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Post by zukinut on Apr 28, 2018 13:21:32 GMT -5
First off, I apologize if this question is in the wrong section. I wasn't sure where to put it.
Long story short, I'm finally biting the bullet, and buying a track saw. When I took over the family construction company, I decided to take it in the direction of things I like to build. So, cabinets, custom trim work, etc are what I do now. I do 99% of my work onsite.
With that said, I need a good track saw, I'm a fan of buy once, cry once. I know that the festool ts55 will serve my purpose, but if Mafell has one that's better, then that's what I'll buy.
I've been researching some of the Mafell stuff but I'm not well read up on any of their products. What do y'all use and recommend?
I guess I'm just wondering if I should look at the 55 or the 400 or maybe even the 300 for the work I do.
Thanks for any and all responses.
Will
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Post by kraftt on Apr 28, 2018 13:56:52 GMT -5
"Buy once, Cry once"
Hadn't heard that expression worded that way before - I like it.
I'll let others more knowledgeable go into detail but for now I will just say this:
The cordless Makita & eventual Bosch cordless (version of the MT55) are strong contenders. But I'm glad I went with Mafell.
Two seemingly silly features that I've come to love are the blade door & the scoring flip switch (not really a switch).
It's simple to score with any track saw but when you're repeating cuts over & over that feature on the Mafell is really appreciated.
Projects involve different media and you need to change blades often, sometimes you can't cut all of one item at once, and there you are going back and forth between blades (rather than dull your finer blades). Again, changing a blade on any saw isn't difficult but it's just so much nicer to have that hatch swing wide open.
If you go with Mafell / Bosch rail/track you have the option/advantage of employing the Aerofix vacuum clamping accessory that while it might not be used that often might make the difference on some jobs.
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Post by erik on Apr 28, 2018 13:57:39 GMT -5
For sheet goods, the mt55 is my go to track saw. I also have the KSS saws and use them with their specific rail for cross-cutting when needed.
My first two saws were the 55 and KSS 400, great combo and they share the same blades.
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Post by zukinut on Apr 28, 2018 14:42:39 GMT -5
In my mid 20s I swore I would never make sawdust again and turned a hobby into a profession. If ya think a grand on a track saw is crazy, spend 300 bucks on one ratchet, or 150 on a socket that you'll use 3 times in a lifetime. Im making sawdust again as you see, haha.
I'm gonna ask this, and please don't flame me, I'm trying to learn--is the Mafell that much better than a festool. I believe it is, I'm just curious what y'all think.
Thanks again for any all responses.
Will
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Post by kraftt on Apr 28, 2018 14:48:42 GMT -5
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Post by MrToolJunkie on Apr 28, 2018 18:09:50 GMT -5
I do not think you can go wrong with the Mafell and if I were in the market for one today, I think that is what I would get. I have a Festool cordless and I think it is awesome. I also have the Festool TS75 for more power. I think that the Mafell is the best fit between power and size. The regular corded Festool 55 is under-powered in my opinion - not so with the cordless. I like some things on FT tracks better and some things on Mafell. But, I think that the Mafell tracks are better for connecting and the anti-splinter insert.
You can use the Mafell on either brand track. I have heard the scoring is nice, but I have also know that the FT with the anti-splinter guide on the front of the saw is better for the waste side of the cut and results splinter free cuts.
Have fun choosing your saw.
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Post by zukinut on Apr 29, 2018 8:56:28 GMT -5
It looks like I'm gonna have to go with the festool. The Mafell is the best, hands down. But ad far as I can tell, there are no parallel guides for its tracks. I do most of my cabinet building on site, and thus I don't own a cabinet saw and I would really like to be able to do fast repeatable rips.
Unless someone here has an option that I don't know about.
Will
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Post by kraftt on Apr 29, 2018 13:39:42 GMT -5
It looks like I'm gonna have to go with the festool. The Mafell is the best, hands down. But ad far as I can tell, there are no parallel guides for its tracks. I do most of my cabinet building on site, and thus I don't own a cabinet saw and I would really like to be able to do fast repeatable rips. Unless someone here has an option that I don't know about. Will ... what happened to "Buy once, cry once" ? ( If it comes down to that accessory, and it works with the Makita cordless... why go festool ? ) |
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Post by jm on Apr 29, 2018 16:48:10 GMT -5
I've owned the Festool TS55 REQ and sold it for a Makita SP6000J1 (corded). The Makita is a better saw for 99% of my use. More power, better cuts (probably related to the power allowing the saw to maintain blade speed under load), better dust collection, and a scoring function that the Festool doesn't have. It also has an anti-tipover function for bevel cuts, that Festool refuses to add/fix. There's just some level of arrogance within their engineering staff that won't let them acknowledge their mistakes and improve upon them (Google will lead you to a ton of unresolved issues about Kapex motor burnouts, Domino bits walking, sanders that don't deal well with too much suction, etc.). If you want parallel guides, you don't want the overpriced Festool ones anyways; get the ones from Seneca Woodworking. Bonus is, you can swap the Incra T-Tracks for longer ones if you need more capacity. www.senecawoodworking.com/products/parallel-guide-system-for-incra-t-track-plusOne positive thing about Festool is they have succeeded pretty well in marketing and price hikes, which means you can sell your used Festool gear for very little loss to the next sucker.  |
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Post by zukinut on Apr 29, 2018 17:18:03 GMT -5
I was looking at the Seneca parallel guides. No way I'm paying for the festool versions, and like you said you can change the senecas around. Buy once cry once is my slogan, but if I can't get what I want I'll be crying twice, haha.
I looked at the makita saw, all of my circular saws are makita. I've just read tons of horror stories about the new makita tracks, that's the only reason I was entertaining festool.
I like everything about the mafell just wish they had a parallel guide setup. If it's true that the mafell will work on a festool track, that may be a solution.
Will
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Post by MrToolJunkie on Apr 30, 2018 0:08:03 GMT -5
I have the parallel guides, but honestly it is faster and just as accurate to mark a line and make the cut. If you are making similar rips then you can always stack material. I use a rule stop to get perfectly parallel cuts and it works great with nothing flopping around the rail. The Mafell rails are machined straight and square so this method works well for me. Your mileage may vary, but something to consider.
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Post by kraftt on Apr 30, 2018 0:22:59 GMT -5
... I use a rule stop to get perfectly parallel cuts and it works great with nothing flopping around the rail... Who's rule stops do you use? I think I'd like to try one, should also make subtracting blade kerf more accurate too for opposite side cuts. |
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Post by aas on Apr 30, 2018 0:52:02 GMT -5
All you need is an aluminium angle with two holes, two t-track t-bolts and nuts, plus a stop and clamp.
Drill holes to line up with the t-tracks in the Mafell rail, the aluminium angle will protrude to the left (it can be as long as you need it to be), set it up with a square before tightening in place (it will double up as a rail square), then put a stop in place with a clamp to the desired length.
To use, butt the stop block to the end of the panel you are cutting, push the aluminium angle to the front of the panel - and cut!
Parallel guide and square combined for 20€!
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Post by kraftt on Apr 30, 2018 1:07:02 GMT -5
(shhh, I've been working on the pro version to sell for 10 times that much)
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Post by aas on Apr 30, 2018 1:52:51 GMT -5
I've already done with two angles, one front and one back to clamp the rail to a unit. Having two t-tracks under the rail is a real bonus... I still wish there was one on top like the Festool rails though.
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