TS75 exchanged for the TS55REQ

[fshanno]

Interesting.  I can't live without my 55 but I've never been able to justify a 75. 

I know this is impolitic on the FOG but I honestly think I'd rather have the Makita 5104 than a TS75.  That 3 3/4" depth of cut (a 4x4 in one pass) in a fairly light saw is compelling.  Plus it's a bit more powerful than the 75.  Plus I could make a sled with zero clearance and run it on my Festool guides.  If the sled cost me 1/4" of cut depth it would still be deeper than the 75.  Now this is assuming I have my 55 for everything it can handle.

Will the 75 deliver the quality of cut on all four edges that you get with the 55?  On melamine?  Prefinished ply? 

Bottom line.  If I was waiting on a 55......  I'd keep waiting.

 

[Birdhunter]

Is the guide rail different for the 55 than for the 75? I have a 55 and have considered the bigger saw. I wouldn't do it if I had to buy a new set of guide rails.

 

[Kevin D.]

Is the guide rail different for the 55 than for the 75? I have a 55 and have considered the bigger saw. I wouldn't do it if I had to buy a new set of guide rails.

A lot of people don't notice this, but the TS55 has a 55in guide rail, and the TS75 has a 75in guide rail.  Almost seems strange when you think about it seeing as everything Festool is primarily metric based.

 

[semenza]

Is the guide rail different for the 55 than for the 75? I have a 55 and have considered the bigger saw. I wouldn't do it if I had to buy a new set of guide rails.

The guide rails are the same. The only difference is that the TS75  is longer than the TS55 so you get a little less cutting length from the rail when using the TS75. The biggest place this matters is cross cutting 48".  The 55" rail is a bit too short to cross cut 48" using the TS75 without plunge cutting. But both saws work on the same guide rails.

Seth

 

[semenza]

A lot of people don't notice this, but the TS55 has a 55in guide rail, and the TS75 has a 75in guide rail.  Almost seems strange when you think about it seeing as everything Festool is primarily metric based.

Both saws used to come with the 55" rail (at least in the US). This was changed a few years ago.

Seth

 

[Corwin]

A lot of people don't notice this, but the TS55 has a 55in guide rail, and the TS75 has a 75in guide rail.  Almost seems strange when you think about it seeing as everything Festool is primarily metric based.

The 55 and 75 on the TS saws refers to the cutting depth in millimeters, not the length guide rail that comes with their purchase.  The guide rails are also labeled in millimeters (1400 and 1900, in these cases) -- it is just users here in the NA markets that refer to these in inches... 

Hope that clears up this misconception.    [big grin]

 

[Brice Burrell]

Is the guide rail different for the 55 than for the 75? I have a 55 and have considered the bigger saw. I wouldn't do it if I had to buy a new set of guide rails.

The guide rails are the same. The only difference is that the TS75  is longer than the TS55 so you get a little less cutting length from the rail when using the TS75. The biggest place this matters is cross cutting 48".  The 55" rail is a bit too short to cross cut 48" using the TS75 without plunge cutting. But both saws work on the same guide rails.

Seth

As Seth and others have pointed out the 55"/1400mm guide rail that came with your TS55R will work with the TS75 but you need to start your cut with a plunge.  This works fine and is perfectly safe when you used the provided kickback stop. 

 

[Birdhunter]

I would have been surprised if the 75 and 55 guide rails were unique to individual saws since Festool products are so well designed as an integrated system. Thanks to those who answered my question.

 

[amt]

After finally getting a chance to use my new TS75, I have to say using the 55" rail for 48" cuts is not all that practical, even with a plunge at the start.  It is short by just a couple inches.  I also rather not have to cut at full depth to make to 55" rail kind of work.  So,  I expect I will be buying a 75" rail or somehow making my 118" rail work for 48" cuts.

 

[darita]

I've used a 55 for a few years now and always thought it was the perfect size for sheetgood work on my MFT1080.  The only time I wish I had a 75 was when I had to do some angled cuts on some outdoor bench legs.  I now have a 75 and def feel it's a bit oversized for what I do most of and that's sheetgood cuts. 
I now have an REQ for sheets and a 75 for the occasional thick cuts.  I never feel the REQ is underpowered on sheetgoods and still feel it's the perfect size for that job.
I'm lucky to be able to have both.  However, forced to make a choice and knowing that 99% of what I do is 3/4" to 1" cuts, I'd have to make the same choice that I made years ago and go with the REQ.  For a guy my size, the 75 just seems big for that 99% of the time.  All that said, I'm waiting to see how it all plays out before I make a decision on what to do with my REQ.