Notice
This machine should not be operated without an assessment.
This tool should not be used while alone in the space - lone working rule.
The saw blade should only ever be changed / replaced by @woodtechs
Details
Festool - TS 55 REQ Guided Circular Saw or Plunge Saw
Intended Use and Applications
The TS 55 REQ, hand-operated circular saw, is designed exclusively for sawing of wood, wood-like materials, and plastics. The saw may also be used for cutting aluminum when a Festool aluminum-cutting sawblade is installed. The tool should not be altered or used for any other purpose, other than as specified in these operating instructions. Using the tool in contravention to this manual will void your warranty and may lead to injury. The user shall be responsible and liable for damages and accidents resulting from misuse or abuse of this saw.
You can see examples of applications, like Straight-Lining Rough Lumber, Crosscutting and Trimming, Plunge Cutting in the manual linked below.
Specifications of Circular Saw
Power Consumption: 1200 Watts (10 amps @ 120 volts)
Speed Range: 2,000 to 5,200 RPM (no load)
Blade Diameter: 160 mm
Arbor Diameter: 20 mm, Round
Depth of Cut (without guide rail): 55 mm (2.2”) @ 90°, 43 mm (1.7”) @ 45°
Bevel Angle: 0° to 45°, plus -1° to 47°
Weight: 4.5 kg (9.9 lbs)
Specification of Guide Rails available in SLMS
[missing]
Condition
[missing]
eg. New, 2nd hand, loaned. Any damage?
PPE
- Safety glasses are mandatory
- Extraction use is required, use the Festool extraction system, further explained in the ‘During Use’ section
Safety Checklist
- Do not wear loose clothing
- Ensure long hair, jewellery, and any clothing drawstrings are securely tied back
- Sensible footwear with sturdy toes should be worn at all times in the workshop. Steel toe-caps are a bonus
- Do not wear gloves - they are an entanglement risk with machine tools
- As with any power tool - be alert. Do not use the tool when tired.
- Use the guides and guards
- Empty the festool extraction system
- keep your fingers out of the line of the cut
- IF YOU’RE NOT SURE, ASK Maintainers @woodtechs
Specific Safety Rules for Circular Saws
- Keep hands away from the blade and cutting area. Keep your
second hand on the auxiliary handle. If both hands are holding the saw, they cannot be cut by the blade. - Keep your body positioned to either side of the saw blade, but
not in line with the saw blade. Kickback could cause the saw
to jump backward. (See “Causes and Prevention of Kickback”
below.) - Do not reach underneath the workpiece. The blade is fully
exposed under the workpiece. - Never use a plunging circular saw that fails to return to its
unplunged position. If the saw ever fails to fully retract the
sawblade as expected, immediately stop using the saw and
have the saw serviced by an authorized service center. - Never use a dust extraction system when making cuts that
can result in sparks, such as cutting through nails and other
ferrous materials. Sparks and hot embers can cause a fire or
explosion in the dust extraction system. - Never hold the piece being cut in your hands or across your
leg. It is important to support the work properly to minimize
body exposure, blade binding, or loss of control. - Hold the saw by the insulated handles when performing an
operation in which the sawblade may contact hidden wiring or
its own cord. Contact with a “live” wire will make the exposed
metal parts of the tool “live” and shock the operator. - When ripping, always use a rip fence or straight edge guide.
This improves the accuracy of cut and reduces the chance for
blade binding. - Always use blades with the correct size and shape arbor
holes. Blades that do not match the mounting hardware of
the saw will run eccentrically, causing loss of control. - Never use damaged or incorrect blade flanges or bolt. The
blade flanges and bolt were specially designed for your saw
for optimum performance and safety of operation.
Causes and Prevention of Kickback
Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched, bound, or misaligned saw blade that causes the saw to lift up and out of the workpiece toward the operator.
Chances for kickback may be reduced by taking proper precautions as described below:
- Maintain a firm grip with both hands on the saw and position
your body and arm to allow you to resist kickback forces.
Kickback forces can be controlled by the operator if proper
precautions are taken. - When interrupting a cut for any reason, release the trigger
and hold the saw motionless in the material until the blade
comes to a complete stop. Never attempt to remove the saw
from the work or pull the saw backward while the blade is in
motion, or kickback may occur. - When restarting a saw in the workpiece, center the saw blade
in the kerf and check that the saw teeth are not engaging the
material. If the saw blade is binding during a restart, it may
climb up or kickback from the workpiece. - Do not use a dull or damaged blade. Dull or improperly
sharpened blades cause excessive friction, blade binding, and
kickback. - Support large panels to minimize the risk of the blade pinching and causing a kickback. Large panels tend to sag under
their own weight. Supports must be placed under the panel
on both sides, near the line of cut and near the edge of the
panel. - The bevel adjusting knobs must be fully tightened before
making a cut. If the blade tilts during a cut, it will bind and
cause a kickback. - Use extra caution when making a plunge cut into existing
walls or other blind areas. The protruding blade may cut
objects that can cause kickback.
Induction and Training
[If applicable, a short description of induction requirements]
Maintainers
@woodtechs Risk Assessment
[Identify risks and state control measures]
(Note: The following is effectively the contents of the induction process, if it exists)
Before Use
- setup the tracks on the table as shown and make sure:
[incl images]
Setting the Blade Depth to 2-3mm below the table
The TS55 is equipped with a depth stop for setting the depth of the blade during a plunge cut. Using the correct blade depth improves cutting safety, cut quality, and motor efficiency.
You can view the Festool PDF for information on materials and depth recommendations in case of burn-out or shattering.
Setting the Bevel Angle
The standard bevel range of the TS 55 REQ is between 0˚and 45˚. However, an extended range is also available from -1˚ to 47˚. The extended range is available by pulling out on the limit release knob.
- Loosen the front and rear bevel thumbscrews.
- Tilt the saw until the index pointer is aligned with the
desired angle. To go above or below the normal limit
stops, pull out slightly on the limit release knob. - Retighten both bevel thumbscrews.
Setting the Motor Speed
The TS55 has electronic speed control with soft-start circuitry. The electronic controller will maintain the motor speed even as the load changes. The speed control is infinitely variable from 2000 to 5200 RPM. The optimal speed of the saw is predominately determined by the type of material being cut. Turn the speed control dial to the number shown in the table
below.
Material Speed
Soft wood products and veneer plywoods 6
Hardwood products 3-6
Plastic laminate countertops 6
Hard plastics 3-5
Soft plastics 1-4
Plaster and cementitious hardboard 1-3
Aluminum 4-6
Using the Limit Stop
The limit stop serves two purposes: it controls the saw’s
starting position and prevents a kickback during a plunge
cut. The leading edge of the limit stop prevents the saw from lifting up at the beginning of a plunge cut. This is what prevents kickback during a plunging operation. Refer to “Plunge Cutting” on page 18 of the Festool-TS55REQ Manual for more information.
- Slide the limit stop onto the T-slot of the guide rail
behind the saw, and with the embossed arrow pointing
toward the saw. - Position the stop behind the starting position of the saw.
► When the blade is at full-depth, the limit stop is 3¾
inches behind the start of the cut.
► When the blade is less than full depth, the distance
between the blade (cut) and the limit stop will be
greater.
► For best results, you should always verify the blade’s
cutting position before staring the cut. - Tighten the thumbscrew on the limit stop.
During Use
Using Dust Extraction
-
Insert the extractor hose on to the chip diverter.
► The 27mm Festool hose fits inside the diverter, and the
36mm Festool hose fits over the diverter. -
Plug the TS 55 power cord into the auxiliary outlet on the
extractor -
Set the power switch on the extractor to “Auto.” (The
auxiliary power outlet is active only when the switch is
set to Auto.)
Connecting the Plug-it Cord
The TS55 saw comes equipped with a removable Plug-It
power cord. To install the power cord, insert the cord into
the inlet on the tool with the key and keyway aligned, and
twist the locking ring. Reverse the procedure to remove the
cord.
NOTICE: Make sure to fully tighten the plug-it cord
a full quarter-turn until it clicks. If the plug is not
fully locked, the socket and cord can overheat and be
damaged.
Turning on the Saw
To prevent unexpected start-ups, the power switch has an
integral safety interlock. Before the saw can be started or
plunged, the plunge release must be engaged.
To start the saw, push up on the plunge release, and pull back on the trigger. Once the trigger has been engaged, you no longer need to hold the plunge release raised.
After Use
- store the tool correctly in the intended box
- dissemble the track and store in the right place
- dissemble any other parts and put back in the relevant boxes
- tidy up and hoover
Maintenance
References
Festool-TS55REQ-Supplemental-Manual.pdf (3.9 MB)
and this video (skip to minute 3:00 and go)
https://www.youtube.com/live/ZwYl3eZg_w8?si=TmdUBcxQDBl_ug_1