Festool 18V Circular Saw HKC55 - Most VERSATILE saw ever! (2019)

oztooltalk review the incredibly versatile Festool HKC55 18V circular saw. It comes with a completely unique cross-cutting track which attaches to the saw for making cuts of any angle at speed.
It can also be used as a regular track saw, or as a free-hand circular saw. The HSK 55 is an 18V unit with 160mm blade and 4,500 RPM. It's unique track comes in 250mm, 420mm and 670mm variants.
We put it through the gauntlet with cuts in flooring, hardwood boards, treated pine sleepers and more.
The kit cost (with track and two 5.2 Ah batteries) is $1,168.
www.totaltools.com.au/124507-...

[@8Hamo]

I've had my HKC55 for about 18 months or so and I agree it's a fantastic saw. I use it for most jobs. I no longer use my docking saw for laying decking boards, I use the HKC55 and it saves me a heap of time and effort, no measuring, just Mark and cut. I use it to cut out sinks etc in laminex and timber benchtops, cutting rafters, beams, you name it.. I just wish it was more powerful, I know you think it has enough power but I use my saw very regularly and you have to "love it gently" when cutting through anything over 20mm in thickness. Yes it will cut thicker material but you have to be kind to it. Side note, you can use a Makita track with the HKC55 after a little modification to the track. Huge HKC55 fan, if you don't own one, do yourself a favour and get one. Some competition from other manufactures would be welcomed too.. Cheers Colin CH Topnotch Constructions P/L

[@OZToolTalk]

great reply, thanks!

[@jean-marc7999]

Good day guys! As usual, superb video on a superb tool! I am not a Festool guy but this machine just looks fantastic! Thank you so much for your work on this channel! Cheers!

[@OZToolTalk]

cheers pal!

[@paulsmith1807]

Love your videos - great reviews and tons of info

[@OZToolTalk]

cheers Paul

[@harrygirgin9093]

I think it's worth the money. A regular circular saw (Not the $99 ones from Bunnings) cost over $400 But can't do the things this saw can. I would recommend this saw for sure.

[@ToolShow]

Great review guys! Look for it on this week's show!

[@OZToolTalk]

Thanks Sarah/Rob!

[@jameslittle3505]

Mafell makes a saw just like that with the guide rail attached

[@OZToolTalk]

cool

[@CrookedSkew]

@@OZToolTalk I believe Mafell actually invented it in 1989

[@rolfmeijer1622]

Yes it's worth it I bought the 55 tracksaw kit with vacuum 12 years ago and it is still going Love the festool tools It cost a bit but it will last Also the rotex90 sander is a great buy Love the content guys

[@OZToolTalk]

Thanks Rolf

[@jeethirji230]

It’s a feature to be able to sit it on its side when removing the blad

[@chrisgkikas9369]

Hi from Greece. One more great video like always, keep up the good work you are the best !!! One question may on this festool ask rails use any ather brand saw like dewalt dcs 576 or dcs 520?

[@jronmanbuilds]

I got the tsc 55 and have really enjoyed using it. The power is excellent and collects the dust quite well. I have never used an HKC 55. I seen Maffel also makes a similar cordless saw using the Metabo batteries. The price is probably pretty similar between the 2 companies. Bosch is also coming out with their own "HKC" style saw but it will be a 7 in blade instead of your typical 6 in blade on most other track saws.

[@OZToolTalk]

ah wow, that will be interesting to see!

[@267BISMARK]

If you dont have the money for these, the Kregg saw/ track adapter which uses your own circular saw is not a bad option.

[@paolobaldonado6956]

It fits and works on Ozito track and and it's cutting a lot smoother with Makita blue 160mm blade

[@kevinpunter7960]

Love my Festools BUT ... and for context I've got a truckload of Festool gear and the 3 different size FSK rails, multiple FS rails, HKC55, HK85, TS55, TSC55 and TS75. The FSK rails seem like fun till the bungee cord inside stuffs up and all of a sudden you're in the middle of a job and you're screwed. I'll also say that I feel the HKC55 is down on power compared to what I'd ideally expect. Now to talk about the cause ... Festools are designed to run with dust extraction and at the very least the dust bag .. but the temptation with the HKC55 and FSK is to ignore it and just get on with the job - that's where you'll come loose, the track will get gummed up with sawdust and screw up. Learn from my mistake!! ;(

[@OZToolTalk]

thanks Kevin, nice feedback!

[@vileguile4]

I finally bought the FSK420 when building outdoors this summer and holy cr*p it's fantastic!!! Only bad thing with it is the big opening on the side spewing out dust. I plan to attach some plexi to cover it up.

[@alrasekhoon1]

Absa fence for the ts55 also helps alot for minimizing side spewing 👍

[@kizzjd9578]

Watch Ave's review on the ts55 festool saw. They have some inferior parts inside compared to makita's version. Eg: bushings instead of bearings. I'd imagine this is the same.

[@garyp.7501]

Read the comments on the AvE video. They specifically talk about that brass bushing and how the shaft rides on a wave of oil, not metal on metal.

[@robertrada4783]

Coincidentally, it’s that specific bearing in the Makita tracksaw that the owner should worry about having to replace....

[@Maxkil]

Looks nice.

[@charliemartin4392]

Look into the mafell kss series saws

[@garyp.7501]

There is an video by AvE where he takes apart one of these saws if you are interested in how the saw is put together. On the cost, you have to decide whether the time savings of having this convenient guide is worth it. For a DYI, ah no. For a professional carpenter, maybe.

[@philwort1873]

Great video boys. I have been interested in this saw for a while. It looked like it struggled through the wet treated pine sleep (plenty of 165mm saws do) how was the saw for that task?

[@OZToolTalk]

Definitely too much to ask this (or almost any cordless) saw to rip through wet lumber deeper than it's cut.

[@nunyabizness6734]

Festool engineer seeing you use their saws without dust collection: YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!! (in German)

[@OZToolTalk]

haha yeah

[@stephenh7965]

I so need one of these

[@cerberus2881]

I wondered if one couldn't use the Makita guide rail for this saw. Lots less expensive!

[@Tech_Built]

I don't need it but I'm gonna get one!

[@N1rOx]

If it's 160mm does that mean that when cutting 2x material on a 45 degree cut, it won't make it through in one pass?

[@OZToolTalk]

Didn't check that specifically, but it's depth of cut at 90deg is 55, same as most 165mm blade saws

[@N1rOx]

@@OZToolTalk probably not even worth checking as I don't think you'd be buying one of these for framing but i was curious. Cheers.

[@OZToolTalk]

It is aimed at framers actually!

[@N1rOx]

@@OZToolTalk don't see it being used by framers who frame roof systems. Simply not enough power and maybe not enough depth of cut. For any other general framer, maybe.

[@interman7715]

What holds the track to the material?

[@OZToolTalk]

rubber on the bottom of the track, like all track saws.

[@interman7715]

Oz Tool Talk Thanks mate ,I've never used one before.

[@Candyman1996.e]

Anyone else notice when he said the bevel is rock solid and he gave it a bit of muscle it moved about 10mm and his face just cracked

[@idiovid]

Nice saw, but $1,200? It'd want to be saving a lot of your time on specific tasks every day to make it worth that.

[@noskills9577]

Same power as the Milwaukee? that's the first time I've seen anyone compliment the hkc for power, and I've avoided buying it because everyone says it sucks power wise 😂

[@OZToolTalk]

We said better power. A fair bit more ....

[@OZToolTalk]

Though having said that, I don't remember checking how sharp the Milwaukee blade was....

[@noskills9577]

@@OZToolTalk 😂 that might of helped. I think theres a difference of opinion about the saw from UK to Aus because of the moisture content of the average bit of framing timber. Its damp AF over here and maybe dryer over there 😁 seriously you know the difference in trying to cut through a damp bit of wood to a nice dry bit.

[@noskills9577]

@@OZToolTalk still dont believe you 😉😉😉

[@jamesbailand4311]

Mike: " To me, it just screams German."

[@rossrawlins2025]

I have most of the festool range but must admit it seriously lacks power

[@OZToolTalk]

yeah it isn't a powerhouse, definitely needs a sharp blade with the least teeth you can get by with.

[@semsami1443]

I hade it,nice saw just not so strong i sell it I bought it tsc is amazing

[@owenbinaisse7371]

can you do a 45 degree cut without holding down the track so as the system doesnt topple over. pretty dear for what you get. I would like to see a shoot out with festool and makita. makita 1400 track 99.00 1900 track 150.00. festool overpriced for the average woodworker. much better alternatives, do the same quality job at more affordable price

[@eddieanderl2277]

Sorry to burst your "Festool is first" bubble. Look up Mafell saws. They've been doing for 15 years or so.

[@OZToolTalk]

there you go! We don't have them in Aus

[@alanwoolstenholmes3532]

Mafell have been doing this years and years this is just a copy with less power.

[@OZToolTalk]

really? We don't have Mafell here... I thought usually Mafell were the one's rebadging other's products?

[@alanwoolstenholmes3532]

Oz Tool Talk I have a Mafell ks saw from 2003. Theses types of saws are definitely not new. Runs on there own guide rails as well which are far better than the festool fs rails.

[@alanwoolstenholmes3532]

Oz Tool Talk I real shame you don’t have it over there it’s a real step up from even festool.

[@OZToolTalk]

wow, I wish we did have them!

[@Tech_Built]

@@OZToolTalk we do have mafell, its sold through Rothoblaas in Victoria. Mafell are apart of the German super 8 CAS system where 8 different manufacturers all use the same battery. So mafell, metabo, starmix, rothenberger, steinel, haaga etc. The mafell drills and sanders are basically metabo, however the bosch track saw is a lower spec mafell MT55, the mafell/bosch tracks were co developed. Festool and mafell make alot of tools that are similar but very individual each with complete accessories and consumables

[@daves4026]

Mafell do this better

[@jonathannewsham6102]

To much yip yip-yip yes-yip yes yip. Yip. Yip Sorry it spoiled a video. YIP YIP YIP