What would you like to see in a next generation TS-55?

[justinmcf]

I have been using the TS-55 extensively this week for ripping and cross cutting 25mm thick MDF Bench seats. (For a restaurant.)
The bench seat frame work is a basic 70mm x 45mm pine. Bottom plate, studs and then a top plate with the MDF attached directly to the framework.
All edges have been rounded over using a 6mm rounding over router bit.

I owned the Festool ATF-55 for 8 years and loved it. Then when I first used the TS-55, I was blown away that so many design flaws had been addressed and solved. A perfect example would be the spring loaded riving knife as opposed to the very dangerous fixed riving knife which I am sure scarred many a guide rail. (First day using the ATF-55, I scarred both of my rails!)

I love using the TS-55 with the CT-22 dust extractor, especially when I am cutting MDF.
Without dust extraction, the dust gets everywhere.
With dust extraction, you honestly would not know that I had been cutting MDF all day.

Anyway, I have a few small idea's for the next generation of the TS-55.

1. The ability to cut -1 degree.
2. The ability to cut to +50 degree's.
3. Cover plate should be 1 whole piece. No hole in the middle for the allen key/blade removal. (Obviously this requires a whole new design for blade changing.)
4. Connector rod for joining rails. I have lost count the amount of times I have forgotten to bring a straight slotted screw driver to tighten the grub screws. We need a quick joining connector rod. No extra tools required.
5. Make the saw slightly lighter if possible.
6. Make the motor slightly stronger if possible. I have been ripping through 35mm radiata pine and the saw has stopped half way through a cut. Wait 5 minutes and then finish cut. I cant afford to wait 5 minutes when working on contract. Yes, I was using a panther blade.
7. Plastic insert is set up for left handed people. I like to use my right hand to place the saw back in the systainer, but then have to swap to my left hand to get it in the systainer. (Very minor issue, but still something I would like to see addressed. Maybe they could give us the choice of left or right handed inserts.)

These are all minor issues for me, in general I absolutely love using the Festool saws, and I love telling people about them even more!

Please feel free to add to the list.
All new ideas, no matter how small are welcome, maybe the Festool Engineers will be reading this in the future and incorporate some of these idea's into the next generation of Plunge Saws.

Regards, Justin.

 

[mouppe]

Good thread.

I'd like to see the ability to zero the depth scale when the saw is on a guide rail.

 

[Alan m]

as you can see i love my ts55 the way it is [tongue]

• i would like a depth stop turret arangment where you can preset your comon depths like on the router.
  
  some way to stop the rail tipping when doing beveled cuts.
  
  cover plate boilt in to cover the hole on the side
  
  change dc system so that some of the dc is redirected to the front tip of the blade to catch the last bit
  
  plug it less fiddly to put in
  
  scoring facility
  
  scale reads from rail height
  
  battery version
  
  be able to be used on its side like the dewalt
  
  more power (insert tim tailer grunt)
  
  maybe (might be asking too much) a second small (40mm) blade up front for proper scoring
  
  better blade storage in systainer
  
  bag for colecting dust on site or outside for when 100% dc isnt important only ease of cleaning up is. i often use a chop saw bag(fog tip i think) on the dc port. be able to redirect some of (or seperate fan) air from moter to blw the dut into the bag.
  
  make some kind of outrigger set up for the inside of the saw so that it will

allow the outside edge of the rail to overhang the materil a bit

 

[RONWEN]

as you can see i love my ts55 the way it is [tongue]

• i would like a depth stop turret arangment where you can preset your comon depths like on the router.
  
  some way to stop the rail tipping when doing beveled cuts.
  
  cover plate boilt in to cover the hole on the side
  
  change dc system so that some of the dc is redirected to the front tip of the blade to catch the last bit
  
  plug it less fiddly to put in
  
  scoring facility
  
  scale reads from rail height
  
  battery version
  
  be able to be used on its side like the dewalt
  
  more power (insert tim tailer grunt)
  
  maybe (might be asking too much) a second small (40mm) blade up front for proper scoring
  
  better blade storage in systainer
  
  bag for colecting dust on site or outside for when 100% dc isnt important only ease of cleaning up is. i often use a chop saw bag(fog tip i think) on the dc port. be able to redirect some of (or seperate fan) air from moter to blw the dut into the bag.
  
  make some kind of outrigger set up for the inside of the saw so that it will

allow the outside edge of the rail to overhang the materil a bit

Those all sound good to me also.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Some very good ideas so far. [thumbs up]  Some of my favorites, more power, dust bag, scale zeroed to the rail, scoring feature and better blade storage in Systainer.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned, I'd like to see the cord and vac hose connection closer together and more out of the way.  As it is now the cord goes one way the hose the other, that's harder to control while you're cutting.  I don't think it would happen but I'd like to see a 65mm version come back. 

The bad news our feedback might be a couple years too late.  Remember a member from the UK (I believe it was Woodguy?) saw a prototype a couple years back.  If that's the case, Festool is likely well past the point of soliciting new ideas. Good thread all the same. 

 

[jmbfestool]

+1 Alan!      but  more +1s on Battery version!  Would love a battery version!  more +1s on  scale adjustment on and off the rail with micro adjustment! 

---1 on a second small (40mm) blade up front for proper scoring! Silly Man! lol  [tongue]  I want to saw to be if anything lighter not heavier and bulkier  [tongue]

JMB

 

[pugilato]

Include a dual measuring system (inches and metric) on the scale... This is not a which is the better system issue, but rather which is the one I use.  If they stop Carvex production to make design changes specific to the NA market, why not make a scale that works for most of us?

 

[jmbfestool]

Include a dual measuring system (inches and metric) on the scale... This is not a which is the better system issue, but rather which is the one I use.  If they stop Carvex production to make design changes specific to the NA market, why not make a scale that works for most of us?

--1  [tongue]  They just need to send you  sticker with inches on it I dont want my new TS55 with inches on  Horrible it will make it look ugly  [tongue]

 

[Alan m]

+1 Alan!      but  more +1s on Battery version!  Would love a battery version!   more +1s on   scale adjustment on and off the rail with micro adjustment! 

---1 on a second small (40mm) blade up front for proper scoring! Silly Man! lol  [tongue]  I want to saw to be if anything lighter not heavier and bulkier  [tongue]

JMB

i would want it the same weight or less even with the extra blade

 

[jmbfestool]

+1 Alan!      but  more +1s on Battery version!  Would love a battery version!   more +1s on   scale adjustment on and off the rail with micro adjustment! 

---1 on a second small (40mm) blade up front for proper scoring! Silly Man! lol  [tongue]  I want to saw to be if anything lighter not heavier and bulkier  [tongue]

JMB

i would want it the same weight or less even with the extra blade

Yeah your asking to much now lol!  [tongue] [tongue]

 

[Ken Nagrod]

--1  [tongue]   They just need to send you  sticker with inches on it I dont want my new TS55 with inches on  Horrible it will make it look ugly  [tongue]

...and feel smaller.  Maybe that's the real reason you guys like metric so much.  The bigger numbers.  [tongue]

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I want it to be automatic, like that Mafell one.

I really dont have any complaints about my ts-55.

 

[pugilato]

Include a dual measuring system (inches and metric) on the scale... This is not a which is the better system issue, but rather which is the one I use.  If they stop Carvex production to make design changes specific to the NA market, why not make a scale that works for most of us?

--1  [tongue]   They just need to send you  sticker with inches on it I dont want my new TS55 with inches on  Horrible it will make it look ugly  [tongue]

JMB, with respect... you are on the other side of the pond.  Besides, what could be uglier than that green on Festools?

 

[ajones]

Some very good ideas so far. [thumbs up]  Some of my favorites, more power, dust bag, scale zeroed to the rail, scoring feature and better blade storage in Systainer.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned, I'd like to see the cord and vac hose connection closer together and more out of the way.  As it is now the cord goes one way the hose the other, that's harder to control while you're cutting.  I don't think it would happen but I'd like to see a 65mm version come back. 

The bad news our feedback might be a couple years too late.  Remember a member from the UK (I believe it was Woodguy?) saw a prototype a couple years back.  If that's the case, Festool is likely well past the point of soliciting new ideas. Good thread all the same. 

You can just picture the scene in festool germany [doh] [doh] [doh]

 

[Troll]

I'd like to have the ability to cut at -3 degrees (not just -1 degree).  On some raised and fielded doors you need to be able to cut the leading edge from the 'wrong-side' of the door as there isn't the room to position the guide rail on the raised and fielded side.  A bit more power from the motor too, as has already been suggested.  Apart from that I think there is not to much room for improvement, although I'm sure Festool engineers will surprise us with something we need but never thought of.

Troll

 

[Tinker]

I am still using my old ATF 55. you need three or four hands to cut on a bevel.  I have not tried the TS 55 yet, but i understand that also wants to tip over.  i have looked the TS 55 over closely and it seems to have addressed all of the other issues of the old ATF.  I am waiting for the tipping issue to be solved before i jump back into the pond to retrieve a new one.
Tinker

 

[slb]

I love my TS55, and there's little I'd change, but I agree with some of the proposed fine tuning:

- I'd like the depth scale zeroed to the rail, since I never use the saw off the rail (I find the plunge action awkward unless on the rail).  Stupid as it seems, you'd be amazed how often I blow the math adding 5mm to the depth [embarassed]
- The plug-it socket needs to be less crowded.  There have been several reported failures when people didn't get the cord fully seated because the socket is awkward (yeah, I know, it's easier to reach if you tip the saw on the base, but needing a trick like that is not very Festoolian!)
- Some sort of anti-tip would be nice, though I wonder if it would require a complete redesign of the rails and if it would cause more friction?  I wouldn't want to have to replace my rails to get this feature.  I know some envious ATF owners who wish their rails were the new type but can't afford them.

I've had dust escape as the saw exits the end of a cut and from the underside if I don't have foam board underneath, but I don't see any way to address that without some really strange and inconvenient hood.  I can live with it.

Uncertain about more motor power.  It would have to be without added weight.  Also, one could always get a TS75 if inadequate power is a frequent issue.

Definitely don't agree about batteries, for two reasons.  First, I don't think battery technology is quite ready for saws yet.  I have a couple of battery saws, and they suck dry in a matter of minutes.  Great for up on a ladder, but that's not where I use my TS-55.  Second, when I use the TS-55, it is always with DC attached, so the hose is already in the way; a cord doesn't make it that much worse.  The DC needs power, so it's not like I work away from an outlet.

My 2 cents worth - your needs may be different.

Steve

 

[jmbfestool]

Oh I forgot a Big upgrade the TS55 should have!    Depth LOCK!    So you can use the saw of the rail still!    If the saw can be locked off at the depth you want then it would be fine to use off the rail with out it trying to kick back at your!  The only down side is I can see festool not liking the blade exposed permanently with out a guard around the blade but the mafel has the lock of feature so don't see why festool cant.

JMB

 

[jmbfestool]

I love my TS55, and there's little I'd change, but I agree with some of the proposed fine tuning:

- I'd like the depth scale zeroed to the rail, since I never use the saw off the rail (I find the plunge action awkward unless on the rail).  Stupid as it seems, you'd be amazed how often I blow the math adding 5mm to the depth [embarassed]
- The plug-it socket needs to be less crowded.  There have been several reported failures when people didn't get the cord fully seated because the socket is awkward (yeah, I know, it's easier to reach if you tip the saw on the base, but needing a trick like that is not very Festoolian!)
- Some sort of anti-tip would be nice, though I wonder if it would require a complete redesign of the rails and if it would cause more friction?  I wouldn't want to have to replace my rails to get this feature.  I know some envious ATF owners who wish their rails were the new type but can't afford them.

I've had dust escape as the saw exits the end of a cut and from the underside if I don't have foam board underneath, but I don't see any way to address that without some really strange and inconvenient hood.  I can live with it.

Uncertain about more motor power.  It would have to be without added weight.  Also, one could always get a TS75 if inadequate power is a frequent issue.

Definitely don't agree about batteries, for two reasons.  First, I don't think battery technology is quite ready for saws yet.  I have a couple of battery saws, and they suck dry in a matter of minutes.  Great for up on a ladder, but that's not where I use my TS-55.  Second, when I use the TS-55, it is always with DC attached, so the hose is already in the way; a cord doesn't make it that much worse.  The DC needs power, so it's not like I work away from an outlet.

My 2 cents worth - your needs may be different.

Steve

No I must disagree with you with the batterie saws!  I own a Milwaukee cordless circular saw and it will easily rip a few sheets down before the battery is dead and that is plenty as if you was going to do more cutting you would be their longer and so would set up some power but for quick cutting its perfect  plus I have 12  18V Milwaukee batteries so that would last me more than enough for a load of sheets .  I often use it for cutting up floor boards dead handy!

Having a TS55 cordless just for cutting up some sheets  out side would be really handy on job which require a generator or a lead 50meters long from the nearest power source.    If its raining you can just stick your TS55 in the systainer to keep it dry no need to worry about rain then.

JMB 

 

[Alan m]

how about a flexible guide rail. this would be great for the saw but also for the routers etc. it would be handy for curved work. and should role up like the mafel to fit in a sys. have a better system than the mafel for guiding the saw(mafel have little bent up pieces for the saw to run along