Would like advice on Possible Purchase - TS 55 EQ

[Basshunter]

Have a line on a very good condition TS55 EQ and 106" Rail.  I own no Festool stuff and have no real first hand experience with them...have wanted to get the track saw for a while now...Would someone being will to connect with me either via PM or telephone to discuss the details of the deal and pros/cons of going with the older model?  Need to commit to the seller early today.

Thanks in advance if anyone is willing to connect.

 

[TomGadwa1]

I own a TS55 EQ and it is a fantastic saw! If it looks good try some cuts with it and the rail and I think you will be sold on it. It will leave a glue ready edge but be careful as it is sharp as well! After you get it home I think you will need a shorter rail or two and pick up some quick claims as well. Which means your first trip to a FESTOOL dealer. Beware my friend as once you start getting these tools you will want more and more and more,,,,

 

[ccarrolladams]

Have a line on a very good condition TS55 EQ and 106" Rail.  I own no Festool stuff and have no real first hand experience with them...have wanted to get the track saw for a while now...Would someone being will to connect with me either via PM or telephone to discuss the details of the deal and pros/cons of going with the older model?  Need to commit to the seller early today.

Thanks in advance if anyone is willing to connect.

Hi and  [welcome] to The FOG'

My first Festool was a TS55 EQ back in 2006. I also bought a Festool CT22 dust extractor and extra rails, along with some Festool clamps. Since then I have bought virtually all Festools sold in the USA.

The first TS55 still works as if factory new and it has made me a lot of money. I own a lot of TS55 for my shop so that all of my cabinet makers could be using one at the same time if that were necessary. When the TS55REQ was announced for the USA I pre-ordered 2 of them, so all of my crew could gain experience with them.

In your situation I would buy the used TS55 EQ assuming it works well on that long rail when you try it. The new TS%%REQ is also a fine saw, but for cabinet making it has no advantages I can find.

What is important to get the advantage of Festools is that you use a dust extractor with your saw. If you can find a CT22 that works, it will do fine. The CT26 replaced the CT22 during the summer of 2010. But again I have a 2006 CT22 that I still use every day.

The normal guide rail for a TS55 EQ or REQ is 1400mm (55") which is just long enough to cut 48"  I own one of the 2700mm (106") guide rails. With care it is just long enough to make an 8' cut with a TS55, but the long rail is awkward making 48" cuts. With the long rails I suggest clamping them in place using the special Festool clamps.

Should you eventually want to make cabinets with hole for adjustable shelf pins, then instead of an ordinary 1400mm rail, buy one with the guide holes for just a few dollars more. Here in FOG we often call those "Holy Rails". They work just as effectively as the ordinary one with the saws.

While at a Festool dealer or buying from one on-line, consider buying a spare blade for your saw. The standard blade supplied with all TS55s is the 48 tooth fine blade. That is excellent for plywood and MFD. Festool also sells rip blades for solid lumber and other special blades for laminates and also for aluminum. With certain kinds of plywood I use the laminate blade and for other plywoods I use the aluminum blade.

 

[panelchat]

the track saw is a great invention and i highly recommend one, from festool (or any good manufacturer).
its is really a new type of tool, unlike a circular saw or table saw, that opens up new ways of working as well as fantastic problem solving opportunities for cabinetmakers and carpenters.

the saw/vac combination cost was prohibitive for me so i bought the saw first, the vac later.
vac is superb, but the saw worked quite well alone too.
i have heard of a bosch dust bag, maybe from a belt sander? (you could search it here) that fits and can offer some ok passive chip collection.
otherwise rotate the saw's dust port toward the side and most of the chips fly out of it, away from the saw.

you might look closely at the rail and check for any dings or bends. they are fairly easy to damage.

 

[Basshunter]

Thanks all for the feedback and connections off line ...  This really is a helpful group.

Going to go see the equipment in a few minutes.  I am comfortable that what I will be using it for - mainly sheet goods and 3/4 hardwoods, the older version will be just fine.  The savings vs new can go towards a vac at some point in the future.

I will report back if I come home with new toys.

 

[Basshunter]

Well happy to report - I have my first Festool tool!  All of the equipment was in very good condition (hardly used).  So this is what I got:

TS55
1400 Guide Rail
2700 Guide Rail (even has the wood shipping box for storage)
4 11/16 Screw Clamps
11 13/16 Screw Clamps
Spare Splinter Guard to the 1400

Freud SD208 dado stack (part of the deal)

Got the entire package for $650 - given the excellent condition of the stuff - I felt this was fair deal.

Thanks again for all the help yesterday!

 

[tjbnwi]

To make the saw really shine, you now need a CT dust extractor. Welcome to the decline of your finical situation.

Tom

 

[Sparktrician]

Good find, Basshunter!  I concur with Tom that the next great find should be a CT dust extractor. 

 

[mdelrossi]

great deal, congrats!

Definitely get yourself a DC. [thumbs up]

 

[Basshunter]

A vac is high on the list for sure.  May wait to get it with a domino - to get a package deal (unless something used comes up).

 

[ccarrolladams]

A vac is high on the list for sure.  May wait to get it with a domino - to get a package deal (unless something used comes up).

Use of adequate dust extraction with a Domino is mandatory. That machine will not operate more than a few minutes without dust extraction. The good news is that with a Domino there is virtually no such thing as too much extraction. With Festool sanders being able to adjust the suction is very important.

While I only use Festool CT extractors, I have friends who use ordinary shop vacs to collect dust from their TS saws, Kapex and Dominoes.

 

[Basshunter]

I will definitely be using a vac... - right now it is a ridgid vac...

I am now looking to figure out how to connect a hose to the vac and was wondering if there is a well known or best practice/setup for a hose and connection setup.  The shop vac hose I have is very short, so will be buying a new hose.  Anyone got a link to a preferred solution?  I will be researching, but thought I would ask if someone can direct me to a info source on the subject.

Thanks in advance!

 

[peter halle]

If you are looking for a starter solution for just your TS55 and using your Ridgid vac, you can find hoses that are about 36mm at some Lowes stores and also the Mr. Nozzle brand at Woodcraft and other woodworking stores.  They aren't anti-static, but the Ridgid isn't either.  The inlet on your vac is a standard size and if you were to purchase a Festool hose it would fit.

I have used the Mr. Nozzle hose for a few years with my TS-55.

Peter

 

[Basshunter]

Thanks Peter!

That looks like a very good solution.  Don't want to buy a festool hose yet as I expect I will get one with the vac when I purchase one.

Does that Mr. Nozzle hose require any type of adapter to fit the TS 55 or will it slide over the port?  - I know - basic newbie question...

 

[peter halle]

The Mr. Nozzle will slip over the TS-55 dust port.  Works well for me.

Peter

 

[rvieceli]

This hose from Bosch is an excellent choice. It is 5 meters, 36mm and the vac end will fit your Ridgid as well as a Festool CT. the small tool end works just like the Festool tool connection and will fit your saw. It is slightly cheaper than the one linked to earlier but doesn't have the attachments.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000AV78B/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Basshunter]

Thanks Peter and rvieceli - I appreciate the links and the info.  I like the idea of a longer hose...That way either the vac can be further away, or I can possibly  route the hose up over a ceiling roller.  My Ridgid vac pulls pretty hard so I can't believe there will be a meaningful difference in performance by going with the longer hose.  If that is not correct - please advise.

Thanks again for all the help guys.

 

[Ben H]

I just picked up a 55 as well.  The boys are right about the CT.  I have a friend who spent the better part of 15 yrs with me in the custom car audio world.  I have probably cut 1,000 sheets of MDF in my time.  With my new TS and my CT, we were cutting MDF in my basement, with basically no dust on the floor.  We both were shocked.