Contractor’s Corner

Tools are constantly changing and getting better. The need for a quick and precise cut is always upon us in the decking industry. That’s why when Festool fused the power of a circular saw with the precision of a track saw, the HKC 55 was born. Marketed as a hand-held miter saw system, it doesn’t disappoint.

The guys at Lakeside Decking Company in the Lake Minnetonka area of Minneapolis, MN., put the HKC 55 to use every day:

“The ease of use and accuracy is on par with what we have come to expect from Festool. There are times on decks when we don’t even set up our miter saw station. We only bring out the HKC 55. And it’s in those times when we are fighting over deck designs, keeping track of project milestones, or impressing your clients with professional digital notes and sketches on your sales meeting, this is the game-changer you’ve been waiting for.

Other awesome features: who gets to use it,” said Josh Ferri, Lakeside Decking Company.

1. Converting handwriting to typing.

2. Different types of “notebooks”—graph paper, Today list, etc.

3. Ease of getting customer signatures.

4. Keyboard option available as an accessory.

In conclusion, the reMarkable 2 tablet has earned our utmost respect and admiration. Its sleek design, impressive functionality, and seamless integration with the deck building process make it a very usable tool for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Not only does it enhance creativity and precision, but it also excels at keeping you organized throughout the entire project. With its intuitive notetaking capabilities, seamless file organization, and effortless syncing across devices, the reMarkable 2 tablet ensures that your ideas, plans, and measurements are always at your fingertips, neatly organized and readily accessible. At Decking TNT, we are thrilled to have discovered this reMarkable device and have no doubt that it will revolutionize your approach to deck building. We hope this review has provided you with valuable insights and inspiration, empowering you to take your craft to new heights.

“It takes abuse well and remains accurate while providing cuts at angles that a miter saw can’t achieve,” Ferri added. “The HKC has certainly allowed us to take our custom deck building to another level. Paired with the Festool track saw, these two are unbeatable.”

If you want to know more about how the guys at Lakeside Decking are using the HKC 55, give them a shout on Facebook or Instagram at @LakesideDecking

Stay tuned for our next TNT review, as we dive into the new TS 60 by Festool.

Pros: Light weight and durable, super easy to use, keeps you organized, great battery life.

Cons: pen can lose the tip easily, zooming in seems to be glitchy, marker tips wear out and need replacement, hard to see in the dark.

TNT rating of 9.9 / 10

Andy Henley is the owner of Hen-House Decks, Uniontown, OH. Mike Mitchell is the owner of Mitchell Construction in the Chicagoland market. Andy and Mike can be reached in the DeckingTNT Facebook group.