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Festool TS 55 EQ Plunge Cut Circular Saw |  | Brand: Festool
Category: Home Improvement
Buy New: $500.00
as of 9/5/2010 18:50 PDT details
New (7) from $500.00
Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 13156
Media: Tools & Hardware
Shipping Weight (lbs): 26
Dimensions (in): 16 x 12 x 13
MPN: 561174
Model: TS 55 EQ
EAN: 4014549013441
ASIN: B002UJOKD2
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | When used with Festool guide rails, you can achieve perfectly straight and splinter-free cuts. | | • | Spring-loaded riving knife (splitter) keeps the cut kerf open so that the material does not pinch the blade. This reduces the chance of kickback. | | • | Combine with a Festool dust extractor to achieve near dust-free performance. | | • | Blade changes are easier and safer using the FastFix system which locks switch and arbor simultaneously for easy arbor bolt removal. | | • | MMC electronics provide soft start, variable speed, constant speed under load, and current and thermal overlad protection. |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Festools TS 55 EQ keeps all the great features of its predecessor and adds new features that make the plunge saw more convenient, more capable and more user friendly. A new, larger Thumb Interlock makes it easier to switch on the power and pivot the blade down for cutting, while a new Blade Lock disconnects the power switch, and locks the blade down in position for removal. Plunge cuts in the middle of a workpiece are easier than ever, since the riving knife is now spring loaded, and automatically retracts when plunging. When used with the Festool Guide rail system, the TS 55 ideal for installation of laminate flooring systems, and allows cutting just 3/8" off a wall. Cross cutting veneered materials with most circular saws leaves a splintered mess. Festools new sacrificial Splinter Guard rests on the workpiece directly above the cut, providing "zero clearance" support at the blade for the top veneer, resulting in clean, chip-free cuts in melamine, veneered plywood, and even high-pressure laminates. The suggested 55" guide rail allows for fast precise cuts with little or no setup time, since the edge guide automatically aligns to the cut-line. Electronic variable-speed control automatically maintains a constant blade speed under load, and the soft start and automatic idle cut down on operator fatigue and noise. Surprisingly, the Festool TS 55 EQ uses a 6-1/4" diameter blade, but still provides a 1-15/16" cut at 90 degrees, and 1-7/16" cut at 45 degrees -- plenty to cut construction 2x stock. Festool TS 55 EQ includes a systainer storage box, 48-tooth carbide tipped blade, 55" guide rail, limit stop and chip deflector.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 10
Best saw I have ever owned August 17, 2010
Brian D. Goad (Kville)
By far this is the best saw I have ever owned. The guide rail system delivers precise cuts that are splinter free. Highly recommend the system for anyone looking to upgrade their systems.
 Great engineering, innovation... one MAJOR design flaw August 12, 2010
G. Conner (USA)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
high-quality German engineering? Check.
Best dust collection in its class? Check.
Safety features including riving knife? Check.
Accurate rips? Check.
Loaded with innovative features, with lots of available accessories, this may be the best circular saw, except for two glaring problems. The price is ridiculous and the BLADE IS ON THE WRONG SIDE!
It bugs me that we have to either use the saw left-handed, or lean over to see the cut. Also, that makes the otherwise great dust-collection a damn nuisance because the hose is ALWAYS in the way, getting snagged on edges and distracting the user. When are manufacturers going to recognize the MAJOR DESIGN FLAW.
As DeWalt and Makita jumped on the bandwagon and started copying this design, why didn't THEY fix this problem?
Do we have to wait for someone to get hurt and sue?
Because my crazy rich tool-nut friend buys the best of everything, he owns this. I helped him build a new shack for his swimming pool, so I have used this saw a bunch. I cuts great. The guide rail works perfectly and is lightweight. I LOVE this thing and want one SSOOO BAD!
I might even fess up the bucks for one if they JUST PUT THE BLADE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
So, if you are left-handed and rich, and always cut on the left side of boards, this is the nicest saw on the planet.
If you are right-handed and not a billionaire or refuse to go into debt for this Teutonic tool, get the bosch worm-drive and make your own saw guide.
You can buy the "friction strips" and add them to any straight-edge you make. Or you can just use regular friction tape which is a lot cheaper. And by the way, in case you haven't figured this out yet, it is NOT just the friction strips that make the guide rail work so well. It is ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE.
Just make your home-made guide rail WIDE. Sure the friction tape will help. But when the weight of the saw comes down on the rail, it squeezes air from underneath so that miles of atmosphere press down with 14 or more pounds per square inch. THAT is why the guide rail stays in place... NOT any gimmicky expensive friction strips.
There is my (hopefully) humorous opinion and a little physics lesson for useful fun too! ;-)
Dear Festool, I Love your quality and innovation, but please, make this for right-handers and bring the price down. Then I can guarantee more sales... at least one more that is.
Six Stars June 27, 2010
Chris Dempsey (Detroit)
I delayed purchasing this saw for years due to the price & because I already have two tablesaws, three corded circular saws & one cordless circular saw; couldn't seem to justify the purchase. Shouldn't have waited- this saw is incredible! I am a remodeling contractor who does alot of custom cabinets, built-ins, etc. & have found this saw will make extremely difficult or impossible cuts easily. For instance, I just trimmed cabinet doors that were wallpapered(!?) & the anti-splintering worked perfectly- better than using a utility knife to score the paper. Trimming door bottoms is almost effortless, fast & absolutely splinter-free (even across splintery fir end grain).
In short, if you are a remodeler or cabinet maker, buy this saw today. If your kids go hungry for a week or two, it's worth it. BTW, I don't own Festool stock or other Festool products (overpriced), but this tool is worth every penny.
A must have tool May 20, 2010
Jesse Gilsbach (America/ Michigan)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I did a ton of research before making the purchase and it's the best tool in my line up
Joy to use, a pride to own. May 3, 2010
Wedemay (Marin County, CA)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
I don't often find a tool, or tool manufacturer that impress me for long. Lagler and Festool are the top of my list. Both are German and both are the top of the line in their area.
Festool is the more well known, wider application company making many small power tools that are available in the US. More are available in 220 voltages in Europe. I"d say they excel in design, accuracy, ease of use and full system integration. The truth is once you buy one Festool you are on a slippery slope to owning the entire line. There are other good manufacturers out there, but few make a whole line of tools that work together to deliver great reproducible results with the least set up time and total compatibility. While many tools manufacturers cut corners when it comes to packaging Festool does not (at least not with their saws and sanders, the rail guide bag is a pricey extra and we will see how well it performs over time.I suspect that the rails actually have to either have "guide caps" for each end, a not inexpensive extra, or one of us users/inventors will manufacturer a slip on plastic retainer to protect the ends for transportation and just general moving around the job-site.Festool offer unsurpassed design, performance and good packaging. The whole "sustainer" system is a lovely part of the organization and portability of the tools. They keep the tools clean, stable and dry, while not using or while moving around in fairly strong, secure plastic boxes that interlock both with each other and the Vacuum.
my only complaint is the cut depth scale is in metric and they offer imperial scale on their routers, so why not on the saw? I'm buying a table saw tape for it to switch out so i don't have to keep converting in my head. this is a well designed, safe saw that delivers perfect cuts with excellent dust retention when used as directed with a vacuum, Ideally the CT 22. While a separate review, i will say it meets my needs for both performance and size balance while offering good specs and power control of the tool (overload protector) and adjustable suction.
The fact is, Festools are fun tools to own and use. Their quality seems top of the line, and the warranty is among the best in the industry. 1+2 (3 years). and I'm happy to see less expensive aftermarket blades here on amazon. I'm trying some and will let you know how they perform compared to the Festool blades.
Five stars if a bit pricey and warning: these tools and even the catalog is seriously addictive!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 10
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