Festool’s TSC 55 circular saw, which is currently only available in Europe, is a cordless adaptation of their TS 55 REQ track saw.
This isn’t just a cordless circular saw – it appears to be the world’s first second* cordless track saw. And the world’s first brushless cordless plunge-cutting saw. And the world’s first double-battery pack brushless circular saw.
Advertisement
*Apparently Dewalt used to produce a 28V cordless track saw.
The new TSC 55 can be used as you would any ordinary circular saw, and there’s also an optional parallel fence guide to help you make straight repeatable cuts.
As with Festool’s other circular saws, the TSC 55 works best with guide rails, whether you’re making straight cuts, beveled cuts, plunge cuts, or stopped cuts.
The Festool TSC 55 cordless saw can be powered by one OR two battery packs. It seems Festool designed the saw to work best with two 18V Li-ion battery packs, but you can use it with one or two 15V or 18V battery packs as well.
Advertisement
The saw has an EC-TEC brushless motor that’s specially tuned to provide maximum performance and runtime.
Features
- Corded-like sawing performance and precision
- Fast Fix quick blade changes
- EC-TEC brushless motor for more power, lower maintenance, longer life
- Chip collection bag for dust-free working
- Spring-loaded guide wedge runs in front of saw to prevent seizing
- Can be fitted with splinter guard for cleaner cuts, or viewing window for easier hand-guiding
http://youtu.be/TMn843hbCT0
Here’s a nice video that shows cutting speed and that the saw has great runtime:
There are several 1-battery and 2-battery kit options available.
When this post was first published, the new Festool saw was only available in Europe. It is now available for sale in the USA as well.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
More Info(via Festool)
First Thoughts
Festool managed to build a saw with a lot of “firsts,” but they’re not bragging about this as other brands would.
The TSC 55 would be impressive if it was just a cordless track saw, but it is also engineered with a brushless EC-TEC motor and can be powered by one or two 15V or 18V Li-ion battery packs. That makes this an exceptionally versatile saw.
Festool is not the only brand who has come out with a 36V equivalent saw. But, unlike the Makita 18V X2 circular saw that is also designed to work with two 18V batteries, the TSC 55 can be powered by just one. Judging by the tortoise and hare graphics on the saw that correspond to whether you equip it with one or two batteries, you’ll probably want to use the saw with two battery packs if and when you can.
Since this is a cordless saw, it is reasonable to imagine it might be used where there’s no AC power. At such times, simply attach the included chip collection bag. I have not yet found an on-tool dust collection bag that has worked particularly well, but Festool claims that theirs can provide for dust-free working.
If you need the power, precision, plunge-cutting feature, and guide rail compatibility of Festool’s circular saws but with cordless versatility, this is going to be your best option.
The 2-battery kit, which comes with (2) 18V 4.2Ah Li-ion battery packs, is currently available in Europe for more than $1000. This makes the TSC 55 best suited for users who REALLY want Festool saw features and performance in a cordless battery-powered package.
John
Not quite the first with a cordless tracksaw since DeWalt had one a couple of years ago. I’m not sure if it’s still in production or even available anymore.
http://www.dewalt.com/us/tracksaw/products/DC351KL.html
For most tracksaw uses, I don’t see a cordless model being a good option since they draw so much power at full load but I can definitely see how they would be useful on remote sites or one off cuts in an occupied space.
Have you been able to find any early first-hand reviews for European users? I’m especially curious about runtime and power for long / deep cuts.
Stuart
Good point. Dewalt’s track saw doesn’t seem to be very popular, and I didn’t know they had a 28V model. You’re right, it doesn’t look to be made anymore.
I didn’t find any reviews of the cordless saw yet. I don’t think power’s going to be an issue. With a brushless motor and 36V total battery power when two 18V packs are used, it should be able to cut through sheet goods quite speedily.
I could see the cordless saw coming in handy. It’s not easy to break down full-sized plywood indoors, and there might be times when taking a corded saw outdoors with extension cord isn’t feasible. The high price makes the saw better suited to those who might take advantage of the cordless nature very frequently or even on a daily basis.
Jason
The American tool companies haven’t done a very good marketing job with track saws. If I had known about them back in the day I probably wouldn’t have bough a table saw. I’m limited in space with a tiny garage workshop. Yes you do lose out on some things you can do with a table saw like dado’s but you can use other tools to accomplish that too. I had seen that cordless saw mentioned once somewhere else, but it suffers from the fact it seems to be dead platform with no addition tools. I don’t know why they wouldn’t have at least used their 36v lithium platform. Dewalt was stagnant with the 36v line but they are adding higher amp hour packs now and updated models the updated tools seem mostly SDS related. Anyways Milwaukee would benefit from releasing a M18 fuel tracksaw as they don’t sell a table saw in their lineup of tools, and the Fuel circular saw is very powerful.
joel
Others beat me to telling you that dewalt had a cordless option. I have the corded option, and I like it very much. Agreed that marketing is poor in the US for these things, but I’ve shown it to many construction guys, and a few have added them to their trucks. Track saws are so much safer for cutting down sheets of plywood. I still have a table saw, but it is only used for small pieces and ripping down stuff that the track won’t sit comfortably on.
joel
Since this is a discussion about track saws – you guys might be interested in the Paulk workbench – it’s a really awesome idea… I plan to build something extremely similar… if I ever get time to do some work in the shop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnNi6Tpp-ac
Ross
I’ve heard of track saws but never learned much about them, so excuse my ignorance. I’m just wondering what the difference is between a track saw and using a typical circular saw with a straightedge. It looks like like the blade in the picture is more like a standard table saw blade, not a thin kerf, but you could definitely still run that with a regular circular saw. Do they use a zero-clearance base or anything? I’m curious to hear more.
Stuart
Compared to a regular circular saw, track saws can often make plunge cuts and are easier and quicker to use with guide rails. They often make more precise cuts as well. Festool’s track saws can be equipped with a splinterguard to help improve cut quality even further.
Track saws are especially handy for breaking down larger sheets of plywood, which can be a little harder to do with a circular saw and straight edge.
If you live near a Festool dealer, the easiest way to see the benefits of a track saw is to try one out.
There are other benefits as well, such as easier adjustability and fantastic dust collection when a Festool vacuum/extractor is used.
joel
Circular saw with straightedge are hard to measure for – you have to off-set however far the blade is from the side of the saw. You can also still come off the straightedge if you aren’t careful.
Tracksaws sit directly where they are going to cut. They have a rubber strip that when you make your first cut lines up perfectly where the saw will always cut. The rubber strip directly on your cut also prevents tear-out from the blade giving you a better than factory edge on most plywood. Festool saws have a tear-out prevention device for the other side of the cut too – my dewalt doesn’t have that, but I rarely have tear-out on that side either. The blades are something like 6 inches – and aren’t cheap to replace (you can get them sharpened). At first this turned me off, but then I realized that the blades are much higher quality than standard circ saw blades – You will truly get perfectly straight edges. The edges are so nice that I’ve used it as a jointer to make glue-ups on long boards – I haven’t used my jointer since I purchased my track saw.
mikeh
As with most festool equipment and even more so here, this saw is brilliant. Expensive but gorgeous. It weighs in at 22 pounds which seems heavy but maybe not for its intended purpose?
mikeh
Sorry bad data – actually only 11.5 lbs
RX7
I seriously hope that more manufacturers start adopting the dual 18v battery idea that Makita started. Festool is a welcome addition, because it shows that at least one other manufacturer believes in the marketability of the concept.
Stuart
Makita didn’t come up with the idea, they simply built upon a few products Black & Decker used to make that worked with one or two battery packs.
I think that the other brands, such as Bosch, Dewalt, and Milwaukee, are definitely exploring 18V to 36V doubling-up battery systems for their product lines as well.
Michael
I would have bin impressed @ 4>500.00 dollars
Chris Fyfe
I can see them being a hit in Europe . Rennovations in some of the old multi story houses would put cordless technology at a premium .
Even in North America , running 100′ 10 or 12 ga. extensions is a PITA .
I did catch a You Tube post , by a British carpenter using one on an outdoor project on a school property . From what I saw , the beast cuts sheet goods very well .
If I had the coin to spare , I’d buy one .
Chris
Larson
I don’t think I would have any need for a track saw, but I really want one for some reason.
Stuart, have you ever heard of anyone coming out with a cordless worm drive? I’m thinking a dual battery or nice brushless would be awesome!
regopit
I had the chance to test this saw at the Festool connect in Providence, RI this saw has as much power as my TS 55 REQ. It gives a clean edge with no tear out every time.
Wayne
The DeWalt 28/36v platform is dead. The track saw, which was tweaked copy of the Festool version, had some issues like staying true and assembly problems. The other mistake was basing it on the outdated platform. No real “firsts” in this release.
MattP
I haven’t had any issues with my DeWalt track saw staying true, though it is the corded version. I’m not sure how you say it’s a copy though, the plunge mechanism is totally different.
John E
Cordless pro tools are much more of a growth market in Europe as their health and safety (OSHA) inspectors have a much stricter rule book than the US and cords have to be taped down and generators meet higher (EPA) standards etc. You bring cordless tools to work, you can just get on with things easier and the HSE leave you alone.
Joe Berg
The Festool TSC -55 is wonderful for sheetgoods and cutting cutting 40 mm solid wood countertops. When you turn it on it sounds like the corded version. Roars like a lion at 5200 rpm I believe. Buy 2 extra 5.2 ah hour batteries and a second charger. US carpenter/ custom woodworker living in Sweden
Darren
i live in the uk and the health and safety laws on sites are ridiculous no 240v tools allowed either 110 v or cordless so this was a no brainer for me picked on up for £ 495 with two charges two batts systainer and guid rail and guess what it is awesome it does 47 degree to minus 1 degree i cut 18 mm osb boards for 4 hours straight before the battery died its the best plunge saw ive ever used anyone want to buy a dewalt lol
Julian
Festo had the track saw as far back as 1995 I remember using one in Germany.