TS55 Metric scale

[Dusty.House]

Hi All - I'm finally taking the plunge (boom boom) and buying a TS 55. I live in the US but am originally from the UK so I work in metric. Festool want $75 to convert to metric. Does anyone have a cheaper option for getting a metric depth scale?

Thanks

Ben

 

[tallgrass]

Withing the festool world and cabinetry, the metric system works very well. I use both systems in my shop. I would suggest you get something like the fastcap metric /standard tape measure. The reason for this is simple. The rail is 5mm and you will be adding that to every cut you make to compensate. So simply make you cut measurements in metric using the tape. 

 

[Dusty.House]

Withing the festool world and cabinetry, the metric system works very well. I use both systems in my shop. I would suggest you get something like the fastcap metric /standard tape measure. The reason for this is simple. The rail is 5mm and you will be adding that to every cut you make to compensate. So simply make you cut measurements in metric using the tape.

oh so it's just a standard measure? I was thinking it might be custom to account for an angle or something. I can definitely replace it with an adhesive tape measure.

 

[DeformedTree]

Withing the festool world and cabinetry, the metric system works very well. I use both systems in my shop. I would suggest you get something like the fastcap metric /standard tape measure. The reason for this is simple. The rail is 5mm and you will be adding that to every cut you make to compensate. So simply make you cut measurements in metric using the tape.

I'm not sure what your answering here.  The poster is trying to find ways to get their TS55 metrified and not pay Festool 75 dollars for the privilege.

It's a problem that shouldn't exist.  At the very least festool should allow dealers to sell the metric scale part for a few bucks.  A person can swap it very easy, it's just 4-5 screws and a #2 POSI screw driver.  Or simply sell both the inch and metric units in north america, or put both scales (the plastic part, not a sticker) in the box so end users can decide what it is. Heck, maybe there are folks outside the US who would welcome that option.

 

[Dusty.House]

Withing the festool world and cabinetry, the metric system works very well. I use both systems in my shop. I would suggest you get something like the fastcap metric /standard tape measure. The reason for this is simple. The rail is 5mm and you will be adding that to every cut you make to compensate. So simply make you cut measurements in metric using the tape.

I'm not sure what your answering here.  The poster is trying to find ways to get their TS55 metrified and not pay Festool 75 dollars for the privilege.

It's a problem that shouldn't exist.  At the very least festool should allow dealers to sell the metric scale part for a few bucks.  A person can swap it very easy, it's just 4-5 screws and a #2 POSI screw driver.  Or simply sell both the inch and metric units in north america, or put both scales (the plastic part, not a sticker) in the box so end users can decide what it is. Heck, maybe there are folks outside the US who would welcome that option.

My TS 55 doesn't arrive until Wednesday so I haven't checked out how it works. Given what you're saying, is it not possible to buy a replacement part?

 

[DeformedTree]

It's a problem that shouldn't exist.  At the very least festool should allow dealers to sell the metric scale part for a few bucks.  A person can swap it very easy, it's just 4-5 screws and a #2 POSI screw driver.  Or simply sell both the inch and metric units in north america, or put both scales (the plastic part, not a sticker) in the box so end users can decide what it is. Heck, maybe there are folks outside the US who would welcome that option.

My TS 55 doesn't arrive until Wednesday so I haven't checked out how it works. Given what you're saying, is it not possible to buy a replacement part?

You would have to order the part from Festool.  I don't know how much this would cost.  Also have to figure out the PN,  I think I identified it at one point but don't have that handy. It will be the PN from older models, or use the UK EKAT to track down the PN.  It would just be easier if they sold them direct like any other accessory.  I think their was a brief effort where some dealers where doing this with the routers, but I don't think that lasted.

You can see the screws when you take the side cover off the saw.  If you go in the TS 55 manual and it is explaining cleaning the tool where you take the side cover and blade off, you then have access to the screws that hold the scale assembly on.

 

[Coen]

Heck, maybe there are folks outside the US who would welcome that option.

I don't want to pay a single cent more to keep that stupid imperial system around a second longer.

Withing the festool world and cabinetry, the metric system works very well. I use both systems in my shop. I would suggest you get something like the fastcap metric /standard tape measure. The reason for this is simple. The rail is 5mm and you will be adding that to every cut you make to compensate. So simply make you cut measurements in metric using the tape. 

TS55R has that 5mm accounted for already by having a notch in that green thing that sets the depth.

 

[DeformedTree]

Heck, maybe there are folks outside the US who would welcome that option.

I don't want to pay a single cent more to keep that stupid imperial system around a second longer.

I agree, this is a situation that should never have happened.  Festool could have just offered an inch scale (over the sticker) as something folks could buy separate, or send the saw in for imperial conversion and charge those folks 75 bucks.

I never thought Festool would dig in on this for this long.

 

[Mario Turcot]

I work in metric most of the time and when I set my TS55 depth I always eyeball the blade depth. Unplugged of course  [tongue]

I do NOT trust that scale a second  [eek] Anything that have a dented adjustment scale made in plastic is an abomination  [wink]

To me, having the blade to barely protrude the board thickness is more a thing when using an MFT table. That to prevent damaging your top too quickly. If you don't have an MFT yet and you work on a foam boards or any other setup 3-5 mm deeper then the material is acceptable. Again IMHO.

 

[chrisrosenb]

Years ago, when everything Festool was metric, someone printer out imperial stickers for the routers & TS saws & sold them. I got them for my tools. The stickers were a vinyl material & printed on a standard printer. I am sure the same thing could be done today to convert the imperial tools to metric. If I remember correctly, the cost was less than $10 per sticker. This is a money making opportunity for someone. 

 

[Sanderxpander]

FWIW, most of the time (especially on longer cuts) the (non-)flatness of the cutting material and the support is way too much an issue to trust the scale to the millimeter. It's quite possible to overcut by a millimeter on one edge and undercut by a fraction in the middle. So usually I end up overcutting a little anyway and for that eyeballing works best.