TS55 vs. TS75

[jeh]

First time posting here so be gentle.  I love all things green and am about to pull the trigger on a track saw.  I do a lot of personal woodworking both plugged and unplugged.  I am considering both the TS 55 and the TS 75.  Other than depth capacity, are there any other pros or cons I should consider in my decision?

TS55 unless you will absolutely need the extra cutting depth. No reason to hoist a heavier than necessary tool when you don't have a reason for the extra weight.

 

[jarbroen]

Sounds like you made your decision already. 
The 75 is a good choice if you're cutting 8/4 material. 
I started out with a 55 since I was mainly worried about sheet goods.  I got more into solid wood for furniture projects and switched to the 75.
The 55 out of the box is awesome for sheet goods.  But you'll have to get a blade to rip hardwoods.
The 75 out of box is ok at sheet goods with the 36T blade and does well at ripping hardwoods.
I've used the 75 to straightline a bunch of 8/4 material and cut down some 2.5" thick slabs.  The power is definitely a huge help and the weight isn't really a bother (I'm the same size height/weight).
Now that I've chipped and beat the blade up on my 75 by cutting wood floors I think I'll pick up the 18t rip blade and see if that's even better for ripping hardwoods.

I did finally give in to buying a TSC55 though - the recon sale made it too tempting.  It will be nice to have a cordless saw dedicated to sheet goods and leave it with my MFT.
The 75 is the beast that gets out of the shop more.

 

[RKA]

One point of clarification, the LR32 rails are available in 55 and 95".  The non-perforated rail normally shipped with the TS75 is 75".  For your use you might find that the 55 is too short and the 95 is too long, leaving you with the non-perforated 75.  Get the rail that fits your needs and workflow.  If one of the perforated options works, great.

A TS 75 can quickly and cleanly reduce the size of a too long rail.

LOL, very true!  Festool charges an extra $140 for those extra 20", my brain simply refuses to accept that I can just cut it off!  [tongue]

 

[kuito]

if you are buying one.. i'd get the TS75 .. i've always heard many getting the 55 then ending up buying the 75 as well.  sooooo just do the right thing the first time

 

[WickedShamrock]

I bought the TS75 Plus last night as well as the Sheet Goods blade and a 55 extension rail and connectors.  I just was not in a mindset to get the 95.  I have three family projects coming up using 8/4 stock so I will definitely be giving it a workout.

 

[Gregor]

I bought the TS75 Plus last night as well as the Sheet Goods blade and a 55 extension rail and connectors.

In case you bought the festool rail connectors: they suck, cancel/return them. Gethttps://www.makitatools.com/products/details/P-45777 instead.

 

[lerabotperche]

if you are buying one.. i'd get the TS75 .. i've always heard many getting the 55 then ending up buying the 75 as well.  sooooo just do the right thing the first time

This kind of saw are an open way to kick back, learn to manage the 55 one in every situation before considering having fun with the big one since the 55 will do most of the job most of the time.

 

[DeformedTree]

if you are buying one.. i'd get the TS75 .. i've always heard many getting the 55 then ending up buying the 75 as well.  sooooo just do the right thing the first time

This kind of saw are an open way to kick back, learn to manage the 55 one in every situation before considering having fun with the big one since the 55 will do most of the job most of the time.

It also doesn't hurt to have multiple saws around.  Who doesn't own around a half dozen circular saws  [wink]  or is it just me.

 

[lerabotperche]

It also doesn't hurt to have multiple saws around.  Who doesn't own around a half dozen circular saws  [wink]  or is it just me.

I try to own less.  [big grin] It is complicated but I try.

 

[Michael Kellough]

if you are buying one.. i'd get the TS75 .. i've always heard many getting the 55 then ending up buying the 75 as well.  sooooo just do the right thing the first time

This kind of saw are an open way to kick back, learn to manage the 55 one in every situation before considering having fun with the big one since the 55 will do most of the job most of the time.

It also doesn't hurt to have multiple saws around.  Who doesn't own around a half dozen circular saws  [wink]  or is it just me.

Same here, I have four “55” saws with different prefixes, also a “65” and a “75”. This is the Festool forum so I won’t count other brands.

 

[rst]

Michael, you and DeformedTree are my kind of people, saws...let me count the ways.  Makita was the starting point for me, got a 75 as the Makita couldn't handle 3/8" acrylic and polycarbonates.  Got recon 55 to stay with my MFT.  Got the HKC for basic stud and stair stuff.  Bought the TSC 55 as I have a bunch of batteries for other tools and its way more convenient for away from shop work.  Still have my PC sawboss, 8 1/4" SKil for concrete work, 10 1/4" Milwaukee...just because.  Jezz, putting this done in black and white almost makes me think I may have a problem.  After all I still have the Makita.

 

[DeformedTree]

Michael, you and DeformedTree are my kind of people, saws...let me count the ways.  Makita was the starting point for me, got a 75 as the Makita couldn't handle 3/8" acrylic and polycarbonates.  Got recon 55 to stay with my MFT.  Got the HKC for basic stud and stair stuff.  Bought the TSC 55 as I have a bunch of batteries for other tools and its way more convenient for away from shop work.  Still have my PC sawboss, 8 1/4" SKil for concrete work, 10 1/4" Milwaukee...just because.  Jezz, putting this done in black and white almost makes me think I may have a problem.  After all I still have the Makita.

I think my path was standard.  Corded 7 1/4 like everyone buys.  Then I needed a big saw so bought the Milwaukee 10 1/4,  then was looking for something small, bought a bare tool 6 1/4".  Then the TS55 next will almost certainly be a TS 75.  Forgetting others, it's always good to have ones around for nasty jobs like cutting concrete and stone.  Also good for lending out tools.  I have a collection of corded tools that are basically folk neighbors and friends to borrow.

 

[leakyroof]

Michael, you and DeformedTree are my kind of people, saws...let me count the ways.  Makita was the starting point for me, got a 75 as the Makita couldn't handle 3/8" acrylic and polycarbonates.  Got recon 55 to stay with my MFT.  Got the HKC for basic stud and stair stuff.  Bought the TSC 55 as I have a bunch of batteries for other tools and its way more convenient for away from shop work.  Still have my PC sawboss, 8 1/4" SKil for concrete work, 10 1/4" Milwaukee...just because.  Jezz, putting this done in black and white almost makes me think I may have a problem.  After all I still have the Makita.

  I have a lot of saws, I don't have a problem, why, why would you say that..  I can stop at any time,.... I AM in control..... [wink] [wink] [wink]

Actually I resemble several of the mentioned posters with my purchases.  I kept an old B/D saw that belonged to my Father-in-Law as the concrete or abrasive disc blade saw, no loss if it finally dies doing the 'nasty' work.
I have a 90's Milwaukee 7 1/4" framing saw that was my first purchase of a circular saw.
My first track saw is my used ATF55, and I bought a used TS75 to supplement it for the larger work.
I had a dinky Ryobi Cordless Saw that barely did the job on trim thickness wood, let alone 2X material, so I replaced it with a slightly larger Makita Cordless saw and have been delighted with that one ever since.
I also have a corded HK Saw from Festool, so I'm set with saws.... [embarassed]

 

[Michael Kellough]

Wasn’t going to mention non-Festool saws but since you guys did...l’ll just include the worm drive versions.

Recently considered buying a Makita cordless worm drive (or whatever they call it) but ended up getting a corded 10-1/4” SKILSAW. It will sit on the shelf next to an ancient 8-1/4” SKILSAW, probably the 25th anniversary edition (it’s gold and came in a green steel box).

The old timer weighs about 3 times as much as the TS 75. So heavy that I ended up buying a “Sears Best” Craftsman 7-1/4” worm drive made by B&D Industrial (back in the day that meant something).

Most interesting thing the old timer did for me was rip a huge old claw foot cast iron bathtub in two so it could be widened enough to fit four (for a commercial). Silicon carbide abrasive blade. Traced a laser line to keep the edges straight enough to fit a foot wide piece of bent steel. The shop had a large spray booth so I cut it in there for the dust collection.

 

[rst]

I've had my 8 1/4" Skil for at least 30 years.  I bought the PC saw Boss for a light...less weight lifter type saw... again 30 some years ago.  I started making saw dust in 1971 and have tried almost every innovation since.  While I still have my original saws, excepting  my 8 1/4" Milwaukee standard.  I LOVE my Festools saws.  I really need to start selling off my older stuff...especially since I have at least 13 routers.

 

[Kodi Crescent]

Get neither.  Get a Mafell MT55 instead.

If you plan on getting one of the TS models to use with a MFT, the TS55 is probably a better choice.  While the 75 is larger and more powerful, it is heavier.  Lifting 4 lbs once isn't a big deal.  However, the saw is never lifted once on the MFT.  It is lifted on and off the rail after EACH cut and needs to be set somewhere.  The number of handlings for the saw becomes quite repetitive and lifting an extra 4lbs multiple times per hour can get tiring.

 

[Coen]

I have the old TS55. If I were to buy another saw I would get the HK85. Dont't want to bother with TS75 weight and size for l cutting sheets

 

[harry_]

Unless you actually NEED the capacity, go with the 55. I have the 75 and most of the time I wish it was a 55. Also the outside splinter guard does not work on 3/4 stock without modification.