DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

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DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

Post by zedhead »

I said I would put my initial findings up when I had used this a bit and here goes:-

I don't know how I managed without this kit before, I am in the process of making a kitchen I have had to make some carcasses from 18mm white faced chipboard which it cut leaving an acceptable edge, all the doors and end panels (mdf shaker style) and cut the oak worktops (40mm)


It has cut my cutting time at least in half and is very accurate and straight, easy to get on with and simple to use. I cut the sheets on an 8x4 of 25mm celotex on the floor which worked well.

It will trim the smallest amount from the boards and I had no problem using the guide twice on the 8ft lengths.

It didn't like cutting the 40mm oak and burnt a bit but still did it square and true and made the cut outs easy, just finishing into the corners with a jigsaw.

I was originally looking at a festool which I had used some time ago but after asking on here (thanks BA) decided on the dewalt which was £150 cheaper, and can say that up till now I have no regrets.

I hope this helps anyone interested in one of these and am happy to receive tips from any owners.

Regards
Baza
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Re: DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

Post by big-all »

nice review :lol:
did i say to cut off the 12mm from the rubber ends on the track to stop them unpeeling when stood up on end
dry spray ptfe tape can help reduce burning
if you use an ultra thin kerf blade then thin amounts can be a problem and not advisable[sub 5mm or a shallow angle] mind you the riving knife would need replacing or removing to stop binding
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Re: DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

Post by zedhead »

Thank you for the removing rubber strip and ptfe tips BH

I am using the standard blade and have had no problems with removing small amounts. I have made a spacer which is exactly the width of the blade cut which is helpful with some of the marking out and saves my brain with some of the calculations.

Thank you for pointing me at this kit initially

Regards
Baza.
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Re: DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

Post by big-all »

you are taking the time to share and help others both in subjects an reviews
sharing and helping is the greatest reward possible :thumbright: :thumbright:
thank you for helping and sharing :huray: :huray:
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Re: DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

Post by zedhead »

Update.....A week or so on and I am still happy as larry with this kit, the only limitations are my measuring and marking skills, blade is still good after around 20 sheets of mdf, +chipboard and oak.

Will update again in a few months

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Re: DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

Post by zedhead »

A few month turned into Three years lol, I still use this kit every week and am on my third blade and set of rubber strips but after battery drills and my chop saw this is among my most helpfull bits of kit.. It just saves so much set up time when working on sheet materials.. so glad I got it.
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Re: DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

Post by big-all »

better late than never :huray:

where do you get your track rubbers and how much where they :thumbright:
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Re: DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

Post by zedhead »

big-all wrote:better late than never :huray:

where do you get your track rubbers and how much where they :thumbright:
cing
I got the rubbers from Goodwins in Margate, Kent, I cant remember the price but £17.99 rings a bell. I have been considering buying a new rail complete as the original needs both replacing and I am sure the centre is worn now, but it has done a lot of work and I would keep the old one for rough work.
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Re: DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

Post by big-all »

thanks for your answer i am trying to source generic or cheaper as they need to be less than £10 a set for 3m or £1 a foot to get my interest :lol:
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Re: DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

Post by zedhead »

big-all wrote:thanks for your answer i am trying to source generic or cheaper as they need to be less than £10 a set for 3m or £1 a foot to get my interest :lol:
Please let me know if you find any, the ones I have been using are OEM items..
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Re: DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

Post by big-all »

will do :thumbright:
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Re: DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

Post by fin »

i bought myself a ts55 about 6 months back. use it loads. one thing i did was got a sheet of mdf. cut it to something like 700 or wide and 1800mm long. biscuited 3x1 to the edge to make a table. then i got some trestles and i have a decent height table for stuff. especially handy for kitchens. i can do worktop cut outs on it. trim everything to length and all that. it goes through door ways fine and it saves me getting bad knees.

i pinched that idea off speed.

ive never tried the ptfe spray thing,. how often do ya gotta put it on? does it go on router cutters too? how long does one sprays worth last?
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Re: DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

Post by big-all »

ptfe spray pretty much before every cut or every other cut
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Re: DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

Post by fin »

cool so maybe something more for plunging cuts into hard stuff not mdf then.
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Re: DW5520 plunge saw & rail 240v

Post by big-all »

it helps keep the blade clean more than anything else as it will only reach about 20% off the blade on a plunge saw
on a battery tool the batteries may last a bit longer as well with less friction
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