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Add to SafariWhen comparing Festool TS 55 EQ vs Makita SH02Z, the Slant community recommends Festool TS 55 EQ for most people. In the question“What are the best circular saws?” Festool TS 55 EQ is ranked 3rd while Makita SH02Z is ranked 4th. The most important reason people chose Festool TS 55 EQ is:
Plunge cuts are significant in carpentry. While regular circular saws struggle to make a decent plunge cut, this power tool does the job well.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Great for plunge cuts
Plunge cuts are significant in carpentry. While regular circular saws struggle to make a decent plunge cut, this power tool does the job well.
Pro Excellent for near perfect finishing cuts
This tool is great for making accurate finishing cuts. The combination of high-build quality, advanced MMC electronics, and state-of-the-art guide rail system ensures near-perfect results.
Pro Capable of doing several types of cuts
This tool is very flexible due to it's cutting depth and bevel angle adjustments. You can cut up to 2-1/8" deep, at the angle range of -1 to 47 degrees. Additionally, there are stops at 22.5 and 45 degree angles.
Pro Safe handle placement
The handles are placed in a way that you don’t have to lean over the tool to see the workpiece.
Pro Decent build quality
The body of this circular saw is made from high-quality over-molded plastics and rubber. The rubber is molded on top of the plastics. As a result, the handles will not tear from extensive use. The base plate is made from magnesium-alloy, which is stronger and lighter than cast steel.
Pro Decent safety features
This circular saw has useful safety features.
First, the blade is safely hidden underneath the top guard and will pop out only when you apply pressure to the handle. If the handle is accidentally released, the spring-loaded blade will instantaneously travel back underneath the top guard.
Second, the tool has an electric stop feature. It can halt the blade from being activated. Moreover, the risk of kickback is minimized due to the riving knife which keeps cut material away from the blade.
Pro Perfect for extra light use
This circular saw is suitable for light-duty jobs. It can cut 1" thick plywood, MDF, pegboard, particleboard, melamine, and drywall.
Pro Extremely compact design for work in small spaces
Regarding the form factor, this is one of the smallest circular saws available on the market. It is also one of the lightest saws (4.2 lbs). Such features are beneficial for working in tight spaces.
Pro Easy to handle
It is easy to sustain a safe and firm grip over this tool, as it has a rubber-coated ergonomically correct handle.
Pro Very portable during work
Due to the cordless design of this circular saw, you don't have to worry about electrical cords and power outlets while working with this tool.
Cons
Con Useless without the rails
This circular saw is designed to be used specifically as a track saw. Due to its large weight and specific base plate design, it would be extremely complicated to use it without the guide rails.
Con Expensive accessories
The add-ons for this product are ridiculously expensive. A single guide rail clamp will cost you $40. A guide rail extension is priced at $133. Additionally, you'll need the separate rail connector which costs $19. Finally, a dust extraction unit costs between $380 to $800, which is almost the price of the tool itself.
Con Limited cutting depth
Due to the tiny, 3-⅜" blade size, the maximum cutting depth of this tool is only 1 inch. This is an important limiting factor that must be considered before purchasing this saw.
Con Batteries and charger need to be bought separately
Batteries and a charger are not included in this saw's set. This will add another 90-100 dollars to the tool's cost.
