TS55 / TS75 Rail Combination Advice

[RobNJ]

So I've had the TS55 for a while and am considering adding the TS75 to do more with 8/4 and thicker hardwood.  I know that TS75 comes with the 75" guide rail.  My current collection has:

(2) 55" LR32 rails
(1) 42" Rail from the MFT.

So the question is - Should I stick with the 75" rail?  Or should I try to upgrade to the 106" or the 118" when I buy the TS55?  My thought process would be that it would be great to have the long rail for long rips in hardwood (I don't have a table saw) and for 8' sheet goods, but I'm concerned that the long rail would be way too cumbersome if I were crosscutting sheets or something (where the 75" would be perfect.)

Thoughts or opinions?  I have the connectors, but i'd love to come up with the best solution without having to buy two new rails!

 

[chrisrosenb]

If you are going to keep the TS55 & be using it to cut sheet goods, then get the 118" rail.
The 118" rail works better for 8 foot sheets with either the TS55 or TS55.
The 75" rail is also a good length rail to have. I use it more than the 55" rail when cutting sheet goods with the TS55.

 

[RobNJ]

If you are going to keep the TS55 & be using it to cut sheet goods, then get the 118" rail.
The 118" rail works better for 8 foot sheets with either the TS55 or TS55.
The 75" rail is also a good length rail to have. I use it more than the 55" rail when cutting sheet goods with the TS55.

Thanks. My thought was to sell the TS55 assuming I love the TS75. Now you have me thinking that i should keep the TS55 AND buy the 118 in addition to the 75 rail! Haha. And I thought that the FOG was supposed to help me from spending too much money on Festool!  [big grin]

But assuming I get rid of the 55, do you think the 75 rail is a necessity if I only keep the TS75 saw?

 

[travisj]

I have a TS55 with a 55" LR32 rail, 75" rail, and a Betterley straight line connector.  It works perfectly for me.  I would like to get the 118" rail (probably will at some point), but given my current situation it is too big and bulky.  I am a hobbyist so the extra time to connect the rails is not an issue for me.

If you have been joining your two 55" rails to break down sheet goods, one thing to remember is I believe you need more rail overhang with the larger saw.  If it was me, I would keep the 75" rail and if I were to sell the TS55, I would sell it sans rail.

 

[ear3]

Yes, you absolutely need the 75" rail on cross cutting sheet goods with the TS75.  The 55" rail gives just enough overhang for the TS55 on these cuts, but not enough for a quality cut on the 75". 

You won't be disappointed by getting the 118" rail either.  If it were just a time issue it would be one thing (though I've been reminded in the past couple of days how much more time is involved joining rails, as I've had to do some 12' cuts with the 118" and 42" rails joined together), but there's always the potential for error in attaching rails together.  I know some people say they have never had issues, but if you're flipping the joined rail back and forth on the board, there's always a chance they'll go out of alignment. 

 

[Kev]

A sneaky person may look to acquire a CMS TS module for their TS75 ..

 

[montyss]

make sure that you adjust base on the 75 so it cuts in the same position on the splinter strip

 

[RobNJ]

make sure that you adjust base on the 75 so it cuts in the same position on the splinter strip

Thanks Monty!  I was thinking about that too gumming up the works.  Along those lines, I understand the need to adjust the base when switching from a TS55 to a TS75 on the same track.  But what about when changing blades with the TS55?  I'm used to the constant kerf thickness of the TS55.  But it looks like the Panther blade and the standard 36 tooth on the TS75 have different kerfs - 2.6mm vs 2.4mm.  How do people with the TS75 go about dealing with that difference?  Do you have to go through the saw base adjustment procedure every time you want to switch from the stock blade to the panther???  I could see that being fairly cumbersome - though I've never done it, so maybe it's not that big of a deal...

 

[Holmz]

make sure that you adjust base on the 75 so it cuts in the same position on the splinter strip

Thanks Monty!  I was thinking about that too gumming up the works.  Along those lines, I understand the need to adjust the base when switching from a TS55 to a TS75 on the same track.  But what about when changing blades with the TS55?  I'm used to the constant kerf thickness of the TS55.  But it looks like the Panther blade and the standard 36 tooth on the TS75 have different kerfs - 2.6mm vs 2.4mm.  How do people with the TS75 go about dealing with that difference?  Do you have to go through the saw base adjustment procedure every time you want to switch from the stock blade to the panther???  I could see that being fairly cumbersome - though I've never done it, so maybe it's not that big of a deal...

Do the blades index on the arbor on the side that makes for them being consistent?
i.e. are the blades against the splinter strip and only the cut width differs?

 

[Master Carpenter]

I had the same rail setup as you, just added the 118" rail last month before the Canadian price increase. I definitely prefer it to joining rails. The ts75 is on my list, but not until I get a job that absolutely required it. I will still keep the ts55 for sheet goods, the blades are cheaper and I'm too old to bother wrestling a bigger saw than I need. I would prob keep the 75" rail just to have more options.

 

[rst]

I recently bought the 118" rail as joining rails got to be too tedious.  That being said I have all the rail sizes.  I just remodeled and used two 32" FS800 with rail dogs two set the angles for the birds-mouths.  I used another rail to cut the fascia angle.  Fast, accurate process using TS, Carvex, and rails.

 

[peter halle]

I recently bought the 118" rail as joining rails got to be too tedious.  That being said I have all the rail sizes.  I just remodeled and used two 32" FS800 with rail dogs two set the angles for the birds-mouths.  I used another rail to cut the fascia angle.  Fast, accurate process using TS, Carvex, and rails.

Great idea using the rail dogs!