TS55 new base

[joiner1970]

Hi I am in the UK I have just bought a TS55 EQ 110v with guide rail etc and on looking at the catalogue I noticed they should come with a new type base plate with low friction elements on the adjuster wheels on the base plate.

Anyone know anything about this I have emailed Festool UK but I know their power is down today so I dont expect a reply today from them.

 

[Llap Goch]

The new base plate for the TS55/75 saws was introduced in Spring this year. If you do not have the new base then you have been sold the 'old' model. which you should have got at a good discount as stocks were being cleared at various dealers.

I do not think it can be retro fitted so a quick call to your supplier would be in order or better still a personal visit.

It is on occassions like this that I take my Rotty Simou with me. He has amazing persuasive powers. ;D

 

[joiner1970]

If you look at page 6 of the catalogue you will see that they now have black inserts either side of where the saw grabs the rail.
http://www.festool.co.uk/images/gb_downloads/newproducts_spring07.pdf

I had a call from someone at Festool uk today she said theres not a lot they can do as there is still old stock out there but If I want I can use the 30 day money back option.

I then spoke to my dealer who didn't know anything about the bases or the 30 day money back option. He then rang someone at Festool who seemed to think the bases were not out yet and didn't know anything about the money back option either.

I know the bases are out as my dealer has them but in 240v but I need 110v. At the moment he is seeing what he can do for me.

Anyone else know about the 30 day money back guarantee ????

 

[Bob Marino]

If you look at page 6 of the catalogue you will see that they now have black inserts either side of where the saw grabs the rail.
http://www.festool.co.uk/images/gb_downloads/newproducts_spring07.pdf

I had a call from someone at Festool uk today she said theres not a lot they can do as there is still old stock out there but If I want I can use the 30 day money back option.

I then spoke to my dealer who didn't know anything about the bases or the 30 day money back option. He then rang someone at Festool who seemed to think the bases were not out yet and didn't know anything about the money back option either.

I know the bases are out as my dealer has them but in 240v but I need 110v. At the moment he is seeing what he can do for me.

Anyone else know about the 30 day money back guarantee ????

Not sure about elsewhere, but  in the USA you have 30 days to return a tool for any reason, for full refund if you are not satisfied.

Bob

 

[Forrest Anderson]

Hi I am in the UK I have just bought a TS55 EQ 110v with guide rail etc and on looking at the catalogue I noticed they should come with a new type base plate with low friction elements on the adjuster wheels on the base plate.

If you look at page 6 of the catalogue you will see that they now have black inserts either side of where the saw grabs the rail.
http://www.festool.co.uk/images/gb_downloads/newproducts_spring07.pdf

Festool who seemed to think the bases were not out yet and didn't know anything about the money back option either.

I have seen mention of a modified base before, but have never been able to work out what the modifications are, or whether I had a pre- or post-modified saw.

Presumably the images from the 2007 Spring New Products brochure are the following:

I have added arrows pointing to the new inserts you are talking about.

Now, here is my 240V TS55, which I got a few months ago in the UK:







Notice how my machine looks pretty well the same as the brochure, except for the black inserts, which I've never seen. It looks as though there is a space for inserts on the cam side of the groove though, so I guess it might be possible to retrofit that bit.

Does your 110V saw look the same as my 240V model?

For reference, does anyone have some good-quality photos of a saw with the inserts? If you do have one with the new black inserts, are there any other visible differences between your new saw and my older one? I think it would be a good idea to document the differences here in the FOG.

Forrest

 

[joiner1970]

Great pics Forrest

Yes my saw is exactly the same as yours apart from being 110v.

I too noticed that on the green wheel side there is a wavy groove into which the black insert would possibly fit but I don't know if you noticed that there is no place to put the inserts on the opposite side to the wheels there is just a solid metal block.

I am still waiting for my dealer to sort something out hopefully he can exchange it.  The saw is exactly as I bought it in a clean unused state still in its box. I also know that they do have the new based versions in stock but not in 110v yet.

Hope this can be sorted out as its soured my first Festool experience.

 

[Loz_S]

"Soured your Festool experience"?!  :

There's nothing wrong with your TS55, it was fine when you bought it, yet now you know that there is a very minor improvement it's no good! According to Forrest it works just fine without the strips, so ...

Anyway, a quick flick through the Ersatzteilkatalog to find the new "improved" part comes up with code number 494588. To save everyone some grief, you could just ask your dealer to order 2x that part. Gratis of course!

 

[Llap Goch]

"Soured your Festool experience"?! 

That is a shame. There is a post on UKworkshop.co.uk by someone with a similar tale as yours. Prior to posting on the 110v TS55 sawbase problem he remarked on his purchase of a 110v TS55 thus,

"Oh yes

I did get a good deal lots of freebies and a good price but I cant tell anyone or the tool shop will send a hitman after me lol"

How strange. There's you complaining because you didn't get the latest base which anyone researching such an expensive tool would have seen on the Festool UK site as it has been there for at least 6 weeks. And there is someone else delighted at getting a saw at a good price plus a load of freebies.

Shurely some mistake, you cannot be the same person can you?

_________________

 

[joiner1970]

Very clever Llap Goch you found me out.

Yes I did know about the new base but on the day of purchase I was so excited that I did not think to check the base it wasn't till later I realized.

Originally I was buying it from the NET I had arranged a deal with someone and this was with the new model.
Then I thought I would give my local shop the chance to match it they did but sold me an old model which I did not notice, this was a pure mistake as I am sure they would not have sold it to me just to get rid of old stock as it was the only 110v in stock.

Yes I did get a good deal but only what anyone else would get if they asked.

Also if you look at a brochure and see a TS55 "NEW MODEL" and think oh that looks good then when you buy it you dint get whats advertised how would you feel.

It should be made clear to you when you buy that it is the older model and I would expect a much better deal than the one I got. OK I got a few freebies but it wasn't that amazing a deal the saw blade and hi-vis you get anyway.

This is all by the by anyway as I am still waiting for my dealer to sort something out and he is being very understanding so far.

 

[joiner1970]

Went to my dealer today to see how he was getting on, he had just got in a new 110v saw which he swapped for mine without any argument.

I am now a happy bunny  thanks to him.

I can now get on and enjoy using it many thanks to everyone involved.

 

[Llap Goch]

An excellent result!  And no need to take the Rotty either.

Now lets hear how the new base glides over the guide and how easy it is to adjust as you must be the first on this site with one.

Well done Festool, another (now) satisfied customer and an endless source of revenue for the forseable future. ;D

 

[Dan Clark]

Hmmm...  Now this raises the question, "What happens when a nice Rotty like Simou meets a happy bunny?!?"  Do we still have a happy bunny?  A happy Rotty?  Or maybe a very happy Rotty and a very FAST bunny?  ;D

Inquiring minds want to know.

Dan.

 

[Llap Goch]

Dan how could you!

Rotties are noble dogs. We would never harm a Bunny. We love them, cuddle them and allow them on Pat's sofa when he is not looking.

Just kidding!

They are delicious!    Lucky Rabbit's foot anyone?

Simou

 

[Dave Rudy]

I think Simou got the better of that exchange, Dan. LOL.

 

[Dan Clark]

Yes, I think that Simou looks VERY happy!  (And noble.)

 

[joiner1970]

Yes it is much better I can see straight away on the old one if you tighten the green wheels right up with no play it was quiet hard to move along the rail so you have to slacken off slightly. With the new type you can tighten the wheels right up and it glides as smooth as anything with no play. These are my observations on two brand new saws and yes I suppose with time the old type may start to slide better but as they are when new the new type is miles better.

I am sure the old type is fine and lots of people have them I don't want to get in to any argument over new v old but thats my conclusion from two brand new saws.

Oh and beware of fluffy bunnies if you have ever seen MONTY PYTHONS HOLY GRAIL you will understand. ;D

 

[Llap Goch]

Joiner

many thanks for that quick appraisal. Do you think that the inserts as posted by Loz_S would fit?

By the way we live just down the road from the Cave of Caerbannog and Simou is renowned for his throwing skills especially pineapple shaped metallic objects that go by the name of the....

" Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch" ;D

Killer bunnys?  nah they taste as good as the fluffy sort!

 

[joiner1970]

No and yes

It looks like there is a space for one insert next to the wheels but nowhere to put one on the opposite side there is just a block which is part of the base.

So this would stop the wear on the wheels but not the wear on the base.

Hope thats all clear.

 

[Llap Goch]

Thank you, I will have to have a look at a new one and compare. Best of luck with the saw.

 

[Forrest Anderson]

Some members may remember this thread, which discussed a revised baseplate for the TS55 saw.

I was browsing the Festool USA FAQs, and found one article which gave quite a lot of interesting information about the new baseplate:

---------------
Question :
Is there a new improved base plate for for TS 55 EQ?
 
Answer :
In the next few months any new production of the TS 55 saw will have a slightly different version of the base plate installed. This new base plate will have replaceable inserts at the slide surfaces, so that if these areas wear, the slide surfaces can be renewed without changing out the entire base plate. Wear is not an issue under normal use.

The improvement was made for specific customers that are cutting hundreds of feet of solid surface and granite composite countertop material on a weekly basis. The abrasive dust created by solid surface materials wears out the base plate along the slide surfaces prematurely.

This has never been an issue when the saw is being used to cut wood. Again, let me emphasize that premature base plate wear is not an issue under normal, daily use.

If the base plate of the current model saw wears out prematurely and the saw is sent in, it will be replaced with the new base plate at no extra charge under warranty. Please consult our service department prior to sending your saw in, as Festool will not automatically replace the current base plate with the new version of the base plate at no charge unless it does wear out prematurely.

There has been lot of hubbub over the new version of the base plate. Again, it is only when the saw is being used for cutting solid surface materials under extreme conditions that this has ever been an issue.

Premature wear resulted from shops using the saw to cut hundreds of feet of solid surface material every week. There is no benefit to the new base plate other than this simple modification. On the newly designed base plate, if the small black plastic parts wear out, you simply exchange them rather than the entire base plate.

I trust this clears this matter up. This change is for the TS55 only. Nothing has changed with the base plate of the TS75. The saw with the new base plate will begin shipping soon.
--------------------

Forrest