TS-55 Design Question - Very close call

R

Rockne

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I almost had a pretty terrible thing happen last night.  While cutting some 3/4 ply with my TS55 on the MFT/3 (using the hose deflector as I should), the swivel hose connector did not rotate to the side (gravity forces it down), and bound while I was pushing the saw, and it caused the saw to deflect off the track inward, and just barely skimmed the track.  At first, I thought I had ruined the track and the blade, but fortunately, it basically just cut diagonally across the splinter guard and knicked the guide rail. Phew.  I'm sure that others have gone to set the saw down on the track and have had to pull the hose left or right to get it to seat.  I know . . . this would be better explained with a video.  Maybe later. 

As I was looking at the hose swivel, I started wondering why the thing rotates 360 degrees in the first place.  I can't think of a cutting position where the "straight down" position would be better than to the side or the "top" (which is really more of a straight back).  It would be better if it were 270 degrees.  If I were to hack up a solution, I would glue a stud to the top of the saw, and wrap some rubber bands around the swivel in such a way to keep it from rotating to the "down" position. 

Anyone else have experience similar, or just tired of having to pull the hose to one side or the other when setting the saw on the track?  I still think that the Festool Track saw is the finest power tool I've ever used, but think it has potential for small improvements.
 
It's scary having a close call with a saw, I've plunged before the soft start was fully up to speed and had kick backs in the past and it is a clench moment. You also make a valid point about the need to only rotate 270 degrees. But in the end the user needs to assume an element of responsibility and ensure the hose is in the appropriate position, this may be a little tiresome, but the whole business of using power tools safely is about thought out and methodical practices.
 
Shane Holland said:
You may want to consider replacing the port with the one from the TSC, which has detents that keep the port from rotating.

We have the port by itself or available with the dust bag.

It's an easy swap.
Click to expand...
[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] Does  this really work when you just replace the port? I initially understood more parts were required to convert the TS55REQ. I searched but couldn't find the old post quickly so I thought I'd ask. Maybe someone else knows if there is, in fact, a post which describes how to do this; or maybe I just need to call Service.
 
[member=19734]grbmds[/member], that's all you need, nothing else. It's just a matter of removing 4 or 5 screws that hold the blade cover on the side of the saw, pop out the old port, put in the new port and replace the screws. The whole process takes a couple of minutes. The port has a "lip" that engages a groove in the saw housing.

Here's the original thread:
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festo...-ts-5575-dust-bag-conversion-kit-from-the-nut
 
I simply removed the blade cover, wrapped the section of the hose adaptor that sits inside the housing with 3 winds of electrical tape and put it back together.

The result is a much stiffer swivel on the hose adaptor.
 
Shane Holland said:
[member=19734]grbmds[/member], that's all you need, nothing else. It's just a matter of removing 4 or 5 screws that hold the blade cover on the side of the saw, pop out the old port, put in the new port and replace the screws. The whole process takes a couple of minutes. The port has a "lip" that engages a groove in the saw housing.

Here's the original thread:
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festo...-ts-5575-dust-bag-conversion-kit-from-the-nut
Click to expand...

[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] Thanks for refreshing my memory. I guess I asked a similar question when this all came up before. Took until now for it to be annoying enough I needed to do something about it.
 
The TSC55!

When I use the TS75, I always put the hose over my shoulder to avoid any interference.

Rockne said:
I almost had a pretty terrible thing happen last night.  While cutting some 3/4 ply with my TS55 on the MFT/3 (using the hose deflector as I should), the swivel hose connector did not rotate to the side (gravity forces it down), and bound while I was pushing the saw, and it caused the saw to deflect off the track inward, and just barely skimmed the track.  At first, I thought I had ruined the track and the blade, but fortunately, it basically just cut diagonally across the splinter guard and knicked the guide rail. Phew.  I'm sure that others have gone to set the saw down on the track and have had to pull the hose left or right to get it to seat.  I know . . . this would be better explained with a video.  Maybe later. 

As I was looking at the hose swivel, I started wondering why the thing rotates 360 degrees in the first place.  I can't think of a cutting position where the "straight down" position would be better than to the side or the "top" (which is really more of a straight back).  It would be better if it were 270 degrees.  If I were to hack up a solution, I would glue a stud to the top of the saw, and wrap some rubber bands around the swivel in such a way to keep it from rotating to the "down" position. 

Anyone else have experience similar, or just tired of having to pull the hose to one side or the other when setting the saw on the track?  I still think that the Festool Track saw is the finest power tool I've ever used, but think it has potential for small improvements.
Click to expand...
 
I wrapped the connection joint with self adhering silicone tape, usually sold in automotive sections of hardware stores or Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Itw-Global-Brands-Self-Fusing-Silicone.  I liked it so much I bought a 6 pack.  I use it on a lot of my vac connections.  on the Tss, it will let the outlet move but stiffly.  I also use it to adhere the ends of the Techflex coverings I put on my various vac hoses.
 
Like Edward I grab the hose whenever I make a cut. The hose. Deflector only works to a certain extent. I find it much better to hold the cord and the hose with one hand,  and the saw with the other.

Also,  my Ts55-rebq doesn't swivel 360, but only 270 ish - with no "down" position.

David
 
Edward A Reno III said:
The TSC55!

When I use the TS75, I always put the hose over my shoulder to avoid any interference.
...
Click to expand...

Plus it is more fashionable than a boa... [big grin]
 
remove the outer blade cover, and wrap some electrical inflation tape around the internal section of the dust spout, when you re place the blade cover, the dust spout will remain in which ever position you want it in
 
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