TS 55 - My first Festool product

[pghmyn]

I first saw Festool products on The Wood Whisperer, and I thought they looked a little different and weird. So, I thought I would look them up and see what they were all about. I found the FestoolUSA website and was almost blown away by the prices. Granted, I am 21 and I have never really purchased any power tools before. I have always just used what my father had. I thought, "$900 for a glorified biscuit jointer? They must be insane!"

Well, that was before I watched the plethora of reviews and demonstration videos on YouTube, and other websites. When I saw what all these tools could really do, I was starting to think the price was worth it. The integrated dust extraction is just hands down amazing. The best I have ever seen, and that really is a big selling feature for me.

I had an upcoming project that required a good amount of breaking down of a sheet good. In my small shop, this had to be done with a circular saw/hand saw. I saw the TS 55/75 and thought it might be worth investing in. I can't forget to mention that I install laminate hardwood flooring as a hobby for friends and family. Ripping and crosscutting these boards is like cutting sheets of MDF, if you have never done it before. The dust gets EVERYWHERE.

Anyway, so I brought the product home and took the time to adjust the play in the track and saw, and read the manual. I plopped a really cheap piece of plywood on some 2x4s and proceeded to my first cut. I rigged my shop vac to the saw with a hose that is from as old house vacuum. The fit was perfect, actually. The cut was flawless, dustless, and effortless. There really isn't much more that I can say about it. The crisp edge really pays for itself.

Thanks Festool!

Oh, by the way, my basement is the perfect place to sent products in development

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your first Festool!

We have a phenomenal group of people here that offer their opinions, answer questions, and share their projects and shops.

If you ever need any assistance or have questions, please feel free to contact me. Glad to help.

Shane Holland
Festool USA
sho@festoolusa.com

 

[pugilato]

That saw is my favorite and most often used Festool. If I may, let me recommend any of their vacuum units... with the saw, its a single switch operation, as the saw drives the vacuum. Vacuum bags dont get clogged. Beautiful system.

 

[pghmyn]

That saw is my favorite and most often used Festool. If I may, let me recommend any of their vacuum units... with the saw, its a single switch operation, as the saw drives the vacuum. Vacuum bags dont get clogged. Beautiful system.

If I could afford it right now, I would. But, that's not an option at the moment. My shop vac should work fine for now

 

[live4ever]

Congrats, the TS55 was my first as well.

It's a slippery slope now, my friend.  If you succumb peacefully it will be better for you.  If you must attempt resistance, I suggest turning your credit cards over to a spouse or trusted loved one.

 

[Jaybolishes]

Welcome to the fog! I too purchased the ts55 as my first this spring.  Well since then I've completely slipped down the slope, ac36, 1400 and  accessories, cxs, centrotec set, parallel guides, planex, hoses, rails, ts75, domino 500 and tenon systainer and too much more.  For me it was all unavoidable after you get the first one.  If my dealer didn't start selling them this year I may have been able to resist, curses them and those dang beautiful display walls. Thankfully I'm running outta tools I want....sort of.  Boy at 21 you sure have started early.  hope you're not married yet, or at least have an understanding girlfriend haha cause when the green gets in your vein there's no turning back.

 

[ScotF]

Welcome to the FOG and welcome to the slippery slope!!  This will more than likely not be your last Festool.  Have fun and enjoy near dustless woodworking!

Scot

 

[pghmyn]

Welcome to the fog! I too purchased the ts55 as my first this spring.  Well since then I've completely slipped down the slope, ac36, 1400 and  accessories, cxs, centrotec set, parallel guides, planex, hoses, rails, ts75, domino 500 and tenon systainer and too much more.  For me it was all unavoidable after you get the first one.  If my dealer didn't start selling them this year I may have been able to resist, curses them and those dang beautiful display walls. Thankfully I'm running outta tools I want....sort of.  Boy at 21 you sure have started early.  hope you're not married yet, or at least have an understanding girlfriend haha cause when the green gets in your vein there's no turning back.

I happen to be engaged [big grin]

I convinced her this was a good investment because of the uses I will get out of it. For example, the wood flooring. She has seen the dust storm produced by my previous circular saw, and was worried about health concerns.

If I had to pick out my next few tools from Festool, they would probably be:
CT midi
ETS 125
Domino 500

And that's it, for now. But those will be a long way away [unsure]

 

[pghmyn]

Well, I can really give a review now after I broke down my sheet of hard maple plywood.

I cut this 48" x 96" piece of plywood into 11 different pieces. Most of them had to be identical to at least one more. I made two marks for each cut. One on each side of the plywood. I made sure to have these marks as accurate as I could get. My first cut was smooth, accurate, and fast. My home-made extraction boom-arm was doing very well. There was almost no dust on the ground when I was done.

The time it took to break this piece of plywood down into the pieces was no longer than 1 hour and 15 minutes. I checked every corner for square and it was more accurate than I have ever cut before. There was no adjusting fences or tables. Just plop the guide rail down on the marks, and cut.

I guess for now I can do without a Festool vacuum. But that doesn't mean it wont be on my wish list [wink]

The real test of this saw for me will be when I have to cut my entertainment stand top to square. I have a 20" wide and 1" thick top of soft maple finishing up the glue up over night. I'll get to that tomorrow!

 

[Jonhilgen]

That saw is my favorite and most often used Festool. If I may, let me recommend any of their vacuum units... with the saw, its a single switch operation, as the saw drives the vacuum. Vacuum bags dont get clogged. Beautiful system.

If I could afford it right now, I would. But, that's not an option at the moment. My shop vac should work fine for now

Don't worry, you'll be so much more efficient  and confident in your results, that you'll be taking on more and more jobs.  Youll be making more money, and then buying more festools.

Jon

 

[pghmyn]

That saw is my favorite and most often used Festool. If I may, let me recommend any of their vacuum units... with the saw, its a single switch operation, as the saw drives the vacuum. Vacuum bags dont get clogged. Beautiful system.

If I could afford it right now, I would. But, that's not an option at the moment. My shop vac should work fine for now

Don't worry, you'll be so much more efficient  and confident in your results, that you'll be taking on more and more jobs.  Youll be making more money, and then buying more festools.

Jon

Any money I make from these projects goes straight to tools and such. My grandfather recently passed, and we found in his garage a 125 piece brand new drill bit set. In a really nice metal case. I got lucky there because I was about to buy some drill bits. Guess I can save that money for Festool items

 

[honeydoman]

here is a short video on using the saw with the festool vac.. (over 5,000 views so far)... my first festool was the aft 55 (think that was the name)  which became the ts55  still have it...  and the 55 and the 75 and 25,000$  of other festools...

check out my youtube channel  it will give you help, ideas, and make you want to buy more festools !  

youtube:   builtinsbykreg

over 250,000 views so far !  awesome

 

[AdamM]

That saw is my favorite and most often used Festool. If I may, let me recommend any of their vacuum units... with the saw, its a single switch operation, as the saw drives the vacuum. Vacuum bags dont get clogged. Beautiful system.

If I could afford it right now, I would. But, that's not an option at the moment. My shop vac should work fine for now

Until you can spring for a Festool Dust Extractor, I suggest one of these switches.  It at least fixes the annoyance of having to manually turn the vac on/off for every cut...
http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2080165/28298/ivac-automated-shop-vacuum-switch.aspx
http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2005855/18215/isocket-autoswitch-shop-vacuum-control.aspx

I have both (from before I had a Festool Vac) and both work great.  Only thing to watch out for with the iVac is sometimes tools on the same circuit will cause enough of a voltage dip during startup to trigger the iVac to turn on the vacuum.

 

[Wooden Skye]

Welcome to the FOG!!!

TS55 was my first purchase and I also used a shop vac at first, but sometimes I would forget to turn it on, but once I got the CT26 that problem went away.  Enjoy your TS55 and beware of the slippery slope you just stepped on as others have said.

You said you are engaged, see if your local Festool dealer has a gift registry!!! 

 

[pghmyn]

That saw is my favorite and most often used Festool. If I may, let me recommend any of their vacuum units... with the saw, its a single switch operation, as the saw drives the vacuum. Vacuum bags dont get clogged. Beautiful system.

If I could afford it right now, I would. But, that's not an option at the moment. My shop vac should work fine for now

Until you can spring for a Festool Dust Extractor, I suggest one of these switches.  It at least fixes the annoyance of having to manually turn the vac on/off for every cut...
http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2080165/28298/ivac-automated-shop-vacuum-switch.aspx
http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2005855/18215/isocket-autoswitch-shop-vacuum-control.aspx

I have both (from before I had a Festool Vac) and both work great.  Only thing to watch out for with the iVac is sometimes tools on the same circuit will cause enough of a voltage dip during startup to trigger the iVac to turn on the vacuum.

I actually have a really good system going with my vacuum and tools which attach to it.

I use two outlets. In one outlet, I have an extension cord that I run across the ceiling and drape over my work bench for my current power tool to plug into. I use the other outlet to plug in a 6 outlet power strip with switch. This strip is directly behind where I stand at the main workbench. Literally, within arms length without even turning around. I plug the vacuum into this strip, and turn it to the on position. Then, to turn the vacuum on/off I use the power strip.

I could plug both tools into this, but when I did that, I forgot I had the sander turned "on" and I flipped the on switch on the strip and my orbital sander started doing the moonwalk.

 

[Acrobat]

Welcome to the fog! I too purchased the ts55 as my first this spring.  Well since then I've completely slipped down the slope, ac36, 1400 and  accessories, cxs, centrotec set, parallel guides, planex, hoses, rails, ts75, domino 500 and tenon systainer and too much more.  For me it was all unavoidable after you get the first one.  If my dealer didn't start selling them this year I may have been able to resist, curses them and those dang beautiful display walls. Thankfully I'm running outta tools I want....sort of.  Boy at 21 you sure have started early.  hope you're not married yet, or at least have an understanding girlfriend haha cause when the green gets in your vein there's no turning back.

I happen to be engaged [big grin]

I convinced her this was a good investment because of the uses I will get out of it. For example, the wood flooring. She has seen the dust storm produced by my previous circular saw, and was worried about health concerns.

If I had to pick out my next few tools from Festool, they would probably be:
CT midi
ETS 125
Domino 500

And that's it, for now. But those will be a long way away [unsure]

Hi, the next purchases sound good, each one I have except the 125, I have the larger model since I already have the rotex 125. The domino is easily my favourite tool, so versatile, with the vac a sweet combo!
Enjoy the new toy/s