TS 55 Baseplate upgrade (wearing of 'base plate nibs' eliminated)

[Troll]

There is a new upgraded base plate for the TS55 that deals with the issue of wear on the existing base plate design.  Details can be found on the UK Festool site in the "Current Promotion" download.  You may want to ensure if you are buying a TS55 it comes with this worthwhile upgrade. Must surely apply to TS75 if not already fitted on there (?).

TROLL

 

[Les]

Try this link: http://www.festool.co.uk/artikel/artikel_weiterleiten.cfm?id=296

 

[stvrowe]

Does this upgrade work for the ATF55?
Steve

 

[Dan Clark]

I wonder if we can retrofit our current TS55's?

 

[Michael Kellough]

There is a new upgraded base plate for the TS55 that deals with the issue of wear on the existing base plate design.  Details can be found on the UK Festool site in the "Current Promotion" download.  You may want to ensure if you are buying a TS55 it comes with this worthwhile upgrade. Must surely apply to TS75 if not already fitted on there (?).

TROLL

Is this really a different plate than the original TS 55 plate? And, are you really a Troll? 

 

[Michael Kellough]

Does this upgrade work for the ATF55?
Steve

If this an upgrade to the original TS 55 plate I wonder if it has something to do with wear of the magnesium where it runs along the spine of the guide rail? Since anodized aluminum is harder than magnesium there could be a problem with the slot in the plate wearing out of parallel to the blade plane. You can adjust the toe alignment of the saw to compensate for this but it's a pain.

As to your question about an upgrade for the ATF 55, if the issue is the wear mentioned above, the existing steel plate on the ATF 55 will last a lot longer than magnesium so I'm not looking for an upgrade foe my ATF 55 in that regard.

 

[ac]

I wonder if we can retrofit our current TS55's?

How does one know the old from the new ? Did the old TS55 not have the green wind ups ?

I had a look at one today and it looks like they are already fitted with the new guide plate and the green wind ups.  Would you expect these to be out already (in Australia anyways) ?

Just an observation, the wind ups, the tighter you wind them the more accurate (less play on the rail) but at the same time it makes it hard to push the saw along the guide.

 

[Ted Miller]

I put teflon auto wax on all my guide rails as well as all the base plates of my tools for easier movement. There is no drag even when the guidance jaws are just snug enough for no side play and using the wax...

 

[Randall]

I am a relatively new Festool owner. I first purchased the TS 55 EQ, along with the MFT 1080 and CT 33, when the TS 55 was offered at introductory pricing.  I think that was in February of 2006.  I have since acquired two Festool sanders and the boom arm for the CT 33.  I haven't used any of them very much and I am now wondering if it wouldn't have been smarter to skip the intro pricing and wait for the "improved" version that follows in a year.  I bought Festool because I regard it as the "best" and it is kind of a letdown, after only about a year, to have an "improved" model appear.  I would hope that my saw can be upgraded but, knowing manufacturers, I won't hold my breath waiting.  Its not that I don't want Festool to pursue improvements to their tools but I just wish they could do so while remembering those of us that have just recently bought the same products that they are upgrading. Oh well. They are still great tools.

Randall

 

[Bob Marino]

I am a relatively new Festool owner. I first purchased the TS 55 EQ, along with the MFT 1080 and CT 33, when the TS 55 was offered at introductory pricing.  I think that was in February of 2006.  I have since acquired two Festool sanders and the boom arm for the CT 33.  I haven't used any of them very much and I am now wondering if it wouldn't have been smarter to skip the intro pricing and wait for the "improved" version that follows in a year.  I bought Festool because I regard it as the "best" and it is kind of a letdown, after only about a year, to have an "improved" model appear.  I would hope that my saw can be upgraded but, knowing manufacturers, I won't hold my breath waiting.  Its not that I don't want Festool to pursue improvements to their tools but I just wish they could do so while remembering those of us that have just recently bought the same products that they are upgrading. Oh well. They are still great tools.

Randall

Randall,

Festool is always striving to improve their products, as I guess are many other manufacturer's.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I bought Festool because I regard it as the "best" and it is kind of a letdown, after only about a year, to have an "improved" model appear.

How about cars, "improved" every year.

 

[Christian A.]

Hi folks,

I talked to Festool's product manager responsible for the TS 55 a few weeks ago and got the impression that while the upgrade is an improvement it's nothing *I* can't live without. But, as stated, that's just my opinion.

I bought Festool because I regard it as the "best" and it is kind of a letdown, after only about a year, to have an "improved" model appear.  I would hope that my saw can be upgraded but, knowing manufacturers, I won't hold my breath waiting.  Its not that I don't want Festool to pursue improvements to their tools but I just wish they could do so while remembering those of us that have just recently bought the same products that they are upgrading. Oh well. They are still great tools.

Actually, the TS 55 was officially introduced in March 2003 in central Europe. IIRC, it became available in most states of the "rest" of the world during 2003. In other words, the TS 55 as such is already four years old. I tend to assume that Festool has collected customer's feedbacks on the saw during the past four years of availability and finally decided to improve a detail.
The TS 55 only appears to be quite new to Festool customers in the USA.

Regards,

Christian

 

[Michael Kellough]

Christian, what exactly is improved?

 

[Woodenfish]

How about cars, "improved" every year.

Hmmmm, now that's debatable? ;D

 

[Christian A.]

Christian, what exactly is improved?

Sorry, Michael, I don’t even know how to properly explain it in German and my English is a lot worse than my German.
Maybe Bob Marino or Christian O. can jump in here and provide clear information about the improvements.

Have a nice day,

Christian

 

[Bob Marino]

Christian, what exactly is improved?

Sorry, Michael, I don’t even know how to properly explain it in German and my English is a lot worse than my German.
Maybe Bob Marino or Christian O. can jump in here and provide clear information about the improvements.

Have a nice day,

Christian

Just don't have an answer at this point. Will post when I know something more.

Bob

 

[Troll]

If you go to Festool.co.uk and click on 'current promotions' you will see on page 6 of !0 an illustrated view of the underside of the new base plate and a description on the right hand side.  Essentially the new base has replaceable low friction inserts in place of the two nibs on rhe base plate thus avoiding metal to metal wear. Furthermore on the opposite side, two additional low friction inserts are positioned between the two adjusting knobs on the baseplate and the guiderail thus avoiding metal to plastic contact.  The saw therefore runs with low friction inserts on both side of the guide rail (in addition to those on the actual guide rail).  The benefits are a smother ride on the guide rail and no wear.  Like others have said I can see the wear on my saw.  A worthwhile improvement to Festools best tool (in my opinion)! 

And yes I am a Troll!

TROLL

 

[Michael Kellough]

Thanks for the detailed info. Most tool companies "improve" their successful tools by making more of the parts from plastic, except this is usually for the purpose of increasing profit rather than improving performance like the strategic positioning of low friction plastics in the improved TS 55 base plate.

Funny, you don't seem like a Troll    I was born in Alabama but have lived in NYC most of my life. More than once I've met people who have exclaimed something like; "Funny, I've met several people from Alabama and none of them seem like they're from Ala."

 

[minimal]

Hmm. My TS55 baseplate has the "slots" that are shown in the picture you refer to (p. 6 of 10): in the picture the slots (which are immediately next to the rail adjustment cams) have some inserts, while mine are unfilled. On mine, the slots are clearly designed to hold a flat piece of material in a "sprung" state, such as when the rail adjustment cams are pressed against them.

What *are* the "nibs" of which you speak, anyway? I see no nibs! Sounds funny, but seriously...

 

[vkumar]

Is this upgrade now being shipped?  How about on the TS 75?

Bob?

Vijay