TS-55 blade selection for ripping thick boards

[thender]

Good evening everyone.

I have a TS-55 that I dearly love for breaking up sheet goods. 

BUT -- from time to time I need to use it to "straight-line" an edge in thicker lumber -- up to 2" thick.  So far I  have done this with the 48-tooth fine blade that came with the saw. 

Needless to say, this is at the limits of the machines capability.  So it is working pretty hard, and that often means some burning as well as somewhat reduced cut quality.

Would I be better off with a different blade -- such as a 28-tooth "universal" blade?  Or the Panther?  Or aftermarket?

That opens up the kerf-width issue, since the "universal" blade is wider than the "fine" blade and thus will "waller out" the cut strip on the rails, leading to less accuracy when later used again with the "fine" blade. 

Anybody done that, and if so, how bad was the impact? 

I'd love to buy a TS-75 for this kind of work, but can't justify the cost for the few times I'll need it.

So anybody have any thoughts on the best way to deal with thick boards on a TS-55?

Thanks in advance....

-Tom in Ventura

 

[jvsteenb]

AFAIK, the "new" blades share the same 2.2 mm kerf width.
From the Festool line-up, the universal balde will be your best friend for this.
I've read several positive comments on Tenryu blades - but I haven't got experience with them, they're not readily available over here.

Regards,

Job

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Tom,

To give you some idea, the Panther blade will rip material approximately 2.5 times faster than the stock 48-tooth blade and with more ease.

 

[jvsteenb]

Shane,

The Panhter blade rips with a lot less effort, that's for sure. But in my experience, the quality of cut degrades very rapidly and that kinda contradicts the reasons I bought a TS55.
I've read that the "new" Panther performs better in this department - I can't comment on that. I own an "old" Panther that I use in my CMS now and again, but can't seriously recommend it.
Cuts fast, I'll give you that. But don't expect the cut to be glue-ready, or whatever-ready without serious extra steps.
Gain a minute, loose 15.... [crying]
The universal blade does a glue-ready joint in most woods in my experience and cuts way faster than the standard W48 blade and without burning.
I strictly use it for ripcuts, as the W48 handles crosscuts very well, even in very hard/thick lumber.

Just my 2 eurocents.

Regards,

Job

 

[paul_david_thomas]

i use the panther on my CMS for quick rough cuts for first fix work. Alas, not the 2.2 kerf blade...

 

[Brice Burrell]

I'd recommend the 28 tooth Tenryu blade., it has the same kerf as the 48 T Festool blade. It's not a rip blade but it is a good compromise between the panther and 48T blade. Coats a little less than the Festool universal blade.

 

[RONWEN]

Shane,

The Panhter blade rips with a lot less effort, that's for sure. But in my experience, the quality of cut degrades very rapidly and that kinda contradicts the reasons I bought a TS55.
I've read that the "new" Panther performs better in this department - I can't comment on that. I own an "old" Panther that I use in my CMS now and again, but can't seriously recommend it.
Cuts fast, I'll give you that. But don't expect the cut to be glue-ready, or whatever-ready without serious extra steps.
Gain a minute, loose 15.... [crying]
The universal blade does a glue-ready joint in most woods in my experience and cuts way faster than the standard W48 blade and without burning.
I strictly use it for ripcuts, as the W48 handles crosscuts very well, even in very hard/thick lumber.
Just my 2 eurocents.
Regards,
Job

How do you differentiate between the new & old style Panthers? I've had one for about ten (10) months but haven't tried it.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

By kerf size on the Panther's.

I second Brice, I really like that Tenryu blade for my 55, so much so I bought 2 extra's for when one is off getting sharpened.

 

[jhark123]

I just used my 28T "universal" blade to rip 1.5" soft maple with some burl and tiger grain.  It left a clean edge and the saw did not seem to bog down.

 

[jonny round boy]

How do you differentiate between the new & old style Panthers? I've had one for about ten (10) months but haven't tried it.

Not only by the kerf - the tooth number & geometry changed. If your blade has 14 teeth, and a hook angle of 35 degrees, then you have the old blade.

The new panther blade has only 12 teeth, set at 20 degrees.

 

[thender]

AFAIK, the "new" blades share the same 2.2 mm kerf width.
Job

Can anyone (Shane?) confirm that the blade kerf widths have changed?  The latest data on the Festool USA site shows the fine blade at 2.2mm, and all the others at 2.5mm. 

Yet there has been discussion on this forum that the kerf widths had changed.  So I'm wondering if the new blades are just slow to get to the USA, or what.

Finally, there are a number of posts on this forum that indicate that the Panther ("old" panther perhaps?) really chewed up the splinter strip, which is a deal-killer for me.

Thanks for everyone's insights on this issue;  I appreciate it. 

-Tom in Ventura

 

[tbellemare]

These blades for the TS 55 have changed:

496305 - Panther
496307 - Aluminum/Plastic
496309 - Solid Surface/Laminate

They are all now 2.2mm kerf, which matches the stock, Fine Tooth Blade.

You should order by number because there are still several of the old ones out there.

Tom

Addition: The new Panther takes the place of the old Panther and the old Standard blade. It has been redesigned to produce smoother cuts due to less vibration.

 

[thender]

Tom -- and all:

Thanks so much for your help with this.

So, if I understand things correctly, the "new" Standard/Panther (496305) should now have the same kerf width as the 48-tooth "fine" blade.  This blade doesn't appear in the online catalog (2009) nor does it appear when searching for TS-55 accessories, but it does appear if  you search by part number.

BUT -- the 28-tooth "universal" blade (495376) is still thicker, at 2.5mm.

There are a number of threads here on FOG that indicate that the old Panther blade chewed up the splinter strips very badly.  This is a show-stopper for me.

Has anybody tried the 496305 Standard/Panther blade to know how it affects the splinter strip?

Anybody have any insights into whether the 2.5mm Universal blade (495376) blade will chew up the splinter strip? 

I'm sorry to be so dense about all of this;  but the blade situation for TS-55 saws seems to be in a mess.  The most recent catalog doesn't show any of the "new" blades, the "new" blades don't appear on the Festoolusa site when you search for TS-55 blades, so you need to know the part number to find them.  All of this has completely confused the two local dealers that I've approached, since they don't know anything except what is in the latest (2009) catalog.  But that catalog is quite out of date in this area.

-TH

 

[jvsteenb]

The new 2.2 mm Universal blade ( 28 teeth, 15 degree hook standard ATB ) is marketed under number 496302 where I live.
I guess there's no reason it shouldn't be available in the US.

Regards,

Job

 

[ScotF]

Thanks for posting this -- I was curious about the TS75 blade sizes too if anyone can answer that (and not to hijak this thread) but were they changing widths for this saw or only the TS55?

Scot 

 

[Brice Burrell]

The new 2.2 mm Universal blade ( 28 teeth, 15 degree hook standard ATB ) is marketed under number 496302 where I live.
I guess there's no reason it shouldn't be available in the US.

Regards,

Job

Searching that part number brings back no results on the Festool USA site. That doesn't mean it isn't available here......

 

[tbellemare]

I don't think the 496302, Universal blade, has made it to this side of the "Pond" yet.

Tom

 

[UCLA Fan]

There are a number of threads here on FOG that indicate that the old Panther blade chewed up the splinter strips very badly.  This is a show-stopper for me.

Has anybody tried the 496305 Standard/Panther blade to know how it affects the splinter strip?

Anybody have any insights into whether the 2.5mm Universal blade (495376) blade will chew up the splinter strip?   

It would have too cut the strip by at least a hair. You will also find post on here for how to offset the thicker blade and not chew up your strip. Basically you add a washer or other shim stock to the motor side of the blade... Do a search and you will find lots of posts. Good luck.

Frank

 

[MarkF]

I wonder if Festool will replace an unused old style Panther blade for the new version?  A lot of us bought these when we were young and naive.  I'm about 5 1/2 years past my 30 day approval period. [big grin]

 

[thender]

There are a number of threads here on FOG that indicate that the old Panther blade chewed up the splinter strips very badly.  This is a show-stopper for me.

Has anybody tried the 496305 Standard/Panther blade to know how it affects the splinter strip?

Anybody have any insights into whether the 2.5mm Universal blade (495376) blade will chew up the splinter strip?   

It would have too cut the strip by at least a hair. You will also find post on here for how to offset the thicker blade and not chew up your strip. Basically you add a washer or other shim stock to the motor side of the blade... Do a search and you will find lots of posts. Good luck.

Frank

Hello Frank-

I've seen the shimming posts...  not sure if I'm entirely comfortable with that, especially if a 2.2mm blade is (or will soon be) available from Festool or Tenryu.

-TH