What I learned the first time I sank a bunch of money into Festools...

[neth27]

I had the Dewalt corded version and swapped it for the TS55, i wish i had kept the Dewalt... The first time i used the TS55 it struggled, with a cut the Dewalt would of had no problems cutting. I also used to own the Dewalt 28v saw. it worked really well cutting fire doors to length and width with no problems. I only sold it as i just had too much gear to haul about in my van 

John..

 

[woodguy7]

I am a bit surprised to read your reply cnewport.  Incase you never noticed i am in the uk where there is no reconditioned tools for sale by Festool.  Because of this i have not looked into it.  I dont think it is that obvious as some of your country men are asking the same question. Yes i know Festool USA is selling recon tools but i never heard anyone say it was the tools that was sent back.  That is the question i was asking.

You say it as though i should have known better !

Woodguy

 

[cnewport]

I am a bit surprised to read your reply cnewport. 

Sorry didn't mean to offend - my point was that there has been so much discussion (good and bad) about the sale that I figured everyone knew about it (whether in the US or not).

i never heard anyone say it was the tools that was sent back.  That is the question i was asking.

Good point - I have not seen it clarified anywhere either.

 

[woodguy7]

Thats cool  [smile]

 

[jonny round boy]

i never heard anyone say it was the tools that was sent back.  That is the question i was asking.

Good point - I have not seen it clarified anywhere either.

I think Shane did mention it...

 

[JSands]

Of course, everyone works different, so 55/75 is personal choice....but since so many rely on threads to make tool decisions, I will offer my thoughts...

I am in Dovetails camp...

For me, I do not work on job sites, so that alone changes things.  I own a cabinet saw, that changes things....I would not want to constantly handle the 75 on an MFT for 1" thick cuts, surely over kill.  The 75 is substantially bigger and a bit heavier... so it becomes cumbersome for most tasks on the MFT.

I use the Festool rail system for sheets mainly.... often cutting several at once.  The added weight of the saw is a non issue for me, it might be for some.  The extra power is very noticeable when cutting 2" of dense sheet goods, the 75 moves through faster.    Dust collection seems to work better on the 75, not sure why...

Now, I am curious about this DeWalt cordless...never found a decent battery circ. saw yet...

 

[LostInTheWood]

What cordless DW are you guys talking about, the track saw or just a cordless sidewinder?

Just curious because I was debating the DW cordless track saw against the Festool when I was shopping for saws.

 

[RONWEN]

Good post & sound reasoning!

 

[nickao]

The DeWalt track saw, the other DeWalt cordless is for the birds.

They stopped making them so you can grab one for about 300.00.

Hopefully they come out with a newer model with better batteries. The issue , well not for me, is that they are not making those batteries or tools with that exact battery anymore, but for 300 and 4 batteries(2 extra I got) it was still worth it for me.

Like I said the corded DeWalt track saw , again for me, is better than the TS 55. The Ts 75 is a better saw. I find for the things I use the smaller track saw size for the cordless DeWalt is more than enough. If you are cutting mostly plywood the DeWalt cordless is quite a fantastic deal for 250.00 to 350.00.

Again the DeWalt cordless track saw with a TS 75 is a great package for ME. Actually, I sold one TS 75 and have not used the other TS 75 much since I got the cordless DeWalt.

I would NOT pay 800.00 - 900.00(retail) for that cordless DeWalt though, no way.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

The DeWalt track saw, the other DeWalt cordless is for the birds.

They stopped making them so you can grab one for about 300.00.

Hopefully they come out with a newer model with better batteries. The issue , well not for me, is that they are not making those batteries or tools with that exact battery anymore, but for 300 and 4 batteries(2 extra I got) it was still worth it for me.

Like I said the corded DeWalt track saw , again for me, is better than the TS 55. The Ts 75 is a better saw. I find for the things I use the smaller track saw size for the cordless DeWalt is more than enough. If you are cutting mostly plywood the DeWalt cordless is quite a fantastic deal for 250.00 to 350.00.

Again the DeWalt cordless track saw with a TS 75 is a great package for ME. Actually, I sold one TS 75 and have not used the other TS 75 much since I got the cordless DeWalt.

I would NOT pay 800.00 - 900.00(retail) for that cordless DeWalt though, no way.

So Nick, you gonna sell me the other TS75 so I can show you how I use both at the same time, one behind my back cutting in the opposite direction?  [big grin]

 

[dazzer]

love my ts 55,the first one i had was a pain to change the blade,festool rectified that problem,the only thing i didnt like was bevel cuts,want to get something that holds the saw to the track in bevel mode,yes it has struggeled a bit cutting hardwood,and i occaisionally have to flip a door over to cut from the other side due to raised moulings,where i need to put packers the same hieght of the mouldings,it was my first piece of my never ending festool kit.it niggles me that i have to buy the same tool twice,like the ts 55 the ps 300 and the 2000 router and the mft,cmoon festool,i need to win the lottery to keep up.

 

[Wonderwino]

A Skill 77 is great for framing, but I would not want to break down sheet goods with it all day - the TS55 is the superior tool there.  The Festool saws are better suited to finish carpentry than rough framing.  There is no way I would want to be up on a ladder making plumb cuts with a track saw!   [eek]

As far as the DeWalt vs. Festool corded track saws, I remember a reviewer/engineer disassembled both and was horrified at the cheesy bearings in the DeWalt.  When he revealed this, DeWalt dressed him down.   [mad]  

I have the TS75 which I bought specifically to straight-line rip rough 2" ash, which it does with no problem.  The saw does make some different sounds than a worm drive, but that is due to Festool's electronic technology.  It is also a no-brainer to cut a 16' rip on a track that is stringline straight.   [big grin]

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

i never heard anyone say it was the tools that was sent back.  That is the question i was asking.

Good point - I have not seen it clarified anywhere either.

I think Shane did mention it...

Sorry, I'm just skimming over the threads where my name was recently mentioned. Forgive me if I'm not within the context of the comments. I think you guys are asking if the reconditioned tools came from returns. Yes, the majority of them are tools that were returned under our 30-day money back guarantee. The remainder would be tools that were received with some blemish, like a crack in the Systainer, for instance. To put this in perspective, it has taken years and years for us to accumulate enough tools to do this program. I think that speaks volumes about the level of satisfaction amongst our customers.

I wouldn't expect Festool USA to have another reconditioned tool sale for many years to come.

 

[RPSmith]

I certainly did not intend to spark off a firestorm of lumber stick swinging!  (We are reduced to pissing over the merits of DeWalt cordless saws.....really?!)

However, I do see the debate over the 75 vs the 55 as genuine and valuable.  It is really the greatest and longest raging debate that I had within myself regarding the purchase of these tools.

For me it came down to this:  I have, and regularly use, a table saw.

For all deep, long rips of hardwoods, I use the table saw and have from Day One.

The only exception to this is exotic solid core doors.  I cut on them and every other type of door (old, new, antique, ageless, priceless, historic, and folkloric) on a regular basis.  That said the number of times I'm cutting down a 2 1/4" door is, frankly, minimal.

In those instances, I'll turn the door over.  In the off chance I have to cut a 4 degree bevel on an entry door, I guess I'll do what I've always done, and charge what I've always charged.  It will take more than one to make up for the cost of a 75.

Should the 55 ever bog down, I guess I'll make two passes.

In the meantime, I plan on using my 55 on my MFT and making 95% of the cuts that I planned on making with my 75.  If the time ever comes that having the 75 in the stable makes economic sense, I will buy it without hesitation and without disparaging comments to those who decided otherwise.

These tools are expensive enough;  let's remember to enjoy the simple pleasure of using a hard-earned tool.

For me, the 55 made more sense, for others, not so much.

Beyond the merits and reasons of the decision, let's leave it at that.

 

[Kevin Stricker]

You know most Americans want to have the big tool on the block, I think it is in our genetic code or at least engrained in our psyche at a young age.  I struggle with the thought of cutting 10 sheets of ply into cabinets with a TS75 though.  Yes they are great for straightlining 8/4 hardwood, but that is where their usefulness ends in my book and yes I have cut plenty of stock with one.

The real problem is the blade that Festool ships with the TS55,  of course it is going to seem underpowered.  I mean it's a 48 tooth 6.25" blade! that is like ripping with a 80 tooth blade on a table saw.  I think if Festool shipped the saw with a 28 tooth blade similar to the Tenryu they would get a lot less people returning them.  BTW the Tenryu blade does an excellent job on veneer ply, I only break out the 48t for prefinished or melamine.

To those who have the biggest tools, I salute you!  I will stick with the ones that get the job done with the least amount of effort.  To each his own, thank god we have lot's of choices.