I was very hesitant before buying this machine, because of the price. Once I did however, I never looked back. I love the accuracy, the safety, the quality of cut, the cleanliness, the compactness. This machine is the cornerstone of a household :0)
Hi Jean. Great review btw. I've used my TS55 for about 12 years now. It's an amazing tool. Don't worry about the green "slip strips" on the track. Mine is 12 years old and still functions perfectly. I found that keeping the track in a protective bag when not being used has kept it in great condition. I've had to replace the splinter strip 4 or 5 times already. Overall a fantastic tool. I'm sure you will have plenty of great experiences with it.
Hey Jean, great review. I bought my first TS55 plunge saw about 30 years ago. Back in those days the color scheme was blue and the name Festo (same as the mother company). I did a lot of cutting with that tool and it was sadly stolen in 2002. I then replaced it with a new Festool (green) TS55 which I still own and use to this day. When I bought the first one, the salesman told me for minimum splintering, to set the cutting depth so that half a tooth was protruding from the bottom of the workpiece. This has always worked well for me. Something I can really recommend is the cutting table with the sacrificial top and the height and angle adjustable rail pivot. These additions work a charm if you do a lot of repetitive cuts like drawer pieces etc.
Hi, I am sure you will agree that no matter what saw you use, the quality of the cut will depend largely on the quality of the blade. I use a “Parkside” track saw which is most definitely one of the lower end track saws that you can buy, but I offset this by using an 80 tooth saw blade of good quality. You also make a good case for the saw with all the “extras” that are not present in lower end saws, I.E. the spring loaded riving knife, and depth of cut. I have to agree that these are excellent qualities in any saw, I also am writing this comment before I get to the end of your video so that the conclusion is not influenced by your overall assessment, even though you do seem to make a very positive review and also one of the best reviews I have come across. The reasons for this comment is one of price, does the Parkside saw have all the extras that the Festool track saw have no, does the Parkside saw come in a nice plastic box, also no, but I would still go with my Parkside saw because I am a hobbyist, I do not use the track saw every time I am cutting wood and with the quality blade I would venture to say that my cuts are as good as the Festool saw, and I also managed to buy a rage sliding bevel chop saw and still come in less cost that the Festool.
The thing that sets these types of saws apart from basic saws is not the wizz-bang bits it has on them. It is its ability to ease the bottom off of a door without having to remove the door. Because the blade is so close the edge of the overall tool, you can clamp the 900mm straightedge to the door (on your scribed mark) and run the saw along the cut. If you have to take 10mm off the door and there is a 10mm gap between the door and the floor, it can be done. Working on old homes where the floors and wall sink means you are going to get a lot of doors that catch on the floor when opening them. Bought one of these Festo saws about 30yrs ago and it paid for itself on the first job doing exactly what I just described above
After doing my research last spring / summer, I decided to make this saw my first piece of Festool kit. I often go a month or two between using it, but when I need it, it's a game changer. I understand there areothers like it on the market and I've heard good things about them, but I don't regret spending a few extra bucks on the Festool.
Great review! I appreciate the unbiased and very comprehensive approach you used to run this saw through it's paces. Like all your videos, you've managed to blend the 'science' with entertainment and insightful craftsmanship. Thank you, sir!
Great review of the saw. Pity you getting such a lot of negativity here. I have owned a large online tool store here in sa, and my view was that there is a tool for every budget. The festool saw is expensive, but when you take cost of top end blade, systainer and rail into account then it suddenly isn’t crazy. Sure, everyone makes a track saw now, but festool was first and 30 odd years of evolution shows in the detail and features. If you buy one, you won’t wake up the next day saying I wish I bought the cheeper one. There is a comment further down saying that these saws are out of reach of hobbyists, which is completely incorrect. I estimate that in SA 80% of all festool sells to hobbyists. Sure it’s expensive, but it’s there to dream about, aspire to ... lust after .. Good luck, and keep producing content.
I have worked in manufacturing and producing items with very low tolerances requires higher manufacturing cost or else 9 out of 10 products produced would be rejected for not passing quality control. Because of that I can understand where the price of the saw comes from but the biggest contributor to the price (in my opinion) is the fact that Festool is mainly manufactured in Germany.
The negativity is Sad. I am a hobbyist and after buying Festool among other tools over the years, i have never been disappointed. Can you do good woodwork with more reasonably priced tools, of course yes.I enjoy my Festool and will continue buying it. People can debate forever what is the best track saw, maybe the Mafell ? Who cares, research and buy a track saw that fits the budget and your needs. Always take into account the warranty and support which may vary depending on the country you are in. Yes I drank the Green Cool Aid, yes, Im a Festool fanboy. As far as the comments about being an advert, I think the review was fair and besides Im happy that a South African Woodworker has been supported by a local Supplier. Topdog Tools thank you for supporting local. I am sure the content that is posted will continue to be practical , informative and yes often ingenious. Keep up the great videos
@@WoodshopJunkies it’s not only the tool, but the accessories it ships with. Compare a Tanos systainer to a Makita box. No comparison. Blade on a festool vs any other saw. The festool blade is pure quality. The other saws ship with junk blades that I wouldn’t cut reclaimed shutter ply with. The thought they put into dust collection. The ergonomics. The depth stop with micro adjust. And at the end of the day is about R1000 more than other brands who have none of this.
@@WoodshopJunkies I'm pretty sure that Festool puts a lot of money into product development too. On top of that, I don't know how this works abroad, but here in Germany you get three years warranty and if in this period of time your tool fails their service technicians will come to your shop and take care of the problem. You surely have to pay for that too. Not that their tools break often...
Good tool..I use it to cut 9mm ply regularly..no splintering so far..It’s very accurate too..having ply cut to size by specialist cutters is very expensive especially Marine Ply which I only use
Been woodworking 36 years and never used one of these. Biggest question for me is how does it keep from sliding while cutting without clamping the rail down? Friction only? Great review by the way.
Same here. It's actually also called a PLUNGE cut track saw. So to have accurate plunge cuts (depth wise) I see very little people using that plunge feature were they are actually designed for (something that is not really doable with a regular saw). Most people just use it as a regular track saw. Yes, they rely on friction only.
The friction strips on the bottom of a rail should generally hold it on most materials and for most cuts, however you can clamp the rail down using the T slot on the underside, theres a number of clamps you can get from various manufactures that will fit. Have a search for "Saw Guide Rail Clamps" , theres screw and lever types.
Thank you, that was one of the better reviews of the TS55 that I've seen. As an aside, I see that you included the imperial measurements for the depth guide for us Yanks... but am getting a kick out of you providing it in decimal, which would be meaningless to everybody but maybe machinists. 😁 5mm is more commonly thought of as 3/16" up here.
Great review Jean I looked at the Festool but I could not justify spending £400- £500 ! but I did go for the Makita tracksaw and I think it is a great bit of kit !
I decided to move from a normal circular saw to a good immersion saw and this was an eye opener and a stronger push for my accuracy and also fun to use the tool, than deciding between Bosch, Festool, Makita or others. I finally chose the Bosch GKT55 GCE which is 20% cheaper the Festool and more than good and precise enough for me. What was more: this (type of) saw turned out to be so flexible and with the guiderail so precise, that it prevented me from buying a sliding table saw to cut large sheets - this was the real saving...
Nice solid review. The saw and the track have some very interesting features. I for one cannot justify the expense of this saw as I very rarely use the track guides I own now.
Hmm. I'm contemplating which track saw to buy for project videos. The Festool seems amazing but I don't know if I can justify the extra money over the DeWalt or Makita. Lots to think about!
Personally would go for Makita as that's the brand that's most easily available to me. Either way I would go battery powered for anything that isn't stationary (miter saw, full table saw, router table, bandsaw etc), as moving a saw with a dust extraction hose attached is already annoying enough without also having a cord attached to it. Some of the larger batteries can last quite a while, and if you have a few of them and a quick charger you really shouldn't have any issues. It's what most carpenters use on job sites nowadays as well.
Great video review, informative as always and covering plenty of details. I've been using the kreg accu cut as a guide rail system that fits a circular saw, its a pretty good system but not as accurate as a proper track saw as its easily knocked out of place as such I've been looking for a replacement but haven't decided yet, I've found from using a track style system cutting with waste material underneath rather than overhanging helps prevent chipout on the reverse side of the material, it also makes the track and saw more stable.. Setting the cut depth to a mm or two over the material gives a great cut rather than going full depth. Also the quick clamps are amazing for holding work pieces down and I'd assume for clamping under the track too, picked some up less than half price and ive been using them for allsorts, there made by bessey who actually sell the same clamp themselves and for makita, metabo etc so you can often finds deals on them. Looking forward to seeing this used in some more videos.
well , i can tell you that i use the tracksaw verry frequently since i use it for my work , and my tracksaw is from 2008 and i replaced the green slidestrips last year for the first time, and another thing, it didnt help because the strips made a groove so deep in de sole that it still doesnt glide as new, but what do you expect from a saw that has litterely miles on it , and its still going strong
I am from South Africa i am 16 years old and love wood working I have a festool track saw and miter saw and I have the mikiat track saw it’s much better but the festool is nice for woodworking in a work shop but not outside
Extremely detailed review. I'm not sure you need to give exact specs. Try to give a general overview of each feature and maybe put a link to the exact specs in the description. Have fun with the Festool. In the states it's the premium product you can buy.
First price check US was 700.00 plus tax and shipping 😲, might be able to get it for a little less but a properly sharpened blade a skillful hand with a little sandpaper is a lot less money, when not freehand cutting ( I know everybody cant freehand cut) we use a good straight piece of 3/8 ply with a 3/8 fence cut to the edge of the blade, works great, love your videos, when are you going to get the tablesaw up and running!! 🤔 cant wait to see that bad boy in action.
Awesome machine. Very versatile, from what I can see. I think half the price comes from the "soft start" mechanism? I know a lot of people crap themselves when a circular saw starts. I sure do. One day, when I'm rich and famous...
Thx for the review. I’d love to have one, but I’m not sure I would ever be able to afford it. Maybe one day if I ever get my book deal. Lol. Thx for the video
It's a nice saw setup but I can't justify the expense yet. I can see if a person cuts panels on a regular basis like for cabinetry but I'm not there yet. Another great video!!
Festool makes really nice, good quality stuff. But, on my budget I'll stick to Makita and Bosch blue...seems to work fine for me and the level my woodworking is at. Would love a Domino, though. Maybe do a review of one of those?
Nice review Jean. I have to say after doing this review if your not sent more power tools to review i shall be amazed!!!. Jean this was probably the most indepth review I've ever seen on RU-vid, I can see the channel being asked to do more from other top powertool Maker's in the future. One unrelated question...how are you doing with the restoration project on your tablesaw, did you decide on what paint colour to go with? As always my friend 💯% 👍🇬🇧
I haven't. The handles are away for machining and I'm busy working on a make-shift sandblasting rig to clean all the old paint off before starting the repairs.
@@WoodshopJunkies great news!! I'm glad to hear your doing it the right way rather than taking shortcuts and just slapping paint ontop of the old. Don't forget my offer if you struggle on part's etc let me know!!.
I purchased this saw 3-4 years ago. the only thing I found different was the guide edge results when the cut was completed. The material was jagged ant not smooth like your. The saw was out of the box and no previous cutting was done with the track unit.
I actually got the Metabo KGS254M because of your review of it and I got it from Top Dog at that. They're awesome people who give good advice. Them for tools and Hardware Centre for consumables seems to be a winning combo for me. I was contemplating either a track saw (this or Makita) or table saw (Bosch with a better blade). I know your Makita is a bit iffy but what would you go for between the Bosch tablesaw and one of the tracksaws? I've already got a Makita rail which I use with my router and jigsaw with decent results for little odd jobs but I'm now wanting to get a more proper workshop going. I'd love to get a used cabinet saw but none are to be had no matter how hard I search. There are no Martlett or Toolmates to be found anywhere either. Any advice for me?
I got to use one recently with two separate tracks, but even with the original joining plate they were very wobbly and it was almost impossible to keep them in one straight line all across without using a third straight edge to line them up and then clamping them down. Was a little disappointing, honestly.
The standard procedure when joining 2 rails is leaving a mm between them and using another straigth edge (maybe the table?) to line them up. Then snug up the connecting rods. The right angle of the rail itself is not reliable. You could also buy longer rails, so you no longer have to join parts. Greetings.
I do like my ts55, I do agree that the additional blades are a must for ripping thick hardwood. Mine cut out when I used the 48t on a 2m 50mm cut, it didn't make it. So got the 28t and 12t and this has transformed the saw. 28t is a good all rounder.
I’ve heard that the TSC version (cordless/battery powered version) of this saw is both more powerful and easy to use without the cord getting hung up...?
I see the TS55 as a versatile tool. But unless you don't have room for a regular table saw or need the mobility, I can't see spending $700 (at Amazon) for it.
I'm a DIY, without a garage or much space, so a track saw seemed like a great way to go, so I got the TS55. I don't try to save money on cheaper tools, I want something I enjoy and that is not going to be replaced. I was sad to get to know about the features of Mafell MT55 after I bought the TS55. MT55 is more powerful than the TS55 and got the easy scribe, that would have been brilliant, for a higher cost - but worth it. Afterwards I found it that it's troublesome for cutting long boards, so I got a second hand portable tablesaw. Had an older mitersaw prior to buying the TS55. They each do their job, I wouldn't say one saw is better than the other. Miter saw for cuts where the rail would be wandering...
Im no expert, but im pretty sure your meant to set your depth stop so the blade only protrudes 1-2mm through the material, plunging the whole blade through results in more blow out
The only type of people that make negative comments about Festool products are the ones that can’t afford their tools. Milwaukee still doesn’t have a track saw. Come on Milwaukee!!
Is a Mercede AMG Maybach worth the money ? Compared to a Toyota ? Both get you from A to B. But you pay dearly for the bling factor and comfort. I would say your "review" has a tad too many beautiful marketing shots to feel unbiased. If you have it, of course it's worth it.
Festool is like Snap-On; everyone agrees they make great tools, but people will argue to the end about the price. I think the popularity of both is artificially inflated, the same way that Apple products are. Because of this, they can charge more.
Great. Now tell us what it costs and how it compares to (your) other saws - because we mortals will have to pay for each and every tool (unless Topdog sends all of us a saw for review...). (But then: asking us 'Is the Festool TS55 track saw worth the money?' - and then asking us to comment here if we think it is worth it...).
Good but overpriced. Other brands have the same quality for les cost. And what is worst, Festool is famili for itself. Other accesories wont work, and festol is very expensive. If somebody would give it to me, i would sel it and buy other brand.
I bought the Festool T55 some years ago. Yes It IS very OVER priced. It is has a number features that other saws do not have. But that does NOT say that the saw is worth the price. It IS OVER priced. It got started years ago and believe it or not the PRICE caused the mulitutdes; who have bought them like you and I and others. NO it is NOT worth its price; because it IS OVER priced. It's a fad really. "Every one has one I MUST buy one syndrome". Pure psychological I believe. As competitors come in (almost every day) "Festool" MAY come down in price. Not sure. Others will disagree and I respect them but I will NEVER say that this saw is not OVERLY priced. Because IMHO it IS OVER priced from its inception. So is EVERY thing they market. But as we buy them, who can blame them for making a killing on a saw which is NOT worth what it is worth. A Makita or a DeWalt and others are better built saws. Oh indeed they are I believe. But is outstandingly marketed. With colors and what all... For what it's "worth".
I agree the price is pretty high, one problem I think is that the financial market really blows them out of context outside of Europe. Comparing prices between a Festool tracksaw system with the Bosch Professional system there‘s way less of a difference when comparing German prices to US prices, for example. Again, I agree, part of the problem is people are willing to pay the price. And I agree that a lot of people buy these kind of tools for the fad, not for the actual use they will get out of it. These tools are not consumer grade, they are meant for professionals using them every day, often getting up of 20 hours a week of work out of them. The gimmicks that don’t seem relevant for the consumer add up over the time and might save time or just provide safety or comfort over long time usage. Speaking of time, I still have early/mid-90s Festo machines and they still work great with little effort - I can‘t say that any consumer grade tool lasted me longer than 5 years. Is it absolutely overpriced for the consumer wanting to trim down a door or countertop once or twice, absolutely. Is it disproportionately overpriced when compared to other high-end consumer or professional tools outside of Europe, absolutely. Are those other tools comparable in quality and give many people the kind of performance they seek and even exceed it, yes and yes. No, the price won’t come down. Most Festools are sold to professionals, to people to whom 400-500 bucks for a niche tool (a circular saw and a straight edge do the same job with less comfort and ease than a tracksaw) is money well spent because it eliminates measuring base plate offset, careful clamping while holding your breath and they use it every day.
I can never justify festool gear any more. They don't stand out enough for me for the price to make a difference. The primary differences between their competitors are a mix of gimmicks and semigimmicks, not stuff like gear, bearing, and motor quality.
Judging weather to spend half my yearly disposable income on a saw for my hobby - yeah, no - doesn't matter if it is the best saw in the world. Festool in SA is for rich people that want to show off to their buddies or for companies with more money than common sense. Who is your channel aimed at?
@@BOBBY-et9xb Yep - wich is kinda sad. Finally a SA woodworking RU-vidr... and... his aim is the USA. Like everyone else. I understand why - Finances is a big motivator - I was just insanely, irrationally, stupidly, hoping for something different. Then again, if I have a problem with this, I could start a channel, talking about Chaimberlains, Builders or any of the other dismal suppliers in SA and probably get nowhere
@@R3apr Ana White from Alaska You Tube channel. All plans free to everybody. Jon Peters plans were also free till he got a sponsor, now he also charges, maybe something to do with being sponsored.
Zgreat tools but the price is beyond the average weekend woodworker" I get annoyed when youtubers pull out there expensive festool powertools. Laura Kampf an amazing woodworker on RU-vid was once apron a time sponsored by Triton and then once she had a name for herself they all went away for shines new Festool tools. I've stopped watching her
Half of the Triton tools aren’t available (anymore?) on the European market, especially staples like drills or impact drivers - so I suppose it was a fairly fruitless snd miscalculated sponsorship for Laura Kampf AND Triton to begin with. She as well as a lot of more well-known RU-vidrs aren’t weekend warriors, they make as much as a profession of it or even started out as professionals doing videos about their jobs. Why wouldn’t they maybe choose to upgrade their gear from consumer grade to professional? Almost all of them start out with consumer grade video gear and update to multiple cameras and expensive studio lighting, as well as moving from iMovie/MovieMaker to Final Cut Pro/Adobe Premiere, so is that wrong as well?
