Five years ago, I bought a Festool TS 55 track saw that I use for cutting cabinet-grade plywood (Tools & Materials, FWW #187). I’ve always been happy with the performance of my Festool blades, but when Freud and Forrest recently introduced blades that fit the TS 55 track saw, I had to try them. The new blades also fit the Makita and De Walt track saws, but because the Festool requires a slightly smaller blade (6-1/4 in. vs. 6-1/2 in.), the depth of cut is somewhat sacrificed on the other saws.

I pitted the two new blades against a brand-new Festool blade in several ripping and crosscutting tests. All three blades cut better than my worn Festool blade and left a smooth surface. None of the blades showed any wear, but the Forrest and Festool had a bit of pitch buildup.

The Festool blade sells for $61. The Forrest is $91 (forrestblades.com) and the Freud is $50 (amazon.com). Since all three blades offer equal performance, I’d choose the Freud because it costs less and has a pitch-resistant surface.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Festool Cleantec CT 26 E HEPA Dust Extractor

The clear winner here is Festool’s CT 48 Dust Extractor. It has amazing capacity relative to its size, and unmatched suction power. It packs in a number of subtle but very helpful design touches, like a clever foot brake and easy hose and cord storage.

Buy at Amazon

Festool Rotex FEQ-Plus Random Orbital Sander

The Festool Rotex is a top-of-the-line choice. On its coarse setting, it removed stock nearly twice as quickly as the second-fastest model. But that speed doesn’t mean you’ll have to wrestle with it. It’s no huge task to control it with two hands, and its long body gives you plenty of room to find a sweet spot while holding it.

Buy at Amazon

Milwaukee M12 23-Gauge Cordless Pin Nailer

This tool is designed for convenience. The battery and pins are easy to load, and the safety lock operates with the same finger you use to pull the trigger. The depth of set is adjustable, there’s a work light, and there’s a hook for hanging the tool on your toolbelt. A gauge lets you keep track of when you’ll need to recharge.

Buy at Amazon