 rpm max & 58 mm cut depth.

I'm waiting for the release of the TSC 60 to replace my TSC 55 K saw. The narrow kerf blades made a major difference in cutting ease  as my TS 55 EQ always seemed to be very slow when ripping hardwood. The slow rip feed also meant it was easier to burn the wood.