Which cordless track saw?

[Cheese]

Ya, don't dismiss the capabilities of the single battery HKC, it's a great saw for a lot of different projects.

I was ripping 7/4 aromatic cedar which has a Janka hardness similar to Maple, Mahogany or Walnut. I was getting really bad blade marks using the TSC & 12 tooth Panther blade. So out of desperation, I pulled the HKC off of its track and placed it on the TSC track instead.  The TSC rip is on the top, the HKC rip is on the bottom.

It was because of this experience that I decided to go down the Mafell MT 55 rabbit hole with the thin kerf blade.

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[Cheese]

I've got a pretty similar collection of saws to yours, but haven't taken the plunge (no pun intended) with any Mafell gear yet. I keep hearing "they're just better" from people, but not a lot of details about why.

It's gotten to the point that I now use the MT 55 most of the time, it's just such a nice saw to use. It has so many features it's difficult to know where to start. The blade changing is amazing, it literally takes 30 seconds. The rails are so nice to use, the splinter strip is absolutely the best, no need for a rail alignment tool, just slide them together and tighten. The rails have a secondary clamp slot so narrow pieces of wood can be easily ripped. The rail clamps are really nice...the saw scoring feature, single bevel lock mechanism, the saw can be used on Festool rails...I could go on & on.  [smile]

The only improvement would be a glide strip on the Mafell/Bosch rails. The MT 55 does glide down the Festool rail smoother than the Mafell rail.

 

[grobkuschelig]

… I was getting really bad blade marks using the TSC & 12 tooth Panther blade. So out of desperation, I pulled the HKC off of its track and placed it on the TSC track instead.  The TSC rip is on the top, the HKC rip is on the bottom.

I would advise to check your baseplate alignment on the TSC if you get these kinds of blade marks…

 

[Michael Kellough]

… I was getting really bad blade marks using the TSC & 12 tooth Panther blade. So out of desperation, I pulled the HKC off of its track and placed it on the TSC track instead.  The TSC rip is on the top, the HKC rip is on the bottom.

I would advise to check your baseplate alignment on the TSC if you get these kinds of blade marks…

And if the same saw yields perfect results (in plywood) with the standard (fine tooth blade) blade what would you check? In my experience the Panther blade is so unpredictable that I'll only use it as a last resort. The Universal blade works well for me.

 

[grobkuschelig]

In that case I would get a new panther blade.

I have a panther for my TS55 (2.2) and one for the HKC (1.8). No issues. „Same“ cut quality as fine tooth, universal or melamine blades, in regards to non-existing blade marks, but I also spent half a day adjusting the saws…

 

[mino]

And if the same saw yields perfect results (in plywood) with the standard (fine tooth blade) blade what would you check? In my experience the Panther blade is so unpredictable that I'll only use it as a last resort. The Universal blade works well for me.

Cheese apparently had an issue using TSC with 12T 2.2mm Panther while the 12T 1.8mm Panther for the HKC worked fine. If anything, the observation should be the opposite, with the thinner blade being less stable, not more.

So that indicates either too much play somewhere (cams on track or bearings on saw), bad alignment of the saw or a bad blade.

The 28T universal should be in a different league above both reg. stability though.

 

[bidn]

I am like you. I started many years ago with a heavy TS 75.
Then something like 2 years ago I added a HKC 55 + the three FSK rails ( different lengths).

2 pros of the HKC:
- huge time savings (no hoses and power cable, rails always connected; direct angle settings)
- for me the safiest of all saws because of the system attaching it to the rail.

Cons:
- FSK rails limited in length
- need to make sure that the two stops are always both  touching the piece being sawn (sometimes only one maybe in contact,  or they may be put against another piece like sacrificial wood or a bench) = precision work requires more attention during the cuts,  unlike with rails fixed the traditional way.

So I love the HKC,  it is a great "toy" bringing a lot of speed, fun and motivation.

I have just ordered a TSC 55 K, so I will have soon more experience.

 

[fshanno]

I have a TS55 and no Festool cordless tools.  In my case the Makita XSH10Z looks unbeatable.  36v - 9 1/4" - on or off a track - 3 3/8 cutting capacity at 90.  It has a vac hookup just like a plunge saw. 

And my old 35 year old Makita circular saw has seen it's better days.  In fact I've just about worn out all the blades I have for it.

Of course the XSH10Z is not a plunge saw but it does have a facility to comfortably raise the blade guard as you begin the cut.  It certainly isn't as clumsy as a conventional circ saw on a cradle. 

You can gang cut up to 4 sheets in a stack.  And it almost cuts a 4x4, lacking only about 1/16.  This leaves one pondering why not make the blade 9 3/8" but, oh well.