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

This thread has made me rethink the whole Festool thing. I don't mind paying a premium for quality tools. I do have to admit that I think Festool do take the p*ss with the cost of their accessories and consumables. That is also a slightly more bitter pill to swallow when a lot of stuff that would come bundled with other products is an extra with Festool. All of that is fine if you know that you are using the best tool money can possibly buy. It becomes mildly tiresome when it is clear that there is other stuff out there that is arguably better or has features that a Festool owner would like. I think it is entirely fair to have a TS 55 bashing if that is what this thread is. It's not so much what the tools cost, it is the price of everything else Festool which means that we should expect perfection. If I have to pay £65 for a blade that dulls just as fast as everything else, I actually want my saw to walk on water.
 
raiderone said:
How about a TS65?

What would be the advantage of such as saw compared to the TS 75? By the way, Festool offered such a saw, the AT 65 E(B). That was the predecessor of the TS 75.

Have a nice day,

Christian
 
Hi Andy.

As the original poster of this thread, I don't consider anything I have read so far to be Festool bashing.
I love the fact that people are willing to speak their mind.
I want to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly critism.
If that's what it takes to see changes to a new generation tool, then bring it on, I want to hear it all.
I am a Festool fanatic no doubt, but I am definitely not a Festool worshipper.

If someone thinks that another brand of tools makes a better product, then I really want to hear about that product.
Up until this thread, I was aware of Mafell, but I was not aware of Mafell plunge cuts saws being as good or even better than Festool
Now I am aware of it, and I am thankful for the people who have posted their opinions.

I know that when Festool do release a new plunge cut saw in the future that it will be superior to the TS 55 and TS 75.
If they take on board some of the critism's here, then that is a good thing indeed.

I love the idea of the dust port with a ball detent, it really is a pain in the backside that it moves freely.
I also love the idea of the cable and hose being close together, they always seem to travel the opposite way!
I hate the ribbed anti static hose. It always get caught on the edge of the guide rail.
Festool should design a hose and cable that is smooth. Yes, I have the plastic thingy that clips on the edge of the rail. Yes, I am aware of the DIY hose versions that several members have made. And a great job they have done too.

The one piece of constructive criticism that has came to light because of this thread is the lack of power from the TS 55.
I now know it is not just me with this issue.
I sure hope Festool take on board that we all want a slightly more powerful saw. Yes, I own the TS 75, but let's not go there.
We want a slightly more powerful TS 55. Period.
One more thing. I am over plug it cords. Give a fixed cable any day of the week.
I have lost count the amount of times I have left plug it cable's behind while I have went to a job, and then realise I cannot use my cool tools!

Regards, Justin.

 
Justin

Ditto on everything u said above.

Hmmm,
Except the plug-in cord.  
Why not just keep a spare (or two) that's compatible with the saw under the seat of your truck? - for the mornings u didn't quite drink enough coffee?  

 
justinmcf said:
One more thing. I am over plug it cords. Give a fixed cable any day of the week.
I have lost count the amount of times I have left plug it cable's behind while I have went to a job, and then realise I cannot use my cool tools!

Nobody forces you to release the plug it cords. You can just leave them connected. I really like the plug it cords (OK they should move it to a knuckle friendlier location on the TS 55). When you're always losing them, just leave them connected.

greetz,

Philippe
 
d8b said:
justinmcf said:
One more thing. I am over plug it cords. Give a fixed cable any day of the week.
I have lost count the amount of times I have left plug it cable's behind while I have went to a job, and then realise I cannot use my cool tools!

Nobody forces you to release the plug it cords. You can just leave them connected. I really like the plug it cords (OK they should move it to a knuckle friendlier location on the TS 55). When you're always losing them, just leave them connected.

greetz,

Philippe

Use your left hand to plug it in. Problem solved.

 
Richard Leon said:
d8b said:
justinmcf said:
One more thing. I am over plug it cords. Give a fixed cable any day of the week.
I have lost count the amount of times I have left plug it cable's behind while I have went to a job, and then realise I cannot use my cool tools!

Nobody forces you to release the plug it cords. You can just leave them connected. I really like the plug it cords (OK they should move it to a knuckle friendlier location on the TS 55). When you're always losing them, just leave them connected.

greetz,

Philippe

Use your left hand to plug it in. Problem solved.

haven't tried that, propably a too easy solution to have considered that.
 
I love the plug-it cords. The only problem I have had is when a mate wanted to borrow my TS55 minus dust extractor the other day. I have a spare plug-it lead but I couldn't let that go either as I wouldn't have been able to use my Multimaster or Bosch sander. Guess I should invest in a spare.

I'm sure Festool are aware of the Mafell saw and all the others. It will be interesting to see what the next generation TS55 looks like and if they up the power. I guess it needs to be somewhere between 1400-1500 watts to calm the angry mob!

I do love my TS55 (is there an idea in there for a bumper sticker?) but I just pulled back from the precipice in time before I came an all out Festool junkie. It's good shit but it loses some of it's magic appeal knowing that you could have bought something better or maybe something comparable for less.

Whilst I'm rambling on, I must mention the drills. I have never used one, but I really can't see what difference Festool can make to a drill to warrant the premium they charge. I've always figured Festool drill users have got it really bad with no hope of a cure.
 
I don't cut everything on my table saw with the same blade.  I don't rip with a high tooth count cross cut blade and I don't cross cut with a low tooth count raked blade.

The ts-55 can do everything it was made to do.  I have never had mine stall out from over working it.  I do however, pay attention to what I am cutting and make sure to use the correct blade for the application.

You don't use the same jig saw blade or sawzall blade for everything do you?
 
Until recently I cut everything with a bow saw, it was mighty quick! Figuring competition was getting fiercer I invested in the TS55. I do still love it but maybe the anticipation of owning it will always trump the actual experience. It's a bit liking pulling a really fit bird you've fancied for years, you can only get their kit off for the 1st time one time only. After that it will always be something you have seen and done before. Me and my TS55 are becoming more like friends than lovers. I still think the T-Locs rock.
 
andy5405 said:
I'm sure Festool are aware of the Mafell saw and all the others. It will be interesting to see what the next generation TS55 looks like and if they up the power. I guess it needs to be somewhere between 1400-1500 watts to calm the angry mob!

Agreed. Just like Mafell were aware of the Festool saws. The Mafell would have never existed if it wasn't for the TS55. It sure is easy to compare the two and say how bad the TS55 is in comparison, but the MT55 is a brand new saw while the TS55 is 7 years old by now. Mafell would be incompetent not to come up with a better saw with the TS55 as an example they could analyse and 6 years of technological advancement.

Likewise we can expect Festool to come up with a greatly improved saw for their next release. We already heard they're working on something and the release of the Mafell a year ago will surely have them aware of what's needs to be done to stay ahead or at least competitive. A 1500 watt saw would sure be nice, I got a 1500W 65mm DeWalt circular saw and it never stalled once, not even at the maximum depth in hardwood.    

andy5405 said:
Whilst I'm rambling on, I must mention the drills. I have never used one, but I really can't see what difference Festool can make to a drill to warrant the premium they charge. I've always figured Festool drill users have got it really bad with no hope of a cure.

Wait till you get to use one Andy, and experience the smoothness of the drill with all the advantages of the special heads and the Centrotec system.  [wink]

 
Wait till you get to use one Andy, and experience the smoothness of the drill with all the advantages of the special heads and the Centrotec system..........

........ ok so maybe I'm in denial and I'm still a junkie, so tempt me with what Festool can do with something that goes round and round for a living.

 
andy5405 said:
Until recently I cut everything with a bow saw, it was mighty quick! Figuring competition was getting fiercer I invested in the TS55. I do still love it but maybe the anticipation of owning it will always trump the actual experience. It's a bit liking pulling a really fit bird you've fancied for years, you can only get their kit off for the 1st time one time only. After that it will always be something you have seen and done before. Me and my TS55 are becoming more like friends than lovers. I still think the T-Locs rock.

if that changes be sure to unplug her first [eek]
 
andy5405 said:
Whilst I'm rambling on, I must mention the drills. I have never used one, but I really can't see what difference Festool can make to a drill to warrant the premium they charge. I've always figured Festool drill users have got it really bad with no hope of a cure.

I always wondered about that too until I got one.  Now I want another one, but I'm waiting for the C15 to hit the US.
 
I posted about this very subject last year do a search if you're interested. I had a visit from a Festool designer who came over from Germany. He was asking what I would want to see in the next generation ts55 what I would improve etc. I was shown various prototypes and drawings and lots of ideas some original and some not so original.
 
Tom Bellemare said:
How's your hand?

Tom

Hi Tom thanks for asking and yes you do have a good memory  [laughing]

Its great hardly any scar still not much feeling in the finger that I cut , I ve been told it can take up to 2 years to get that back if ever but at least Im back to carrying things normally. The strength in that hand feels pretty good now. Still slightly stiffer than the other hand but nowhere near as bad as it was. Funny thing is I bite my nails quite badly but I dont bite that one I suppose it doesnt feel like my finger as its numb so the nail on that finger is perfect untouched  [laughing] [laughing] [laughing] shame my others are all chewed up.

Hi Peter ,

Hope youre all well over that side of the pond still using that board lifter you sent me cheers. My cousin is in Orlando at the moment I keep seeing Facebook comments all the time from her about Disney this and Universal that  [laughing] Im totally jealous reminds me of my time out there at Christmas. Cannot wait to visit the States again. Hope everyone is keeping busy out there work wise , we hear all the time here on the news about the US' dept problems etc. I suppose you have heard that we are having riots and looting here.

Chris
 
After using the TS 55 with the 1400mm guide rail today.
I have come to the conclusion that the guide rail has a flaw which I reckon if this idea is taken up by Festool, then it would certainly set it apart from it's competitor's.
I had to use the 1400mm rail and the 800mm joined together but when I tried to place it between 2 existing walls, the length of the 2 rails joined together was 100mm too long, as the space between both walls was 2100mm and both rails joined together was 2200mm.
Then I had an epiphony!
If Festool designed an expandable rail that could slide in or out to make it shorter or longer then I could have a custom fit rail for every project.

This would certainly make the Festool system even better.
I am not sure if someone else has mentioned this yet, if so I apologise.

JMB's idea for a depth lock is a great idea, then the saw can be used safely like a normal hand held circular saw.
I also like Roger's idea of a TS 95.
This would be a great addition to the CMS table saw!
The depth scale being zero'ed to the rail seems to be the number one priority.
I am astonished that the Festool engineers did not get this right with the TS saws.

Maybe its just me (old age creeping up fast!)
But joining the rails is a pain for me, no matter how many times I put a straight slot screwdriver in each saw box, I always seem to lose them.

Also, I would purchase a normal fixed cable saw over a plug-it saw any day.
I have noticed that Festool supply the ETS sanders with normal fixed cables, so I assume they are aware of this and are happy to give people the choice between fixed cables and plug-it cables.
I appreciate the advice people have given me with regards to these 2 issues, such as keeping an extra cable in the truck, and keeping a screw driver in the systainer.
I have executed each and every one of those ideas in the past, but they always seem to grow legs and walk.
I think you will only appreciate this dilemma once you have personally experienced it yourself.
I am happy to admit that these issues are not flaws in the tools, but 100 percent operator error!

Justin.

 
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