Author Topic: HKC 55 EB review (Read 129386 times)

jools · « **on:** June 12, 2015, 04:57 AM »

Took delivery of the HKC 55 this morning in a 90 year sys4. This is the bare unit as I have plenty of batteries from the drills which are only 4.2 but seem to work fine. Also received all three rails in 250, 420 and 670 lengths. First impressions are very good. Very quiet is the first thing that strikes and the weight which is good at 4 kilos with battery.
First cuts where cutting 47 x 195 c16 flooring joists to length. Measure length, set stops to 0 degrees, line up splinter guard and cut. Clean cut and the saw went through no problems. The rail numbers refer to length of cut so used the 250. I cut 11 in total with no change in battery life indicator. Next cuts where in t&g 22mm chipboard flooring. Again no problem for the saw and 670 rail. Made 8 cuts so far and the battery indicator still shows full.
The only things of note so far are lack of dust extraction which after the ts55 and Kapex is a shock but this is a first fix tool and the 2 small rails will not fit in the same bag so gonna have to buy another. The bag is however very well padded to cope with the stops which stick out. Really looking forward to using this in the next couple of weeks and happy to answer any questions
Kind regards
Jools

Wuffles · « **Reply #1 on:** June 12, 2015, 05:19 AM »

It doesn't have dust extraction as an option? I missed that during all the other convos about this saw.

GarryMartin · « **Reply #2 on:** June 12, 2015, 05:25 AM »

Quote from: jools on June 12, 2015, 04:57 AM

The only things of note so far are lack of dust extraction

Bit confused by that comment. Clearly there's a dust extraction port...

Kev · « **Reply #3 on:** June 12, 2015, 05:31 AM »

I'll hazard a guess it didn't come with a bag .. ?

jools · « **Reply #4 on:** June 12, 2015, 05:41 AM »

Yes there's a dust extraction port and it fits the midi fine but I'm up on a scaffold so it's not available. I usually cut every thing on the ground but as I work alone going up and down all the time is a pain. Not sure if the TSC bag would fit although the elbow twists off to reveal the same fitting I think. No dust bag is supplied in the basic kit may be different in the others

aas · « **Reply #5 on:** June 12, 2015, 05:45 AM »

The TSC55 bag fits, it's the same part number.

aas · « **Reply #6 on:** June 12, 2015, 05:46 AM »

... bearing in mind Festools reputation for dust collection, it's a surprise and a shame the bag is not included with the saw - first fix or not.

jools · « **Reply #7 on:** June 12, 2015, 05:49 AM »

Yes it is 500393 and about £30 pounds. I will have to order one up when I get the additional rail bag.

GarryMartin · « **Reply #8 on:** June 12, 2015, 05:55 AM »

Quote from: jools on June 12, 2015, 05:41 AM

Not sure if the TSC bag would fit

OK. Makes more sense now. Yes, the TSC bag fits - it's a standard option for the HKC 55.

SB-TSC dust collector bag; Order no. 500393

jimbo51 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 12, 2015, 11:23 AM »

If Festool USA wanted an amateur woodworker to make a video showing the use of the HKC and other Festools in the construction of a garden shed, I volunteer.

This summer please. I will return it when done. I promise.

ifit · « **Reply #10 on:** June 12, 2015, 12:54 PM »

can it be used left handed as there is no right hand support on the base

wrightwoodwork · « **Reply #11 on:** June 12, 2015, 02:46 PM »

I wouldn't really recommend using left handed. I'm right handed so everything feels natural for me. When people who are left handed have picked it up and used it left handed thier hands end up getting crossed over. A lad I worked with who is left handed had difficulty using left handed. When I've got him to use right handed he managed a lot better

neth27 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 12, 2015, 02:48 PM »

Where did you get it from? I have been told up to 4 weeks for delivery.

John..

aas · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2015, 04:03 PM »

Got mine today from FFX, only ordered 2 days ago as my French supplier could not deliver until August. Won't have a chance to try until Tuesday... feels good quality though.

WelshWood · « **Reply #14 on:** June 13, 2015, 01:14 AM »

Quote from: neth27 on June 12, 2015, 02:48 PM

Where did you get it from? I have been told up to 4 weeks for delivery.

John..

@neth27 -Try http://www.powertool-supplies.co.uk/ - cheapest in UK and very reliable.

~WW

neth27 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 13, 2015, 01:37 AM »

Quote from: WelshWood on June 13, 2015, 01:14 AM

Quote from: neth27 on June 12, 2015, 02:48 PM
Where did you get it from? I have been told up to 4 weeks for delivery.

John..

@neth27 -Try http://www.powertool-supplies.co.uk/ - cheapest in UK and very reliable.

~WW

Thats where i ordered it from

John...

jonny round boy · « **Reply #16 on:** June 13, 2015, 05:43 AM »

I went to the Toolfair in Manchester on Thursday, and they had them there and for sale on the Festool stand - they only had 4 of them, though! Thursday was the first day & I was there fairly early; don't know how many were left by Friday...

sucker 4 tools · « **Reply #17 on:** June 13, 2015, 03:40 PM »

whats it like using it free hand ? are there good accurate marks on the base to use freehand ? the rail looks very cumbersome and expensive. and does it take one or two 18v batts?

Brice Burrell · « **Reply #18 on:** June 13, 2015, 04:31 PM »

Quote from: sucker 4 tools on June 13, 2015, 03:40 PM

whats it like using it free hand ? are there good accurate marks on the base to use freehand ? the rail looks very cumbersome and expensive. and does it take one or two 18v batts?

One 18v battery.

neth27 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 16, 2015, 02:11 PM »

Got mine today, one thing i will say is you need very small hands to use it comfortably. My knuckles are crushed against the side

john...

ali · « **Reply #20 on:** June 17, 2015, 09:57 AM »

that is a shame John, did you get to try it before you ordered it?

Received mine today from N&B, luckily I have small hands so feels nice to me. I did expect it to be a bit more compact but am happy with the saw as it is.

What's up with the blade that comes as standard with it? It has TS55 and TSC crossed out so is that blade not compatible with those saws? (I don't own either of them yet but interested if it was compatible).

philphilop · « **Reply #21 on:** June 17, 2015, 12:48 PM »

What's up with the blade that comes as standard with it? It has TS55 and TSC crossed out so is that blade not compatible with those saws? (I don't own either of them yet but interested if it was compatible).
[/quote]

It is one of the issues that i believe stops a lot of people investing into festool saws, CS 50, ts 55, and now the hk 55 all use differant sized blades, as does the ts 75, cs 70 and the sym 70 so you need to spend a lot of money kitting out each saw with blades, why not have one size 55 and one size 75, good for festool but i see it as entrapment and profiteering

Henrik R / Pingvinlakrits · « **Reply #22 on:** June 17, 2015, 02:30 PM »

philphilop:

The sales rep was not too happy about this. The kerf on the HKC55 blades are thinner (1,8mm?) than on the other Festool plunge saw blades and they are not deemed "compatible".

It is very easy to mistake the new blades for the old ones so I predict a lot of confusion and angry customers the following year...
It should be a different color packaging and very easy to tell them apart.

To further add to the confusion the aluminium/metal sheet cutting blades are 2,2mm so there are thicker blades available for the HKC55 but when you use them you cut the strip down a little more as well.

I am not sure how well this saw will work as a plunge saw for kitchen sinks (my Mafell KSS300 works "ok") but it does seem like a saw aimed at flooring and panel sawing where I think it might do a great job but it does not feel like a "complete" saw.

The other double battery saw does not interest me at all (two batteries tied up in one machine? No thanks...) all in all I will stick to corded plunge saws as I want trouble free vacuum integration and for me the new battery saws are not adding any value in my production or workflow - almost the opposite.

Sure - if you are on site and have no electric power the saws make sense - that hasn't happened to me more than once or twice the past eight years so I think I will stick to bringing my corded tools for finer sawing and my 18V tools for other daily tasks. For most months of the year over here it goes like this: no electricity, no light (daylight that is...) and no heat so I don't take jobs in environments where electricity is not supplied on site.

mrB · « **Reply #23 on:** June 17, 2015, 03:36 PM »

Quote from: neth27 on June 16, 2015, 02:11 PM

Got mine today, one thing i will say is you need very small hands to use it comfortably. My knuckles are crushed against the side

john...

Try holding it "pistol grip" style. Like you would a C-Drill. Your bigger knuckles will be a little higger and out the way.
Thats how I use my TS55 anyway.

neth27 · « **Reply #24 on:** June 17, 2015, 03:51 PM »

Im just used to holding a circular saw the way i do. It keeps a good grip on it

john...

GhostFist · « **Reply #25 on:** June 17, 2015, 05:41 PM »

Just to clarify on aluminum blades. There is little to no protrusions with the tooth set. Essentially the blade plate is about as thick as the kerf. It shouldn't cut into your track

philphilop · « **Reply #26 on:** June 18, 2015, 02:39 AM »

Most people i know, a lot, only use their portable saws for cutting floorboards @30mm, plinths and architraves @25mm, sheets @22mm and framing @35mm so why dont festool make a smaller portable saw like the KSS 300 which is very popular in all diciplines of woodworking, very light and small. Word has it that the TSC is a flop in Europe because of its heavy unbalanced feel and the fact that it eats batteries, so dealers down here in southern europe are reluctant to stock an 18v heavy HKC in fear of it staying on stock.

jonny round boy · « **Reply #27 on:** June 18, 2015, 03:20 AM »

Quote from: philphilop on June 18, 2015, 02:39 AM

Word has it that the TSC is a flop in Europe because of its heavy unbalanced feel and the fact that it eats batteries, so dealers down here in southern europe are reluctant to stock an 18v heavy HKC in fear of it staying on stock.

Festool have sold far more than they were hoping to, and can't produce them fast enough to meet the demand - hardly a 'flop'...

Kev · « **Reply #28 on:** June 18, 2015, 03:53 AM »

Quote from: jonny round boy on June 18, 2015, 03:20 AM

Quote from: philphilop on June 18, 2015, 02:39 AM
Word has it that the TSC is a flop in Europe because of its heavy unbalanced feel and the fact that it eats batteries, so dealers down here in southern europe are reluctant to stock an 18v heavy HKC in fear of it staying on stock.

Festool have sold far more than they were hoping to, and can't produce them fast enough to meet the demand - hardly a 'flop'...

Yeh - love to hear the source of "flop" ... sounds like a pork pie.

Henrik R / Pingvinlakrits · « **Reply #29 on:** June 18, 2015, 04:44 AM »

Quote from: GhostFist on June 17, 2015, 05:41 PM

Just to clarify on aluminum blades. There is little to no protrusions with the tooth set. Essentially the blade plate is about as thick as the kerf. It shouldn't cut into your track

Ok, could you elaborate a little on that?
The kerf on the "standard" blades are 1,8mm (three of them) and the kerf on the two "special" blades are 2,2mm - how would that not affect the cutting strip?

(I might be wrong about this but) I think both the special blades (TF52/TF48) are for _the TS55 saw system_ and therefore have the wrong blade thickness. They are listed for the other saws at Festool but also included in the HKC55 accessory line up.

From what I gather the HKC55 blades are not compatible with the TS55 and derivatives (hence the cross out symbol) but the other way around works - though the kerf is different and that would have you changing the cutting strip everytime you switch blades or lose accuracy.

Different kerf sizes are a pain in the neck I think. Especially with the Mafell style clip on rails.