TS 55 track saw models

[dollar bill]

I'm in the market for a TS 55 track saw and I'm thoroughly confused by the model #s. Can anyone tell me the difference between TS 55 EQ, TS 55 REQ, TS 55 REQ-F and TS 55 REQ-F-PLUS?

 

[Hawkeye0001]

The designations (for most Festool Tools btw) go as follows:

TS - Plunge Saw
C - Battery Model

55 - Cut depth

R - 2012+ models with slimmer blade cover
E - Electronics
B - Brake
Q - Plug It

F - ? (someone help me with this one, don't have that in Europe)  ;D
FS - Guide Rail ("FührungsSchiene") included
Plus - Systainer included

 

[DeformedTree]

I'm in the market for a TS 55 track saw and I'm thoroughly confused by the model #s. Can anyone tell me the difference between TS 55 EQ, TS 55 REQ, TS 55 REQ-F and TS 55 REQ-F-PLUS?

If your buying new, there is just one model.  The REQ-F ,  The F is for "Fix" (i doubt that Festool would say it, but it's the reality). they had to correct a flaw on the non-F version, it was basically a silent upgrade. I'm not even sure they even show it all the time as "F", but again if buying new, it will be the same saw. All the inch labeled saws that are sold in North America are "F".  Only if you are trying to find a metric one, thus used, does the models really come into play.

The Plus just means it comes with a Rail (a package).

 

[dollar bill]

I'm in the market for a TS 55 track saw and I'm thoroughly confused by the model #s. Can anyone tell me the difference between TS 55 EQ, TS 55 REQ, TS 55 REQ-F and TS 55 REQ-F-PLUS?

If your buying new, there is just one model.  The REQ-F ,  The F is for "Fix" (i doubt that Festool would say it, but it's the reality). they had to correct a flaw on the non-F version, it was basically a silent upgrade. I'm not even sure they even show it all the time as "F", but again if buying new, it will be the same saw. All the inch labeled saws that are sold in North America are "F".  Only if you are trying to find a metric one, thus used, does the models really come into play.

The Plus just means it comes with a Rail (a package).

I'm looking at buying a used metric non-F model. Would I be making a mistake if I bought it?

 

[Hawkeye0001]

Absolutely not a mistake, it'll probably outlast you  [wink]

However when you buy used check that they have the positive bevel stop at 0° - my biggest pet peeve with the REBQ models until 2015. You'll easily recognize them, they have a small green tab at the 0° marker (on the front bevel index). The pre 2015 models didn't have that positive stop and you could accidentally end up cutting a bevel of -1°.
The older pre 2012 EBQ models didn't have that problem either, as they only ranged from 0° to 45°.

 

[DeformedTree]

I'm in the market for a TS 55 track saw and I'm thoroughly confused by the model #s. Can anyone tell me the difference between TS 55 EQ, TS 55 REQ, TS 55 REQ-F and TS 55 REQ-F-PLUS?

If your buying new, there is just one model.  The REQ-F ,  The F is for "Fix" (i doubt that Festool would say it, but it's the reality). they had to correct a flaw on the non-F version, it was basically a silent upgrade. I'm not even sure they even show it all the time as "F", but again if buying new, it will be the same saw. All the inch labeled saws that are sold in North America are "F".  Only if you are trying to find a metric one, thus used, does the models really come into play.

The Plus just means it comes with a Rail (a package).

I'm looking at buying a used metric non-F model. Would I be making a mistake if I bought it?

So I have a non-F, not by choice, but because Festool won't sell metric ones.  I bought mine used thru the recon site and forgot about the F deal when I bought it.

To be honest, it really Pissed me off, and took a long time and many tries to adjust it to be square. To get it right, a whole bunch of stuff is loose at once. I eventually built a bit of a jig to get it right.

I generally don't have plans to ever cut a bevel with a circular saw, but doesn't mean I won't need to, and I really don't want to mess with it. I'd buy a new one, but of course Festool won't sell us metric tools.  Sure, I could swap parts around, but the saw PN/SN will always be inch. I don't want mutant tools, and have to deal with un-doing things if/when I sell a tool and so forth. Plus simply I don't want to reward Festool for their actions.  So if I replace it, it probably will be with the Mafell.

 

[flair woodworks]

I'm in the market for a TS 55 track saw and I'm thoroughly confused by the model #s. Can anyone tell me the difference between TS 55 EQ, TS 55 REQ, TS 55 REQ-F and TS 55 REQ-F-PLUS?

I’m pretty sure the F just means imperial scales. Other tools (and accessories) got the F designation.

If your buying new, there is just one model.  The REQ-F ,  The F is for "Fix" (i doubt that Festool would say it, but it's the reality). they had to correct a flaw on the non-F version, it was basically a silent upgrade. I'm not even sure they even show it all the time as "F", but again if buying new, it will be the same saw. All the inch labeled saws that are sold in North America are "F".  Only if you are trying to find a metric one, thus used, does the models really come into play.

The Plus just means it comes with a Rail (a package).

 

[dollar bill]

I'm in the market for a TS 55 track saw and I'm thoroughly confused by the model #s. Can anyone tell me the difference between TS 55 EQ, TS 55 REQ, TS 55 REQ-F and TS 55 REQ-F-PLUS?

I’m pretty sure the F just means imperial scales. Other tools (and accessories) got the F designation.

If your buying new, there is just one model.  The REQ-F ,  The F is for "Fix" (i doubt that Festool would say it, but it's the reality). they had to correct a flaw on the non-F version, it was basically a silent upgrade. I'm not even sure they even show it all the time as "F", but again if buying new, it will be the same saw. All the inch labeled saws that are sold in North America are "F".  Only if you are trying to find a metric one, thus used, does the models really come into play.

The Plus just means it comes with a Rail (a package).

Chris is correct. Today I spoke with an application specialist at Festool. I quizzed him on the letters in the model #.  The "F" means fractional (inches). He tells me the F has nothing to do with fixing anything.

 

[ben_r_]

Huh. I did not know. Interesting to see that all those letters actually mean something! lol

 

[DeformedTree]

How can that be?  The -F came out before they did inch tools.  They also very much did a design change in the saws, and the saws that had that fixed were listed -F. I think I jumped the gun on an earlier comment, I think there was a period of time with -F models and metric, as the inch tools didn't show up till mid-end 2016, and I think the -F before that.  When they launched the inch tools, they put "Imp." at the end of the tools name from announcements at the time. It looks like festool has removed all the press releases about the change, so can't find official stuff, just links on Websites. 

Looking at Festool USA website, I see -F all over on tools, which I'm pretty sure was not the case even recently. I only remember the TS-55 having -F. 

If the -F doesn't go with the fix to the bevel system, then how is anyone to know what saw they are buying?

-F might not exist in other countries, they had a different model anyway because they have electronic brake.

I could be completely wrong, but that just creates a much more confusing situation.

Did they later change things and re-purpose "-F", maybe they realized calling them "imperial" tools in the USA is complete nonsense speak.

 

[Mario Turcot]

I was a bit intrigued by that F as a fix for failure. What company would add this to their tools? Festool have been silent about the Kapex for a long time. They finally came public saying that they replace some parts in the Kapex armature, yet no F on the kapex model.

I had a look at Festool USA and the only tools with an F are the tools that have an imperial scale. The DF 500 & 700 are both metric and have no F model.

 

[DeformedTree]

I was a bit intrigued by that F as a fix for failure. What company would add this to their tools? Festool have been silent about the Kapex for a long time. They finally came public saying that they replace some parts in the Kapex armature, yet no F on the kapex model.

I had a look at Festool USA and the only tools with an F are the tools that have an imperial scale. The DF 500 & 700 are both metric and have no F model.

Well, like I said, i don't think Festool would say "F for Fixed".  I just looked at a 2018 catalog.  They don't list -F on anything. They do show pictures of the tools in their N.A. inch form, the -F isn't in the Name of the tools.  Festool isn't very consistent on this at all.  Like I said above, only tool I previously remember having this was the TS55.  It's not like the Kapex, as the Kapex had internal tweaks buyers don't see.  The TS55, has a real change on the outside that a user is going to notice.

-F for "fractional" is odd and sounds like someone came up with that after the fact.  If it had to do with the measurements, I would expect it to say "-I" for "imperial" (even if meaningless in the US, but consistent with Festool announcements), or for "inch".

 

[wpz]

I think the F might stand for "Fuss", meaning feet.

Germany, or rather the states that now make up Germany also used to have an old system of feet (fuss) and inches (zoll), before they moved on to the metric system, hence the German word "Zollstock", meaning yardstick.

The measurement system they use in the USA is not exactly the same as Imperial, I believe the official name is "US customary measurement system" and it differs a little from the old English "Imperial" system.
For instance a Gallon is different in both systems if I'm not mistaken (you even have 2 different gallons in the US, a dry and a wet one or something like that? [blink]).

So instead of Imperial or imp. Festool should maybe refer to it as c.u. or Customary Units.

wpz

 

[DeformedTree]

Correct, this is why I say "imperial is nonsense".  The United States has never used the imperial measurement system.  The correct answer is "US customary system". but also "IPS" (inch pound second) works, and in engineering and government work "Inch" is the correct term on documents verses "Metric" on metric/SI based document.

Calling the tools imperial for a market that has never used the Imperial system (which as noted is not the same), is part of what convinces me this was a move by the Home Office years ago, not the USA folks.

 

[DeformedTree]

I went digging in the ekat.  It looks like in there, they do list a bunch of tools at "-F".  I just don't know. There are no years in there to be able to put it all together.  I wish they were consistent in their descriptions and always had F or not, verses sometimes saying it, others not.  Not putting it on the side of the tool, but putting it on the website now, but just 2 years ago, giving no mention of -F on any of them.

If -F means inch labels,  ok.  But if you don't put that on the tool, then it makes it hard for folks to know what they are selling/buying later on as people may not say "-F" in the description as it's not on the tool.  But also how does one then work out if the saw they are buying has the fixed bevel stop?

 

[flair woodworks]

[member=68063]DeformedTree[/member]  You would need to check the actual saw. I’ve seen Festool make numerous rolling changes without a change in model or part number.

 

[DeformedTree]

[member=68063]DeformedTree[/member]  You would need to check the actual saw. I’ve seen Festool make numerous rolling changes without a change in model or part number.

Agreed, that's rolling changes that everything has.  I don't care about that.  The bevel lock was beyond just a rolling change. 

Years ago before I bought my saw, I spent a lot of time researching, and everything then said -F was the bevel lock change, and it made sense and I've run with that since. Of course I bought it thru the recon as it was the only way to get a metric saw, and when I bought it, I forgot about "-F"/bevel lock change.  So I don't have the change. Mine is pretty old and has the recall inspection sticker.

 

[dollar bill]

It appears I have opened a can of worms. As we all know the only way to get the worms back into the can is to get a bigger can.

 

[CeeJay]

Well - if it helps with your can/worm volumetric challenges, here in Australia where everything is metric none of these tools have an F in the name.

We can get a TS55 REBQ+. Or an HKC55 EB+

No F to be seen anywhere.

So maybe we get all the cast off unfixed stuff? Or maybe it’s metric?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DeformedTree]

We will have an absolute answer to all things and Festool will launch a new model that is the same globally.  Depth Scale in Cubits, and Bevel system in Radians.

Maybe with Brexit the UK will get a new model that is still metric but randomly has Imperial parts here and there, the TS55 HMS  [tongue]