TS 55 base plate wear

[Mavrik]

I've had my TS55 for quite some time.
Perhaps a decade.
Over time I've noticed it making a scraping sound as I slide it.

On closer inspection noticed significant wear on the base plate.
And the saw is now scraping on the track.

It still works fine; but it's driving me insane.

What are my options?

 

[windmill man]

I think you may have worn down the green friction stips on your track [smile]

It is a replacable item like the splinter strip and the anti slip strip

 

[rvieceli]

Here you go:
https://www.festool.com/Products/Ac...41&name=Spare-parts-for-guide-rails-FS-GB-10M

in the US that is $37 for the 10m length

 

[PhillCharles]

Hi mate I have had this problem on my saws and I've put it down to the dust left on the rail when cutting cement sheet does it seem that the green strip is fine but it's grooving out the base plate ?

 

[Mavrik]

Green strip does seem fine.
It shows the same problem on other new rails.
Seems the part of the base that's supposed to run on the green stuff has worn away in the base.

The green stuff ate the base

New base?
New saw?
Build up the worn base with iron filings and superglue?

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[mrboult]

Ive seen the makita tracks do this king of damage to a saw base, but not noticed it get caused by festool tracks before. The glide strios on the makita rails are much more abrasive.

Can you put some of festools green glide tape on thd base of the saw to imptove your situation?

 

[ear3]

I had to get a new base for my TSC after I dropped and cracked it.  The price for a new base was less than $60, so I imagine it would be something similar for the older model TS55.  Installation would be another issue, though.  Theoretically you could order the part and install it yourself, but you would then have to do all the calibrations.  I imagine Festool service would do this for you, but there would obviously be a fee for the labor.  Maybe call them and find out what the ballpark price is? 

Green strip does seem fine.
It shows the same problem on other new rails.
Seems the part of the base that's supposed to run on the green stuff has worn away in the base.

The green stuff ate the base

New base?
New saw?
Build up the worn base with iron filings and superglue?

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[peter halle]

I think that ultimately the base will have to be replaced.  I would be curious to see if the existing base was flat.  Looks like a high spot got worn down.  Does your saw wobble on the track?

Peter

 

[Holmz]

I think that ultimately the base will have to be replaced.  I would be curious to see if the existing base was flat.  Looks like a high spot got worn down.  Does your saw wobble on the track?

Peter

Good point.
I could see skimming off enough to make it flat and re-tefloning the base... Or whatever it is. Easier to send it in.

 

[ScotF]

I would get a new base - it looks like the rubbing is the front and back where you have grooved the base. As others noted, I do not think it is that expensive of a part and it looks like a pretty easy swap -- one of my dealers actually has a TS55 and TS75 base in stock and my guess is that if used to cut abrasive material that the bases can wear out (cutting solid surface, for example). I think that a decade's worth of use is pretty good, especially if you have used your saw often during that time.

 

[Mavrik]

Thanks for the feedback.
Will investigate getting a new base.

 

[Doug S]

About a year ago I noticed the base of my saw had wear lines in it, looks exactly like Mavriks. Never cut anything abrasive with it but is also probably nearly 10yrs old.

I looked at getting new slideway strips (the green ones) for the rail but once you buy them and a new splinter strip it's as cheap to buy a new rail.

Has anybody replaced their slideways strips?

Doug

 

[windmill man]

I have every,12 to 18 months i overhaul my guide rails  .I re cut ends as requires and cut out (war wounds)  and replace the anti slip strips and slide strips ,as needed. It can get expensive and i have to replace rails as they shrink in size but i do have some handy smaller rails. If your saw is ok the rail needs to be well fettled to produce good result . i found that out a good few years ago hence periodic fettling

Regarding replacing the base , do it yourself its easy

 

[josephgewing]

I use a little spray teflon-like luge on the guide and saw plate  periodically -- which I hope is reducing the wear.
Joe

 

[Mavrik]

Ordered a new base

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[ear3]

[member=1873]windmill man[/member] Under what conditions does one have to recut the ends?

I have every,12 to 18 months i overhaul my guide rails  .I re cut ends as requires and cut out (war wounds)  and replace the anti slip strips and slide strips ,as needed. It can get expensive and i have to replace rails as they shrink in size but i do have some handy smaller rails. If your saw is ok the rail needs to be well fettled to produce good result . i found that out a good few years ago hence periodic fettling

Regarding replacing the base , do it yourself its easy

 

[windmill man]

Edward ,

Just general wear and tear over a period of time the ends get dinged up so i will skin a mm or so off. If you get kick back and it scores the rail i leave those unless they are really bad and interfear with the operation of the rail , those i cut of or out .

 

[Mavrik]

Problem solved!

Just got my TS55 back after replacing the base plate and the problem has gone away.

Appears as if the green stripes have eaten away the base over many, many years.

Credit to the Festool system regarding the modularity of design allowing the replacement and the non-redundancy of the design that after all these years the replacement was possible.

10/10 for Festool and the excellent advice on this forum.

Thank you.

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[mwahaha]

Do you use makita tracks? I can see see grooves within those grooves that look suspiciously like makita glide strip marks. If you are you could maybe replace the makita glide strips on the track with festool ones.

 

[Michael Kellough]

It looks like there must have been some bits of metal or abrasive embedded in the green glide strip. Since you have a fresh base you ought to replace the green strips too.

Then, you might need to re-adjust the grub screws that set the base plate to 90* (or 0*).