Why would you not use the green TS55REQ splinterguard?

upriver

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Feb 28, 2019
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Hi,

First post, and new to using the TS55REQ. I did search both here and the net in general - but can't find an answer.

Why would you not use the green splinterguard on the saw? Is it because it is a "consumable" and should be saved for times when the offcut needs to be as clean as possible? Does the clear window provide some kind of visibility that is desirable? I'm also not entirely clear on how it becomes consumed - does the edge start to fray a bit? How do you know when it is time to replace it?

In the case of several repeated cuts (imagine a bunch of identical drawer sides), I'd like to avoid having the "bottom" of these boards be unduly splintered. Thus, seems to me that I want to keep the green guard on there for this type of work.

Thanks for entertaining my newb question!
 
I have the Green guard on there all the time.

With cuts and blade changes they become frayed and if I then encounter a build where I really want a nice clean edge, I might put a new one up.
I think I go through 2-4 each year.
 
The only reason that I can think of not to use it is when you are cutting close to an obstruction and you want the saw to be as narrow as possible on the right side.
 
In its working position green splinter guard protrudes below the saw base surface. When you remove the saw from track and place it on a table the whole saw rests on the splinter guard. You will inevitably bump it up. It's annoying.
 
Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

    I don't use it unless the material on the off cut side is especially prone to splintering. I rarely have a problem with splintering and most of the time the off cut will get re-cut anyway. So why not leave it on the saw just in case?  I like to use the dust cover plate accessory.  Can't use both together.

  https://www.festoolusa.com/accessory/491750---absa-ts-55

Seth
 
If I were to design the splinter guard, I'd make it spring loaded and without protruding knob.
 
I've never used one on either my TS or TSC saw. As long as the blade is sharp and CLEAN I've never had an issue with chip out in wood.

Perhaps on melamine it makes a difference?
 
[quote author=SRSemenza]I like to use the dust cover plate accessory.  Can't use both together.

[/quote]

Same for me...
 
I've found the dust collection doesn't work as good with the green splintergaurd installed.  So I've gone back to running the clear unless I need a good edge.
 
There is two splinterguards,
the REQ
za499011i.jpg

and the EQ
za491473i.jpg


My TS55 came with the REQ splinterguard and was installed when I unpacked the saw. I never removed it since I didn't use the saw against a wall or too close of an object to be in the way. To sit the saw in the systainer the splinterguard need to be retracted, for mine
anyways. I use it all the time except when I am cutting edges, because it do not help with the suction.
 
The way I understand the design is, the guard should be left in place and used all the time whenever possible.
The only time it should be removed is, when scribing or following a cut line for better accuracy, or sometimes, more so the version with the lock knob, might need to be removed when cutting a door leaf in situ, or a cut very close to a wall etc.

I leave mine on all the time but, in honesty, it doesn’t seem to make a big or noticeable difference with a cut. I have other brands of plunge saws and they don’t have the additional guard but, still produce a superb cut even on veneer and delicate surfaces.

My own opinion is, with a good blade and decent splinter guard strip on the rail, there’s never a problem.
 
I hardly ever use it because most of my cuts don't matter too much on the waste side so the very slight splintering on that side isn't an issue.
When it's an issue I use it.

It's that simple.
 
Jiggy Joiner said:
The way I understand the design is, the guard should be left in place and used all the time whenever possible.
The only time it should be removed is, when scribing or following a cut line for better accuracy, or sometimes, more so the version with the lock knob, might need to be removed when cutting a door leaf in situ, or a cut very close to a wall etc.

I leave mine on all the time but, in honesty, it doesn’t seem to make a big or noticeable difference with a cut. I have other brands of plunge saws and they don’t have the additional guard but, still produce a superb cut even on veneer and delicate surfaces.

My own opinion is, with a good blade and decent splinter guard strip on the rail, there’s never a problem.

If you leave it on all the time it will get cut back by the inevitable runout of the blade just like the main splinter guard does. If the green plastic isn’t actually touching the blade or very close to it then it isn’t making a difference.

Also, when you make a deep cut that green splinter guard will no longer be useful for shallower cuts. So, I leave it off until I really need it, the odd occasion when the offcut is the keeper and the material is prone to chipping.
 
Michael Kellough said:
Jiggy Joiner said:
The way I understand the design is, the guard should be left in place and used all the time whenever possible.
The only time it should be removed is, when scribing or following a cut line for better accuracy, or sometimes, more so the version with the lock knob, might need to be removed when cutting a door leaf in situ, or a cut very close to a wall etc.

I leave mine on all the time but, in honesty, it doesn’t seem to make a big or noticeable difference with a cut. I have other brands of plunge saws and they don’t have the additional guard but, still produce a superb cut even on veneer and delicate surfaces.

My own opinion is, with a good blade and decent splinter guard strip on the rail, there’s never a problem.

If you leave it on all the time it will get cut back by the inevitable runout of the blade just like the main splinter guard does. If the green plastic isn’t actually touching the blade or very close to it then it isn’t making a difference.

Also, when you make a deep cut that green splinter guard will no longer be useful for shallower cuts. So, I leave it off until I really need it, the odd occasion when the offcut is the keeper and the material is prone to chipping.

Yes, that makes a lot of sense, even more so when I think about the amount of use my TS55 gets, it’s actually the least used of my plunge saws. I guess if it was my only saw, and leaving the guard fixed all the time, I’d no doubt see it wearing.

As I say, my other saws do not have the guard, and don’t seem to suffer any ill effects as a consequence. I actually thought of this thread today, as I was buying some tools, they had a tub of the splinter guards on the counter. I asked if they sold many?, the guy replied “does anybody actually use them?”  [blink]
 
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