You have the TS55 but wished you had the TS75 instead?

[dinkjs]

I will be making the investment in the next couple weeks on the TS55.....my question is for those that do have the TS55....do you wish you would of paid the extra money for the TS75 or are you happy sticking with the TS55?

 

[jonny round boy]

I have a TS55, and can honestly say I've never wished I'd got the TS75 instead. Then again, I don't think I've ever needed to cut more than 2" of thickness...

 

[semenza]

Hi,

I have the 55 and in about seven years have wanted the 75 about three times. In each case I was able to find a work around to use the 55. Such as cutting from both sides. Which is quite easy with the accuracy of the guide rail. It would not have been worth the trade off in size , handling,  weight, and additional cost + additional blade cost) to have gotten the 75 for those few times.

However if you know you wil be cutting thick stock often that is a different matter.

Seth

 

[Frank Pellow]

My original Festool saw was ATF 55E (the TS55 predesesor), and I wished right away that I purchased a larger saw.  I upgraded to the TS75 soon after it was released.  I find the 75  just as easy to operate as the 55.

 

[dinkjs]

My original Festool saw was ATF 55E (the TS55 predesesor), and I wished right away that I purchased a larger saw.  I upgraded to the TS75 soon after it was released.

Why?

 

[chrisrosenb]

I have both. I got the 55 first, I use it maybe 90% of the time just because it is smaller & easier to handle.
I use the 75 for ripping 2X framing lumber & straight line ripping hardwood lumber. If I could only have one, I would pick the 55. 

 

[GPowers]

Very happy with the TS55.  Using it to break down ply.

 

[Dixon Peer]

I have both, and use the larger saw but rarely.  That said, there have been occasions when the smaller saw wouldn't do the job.  I'd say if I could only have one, it would be the larger simply because it can do all the small saw does and more.

 

[Jonhilgen]

I just recently purchased a 75 as a backup (I had to send mine out for service and I had an opportunity to pick up a lightly used one ), and I can honestly say it just sits in my garage collecting dust.  After using the 55 for so long, when I pull the larger  75 saw out I don't even want to use it because it's so heavy.  

If you just need one, I would go with the 55.  If not, pm me, I might want to sell my ts75.

Jon

 

[tjbier]

I had the TS55 first and returned it for the TS75.
but I was ripping 4/4 and 6/4 Oak, Cherry and Poplar, so I needed the bigger saw. I can truly see why some people have both 55 and 75, they both serve there purposes.
But like Chris said, most of the time the TS55 will do the job.

 

[davee]

I am fortunate enough to have both, and really appreciate both.  I bought the 55 first and would say if I had only one it would be this one.  However, for ripping 2x and thicker hardwood the 75 can't be beat.  The 55 really struggled through some cuts (but made them just the same).  They are great saws.

 

[mouppe]

Simply put, yes. I wish I had bought the TS75 over the TS55. My saw never leaves the shop so portability is not an issue for me. There have been a couple of occasions when I could have done with the extra depth of cut, although power has never been a problem with the TS55, even in really tough hardwoods.

 

[USPcompact]

The 55 really struggled through some cuts (but made them just the same). 

I think the biggest difference between the two (as far as the 55 struggling through cuts that the 75 has no problem with) is the different blades that come with each.  The 48-tooth fine cut blade on the 55 does a POOR job with anything other than pure cross-cutting in

 

[ccarrolladams]

My first Festool was the TS55 I bought, with a CT22, in January 2006. In 2007 and 2009 I bought additional TS55. In late February I bought another TS55,

Over the years each of those TS55 has made me money. In early 2006 Festool was making a TS65. It was a fine saw, but I used my TS55 to break down 12mm and 19mm plywood. I felt no need to the larger saw.

Then I had the chance to try a TS75 while in Europe. As soon as I got back to Los Angeles I pre-ordered one. I still have it, but only use it infrequently now. When I bought it I used it a lot because then I had no shop of my own and consequently no table saw.

When I built my shop in 2010 I bought several fixed saws.

Two of the cabinet makers working for me owned TS75 as their only plunge saw. I notice when they break down even 12mm sheet goods they use their own saws. Both of those fellows say the prefer the heft of the TS75, yet all three of us are about the same size.

Clearly there are reasons for both sizes of TS.

 

[simon]

Depends on what you will use it for. I needed it to cut sheet goods, max 18mm. Only wish i'd bought a longer 2nd guide rail.

 

[Jack Parks]

My original Festool saw was ATF 55E (the TS55 predesesor), and I wished right away that I purchased a larger saw.  I upgraded to the TS75 soon after it was released.  I find the 75  just as easy to operate as the 55.

I followed the same path as Frank, purchasing an ATF55 first and then buying a TS75 when they were introduced.  I could use the TS75 for everything, the extra weight does not bother me.  What does bother me is that the splinter guard on the TS75, designed to work when making cuts measured to the right of the saw, does not function when cutting 3/4" stock unless you plunge the saw to a depth that is way too deep for normal cuts.  I now have a purchase a TS55 to go with my other two Festool track saws.  If I could only have one it would be the TS55.

 

[Frank Pellow]

[
I followed the same path as Frank, purchasing an ATF55 first and then buying a TS75 when they were introduced.  I could use the TS75 for everything, the extra weight does not bother me.  What does bother me is that the splinter guard on the TS75, designed to work when making cuts measured to the right of the saw, does not function when cutting 3/4" stock unless you plunge the saw to a depth that is way too deep for normal cuts.  I now have a purchase a TS55 to go with my other two Festool track saws.  If I could only have one it would be the TS55.

Jack look at Paul Marcel's review of the TS75 in the thread:  http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tool-reviews/review-of-festool-ts-75/

Paul shows how to make the splinter guard useful with this larger saw. 

 

[fdengel]

I only have the TS55 (and other-brand circ saws, which now collect dust), and the TS55 is great; definitely no complaints there.

If I had to cut thicker stock quite frequently I suspect I'd rather get a bandsaw than try to upgrade to the TS75, but of course that would be rather limiting on the field...

The Festool jigsaws can supposedly handle up to 4" thick workpieces, so that's another option I might consider should the need arise.

In the interim, I can always use a hand saw.  I have one of the Japanese "ryoba"-type saws, and after some practice it is great for cutting a lot of those types of things if you aren't doing a lot of it.  Much cheaper than the power tools, too.

 

[unityroad]

Being a remolding contractor, simply put. I bought both. Each has its own vac,hoes rails,etc...That way one guy cutting doors, the other sheet goods. However for most shop home workers the 55 is the logical choice. Now that being said, I hunt with a 12g shot gun.  The 20g will work, but the 12g has all the possibilities covered. 

 

[tbellemare]

'Pretty tough to bring down a goose with a 20-gauge.

Tom