TS75 Blades - Which do I need?

[pepsican]

I recently picked up some Festool.. including a TS75.  I already see more systainers in my future.  Anyway I am no expert when it comes to which blades work best so I could use some advice..  Standard 18T vs. Panther 16T is confusing me for one thing.  Here is what I need to do:

I need to rip some 5/4 oak for glueups and I dont have my own jointer.  I could take the wood to a friends place to do it if I had to but thats allot of hassle.. What blade would give me the cleanest rips on the oak? I was going to try with the 36T universal.

I also have a project where I need to rip down some ~2" thick LVL beams..

other then that lots of plywood for now..  Mostly non veneered but I have a project where I need to make very clean miter cuts on the plywood edges (will be painted).  any thoughts on 36t vs 52t?

Oh yeah, the kerf according to the website is 2.6mm on the 16-18T and 2.4mm on 36-60T blades.. Is this still true?  I know I already discovered a few incorrect / outdated info on their website so I thought I would ask.  I also read somewhere that festool made changes so all the blades would be the same.  So i am crossing my fingers..

Thanks!

 

[TOOLTOWN]

First let's address the kerfs.  Unlike the TS-55, the kerfs are not all the same.

Next let's discuss which blades would be best for each of your tasks.

- Ripping 5/4 oak you need a fairly agressive blade with large gullets to remove the material, the Panther Blade is probably your best bet.

- Ripping down LVL's again, the Panther blade would be a good choice.  The LVL's have lots of glue and other stuff that will gum up other blades.

- Plywood, for the non-veneered stuff, our customers like the Universal Saw Blade, for the veneered stuff they like the Fine Tooth Blade

- For abrasive materials like OSB and MDF we suggest the Aluminum Blade, the triple chip grid wears better than the ATB grind in abrasive materials.  The others blades, like the standard and panther blades will work for these materials also, we only suggest the aluminum blade if you are going to be doing A LOT of work in OSB or MDF.

Hope this info helps,

Ken

 

[Brice Burrell]

I don't have a TS75 but I' surprised if the universal blade wouldn't handle the 5/4 ripping well enough.  When you get to ripping thicker material then the panther blade would be more appropriate.  I'd also be willing to give the universal a try on the LVLs. 

 

[leakyroof]

First let's address the kerfs.  Unlike the TS-55, the kerfs are not all the same.

Ken

I just bought new blades for my ATF 55 The 55 blades appear to have 2.2 and 2.5mm kerfs depending on the blade .

 

[pepsican]

Thanks.   I will pickup the panther blade at least for the LVL.  I'm sure it will come in handy later.  If anyone has a link to a .1mm shim to space the panther out much appreciated (usa store)  I keep telling myself I need to get the 52T blade because I read how the TS55 cuts cleaner out of the box w/48T vs 36T plus on smaller disc..  ???
Is the 52T must have?

 

[tbellemare]

Incidentally, I've ripped 8/4 mahogany with the TS 75 and Universal blade. It made a very clean cut.

Tom

 

[leakyroof]

All of the blades for the TS 55 were standardized on 2.2 mm kerf a LONG time ago

Tom

  I will recheck my blades when I get home. Thanks Tom, I had thought the packing on the blade had the two different Kerfs, but maybe I'm thinking of the 48tooth  blade that the used SAW I bought came with, and it's 2.5 versus the 2.2mm that you're quoting?  I'll muddle it out when I get home... [embarassed] [embarassed] [embarassed]

 

[ccarrolladams]

Going back to the introduction of the TS55, the Fine Tooth Blade shipped with the later ATF55 and the TS55 has a 2.2mm kerf. Any "new" Festool blade for the TS55 with a kerf wider that 2.2mm has been in a dealer inventory a long time. My strong suggestion is to reject such old inventory.

As for the TS75, I use the Panther blade for ripping, the Aluminum blade with its TC teeth for MDF, thwe Universal 36 tooth blade for non-veneer plywood and the Fine Tooth 52 tooth blade for veneer plywood.

By the way, with my TS55s, I also use the Aluminum blade for MDF.

 

[semenza]

I don't have a TS75 but I' surprised if the universal blade wouldn't handle the 5/4 ripping well enough.  When you get to ripping thicker material then the panther blade would be more appropriate.  I'd also be willing to give the universal a try on the LVLs.   

Ditto.

pepsican , welcome to the FOG!  [smile]

Seth

 

[leakyroof]

it's 2.5 versus the 2.2mm that you're quoting?  I'll muddle it out when I get home...

As you can see from the images above, the kerf is the middle number just under the arbor hole.

160 x 2.2 x 20 - 496305
160 x 2.5 x 20 - 495372

So, just look on the blade and you'll see it.

Tom

Okay, My new, straight from Festool Panther 14 tooth blade is 2.5mm kerf. "Old Stock" 495372 (guess they have some tucked away somewhere in a warehouse)
Combo blade IS 2.2mm kerf, also from warehouse as neither was in stock at my local dealer. Current # is 496304
Thanks for your help Tom

 

[leakyroof]

Going back to the introduction of the TS55, the Fine Tooth Blade shipped with the later ATF55 and the TS55 has a 2.2mm kerf. Any "new" Festool blade for the TS55 with a kerf wider that 2.2mm has been in a dealer inventory a long time. My strong suggestion is to reject such old inventory.

As for the TS75, I use the Panther blade for ripping, the Aluminum blade with its TC teeth for MDF, thwe Universal 36 tooth blade for non-veneer plywood and the Fine Tooth 52 tooth blade for veneer plywood.

By the way, with my TS55s, I also use the Aluminum blade for MDF.

. Why would you reject the old stock?

 

[ccarrolladams]

Personally I make it my business to know the actual Festool cat numbers of all current products.

When I issue purchase orders to Festool dealers, I make it clear if I will accept substitution of a current product with older stock. Clearly if in the case of a particular product I cannot use the old inventory, then the purchase order term stating that substitutions will not be accepted is printed in bold.

Why my concern? The cutting edge of blades and bits do not, by magic, improve with age on a shelf. With non-Festool products I will occasionally negotiate a lower price for old inventory. With saw blades I am going to have them sharpened eventually, so if the old stock needs sharpening sooner, then I expect the deal to cover the cost of premature sharpening.

Of course the other reason for being so specific when I issue purchase orders is to obtain consistent kerf.

None of this might be important to my fellow FOG members. I am in the business of making custom cabinets. I need the parts I need and I do not delegate substitution authorization to a clerk working for a vendor. I am a valued customer with virtually all of my vendors, so my purchase orders and my attitudes about substitution are well-known.

 

[atlr]

Tom,  I am glad you pointed out the the kerf difference between the 496305 (2.2 mm, "new Panther") and the 495372 (2.5mm, "old Panther").  A confusing aspect of this is that in the 2013 Festool USA catalog on page 50 both parts are listed as current products; the 496305 is labeled "Standard Saw Blade" and the 495372 is labeled "Panther Saw Blade."