TS55 struggling to cut...

[MR H 91]

Hi all,

I recently purchased a TS55. I'm very happy with the results it gives, it cuts sheet material like butter to exact dimensions.

Yesterday, I was finishing off a reception desk build that required a 40mm thick solid oak worktop. The worktop was 620mm wide (standard in UK) and required ripping in half to get the desired width of worktop. The Festool saw struggled! The blade is brand new, I was obviously cutting with the grain too. The blade caused a lot of burning and also stopped half way through, probably due to overheating.

Is this normal? Should I contact my dealer for any reason?

Thanks for your time.

MR H 91

 

[peter halle]

If you were cutting with the grain you should probably have used a ripping blade (Panther).  In a pinch you could also perform several shallow cuts.

Peter

 

[toolfest.co.uk]

Also, what speed are you running at, if 6 then trying a lower speed, and gain more torque, and less heat.

Warren

 

[bobfog]

Wrong blade choice and a saw that's slightly underpowered.

The TS55 is a little underpowered compared to other manufacturers in the same category hence it slowing and stopping. I suspect Festool are reluctant to give it a more powerful motor as per the likes of Bosch/Mafell as they have the TS75 and wouldn't want to steal away sales from people who look to buy a TS75 to compliment their TS75.

However, even if the saw was more powerful and managed to power through without stopping, the blade choice with too many teeth would still have left burn marks.

 

[semenza]

Hi,

  If you are using the blade that came with the saw, then that is the issue.  It is designed for sheet goods and cross cuts. The difference that the Panther ripping blade will make on the cut you are doing will blow you away.

Seth

 

[Tayler_mann]

That's pretty thick for the 55 and the fine tooth blade.. I find that rather than the panther I use the 36 tooth blade (I believe that's the right number I get my 75 and 55 saw blades mixed up.) but I can cut at full capacity and still get nice clean cuts at a reasonable pace.

 

[MR H 91]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Looking back, I feel like an idiot. I'll buy the ripping blade and slow down the cutting speed.

 

[antss]

28 teeth is the next one down in the FT blade line for the ts55.

For ripping hardwoods, I'd still use the panther blade or Freud's rip blade. 

 

[Holmz]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Looking back, I feel like an idiot. I'll buy the ripping blade and slow down the cutting speed.

If one does not plan their work well (like me) and is doing mixed cuts, then that means that the blades are going in and out like flying saucers out of Roswell.

Or with a different and more powerful saw does not need to change the blade, but it is still a good idea:

TS55        - 1200W
DWS520K - 1300W
MT55        - 1400W
SP60000J - 1800W

 

[altiplano]

I'm surprised you had so much trouble. Even with a combination blade... Lots of power in that saw. I've certainly cut thicker hardwood with less.

I was looking at getting the 55 recently but ordered a 75 instead on a bit of an impulse because the 55 was out of stock at the dealer...  I don't have it yet, but I was kinda regretting it - heavier, bulkier etc... Thought it was overkill... Maybe I won't regret it afterall though...

Hope it works out better for you with a different speed/blade.

 

[peter halle]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Looking back, I feel like an idiot. I'll buy the ripping blade and slow down the cutting speed.

If one does not plan their work well (like me) and is doing mixed cuts, then that means that the blades are going in and out like flying saucers out of Roswell.

Or with a different and more powerful saw does not need to change the blade, but it is still a good idea:

TS55        - 1200W
DWS520K - 1300W
MT55        - 1400W
SP60000J - 1800W

Not necessarily.  You might be able to get by with the combo blade.  Ripping with a fine tooth sawblade on a saw with more power doesn't necessarily mean that the cut will be satisfactory.

 

[antss]

Sorry, but a 160mm or 7"ish blade with 48 teeth IS NOT a combo blade.

Try ripping hard wood on your 10" / 254mm table saw with an 80 or 90 tooth blade and let us know how well that works for you.  [doh]

 

[Laminator]

antss is exactly on the money!  Just wanted to add that in a pinch (no other blade on hand) making two or even three partial depth passes will get you by.  I wouldn't plan doing it this way but it works in a pinch.

 

[Holmz]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Looking back, I feel like an idiot. I'll buy the ripping blade and slow down the cutting speed.

If one does not plan their work well (like me) and is doing mixed cuts, then that means that the blades are going in and out like flying saucers out of Roswell.

Or with a different and more powerful saw does not need to change the blade, but it is still a good idea:

TS55        - 1200W
DWS520K - 1300W
MT55        - 1400W
SP60000J - 1800W

Not necessarily.  You might be able to get by with the combo blade.  Ripping with a fine tooth sawblade on a saw with more power doesn't necessarily mean that the cut will be satisfactory.

Sorry Peter - I was only addressing issue the power and stalling 1/2 way through, and not whether more power, and/or the wrong blade makes a decent cut. So just that the saws with more power do not bog down nor struggle as much.

There are also posts about the TS75 having more power and should be considered for oak and other harder wood that are less than 50-mm thick, which is another option for more power staying the green range.