Festool TS55 Track Saw - as good as everyone says?

In this video I review my recently purchased Festool TS55 Track Saw. What I say may not go down well with the Festool Fans.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Great video, love your honesty! We found the same thing when cutting 24mm birch ply, the ts55 (belonging to my kitchen fitter) couldn't manage it, it really struggled with every cut, so we used my Makita cordless instead which cut through no problem! I'm surprised no one else seems to point out that issue...

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Oh also, it might be me being lazy but I don't use the clamps 95% of the time!! 🙂

[@WheresMyPencilUK]

Thanks Keith agree with you, my cordless circular saw (non brushless) seems to have more go in it than the TS55 not sure why they made it so underpowered. I’m sure the Fanboys will give me some stick. 😂 Agree with you regards the clamps but I had to put the disclaimer on or the Health and Safety police would have been after me as usual! 🙄

[@louiesworkshop2023]

As a furniture designer I have had my 55 for maybe 2years possibly alittle more, it's beautiful to use, incredibly accurate, the connection of me the user and the saw and integrated vacuum system and guide systems really is almost endless and a benchmark for nearly all manufactures! The other side of this coin is of course the price which is at best uncomfortably high, the power of the 55 means that it's best approaching a cut slowly! Could I live without my Festool tools? Yes but in truth I really wouldn't want to.

[@zoommircea]

I didn't read all the comments and if it was said, sorry. If you tilt the saw at 47° you can access a torx screw that adjust the marking green thing for the degrees. I took mine out of the box to look at it because I know from others that the marking thing can be adjusted or the vernier. I think it will be tricky to get spot on but hope it helps. :D

[@JaySellers]

Good stuff. I appreciate the box comparison at the end too. Milwaukee Packout is killing it with their new boxes. Everything else feels like a kid's toy in comparison. Once they release their boxes with drawers early next year, my systainers, Dewalt and Ridgid boxes are going up to live in the attic.

[@richm7873]

Great video. I was planning on buying the Dewalt yesterday but somehow convinced myself to buy the TS55. I'm going to exchange it for the Dewalt or the TS75.

[@EddyCarroll]

Good review, warts and all. My TS55 was square out of the box so possibly you were unlucky there. I much prefer systainers (t-loc style) to the dewalt boxes, but otherwise agree with everything you said. I’ve noticed when cutting birch ply that the saw doesn’t have to work as hard when I set it for a deeper plunge, I assume because there is less contact area with the edge of the blade. Not always an option though. The Domino is well worth the money and the sanders are pretty nice too.

[@offcuts4146]

I do agree with you regarding the systainer for the price thought the plastic would be better. I have got this saw and love it. When cutting chipboard poss try a scoring cut first of a couple of mm. Agree regarding power i love my dewalt tough system toolboxes. Good video

[@StrawbyteWorkshop]

I really enjoyed your video and appreciate your honesty.

[@WheresMyPencilUK]

Thanks Karl I really enjoy your channel by the way. The video quality is particularly good and your editing is really becoming very slick. Out of interest what camera do you use? Also I currently live in the same village as your old sailing club (moving in a couple of months) and I’m a banker too 🤫. Who’d have thought it!

[@StrawbyteWorkshop]

@@WheresMyPencilUK HI. thanks for the comment on my channel especially about the editing. If it has improved then I am glad it's noticable but I will admit that I am a long way of enjoying the editing process. As far as cameras are concerned it depends on which video. Of the two I've made recently, the cabinet build with the mistake was on a GoPro Hero 7. The last video was on a Panasonic GH5 with simple wide to telephoto lens. But I've had a mixed bag of cameras over the last 2 years including a Nikon 1 V2 and a GoPro Hero 3. The trick I've found is to learn how to set exposure right in the camera and adjust in the editor. A white balance card filmed.each time you set up the camera helps to fix any issues when you get to your computer. And of course in the workshop I have tonnes of lighting.

[@kevinroymorgan]

Thank you very much for that that, i have made my mind up I'm going for the Mafell

[@markjarman7819]

The festool extractors and sanders are top notch. I’m also looking at going from the flexvolt mitre saw to a kapex. The drills are odd so I’ll stick to my dewalt lineup. The plunge saw mmm I have the flexvolt and find it fine. Did use the festool and did find it underpowered. Although saying that I did like the plunge. A mix of both for me.

[@needaman66]

Ive had the dewalt corded for years (7+) works awesome although dust collection not great

[@kishoras1979]

Great video.I am having A festool 55 Rebq.Using to cut plastic pipe of wall thickness 10mm .Recently it’s cutting good but on the half way getting hard to cut and kicks back.Checked the blade.zit perfectly fine.Please advice what will be the possible reason for that.

[@hoffmannMP]

The Systainer has two slots in the front, and they are built to take a credit card sized card that slot right in. You can put your labels on that, or if you know someone with a card printer, you can get som really cool customised labels. And yeah, that broken T-lock doesn’t count! User error 😄 Disclaimer: I am a Festool fanboy, but I can take criticism of it. I’ve never had a dent in my systainers but I don’t bring them to job sites, so I will give you that they might be too brittle. But 100% with you on the price issue. Did you see what they charge for the stabilisers for the MFT??

[@richm7873]

I just looked at my new saw and the angle adjustment matches up with the 0 and the blade is square. I'm wondering if you ended up with a demo that had a lot of hands on it. I have a table saw that does that and it drives me crazy.

[@johnrussell7107]

Got both saws, had the dewalt plunge saw since first came out, but since had the Festool what a difference on quality of cuts, and ease of use, definitely say its a step up on quality wouldn't go back to a dewalt plunge saw now, even though all my site kit is dewalt On the dewalt t stak boxes, All my kit is in them but the plastic retainers on bottom of them are a piece of crap, most of mine have snapped off

[@oschomesolutions5457]

swapped all of mine out for the mafell ..what a difference. I have a lot of Festool tools which are great but fed up with the ts55 lack of power esp on 45 angle. Mafell makes the Festool look like a toy

[@fikaandtea1530]

Very useful, thanks sir

[@philipjones9297]

Great video 👍 I bought into the TS55 and the MFT table after following Peter Miller. It was extremely expensive for the two items and I’m only a keen DIY’er I had already got the scheppach track saw but not enjoyed it that much, I cannot fault the TS55 but after becoming addicted to KZbin and watching different comparisons I really wish I had gone with the Makita. It’s good to see you posting videos again, I’ve followed you from the beginning 👍👍👍

[@WheresMyPencilUK]

Thanks Phil, 2 kids and a house move in the last 3 years have curtailed my time for KZbin but hoping to be releasing more regular content now. I’m actually moving house again but to a project so hopefully that will create some useful content.

[@philipjones9297]

@@WheresMyPencilUK moving again !!! Glutton for punishment 🤣🤣🤣

[@WheresMyPencilUK]

Yes mate! We moved to a new build estate and don’t like it! 1930s house is next should be interesting!

[@fatmanjoh]

I loved this tool so much that I bought another but the TS75. Great stuff. Prefer the corded tool as the cordless model seem not as powerful.

[@julianweiser9985]

Was thinking the same thing about the systainers.... if the plastic is too thin and hard, they will break if you use them on the jobsite i guess.

[@fatmanjoh]

All my tools in Festool boxes. Not managed to break any So don’t let the lightweight fool you.

[@rasmo243]

I have the same saw and i must admit i am not that impressed in all honesty don't think i would buy anymore festool products as you mentioned the accessories are very over priced in my opinion , i think with the low power is how they make the dust collection work so well i recently tried the makita version out and if i was buying a track saw again that would be my choice dust extraction not quite as good but much more power and the quality of cut is the same.

[@spilleradam]

I’ve got some Festool, and your right , the boxes aren’t made from very tough plastic..

[@ianwarham428]

They are good we use them to cut slots on logs but it's stopped working any ideas what would be wrong with it

[@tworiversworkshop6111]

Have you checked the carbon brushes?

[@JackT9595]

Did you buy it brand new, 390 with the rail seems a bit to good? I got mine a couple weeks ago and the only adjustment I needed to do was adjust the depth of cut, everything else is bang on.

[@WheresMyPencilUK]

No was brand new got a very good deal last July. Wish I’d bought the Mafell now. In fact I may well ditch the TS55 and buy it instead.

[@JackT9595]

@@WheresMyPencilUKI know the pain of regretting a purchase. September last year I bought the bosch cordless plunge saw since my drills and jigsaw are bosch but it is awful. Still have it but waiting for a cheap listing weekend on ebay to sell it. Kind off feel bad to sell it to someone though

[@WheresMyPencilUK]

I know what you mean. I’ve worked out that considering the Mafell is more powerful, comes with 2 rails, a rail bag and 2 clamps it actually works out better value. The TS55 just doesn’t have enough power in my opinion. I think that’s why they’ve now brought out a new model with thinner blade kerf. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@JackT9595]

That's right thinner blade should mean an easier cut. I doubt you'll have any trouble selling the festool though and almost everyone who has the mafell say it is the best of the best.

[@WheresMyPencilUK]

If I do get the Mafell I’ll do it before I sell the TS55 and do a comparison. 👍🏼

[@andrewpinson1268]

I agree, for Festool's price you would think it would be more powerful than it is. Major disappointment. Both of my normal saws are much more powerful. Now this saw has been out a while, so there is no excuse for Festool not improving on it. I have a number of Festool's tools and notice this is a trend - no improvements on them. Suggestions are made but - nada.

[@alphaclean3364]

Yeah it strikes me as insane that they can ask such a higher price for old tech. I'll give them the nod for innovation, back when comprehensive dust collection and modular storage were unique to their brand. Now there are so many other (better) options.

[@valiussabas4571]

I have just like many other people ts 55 as well. Most of us got it as a first of many festools, but if I have known about diferance in power, I would spend more money and got myself mafell. Infact now days mafell and festools price diferance not as big as it used to be.

[@tonyallen1953]

Why didnt you do a score cut first especially on melamine.

[@Doreen20101]

Mate, I’m not fan of Festool too due to the pricing but I love their tools and the quality. Clearly you are rough on the tools. if you like you to send the sustainer over , I will look after them.

[@WheresMyPencilUK]

I love their tools (I have more now) but the systainers are brittle. The DeWalt T-Stak are far sturdier.

[@rossl2544]

i agree the TS55 has to be the most overpriced and under powered plunge saw/track saw out there. i bought it because i could not get my hands on a Mafell and needed one for a job but thought o well the reviews are not that bad for the TS55 so must be a good saw. The first use of the TS55 saw a spring or something coming flying out the saw so it went back to Festool for repair. i thought it was going to be a great purchase for cutting down sheet materials as well as some hardwood boards but how wrong was i, its gutless and having to cut hardwood in multiple pass is a waste of time when most others saws will do it in one pass. i have heard though that the cordless version has more power than the corded version but ive not tried it and i wont be going out of my way to test it, as soon as my local tool supplier can get a Mafell thats the route ill be going down as then selling my TS55 on or using it as an expensive paper weight maybe

[@andrepoon]

You didn’t use the chip guard that attaches onto the saw... makes a huge difference

[@WheresMyPencilUK]

Only on the waste side

[@Stllno]

It’s all about the blade...

[@markdudley1028]

Try the Mafell

[@markdudley1028]

The systainers are brittle, good design but not robust enough, having said that, the packout stuff is too big to be truly portable.

[@dannym670]

Had a cordless dewalt plunge saw, the power is awesome but lacks any kind of finesse needed for kitchens etc, the festool is really underpowered and overrated as are a lot of their tools. I use both the mafell corded and cordless machines, they're in a different league in every way.!!

[@valis6761]

Windows with label is extra!!!

[@dogstar5572]

I hope you returned it, and received a full refund. Festool isn’t for everyone.

[@TonicoGallery1]

Lol