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

[jmbfestool]

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

I dont really like the Mafel flexi guide  its okay does the job but im not a fan of it!   If festool could improve it some how maybe but I cnt see how they can really.   Maybe removing the handle of the flexi guide for a start might make me like it more as I hate the handle on the mafel flexi guide it prevents you placing the guide further in on the board.

JMB

 

[Christian A.]

I dont really like the Mafel flexi guide  its okay does the job but im not a fan of it!

Why don't you (really) like it?

Thanks,

Christian

 

[jmbfestool]

I dont really like the Mafel flexi guide  its okay does the job but im not a fan of it!

Why don't you (really) like it?

Thanks,

Christian

I dont find it stays  down as well as normal guides unclamped!    The flexi rail can  be clamped but with these extra pieces of metal BUT my main reason is the handle at the start which makes me not like the rail its only long enough for 4ft cut  any longer you can not use it as you can sit it ONTOP into the work piece because the handle sits below the rail.

Oh also my mate didnt have his that long and already the rubber underneath was cracking and coming off!  With the solid guides if the grippers wear away you replace it how do you replace the mafel flexi rail ones? Dont think you will be sticking little short lines all over the rail lol

the saw its self is mint and has so much power for its size cnt believe it really! and the spring loaded rail is nice!
JMB

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Everyone!!!

The Festool TS55 is a failure, it's a worthless saw, please buy a Mafell MT55
If you cannot buy them in the USA maby I can arange free shipping!

The TS55 is only good if you like dust and don't saw any deeper than 30mm, that's the limit. The first model of the TS55 (only available a couple of months in the beginning) you could have had a great saw, because the temperature protection didn't kicked in so soon. Now if you are cutting a meranti door (40mm) the Festool wil jam!!! I't rediculas.

So the answer the guestion: What would you like to see in a next generation TS-55?
Take a look at the Mafell MT55 and see if you can build a better machine than that, I'll doubt that!

Funny how there are plenty of users of the TS55 that think just the opposite of you.  Maybe what you really need is a different blade or TS75 for that application instead of verbally trashing the saw or what the heck, MAYBE you just got a bad saw.  I get excellent dust collection and have used it a lot deeper than 30mm without any problem.  As a matter of fact, I even used a FOG member's TS55 with the 28 tooth blade to rip cut a long length of 6x6 oak.

 

[ccarrolladams]

Personally I hope that the marvelous Festool TS55 remains in production for years to come. I have made a lot of money using these saws! [smile]

Since I have no complaints about the current saw, I also have no suggestions about any next generation TS55. All I ask is that should a next generation saw be needed, that the current generation also be available.

One of the few Festools I ever sold was my TS65. I had rarely used the one I bought the summer of 2006(?) so while waiting for my TS75 when a friend offered me a good price I sold that TS65. There was nothing wrong with the design of the TS65, but for my application the TS55 did everything I needed to do. This is still true.

 

[andy5405]

Everyone!!!

The Festool TS55 is a failure, it's a worthless saw, please buy a Mafell MT55
If you cannot buy them in the USA maby I can arange free shipping!

The TS55 is only good if you like dust and don't saw any deeper than 30mm, that's the limit. The first model of the TS55 (only available a couple of months in the beginning) you could have had a great saw, because the temperature protection didn't kicked in so soon. Now if you are cutting a meranti door (40mm) the Festool wil jam!!! I't rediculas.

So the answer the guestion: What would you like to see in a next generation TS-55?
Take a look at the Mafell MT55 and see if you can build a better machine than that, I'll doubt that!

Funny how there are plenty of users of the TS55 that think just the opposite of you.  Maybe what you really need is a different blade or TS75 for that application instead of verbally trashing the saw or what the heck, MAYBE you just got a bad saw.  I get excellent dust collection and have used it a lot deeper than 30mm without any problem.  As a matter of fact, I even used a FOG member's TS55 with the 28 tooth blade to rip cut a long length of 6x6 oak.

I'm completely happy with my TS55 and like almost everybody it has exceeded my expectations. The only thing that did surprise me was that I initially felt it was a bit underpowered when used with thicker materials. I have absolutely no experience with the Mafell but from what I read on various forums their plunge saw is the only thing that appears to actually be better than the Festool. Armed with that knowledge I still bought the TS55.

According to the Festool sponsored Wood Whisperer the Dewalt is at least as good as well. I'm not bothered but it should worry Festool. So many people start their Festool journey with the TS55, and so much of what they shift is on the back of that. It has to be beyond perfect from now on as they have never experienced so much competition. This of course is not amazing insight, it's common knowledge to any Festoool junkie so we know that the Festool design team will have been burning midnight oil tweaking the next generation saw. It should be interesting to see what they come up with.

I also think they have shot themselves in the foot with the T-Locs to an extent. I was becoming Festool addicted but a with a few months to reflect on my last big spend my brand loyalty has diminished. The only thing I'm addicted to is the boxes though and they have become the only part of the "Festool system" that really matters to me. They are an incredibly good idea but I have to honest and say I don't really give a stuff what brand tool is inside them.

 

[Deansocial]

to me a saw that bogs down or even stops cutting it full capacity has a motor that is to small. I don't care if it adds a few hundred grams if it can do what it is suposed to do. I have a 7 1/4 hitachi saw that will cut full depth in anything i have tried it in, This is due to the 1700w motor.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Everyone!!!

The Festool TS55 is a failure, it's a worthless saw, please buy a Mafell MT55
If you cannot buy them in the USA maby I can arange free shipping!

The TS55 is only good if you like dust and don't saw any deeper than 30mm, that's the limit. The first model of the TS55 (only available a couple of months in the beginning) you could have had a great saw, because the temperature protection didn't kicked in so soon. Now if you are cutting a meranti door (40mm) the Festool wil jam!!! I't rediculas.

So the answer the guestion: What would you like to see in a next generation TS-55?
Take a look at the Mafell MT55 and see if you can build a better machine than that, I'll doubt that!

Funny how there are plenty of users of the TS55 that think just the opposite of you.  Maybe what you really need is a different blade or TS75 for that application instead of verbally trashing the saw or what the heck, MAYBE you just got a bad saw.  I get excellent dust collection and have used it a lot deeper than 30mm without any problem.  As a matter of fact, I even used a FOG member's TS55 with the 28 tooth blade to rip cut a long length of 6x6 oak.

So you advise a TS75 because the TS55 can't cut it...? I rest my case.

A thik door ore a nice peace of bambo ore oak in 40mm you can't cut it more than 60 a 80 centimetes, than the  temperature protection kicks in.
As far as I now there a 3 versions of the TS55:
1. If you saw is really cutting 40 to 50mm massive wood, you got the only right version, that's the first they made 5 years ago, for about 1 year.
2. 4 years ago they changed some small things to the foot with the the guide rail green wheels, they put black long lasting plastic around it, and the temperature protection was changed so you cannot saw 40-50mm massive over 60-80cm's, afther that it stops (ofcourse with the W48 blade) I know a lot of people put a W28 ore even the PH16 in it, because the saw cannot cut it.
3. The last change I know of is ofcourse with the T-Loc systainer.

Excellent dust collection isn't possible with the TS55 ore you have to modify it. The big hole in the front put duck tape on it, it helps, ore buy a really strong vacum cleaner like the Starmix 1635 ore better. Also use a thik hose the 36mm, it helps enormously.

Everybody likes the TS55 because they don't now better and think Festool is the best, it's a shame.... Open your mind and try some thing, you would be amazed.

...now I see the problem.  It's the guy behind the saw.

 

[neth27]

Everyone!!!

The Festool TS55 is a failure, it's a worthless saw, please buy a Mafell MT55
If you cannot buy them in the USA maby I can arange free shipping!

The TS55 is only good if you like dust and don't saw any deeper than 30mm, that's the limit. The first model of the TS55 (only available a couple of months in the beginning) you could have had a great saw, because the temperature protection didn't kicked in so soon. Now if you are cutting a meranti door (40mm) the Festool wil jam!!! I't rediculas.

So the answer the guestion: What would you like to see in a next generation TS-55?
Take a look at the Mafell MT55 and see if you can build a better machine than that, I'll doubt that!

Funny how there are plenty of users of the TS55 that think just the opposite of you.  Maybe what you really need is a different blade or TS75 for that application instead of verbally trashing the saw or what the heck, MAYBE you just got a bad saw.  I get excellent dust collection and have used it a lot deeper than 30mm without any problem.  As a matter of fact, I even used a FOG member's TS55 with the 28 tooth blade to rip cut a long length of 6x6 oak.

I'm completely happy with my TS55 and like almost everybody it has exceeded my expectations. The only thing that did surprise me was that I initially felt it was a bit underpowered when used with thicker materials. I have absolutely no experience with the Mafell but from what I read on various forums their plunge saw is the only thing that appears to actually be better than the Festool. Armed with that knowledge I still bought the TS55.

According to the Festool sponsored Wood Whisperer the Dewalt is at least as good as well. I'm not bothered but it should worry Festool. So many people start their Festool journey with the TS55, and so much of what they shift is on the back of that. It has to be beyond perfect from now on as they have never experienced so much competition. This of course is not amazing insight, it's common knowledge to any Festoool junkie so we know that the Festool design team will have been burning midnight oil tweaking the next generation saw. It should be interesting to see what they come up with.

I also think they have shot themselves in the foot with the T-Locs to an extent. I was becoming Festool addicted but a with a few months to reflect on my last big spend my brand loyalty has diminished. The only thing I'm addicted to is the boxes though and they have become the only part of the "Festool system" that really matters to me. They are an incredibly good idea but I have to honest and say I don't really give a stuff what brand tool is inside them.

Mafell is a lovey brand, and not only the MT55 is good.
They invented the pull-cross-saw (like the CS50 ore 70) 37 years ago (erika 60, 70 and 85)
Also the Mafell P1 jigsaw is the best there is, and the new sander is amazing.
Problem is no one knows Mafell...
AND they are all diliverd in systainers (love it)

I used to own the TS55 but sold it because as you said it would not cut down doors... kept cutting out.... I bought the Mafell and have had no problems with it cutting down doors  [big grin]

John...

 

[tdfiver]

I have 3 circular saws in my armoury, my first a big DeWalt that rips up anything, and has been thrown around lots in the past 6 or 7 years and still goes well.
My next purchase probably 4 years ago now, was a Mafell KSP40 (plunge saw) with a flexi rail. This saw is a wonder for its size as it is so small and neat in design it gets in places that the larger saws can't. It is very well made but only cuts to 40mm, and the blades 120mm are very expensive.
Next I bought the TS55, I've had this for about 2 years and its literally made money for me, I can cut down doors in double quick time and hardly ever need a planer now. its also great for cutting wet wall with the rails making a 2400mm cut so quick and easy to set up. It is very well made but the finish is not a s durable as the Mafell though.

When my TS55 is wron out and knackered then I may get the Mafell MT55 next but that'll be a while away yet.

 

[Sam Murdoch]

I didn't buy the TS 55 to cut everything. What I did buy it to do it has done exceptionally well. We don't use my wife's Mini Cooper for towing or for dump runs - we have my truck for those activities. That doesn't diminish the Mini Cooper in any way.

As for the question, I agree with the proposed: depth setting zero out to guide rail feature, reconfiguring how the power chord and the vac hose exit the tool (I would like them to be more in parallel), fixing the tip of the saw when cutting bevels (that's dangerous though manageable if you keep your wits about you), yes to more bevel capacity in either direction (although that is a very rare need, for me at least) and finally I add 1 idea of my own - make the guide rail two directional.

With all that said – I'm liking my TS-55 just as is!

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I didn't buy the TS 55 to cut everything. What I did buy it to do it has done exceptionally well. We don't use my wife's Mini Cooper for towing or for dump runs - we have my truck for those activities. That doesn't diminish the Mini Cooper in any way.

As for the question, I agree with the proposed: depth setting zero out to guide rail feature, reconfiguring how the power chord and the vac hose exit the tool (I would like them to be more in parallel), fixing the tip of the saw when cutting bevels (that's dangerous though manageable if you keep your wits about you), yes to more bevel capacity in either direction (although that is a very rare need, for me at least) and finally I add 1 idea of my own - make the guide rail two directional.

With all that said – I'm liking my TS-55 just as is!

So what would be the purpose of a dual directional guide rail?

 

[jonny round boy]

So what would be the purpose of a dual directional guide rail?

I guess so you could cut in both directions, without having to turn the guide rail around. For example, if you wanted to trim the factory edge off a sheet of ply, you'd be cutting from left to right (assuming the sheet is on a bench in front of you). Then, you measure the width of the strip you need, and then you need to turn the guide rail around to cut right to left. If you're in a small space working with a long rail, removing the need to spin it around could be useful. For example, I'd love a 2700 of 3000 guide rail, but in my workshop I'd struggle to turn it round without banging it into stuff & potentially damaging it.

 

[Sam Murdoch]

In my narrow shop it is often a little production to end for end the longer guide rails. I don't own the MFT but rather cut off a 4'+ x 8'+ table that when fully loaded with sheets of plywood is not easily accessible from both edges. I can live without this guide rail modification but sometimes it would be very, very useful.

 

[jonny round boy]

As for other things I'd like to see, I'm quite happy with the TS55 as it is for the most part. Of course it isn't perfect, so there is room for improvement.

More power would be great - the TS55 handles 90% of my cutting well, but it does struggle with some stuff. Personally, I don't have any problem with the plug-it position. Maybe I've just got used to it? But if they did move it, I wouldn't have any problem with that.

Same with the depth scale - I've got used to adding on a few mm to account for the guide rail, so that isn't too big a deal for me.

I like the idea of stopping the saw tipping when cutting on the bevel, but in reality I don't see how that could work. The makita locks on to an extra rib on the rail, but all that acheives is that the saw tips & pulls the rail over with it. Unless you clamp the rail, of course. I don't do many bevel cuts, but when I have the tipping hasn't been a problem for me - with the saw tipped over, there's plenty of room for your left hand directly on the baseplate to keep it flat throughout the cut.

There's one other thing that I'd really like to see, and that's the facility to lock the position of the hose outlet. Many times I've moved the outlet to get the hose out of the way at the start of a cut, but then within a few hundred mm the weight of the hose moves it to another position & the hose catches on what I was trying to avoid in the first place...

 

[Alan m]

i agree about the double sided rail.
johny that would help a lot. the rotating port is a neusince as it turns when the saw is running, a ratcheting system inside would be great

 

[mouppe]

I find all the discussion about the ts 55 saw being underpowered a little odd. If you are pushing the saw to its limit day in day out perhaps you should consider the ts75. If you have to do one tough cut from time to time, make the cut in two passes, then shift the saw half a millimeter to the left and make a full clean up pass.

You have to find the right tool for the job not blame the tool for something it wasn't intended to do.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I find all the discussion about the ts 55 saw being underpowered a little odd. If you are pushing the saw to its limit day in day out perhaps you should consider the ts75. If you have to do one tough cut from time to time, make the cut in two passes, then shift the saw half a millimeter to the left and make a full clean up pass.

You have to find the right tool for the job not blame the tool for something it wasn't intended to do.

Or you can make changes to the current design and expand on what it is intended to do....

 

[Deansocial]

i seriously think if a saw blade sticks out below the base plate 55mm then it should cut 45mm without a problem, may struggle with the 55mm as you should have the blade sticking out a little, is that too much to ask? really?  oh and BTW i have the ts75 not the 55 but have used it and thought it was massivly underpowered

 

[AlexThePalex]

You have to find the right tool for the job not blame the tool for something it wasn't intended to do.

It isn't called the TS-55 for nothing.