TS60 with FSK rail

[the sawdust factory]

Hi
i have to reclad one side of our house with new Flat style weather boards /sidings . i have a TS60 saw and a Mitre saw .
Where the boards join i was going to cut them on a 45 degree angle , I was thinking that the TS tilted to 45 On a FSK rail maybe a easier way than the Mitre saw due to the fact I can carry the tracksaw up the scaffolding . plus the weatherboards are 275mm 11" wide .  My nearest dealer is a 4 hour drive away . I was wondering how the saw/ rail combination would work with the saw tilted ? will it tip off like on the normal FS rails ? and would it be accurate ?

 

[squall_line]

The FSK rail is "captive" on the TS60 (and HK/HKC55), so as long as you're holding the rail down, the saw can't tip off of it.

Can it still lift the rail and/or deflect slightly?  Sure, but not the same way as a regular FS rail might.

I used my HKC55 and an FSK rail to cut perfectly matching compound scarf joints in some trim that I was applying to a bookshelf.  I was working on a bench rather than on scaffolding, but as long as there's a stable surface on which to cut while on the scaffolding, you may find that it works a treat.

The biggest difference between using the TS60 and the HK/C55 for this is that the HK/C55 is a construction saw that is capable of plunging, but it normally set to depth at all time, whereas the TS60 is a plunge saw so you'll have a different work motion for cross-cutting boards than you might with a circular saw or HK/C55.

[welcome] to the FOG!

 

[pixelated]

Not sure if you’re aware that the FSK rails have stops on the underside for cutting angles. As long as you have an edge for the rail/stops to overhang you’re fine, but if you need the whole rail to be flat on a large surface, it won’t work.

 

[mrboult]

Erm. Im not entirely sure you want to mess with the TS60 + FSK Rail up a ladder!!

I’m still honestly surprised Festool released a spring-loaded ‘regular action’ plunge saw use the FSK rails.
The original HK saws released with the FSK rails lock at their cutting depth. Making use on the FSK rails very stable.  Having the free spring loaded plunge on the TS60 makes me think a LOT more concentration on keeping perfect pressure will be required to stop the saw kicking back.

I’m sure it works fine at a work bench, but up a ladder or scaffold, I’d want an HK saw over a plunge saw.