TSC 55 vs TS 55 pros and cons?

[spetka]

Hello all,

I am looking at purchasing either the TS 55 or the TSC 55.  The main reason I want the TSC 55 is I hear the dust collection with just the bag is great.  I am a hobbyist woodworker that sometimes travels to friends and families houses to build things for people.  I always have power, but I rarely have dust collection.  So cord vs corded isn't my main concern.  One of my other concerns though is battery life.  When porter cable came out with a cordless router I bought it, and a couple years later it was a brick because the batteries would no longer hold a charge and they no longer sold the batteries.  Or I could buy for an outrageous price.  S o now I am hesitant to buy cordless tools other than $99 special drills as even if they die I can just toss.  But I hate to spend $800 on something that may need a couple hundred dollars in batteries in a couple years(if they still sell them in that form factor).  Whereas the corded version won't have that problem.  Now if the TSC was dual voltage and I could also plug in then it would be a no brainer.  Thanks for any thoughts!

 

[Chainring]

FYI, the TSC has been revamped and will now be the TSC 55K. Thinner kerf blade, electronic anti-kickback and the riving knife is gone. Plus, huge delays if you can't find the TSC 55 in stock.

I, like you, am a hobbyist and I'm waiting for the TSC 55K pre-order. My rationale was, I wanted the good dust collection when using the bag, one less thing with a cord and I can take it with me for the impromptu breaking down of sheet goods that are not easy to transport or items too long to transport.

 

[Cheese]

https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tool-reviews/ts55-v-tsc55/msg537438/#msg537438

 

[woodferret]

An option is to buy the bag accessory separately if you own the TS55.

 

[jarbroen]

I totally understand your concern about having batteries crap out and then you've got expensive paperweight tools.
Makita is no longer present in my shop because I had a pile of batteries fail on me and I didn't want to invest more in their platform.

With the longer warranty on Festool (I think the batteries are covered in the 3 years) and the quality I am less concerned about having a pile of failed batteries.
That said, if it's going to be your only 18v Festool and you don't really need cordless the corded saw makes more sense.
If you might add the Vecturo, drills, etc. then it's worth getting into the platform.
Also, you can get the bag separately and run that on the corded saw.  And the bag does work really well - no airborne dust show and keeps a good majority off the floor.

The TSC does have a little more grunt than the corded, but I found the TS55 did really well in various materials if I used the proper blade.

 

[spetka]

Thanks for the thoughts so far and the link to the other discussion.  The other thing is my local hard wood shop has a combo in stock that has the TSC 55, drill, 2 batteries, and charger for around $830(no tracks).  I currently only have a 12v Bosch drill and a corded drill for when I need more torque.  So it would be nice to have an 18V drill as well.  Good to know on the 3 year warranty if that covers batteries that makes me feel better.  Of course then I will probably want the cordless jig saw etc....

 

[squall_line]

Thanks for the thoughts so far and the link to the other discussion.  The other thing is my local hard wood shop has a combo in stock that has the TSC 55, drill, 2 batteries, and charger for around $830(no tracks).  I currently only have a 12v Bosch drill and a corded drill for when I need more torque.  So it would be nice to have an 18V drill as well.  Good to know on the 3 year warranty if that covers batteries that makes me feel better.  Of course then I will probably want the cordless jig saw etc....

I had been eying one of the TID / Track Saw combos myself, and that price sounds about right for the combo set.  The TID is a nice impact driver as well.  I personally ended up going with a Makita impact because it fit my hand much better and I also needed a new drill besides just the impact driver.

Start slow; it's pretty easy to get sucked in and drink the koolaid and end up with tools you never use if you're not careful.  The nice thing is the resale is usually pretty good for well taken-care-of Festools.

 

[Sam Murdoch]

FYI, the TSC has been revamped and will now be the TSC 55K. Thinner kerf blade, electronic anti-kickback and the riving knife is gone. Plus, huge delays if you can't find the TSC 55 in stock.

I, like you, am a hobbyist and I'm waiting for the TSC 55K pre-order. My rationale was, I wanted the good dust collection when using the bag, one less thing with a cord and I can take it with me for the impromptu breaking down of sheet goods that are not easy to transport or items too long to transport.

Not a hobbyist here but a cabinet maker/otherhats guy working in my shop and in the field doing installs. Have decided that it is time to upgrade my TS55 & MIDI purchased and used hard for at least 14 years.

I love the idea of the battery version of the TS55 and would be equally happy to be able to have a battery operated dust collector (a Mini) would be OK size. Do those exist?

I don't intend to have other battery FESTOOL - all my hand tools are Milwaukee 18 or 12 volt and there is lots of life left in all those. I could end up replacing my saber saw with a battery Festool version but I have not even researched if that's a possibility. All that to say - I'm OK with the one Festool battery tool if it comes to that. I can see so many advantages over the corded version.

BUT now - Trying to get all the info from several places on one page so I ask for your help here. Not all the sale sights provide enough detail for me to know what all else I might need in order to make the change. Like buying from HAFELE, buying Festool can lead to accessories you didn't realize you needed.  [unsure]

Not a slam - I love Festool - multiple sanders, routers, the Domino and the TS55 have changed the way I work for the better. I couldn't be happier. Just time to replace some tired tools and I have a friend who is interested in buying the older stuff.

SO if you will indulge me a few questions please ~

• Start with the quote above about the TSC55K is that an imminent change of the product or will it likely be not available for 3 or 4 months - longer?

• Will the TSC55 STILL be available once the ^ is on the market?

• Regarding batteries - Are the Bluetooth Lithium Ion 5.2Ah Batteries all that I need to operate with the blue tooth feature of the blue tooth dust collectors?  I don't mind needing to switch on the dust vac to run the saw - but would be nice not to need to do that.

• Would it be worth upgrading to a more powerful, longer run time battery and perhaps allow me to get away with owning just 2 batteries? I work alone so would rarely run out of juice with 2 batteries that can be charged during my lunch break or overnight.

• How much work can one battery do? Does the saw really need the 2 full packs in order to ramp up to full speed and power? Could I easily rip 3/4 Ply on one battery?

• Finally (for now - could have more questions after your replies) anyone know what the CFM is on my 15 year old MIDI compared to the 130 of the new version?

Thanks very much. I appreciate any help you might provide.

 

[spetka]

Hey Sam, this may not answer all of your questions, but some.  I found this pretty helpful:

 

[Crazyraceguy]

As a guy in a non-mobile shop situation, I really don't see the need for cordless. I am attached to the CT anyway, so the cord is no big deal. I think I would buy the cordless version IF I was already in the battery platform, but I'm not. The only battery powered tools I have, other than the CXS are Makita drills/drivers and compact routers. I don't need any more of them and I really like the ergonomics of Makita. The battery issue is what holds me back from Vecturo. The cordless version is more preferable, but I'm not really willing to get into the platform for just that.
I think I would go with the TS55C IF I could get ahold of a TS75 too, but all of that at once is rather a big bite to chew.

 

[Sam Murdoch]

Thanks [member=75485]spetka[/member], that video did answer lots of my questions. I hadn't seen it.

Still wondering about the upgrade to the TSC 55K - when that will happen and where the specs for that version might be seen? Does the 55K mean to suggest that we should expect this one to be $$$$$$ more than the others?  [blink]

And - The BLUETOOTH MINI and MIDI are all set to go with the TSC55 right? No need for an another device?

Thanks.

 

[squall_line]

Thanks [member=75485]spetka[/member], that video did answer lots of my questions. I hadn't seen it.

Still wondering about the upgrade to the TSC 55K - when that will happen and where the specs for that version might be seen? Does the 55K mean to suggest that we should expect this one to be $$$$$$ more than the others?  [blink]

And - The BLUETOOTH MINI and MIDI are all set to go with the TSC55 right? No need for an another device?

Thanks.

My understanding was that the TSC 55K is imminent; as in, when stock is available for sale again, it will only be the 55K.

Yes, the new Mini-I and Midi-I are all set to go with bluetooth battery tools; no additional interface device needed.

 

[Michael Kellough]

With apologies, rather than try to answer your questions I’ll throw in another option, the Mafell cordless saw. While the saw is arguably better it’s the battery platform that may be of interest.

Mafell uses the Metabo batteries (as do several other European tool producers). Metabo (not Metabo HPT) makes a cordless saber saw (Festool has nothing, at least in NA) that also accepts T shanks jigsaw blades. Very handy sometimes. Metabo also makes a full range of cordless power tools that accept the same batteries and since those batteries have been accepted as a standard by most European tool companies (the big exception is Bosch) they’ll probably be available longer than any other.

Back to the saw, the Mafell guide rails join easily and accurately and with optional accessories are more versatile than other brands. The Bosch rails are identical and less costly.

 

[Coen]

Metabo also makes a full range of cordless power tools that accept the same batteries and since those batteries have been accepted as a standard by most European tool companies (the big exception is Bosch)

Not Festool, not Bosch... basicly non of the big cordless powertools manufacturers except Metabo and a whole bunch of specialty tools. Bosch copied this and has a similar "platform", eg. Cox cordless caulk guns use the same Bosch battery (previously they used Makita batteries).

The Metabo platform is mainly Metabo + a whole bunch of specialty brands.

All in all it's a good thing though that the battery between those is standardised. But in that light it's very weird Metabo now has yet another Systainer rip-off that isn't as compatible as they used to be..

 

[Chainring]

Thanks [member=75485]spetka[/member], that video did answer lots of my questions. I hadn't seen it.

Still wondering about the upgrade to the TSC 55K - when that will happen and where the specs for that version might be seen? Does the 55K mean to suggest that we should expect this one to be $$$$$$ more than the others?  [blink]

And - The BLUETOOTH MINI and MIDI are all set to go with the TSC55 right? No need for an another device?

Thanks.

It was announced and some videos were found, then it could be found on the Festool UK site. For a brief period, like a day or two, it was on Festool US, then it disappeared. Thinner kerf blade (1.8(?) vs 2.2), electronic kick back, deletion of the riving knife. I think that's about it. I ordered a TSC 55 from Burns Tools and it showed to be shipping directly from Festool US, but that was right when the TSC 55K was announced. I'll be getting the TSC 55K instead and I'm okay with that. Same price.

 

[Coen]

I would never buy one without riving knife. Electronics can help vs kickback, but not against the kerf closing after the blade...

 

[Sam Murdoch]

I have many of the Festool TS55 Accessories and so not motivated to start up with yet another brand.

Interesting point about the lack of the riving knife, though in my case I have so very rarely cut solid lumber with my saw except for crosscutting doors, table tops and the like. The lack of that feature will not be missed. I have other equipment more suited to resawing solid lumber.

Thanks for the input folks! Helping me clear my thinking.

 

[Chainring]

I would never buy one without riving knife. Electronics can help vs kickback, but not against the kerf closing after the blade...

If going cordless, there won't be much of a choice anymore. Mafell, no riving knife. Makita, no riving knife. Bosch, no riving knife. Festool is now in that camp. Of the big brands, that leaves DeWALT.

 

[Cheese]

I own the TS 55, TSC 55 and a Mafell MT 55.

The TSC 55 with a dust bag is great for any location where electrical power is not available. If you decide on the Festool saw, I'd say hold out for the new TSC 55K version because it uses a thinner kerf blade and doesn't use a riving knife so blade changes are easier.

The MT 55 with a dust bag is used for EVERYTHING else. The MT 55 is the most powerful of the group being rated at 1400 watts, it has a scoring function, uses a thinner kerf blade, has no riving knife, is the easiest saw of ANY for blade changes, changing blade angle is done with 1 knob that actuates 2 blade locks, when the blade is beveled it does not cut into the splinter strip, the Mafell/Bosch rails are the easiest to connect together, they have the best splinter strip material, they can clamp to narrower pieces of material, the list goes on.

The TS 55 hasn't been pulled out of its Systainer since the TSC 55 was purchased 4 years ago.  [tongue]

 

[Coen]

when the blade is beveled it does not cut into the splinter strip

Neither does the TS55 as long as you don't let it lift off the rail while doing bevelcuts.

But this is something the Mafell fancrowd mentions all the time. The reality is rather different; the Mafell cuts in a different spot when doing bevelcuts while the Festool cuts on the same line as always, bevel or not.

Looks to me a PITA to put the rail on the right spot..