Hi all - new to the forum and I have decided to purchase a track saw. Original thought was the TS55 as I only work in my shop and a cordless version is not necessary. Then I heard that the cordless version actually has more power so I thought I would go that route. Now I see that there is a new model (TSV 60) coming to the US shortly that has a scoring blade. What I need it for is breaking down large sheets. Its possible I would cut laminate or laminate covered plywood but normally its just going to be plywood for furniture and shop cabinets. Should I hold out and wait for the TSV 60 or get one of the other units already available?  Thanks for any advice.

Keep in mind that corded just works and works every single time unless power to your home is lost.

darn, so I have the original AT55E I think it is from memory (it's ~40 or so years old), groundbreaking at the time but very long in the tooth now, and was thinking of the TS60 being the next to get as an upgrade. I rarely do laminate or melamine, so the 55 would be the better one to get over the TS60 you guys reckon?

The little extra depth the TS60K and the TSV60 gives and that it can be used on it's side to trim archs would be very handy. Although I do have a HK85 for big stuff anyway. Looking at the models, the TSV60 is considerably longer than the TS60K, with the only functional difference being the scoring knife i can see?

So to answer my own question, I guess the TS60K would be the logical upgrade from my old AT55E, seeing as I don't absolutely the scoring knife functionality.

Quote from: luvmytoolz on May 23, 2023, 06:46 PM

Snip. I rarely do laminate or melamine, so the 55 would be the better one to get over the TS60 you guys reckon?

The little extra depth the TS60 gives would be handy. Although I do have a HK85 for big stuff anyway.

Since the TS60 is the same weight as the TS55, and has a few other nicer things in addition to cutting deeper, the only thing I can think of that runs against the TS60 is its higher price. However the price difference between a TS55 and a TS60 can be easily absorbed by eating a few more home cooked meals instead of dining out -- if need be.

I don't mind the price difference so much, I've been drinking the green coolaid for 4+ decades now and learnt the hard (and expensive) way to appreciate the value and reliability of buying a good tool once (and crying once), so if I got another 20 years out of the new model I'd be happy.

If you're only doing laminate once in a blue moon and don't want to get the blades or the TSV, just set to 1mm scoring depth and run your TS55 backwards.  Then back to finish.

Exactly what I’ve been doing since forever. It works because the saw blade’s teeth are slicing downwards into the material, rather than bursting up through it. This is exactly how the TSV works = the scoring blade is spinning in reverse. The combination of the TS55’s splinter shoe and the rail’s splinterguard will still achieve near-perfection on good-quality material, but the reverse-score technique is invaluable for cheap material which breaks out and splinters super-easily. Set 1-2mm plunge depth, put your saw at the far end of the rail, run it backwards down the cut to make the score, then plunge to full material depth and cut forwards as usual.

The other time-honoured way of achieving the perfect cut is to turn your material upside down, and cut it from the back.

The TS55 doesn't have nearly enough power.  Cutting anything thicker than 3/4" is a difficult task for it.  I was cutting a 1.5" oak slab yesterday and had to make two passes.  Dunno if the cordless would have had any better luck, but I was wishing for the TS75.

if you are in America, the TS60K was officially announced today with a ship date on the 21 of June I believe.  Leaving out the idea of the TS60V (scoring model, nothing announced yet for USA), the new TS60K in USA market is $200 more than the latest TS55 unit.  That extra $200 is significant but for many folks, is acceptable given the added cutting depth and brushless motor (apologies if I am wrong on the motor).

The one thing that I don't get with the ts60 is why eliminate the riving knife? I get the idea of "electronic kickback" protection but im not so sure loosing the riving knife in place of more electronics is good for the end user.

Dunno if the cordless would have had any better luck, but I was wishing for the TS75.

Here's some 1-7/8" thick aromatic cedar ripped with the TSC cordless using the 28 tooth Feestool blade in a single pass. Aromatic cedar has a Janka hardness of 900, similar to maple & cherry.

TS 60 K and TSV 60 K are also more powerful than the TS55, which, depending on use, might be a bit more powerful. It's also bigger and heavier, especially the TSV. It also costs more $$. Required rail length also increases.

Ignoring HK series and TS 75; the TS 55 F is the only Festool one left with a riving knife.

The one thing that I don't get with the ts60 is why eliminate the riving knife? I get the idea of "electronic kickback" protection but im not so sure loosing the riving knife in place of more electronics is good for the end user.

Same category of bs design as 99% of new bicycles having a shorter wheelbase resulting in an inherently unstable ride while your heels kick the panier bags off the (also downgraded) rear rack. Combine the latter with the a "new design" with low frame and high seat post where the rider kicks the key from the bike lock every rotation. They won't mention the unstable ride, but they will mention that it has improved maneuverability.

They only propagandize that the kickback problem has been solved with the sensor, but the riving knife prevents a bunch of kickback scenario's from even taking place PLUS blocks the cut (in real wood) from closing on the rear of the blade. The sensor might prevent a bloody outcome, it won't do anything to preserve a resemblance of cut quality when the cut closes.

Quote from: jaguar36 on May 24, 2023, 10:44 AM

The TS55 doesn't have nearly enough power.  Cutting anything thicker than 3/4" is a difficult task for it.  I was cutting a 1.5" oak slab yesterday and had to make two passes.  Dunno if the cordless would have had any better luck, but I was wishing for the TS75.

That's why I said "with the proper blade" in the above comment.
With solid wood of that thickness, less teeth are required. A lot less if you are going with the grain.
For me the actual deciding factor in favor of the TS60 is when doing bevel cuts. I cut waterfall ends on transaction tops (Corain) that are 1 1/2" thick at the front edge. The TS55 cannot cut it completely through. It leaves a little sharp spur at the bottom of the miter/bevel.
As silly as it sounds, that little 4mm will make a difference.

That was the primary complaint most US-based reviewers had with the HK/HKC55 on the rail for 2x material, so since the TS 60 can use the FSK rails, it should also solve that problem/complaint.

OK...I have a TS55 and now a TSC55 KEB.  As far as user experience, the TSC is a generation above the TS55.  It cuts so smoothly and effortlessly compared to the corded version that I haven't used the corded since I got the cordless.  Yes, you still have to hook up the hose, but not having to deal with the cord is gift.  I've had no issues with lack of power.  In addition, the blue tooth batteries are just too convenient.  I'm a hobby woodworker of 30+ years and have a garage shop.

For non-professional use, the cordless saws make more sense. They being heavier is a non-issue if you do not make 100 cuts a day and them being mobile means one does not need another saw.

For pro or, in general, static shop use, the corded versions are better. Each gram saved matters, not caring for batteries means time (money) saved and in such a setting one has the PlugIt embedded with the hose, so the Bluetooth pairing actually turns into a hindrance and another time waster.

All that said, IMO for a hobby user the TS 55 K is the better option. When one is likely to have only one saw, it has the riving knife, is cheaper, lighter, compatible with the HKC 18 for blade sharing.

Writing as an TSC 55 owner - which I absolutely love. Doing it again, I would go with a HKC 18 and TS 55 combo. Even if TS 60 was available then. For those big jobs where TS(C)55 is too little, I got a proper "Big Bertha" in the from of a Protool CSP 145 E with a 350 mm Leitz blade ..

my 2c

OK...I have a TS55 and now a TSC55 KEB.  As far as user experience, the TSC is a generation above the TS55.  It cuts so smoothly and effortlessly compared to the corded version that I haven't used the corded since I got the cordless.  Yes, you still have to hook up the hose, but not having to deal with the cord is gift.  I've had no issues with lack of power.  In addition, the blue tooth batteries are just too convenient.  I'm a hobby woodworker of 30+ years and have a garage shop.

Apples to oranges. Current wired TS 55 F uses the 1.8mm blades too, is a lot faster than previous 2.2mm bladed TS 55 (R) saws, even with same motor.

When is the cord ever an issue when you already have a hose? Or wait; USA only has the thicker cords of course.

Apples to oranges. Current wired TS 55 F uses the 1.8mm blades too, is a lot faster than previous 2.2mm bladed TS 55 (R) saws, even with same motor.

When is the cord ever an issue when you already have a hose? Or wait; USA only has the thicker cords of course.

The cord thing is more than ridiculous. There are indeed two different gauges of wire, but you can't tell the difference between them by "feel" alone. The Plug-it ends are different, so keep you from using the lighter gauge wire on the higher amp drawing tools. This mistake happens frequently to new users, who grab the wrong one, only to find that it won't fit.
I would love to see them just drop this and send the heavier cord with everything.

Like in many similar threads about advice on tools, the OP probably needs time to digest the many conflicting suggestions.

Thanks to all of you for your comments. It took some serious time for me to look through all these comments and make sense of all the comments and part numbers that were being thrown out.  Here are some conclusions I reached:

1) I doubt that for what I do that the separate scoring blade is necessary.
2) I did not realize that there is a TS 60 model coming out without the scoring blade. There is a dealer here in the US that I trust that is offering pre-orders with a ship date of June 21. On a related note, this is just a few days past my birthday. 
3) The TS 60 offers slightly deeper cut (not important to me) but also a brushless motor that I assume will offer more torque than the TS55. I am now wondering if they will stop producing the TS 55.
4) I saw many comments on the TS 55 being the only model with a riving knife. I see the value, but most of what I am going to be using the saw for is cutting down sheet goods so I don't see this a huge advantage.

So....I am leaning towards the TS 60 without the scoring blade. Who knows when that will be available here anyway and I got stuff that needs cutting before it gets to be 150 degrees in my garage. If you think I am making a terrible decision let me know!

Cheers.