Urgent/Time-Sensitive - Festool Power Cable - Help in central NJ (near Somerset)

R

riffin-rich

Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2012
Messages
37
Hello folks. I drove up to Somerset, NJ (from Fairfax, VA) to install a drawer and new slides in my mom's kitchen. I packed a truck worth of tools, but screwed-up royally ... I have a Festool TS-55 but I grabbed the wrong power cable. The Festool power cable I has a protruding "center-nub" on the back side. The TS-55 saw doesn't have a slot to accept the "center nub." This is a long shot but I'm hoping someone sees this and can help me out with a loaner while I work on her cabinets for a few hours on Sunday and Monday (Feb 14 and 15) ... I'll return your cable before I leave, or I'll send you a brand new one - your call. Many thanks! Sincerely, Rich
 
I coincidentally brought some sharp chisels - so I guess I can.  Is there a reason it's there?  Maybe a larger gauge wire in comparison to one without?  If it's that simple, I'll cut it tonight.  Hoping for confirmation... THANKS!
 
Unfortunately I'm far fom NJ, you could have borrowed one no problem.

Bob Marino,Festool Dealer is in NJ, could try him. He's always helpful and answers email fast.
 
From the Festool website.

Locate a Festool Dealer near you.

ZIP 08875

Builders General - Edison
1177 Inmann Ave
Edison, NJ 08820
908-757-6600

Ricciardi Bros - Green Brook
396 Route 22 W
Green Brook, NJ 08812
732-868-4200
www.ricciardibrothers.com

Ricciardi Brothers - Edison
975 New Durham Road
Edison, NJ 08817
732-287-9440

Huston Lumber & Supply Co. - North Plain
2 Interhaven Avenue
North Plainfield, NJ 07060
908-756-5700
www.hustonlumber.com

Albert Kemperle - Cranbury
100 Melrich Rd
Cranbury, NJ 08512
609-860-2800

Ricciardi Brothers - Aberdeen
1071 State Road 34 Ste. A
Aberdeen, NJ 07747
732-696-9200

Albert Kemperle - Linden
626 E Elizabeth Ave
Linden, NJ 07036
908-925-6133

Huston Lumber & Supply Co. - Oldwick
3 Felmley Road
Oldwick, NJ 08858
908-439-6200
www.hustonlumber.com

Jaeger Lumber - Madison
133 Main St.
Madison, NJ 07940
973-377-1000
www.jaegerlumber.com

ZIP 08873
Ricciardi Brothers - Edison
975 New Durham Road
Edison, NJ 08817
732-287-9440

Ricciardi Bros - Green Brook
396 Route 22 W
Green Brook, NJ 08812
732-868-4200
www.ricciardibrothers.com

Builders General - Edison
1177 Inmann Ave
Edison, NJ 08820
908-757-6600

Huston Lumber & Supply Co. - North Plain
2 Interhaven Avenue
North Plainfield, NJ 07060
908-756-5700
www.hustonlumber.com

Albert Kemperle - Cranbury
100 Melrich Rd
Cranbury, NJ 08512
609-860-2800

Ricciardi Brothers - Aberdeen
1071 State Road 34 Ste. A
Aberdeen, NJ 07747
732-696-9200

Albert Kemperle - Linden
626 E Elizabeth Ave
Linden, NJ 07036
908-925-6133

J Rossi Paint & Wallpaper - S. I. North
2040 Forest Ave.
Staten Island, NY 10303
718-477-0019
www.rossipaint.com

Jaeger Lumber - Madison
133 Main St.
Madison, NJ 07940
973-377-1000
www.jaegerlumber.com

 
riffin-rich said:
I coincidentally brought some sharp chisels - so I guess I can.  Is there a reason it's there?  Maybe a larger gauge wire in comparison to one without?  If it's that simple, I'll cut it tonight.  Hoping for confirmation... THANKS!
Click to expand...

The cords with a nub have a smaller gauge wire than the ones without. The nub is to make sure the tools that draw more current can't use the thinner cord.

If you use the thin cord with tools that require more current, the cord can heat up and fail. But this takes time. If you make short cuts the cord has not enough time to heat up.

Consider this a makeshift solution because you're in a pickle. After you're done be careful to remember the cord is the smaller gauge or toss it. 
 
Thanks again, Cheese.  I just got a response on Sawmill - "... you could just grind off the extra protruding bump so that the 18ga cable will go into the saw that is designed for the 16ga cable. Just be aware that you now have a cable that is a bit too small so don't make the saw strain."  So that answers my question about the reason for the nub.  I might have to ditch all of my 18GA cables now.  :-)  I'll start calling on your list now, but it's after 6PM so confidence is low ... Concerned about tomorrow being Sunday.  I would have been available all day on Monday and Tuesday to get this done, but now have a wake and funeral to attend.  Anyway, if someone doesn't come through, and if I can't get a 16GA cable tomorrow or Monday AM, then I will remove the nub as a last resort to get the job done.  Thanks guys!  Still hoping for a Festoolian here in the area to come through for me!  :-)
 
Thanks Alex -

All, I appreciate all of the eyes and responses on this request for assistance!

Thanks again,
Rich
 
Rich, I have a cord for my 1400.  I think that's a 16 ga?  I'll send you a PM with my contact info.
 
RESOLVED - I just wanted to let everyone know that I have a cord.  Raj (RKA on FOG) was going to meet me later this morning.  More recently, Justin Meyer (SawmillCreek) reached out and hooked me up first thing this morning (he was very nearby).  Dimitrios in Astoria, NY (where I grew up as a kid) also offered assistance.  Thanks again for all of your time and assistance!  I learned something about Festool power cords too.  :-) Happy Valentines Day! - Rich
 
This job wouldn't have been possible (at least easily possible) without the MFT and TS-55.  I had to build-up a lot of blocking to create a sturdy frame/structure inside of her poorly constructed builder's grade cabinets.  Mom's two drawers had come loose given the plastic rear-mounts had broken and her heavy top drawer full of knives and "kitchen stuff" was basically waiting to crash.  I needed to build-out 1-1/2" on the left side, and 2-1/2" on the right side.  So I was ripping a lot of 1/2" and 3/4" plywood and cutting it to size with cross-cuts.  I don't want to think about how I would have gotten it done without the MFT and TS-55, let alone pocket screws.  A very heavy-duty Blum soft-close is securely controlling the top drawer now, while I've added a center drawer which is mounted to the blocking.  All's good with the world.  I'm very tired from getting up and down and contorting inside of the cabinet, but it's done and mom's ecstatic.  I'm happy too...  I'll be returning Justin's cord tomorrow morning.  Coincidentally, he texted me this evening to say that his wife said I can come by to borrow any of his tools whenever I'd like so long as I keep bringing donuts!  :-)  It was a good day.  Thanks again to everyone that assisted--especially to Raj for offering to drive the cable half-way!  Absolutely awesome.  Thanks again...
 
That's probably as good as it gets. Analogous to helping a total stranger on the highway change his flat tire in a rain storm. This story is good for the soul and would only have been better if it had played out on December 25th.

Rich, the best of luck to you and I'm glad things worked out. Also thanks to Raj and his commitment to go the extra mile.  [thumbs up]
 
Glad it all worked out and mom is happy!  Feel free to hang onto my number if you need anything in the future.  Nothing worse than packing everything except that ONE thing and finding yourself on a Festool-free island!  [eek]  Shockingly enough, I don't know of many well-stocked dealers within a short drive.  The Woodcraft stores in Allentown PA and New Castle DE are 1.5 hrs out.  I've only been to New Castle and it had a marginal stock of consumables and accessories.  There is Tooltown in Paramus, Tools For Working Wood in Brooklyn and Tool Nut way up in Yorktown Heights, NY.  Most every other dealer is only open M-F during business hours and have thin inventory. 
 
There are other dealers. I had a similar problem when I went to Manhattan for a project and forgot the power cord. Thought I was up the creek because the only dealer I knew of was TFWW in Brooklyn and it would take a long time to get there and back. A co-worker whipped out his iPhone and found a source in seconds flat, in Manhattan. In less than an hour the saw was running.

The source was Kamco Supply. In addition to Manhattan they have locations in Patterson, NJ, Brooklyn, and Syosset, LI.
 
Good info!  Do you know if they keep a good stock I'd blades, bags and paper on hand!  Any parking available at the Manhattan location?
 
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