TS55EQ Plunge Saw Binding Up

[Novice Dave]

As I don't have a jointer or room for one either, I use my TS55 and the rail system to "true up" long boards before I do further processing for a project.  It has always worked just fine.  Yesterday, I was trying the same system with 4/4 poplar and even tho the guide rails were dead straight and level, my saw kept wanting to bind up and stop.  It would start to slow down in speed (I did have it set on 6) and then just stop.  I noticed the blade was burning a lttle and the wood edge had burn marks on it.  I tried to find adjustments I may need to make for parallel or whatever settings but could not find anything.  Anyone got any ideas?  Thanks

 

[GPowers]

The blade needs to be towed in, relative to the plate,  to work correctly. If you changed the fine adjustment so the blade is exactly parallel to the plate you made the problem worse.

See the ts55 manual:
http://www.festoolusa.com/media/pdf/ts_55_eq_us.pdf

page 12, read step 7 of "Matching the TS 55 to an Existing Guide Rail"

 

[tbellemare]

Dave:

It could be toe-in as Mr. Powers suggests. I suspect that if you haven't changed the saw's configuration, that is unlikely.

The most likely thing is a dirty or dull blade, unless you have tried to change the configuration of the saw. I would try cleaning the blade first.

Tom

 

[Tim Sproul]

Another likely culprit is the wood itself.

Wood moves.  Especially when ripped.

 

[mattfc]

Another likely culprit is the wood itself.

Wood moves.  Especially when ripped.

Yes I would second that, there can be quite of lot of pre-stress in the wood. Was it just on one piece or did you try something else. A good test for the set-up would be to check it one some MDF or Ply which shouldn't have any internal stress

 

[Novice Dave]

I cut about 7 pieces and it happened on all the wood, not just one.

 

[lym]

i had a similar prob.  clamping the rails seems to have solved it.  btw, i use a tenryu rip blade on a ts 55.