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

I had the TS 75 for the reasons many here bring up (it covers all situations), but after messing with it for about a week, I returned it for the 55 and do not regret it.

Blade choice makes a big difference (with the 48 tooth being a poor choice for ripping hardwoods).  If I am cutting through REALLY hard woods, I can always make two passes in short order.  I also use a table saw as a regular part of my work day.

The handling and maneuverability of the 55 makes it the tool that I reach for more.

Be aware that if you purchase your saw on-line and want to return it, the shipping cost for the atypical box sizes is EXPENSIVE!

I should have waited until I got both saws in the same room before buying.  Once I did, the 55 was the choice for me.
 
i am also like frank and jack.  I started with the atf55 then the is75 then the ts55.  I use the 55 98% of the time it serves my purpose  once in a while I have to trim a 1 1/2 or thicker door and I use the 75 as it goes through it better, even though the 55 will also but a little slower.
 
honeydokreg said:
i am also like frank and jack.  I started with the atf55 then the is75 then the ts55.  I use the 55 98% of the time it serves my purpose  once in a while I have to trim a 1 1/2 or thicker door and I use the 75 as it goes through it better, even though the 55 will also but a little slower.
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No just like me, I use the TS 75 100% of the time.  

;D  Who needs a wimpy 55?  [poke]
 
I own both saws. TS55 and TS75.

I love the TS55 but only like the TS75

The TS55 is strong enough to cut anything at full depth but weak enough for you to plunge and not to worry it will kick back at you (unless your a wimp).  It's not to heavy and it runs very smooth and this is good as it helps to keep the rail place! I say this because the TS75 does not run as smooth and is alot heavier and i tend to knock/move my rail more easily with my TS75 compared to the TS55.  I just dont feel or think I can move as fast with the TS75 compared with the TS55.

Also plunging with the TS75 you can feel the saw wanting to pull down you don't get it with the TS55 i just feel like you have ALOT more control with the TS55.  If i had the choose I would go with the TS55.  I think you need both for when the TS55 does not cut deep enough that's y I bought both but I did have the TS55 for couple years before i got the TS75 so I did manage with out.

Jmb
 
I have had both, too.  I sold the 55 to get the 75 after I sold my table saw.  I wish I had my 55 back.  It's much lighter and much of what I cut is 4/4 or less.  Once day, when I can afford it, I'll get the 55 and it will be my workhorse unless I am cutting 8/4 or thicker.
 
Super thread discussion.  I've be dying to get a TS 75 but didn't want to violate my tool rule (don't buy it until you need it).  I'm glad I saw this thread before I "needed" the 75.  Maybe it was just the tool pride that I have such a hard time putting to death in my life that made me want the bigger/better/more capacity/more power/cuts through one more sheet of plywood than your saw feeling that was getting the best of me.  Sigh, I don't have to spend that $655 after all since I have the better of the two already!  Thanks for helpin me save the money guys!  I still "feel" like I need it.  I think I just have a hole in my heart for every Festool that they make and I don't own.  It'll be a never ending cycle for me.  I hope they stop coming out with new tools!  I hate the new drills btw...
 
Had a 55, did not like that the blade would literally stop while ripping thicker hardwoods.

I much prefer the 75 by a wide margin.

They make that TS 75 for a reason, if the TS 55 really could handle everything they would not even make the 75.

For me it is the TS75 first and the TS55 as a second saw.  I now have the DeWalt track saw and a TS75 and am very happy with the two.
 
I'd be a lot happier if I could just buy the saw without the rail. I already have a rail and would much prefer to save that money than spend it on something I really don't need or want. That said, I'd honestly be happy with either saw.
 
GaryB said:
I'd be a lot happier if I could just buy the saw without the rail. I already have a rail and would much prefer to save that money than spend it on something I really don't need or want. That said, I'd honestly be happy with either saw.
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If you only have one rail already, you definitely need another. You can get one of a different length if you want, just pay the difference between the rails.

Rails are like clamps - no amount is too many!
 
No.  When I first started planning on Festools I figured I'd buy the TS75 and be done with it.

Went to place an order and the dealer recommended against the TS75 based on my work.

After about a year with the TS55 I bought the TS75 because I was working with 8/4 hard maple.  The 55 will cut it, but the blade can seize up.

I use the 55 most of the time, but when I need it, the 75 comes out and does a great job.
 
Question to all those who have experienced the 55 slowing when ripping thick stock:

Are you using the 48-tooth blade or one more suited to ripping like the universal blade or one of the rip blades?

The reason for my question is that I simply do not ever experience the phenomenon being described if I use a blade suited to the task.  It's rare that I ever immediately go back and forth from ripping to crosscutting or crosscutting to ripping, so it's but a simple matter to use a blade suited for the task at hand.  Further, with the universal blade in the 55, I rarely find a need to use either a rip blade or a crosscut blade unless I know I'm going to be doing a lot of ripping or crosscutting at one time. 
 
This week I had the experience of the saw (TS-55) first slowing and then shutting down while cutting.  BUT, I was taxing it to the limits and beyond.

I was ripping - with a Tenyru rip blade - extremely wet pressure treated 2 x 6 lumber.

In a normal woodworking situation, based on my experiences, I would not have had a problem.

Choosing the correct blade can make the difference between pleasure and frustration.

My 2 cents.

Peter

 
Two of my TS55 always have the fine 48 tooth cat 495 357 installed. I use the sharper blade for with the grain cuts in plywood and the other for cross-grain cuts. A third TS55 always has a Solid Surface/Laminate blade cat 496 309.

I have never used a TS55 to cut construction-grade lumber, just the occasional piece of 19mm stock.

My personal TS75 normally has the Aluminium/Plastics blade cat 495 383 installed. I have found that blade also makes excellent cuts of plywood and laminates so long as the blade is sharp.

For cutting structural lumber I still own worm-drive circular saws, one with a 10" blade. Those cuts hardly compare to a TS55 with a dull blade!
 
I would have used a non Festool circular saw in my situation, but I needed to precisely cut 1/2 inch strips and decided to use the parallel guide system.  I admit that that I ended up using a non Festool vac / dust collector.  The debris made my CT-22 bag the soggy and then...

I look for ways to test my tools daily.  I have rarely been disappointed with my Festo tools.

Peter
 
I'm a hobbyist who makes small-ish things and who is mostly cutting thin timber. (20-45mm)
I like all my Festools to be light so I can pick them up one-handed from the MFT and place them on the workbench behind me.

That is true of the TS55 and 1010 router and Domino and ....
That TS75 is too big and heavy for that.
My MFT isn't big enough to be the place I work with wood and the place I keep my tools when I'm not using them.

There was once and only once while cutting 55mm hard maple that I cursed and wished I'd had a bigger saw.
I had to cut it from both sides ... and it burned the wood ... and left saw marks from my TS55.

But hard maple is a special beast anyway.
In Africa we have something called "Rhodesian Teak" which can also offer some fair resistance to cutting too.
(when you sand it, it seems to just get hotter rather than get sanded !!)

I've be dying to get a TS 75 but didn't want to violate my tool rule (don't buy it until you need it).
Click to expand...
I have the opposite rule for hobbies.
Buy the tool, then justify its purchase by forcing yourself to try out new projects and skills !! [big grin]

If I didn't have that rule, I would never have bought the Domino.
And I wouldn't have expanded my skills to do all the stuff I have with my Domino !!

I use that rule with all my hobbies.
However, anything to do with work or income generation, I use your rule.
 
i use my ts 55 for everything mainly cutting down sheet material, ive never ever needed a deeper plunge/larger blade, if im ripping down thicker stock i use my old dewalt, i couldnt think why i would want a rail saw that would cut deeper than 50mm, if you are ripping down sheets on top of each other and doing this regularly you should get a table saw.
 
Dan1210 said:
i use my ts 55 for everything mainly cutting down sheet material, ive never ever needed a deeper plunge/larger blade, if im ripping down thicker stock i use my old dewalt, i couldnt think why i would want a rail saw that would cut deeper than 50mm, if you are ripping down sheets on top of each other and doing this regularly you should get a table saw.
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Um disagree about the table saw. Don't kno about you but sending a 8x4 sheet through a table saw is awkward and hard to keep straight. For a site table saw it's just simply not practical dare I say impossible unless you set your self up with loads of support around the saw but you won't get a good straight cut even then. A TS55 is the way to go even if you are cutting alot of sheets up.  I think a site table so is only good for ripping timber down or small narrow sheets. 

Jmb
 
Yeh maybe not so much sheet stock but thicker material, i love the 55 saw and think this is the perfect size for which the machine is intended, i guess if you are working with thicker material constantly then the 75 is an easy mobile solution. However if had to rip down thicker stock i would be looking at a good table saw, personally...
 
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