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Post by hecon5 on May 22, 2020 14:21:50 GMT -5
So, I've a bit of a conundrum. After discovering this forum (sweet kindness!).. or should I say "saw-eeet", I realized I want another new saw(s)...
I can't tell the difference between the KSS400 & KSS50cc. The KSS50cc seems to be the updated version of the 400, and has a sliiiightly longer cut length and some other new features like a work light. At the price scale, at least in the US, the price difference is negligible, to me, especially if it's as good as it sounds, the price won't matter after the first job.
The KSS60cc seems to be just a hair bigger, and a hair heavier. If most of my work is small framing & minor trim work, and cabinetry (no bigass posts or anything). I have a sliding 12" miter saw that I've been using, but its dust collection is a hair shy of not even there. I daren't name the brand in shame, but it's yellow and has served me well, but it makes an utter mess that I loathe cleaning, it's heavy, and even though I've had great success with keeping it trued up, I want to not have to carry it about anymore. For sheet goods I've been using a "non" track circular saw that's also red, but much cheaper and going at a snail's pace being anal and hoping for the best.
I've had a particularly good year (so far...all things considered), and am wanting to expand my tool repertoire.
I'd like to get the MT55cc. Batteries are fine, but I don't do much that (I feel) would require me to use one, and I have a weird (probably foolish) dislike of having to charge things.
Question: If I get the MT55cc, it seems like having different rails would be suggested for the KSS (were I to use them on it for like...deck trimming). Is this the case?
And second question, would you reccomend the KSS50cc or the KSS60cc as a companion "all around" saw, if I were to also keep my mitre saw for the larger dimensions?
Good gravy this was long. Sorry. Thanks for all your inputs, I like this forum...it's very kind (or seems so) to newcomers, so thanks!
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Post by lincoln on May 22, 2020 17:56:52 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum! If you have the MT55, I can't see why you would run one of the KSS saws on the rail. With the right selection of blades, you can cut most materials with it - I use mine on ply, mdf, acrylic, alucobond etc, etc. I don't build many decks, but when I built ours, I used it for trimming the deck boards to length after fixing them down. Cut through the 21mm hardwood easily, perfect finish. It appears most people skip the KSS50 and go straight to the KSS60. Really depends on what you want to cut?? As far as batteries vs cord - my MT55 is corded, as I always use with a vac. My KSS40 is cordless and I couldn't go back to using that type of saw with a cord. In my case, I mainly do cabinet work, so I have the MT55 for all panels that need cutting, trimming, fitting. Cordless KSS40 for cross cutting scribers, toe kick faces etc, etc, and a K55 which is a 'general' cordless circ. saw. So sorry, probably not much help to you, but I always like reading others experiences with their tools and why they chose them.
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Post by aas on May 23, 2020 3:16:20 GMT -5
Not many available blades for the KSS60, it's a carpentry saw and not a lot else; not sure for the KSS50, maybe more choice.
MT55 can be used for so much, a lot of blades available - start with the MT55 before deciding on the next move.
If you're doing small work, may be worth looking at the KSS40.
If you're not going to be moving the mitre saw anymore, you can build a dust collection box around it - lots of people have tried and posted videos. I have a 2x 18v Makita sliding mitre saw - as a test I built a sealed box with the blade fixed at 90deg, the blade goes into the box as it returns. When connected to my dust collector, there is virtually no dust - but of course I have limited the functionality to square cross-cuts only!
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Post by hecon5 on May 23, 2020 9:52:41 GMT -5
Thanks lincoln ; the K55 looks to be very similar to the KSS50...are they basically the same body? Is the only difference that the KSS50 has the cross cut guide? The options/naming system is dizzying! I think from what I'm seeing is that the KSS50 K55??? are the high contenders as a "most of the work" saw. It looks like the blades are a hair bigger than the MT55 @168mm which would allow for the 165/160 blades (though with reduced cut depth), though perhaps I'm foolish to think that's a good idea...
[Edit]
Though, with that said, my local options for 7.25" blades are pretty wide and far cheaper, so even though it's a hair heavier, the KSS60 does have good appeal.
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Post by kraftt on May 23, 2020 10:14:41 GMT -5
You did say “...and cabinetry” so if I read between the lines lincoln & aas might be suggesting giving the MT55 some consideration. It truly is versatile, though it really needs to be run on rails. The KSS40 bl for your "...small framing" is the other safe bet.
You’re not supposed to but some people here run a 165 dia blade in their MT55’s
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Post by hecon5 on May 23, 2020 10:18:39 GMT -5
I am definitely getting the MT55; I do enough plywood/sheet cutting it looks amazing. Looking to back it up with a saw that can be run off the rails to capture most everything else. I dislike carrying more stuff than I need to. On that topic, though, other than the rail kit, is the angle guide (or other extra goodies while I'm going for broke) worthwhile? looks handy for angle cuts, but it also looks expensive at $150+.
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Post by kraftt on May 23, 2020 10:48:40 GMT -5
I’ve never used the F-WA / FSN-WAN. For precision most use a fixed machined 90º rail square. Except for the AeroFix buying Bosch branded rails & accessories will save money unless you’re getting a package deal. I rarely cut angles, when I do it’s often traced off a luan template anyways and cut with rails dropped onto lines. I actually still use this thing (and one other not pictured) for setting up 90º cuts quickly from one measurement and a clean edge. edit - oh yeah, a pair of these F-RS's / FSNRS's come in handy every now and then. I use a junk drawer pair that work very well.
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Post by aas on May 23, 2020 11:17:35 GMT -5
[Edit]
Though, with that said, my local options for 7.25" blades are pretty wide and far cheaper, so even though it's a hair heavier, the KSS60 does have good appeal.
Check the bore - do imperial blades have metric bores?
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Post by aas on May 23, 2020 11:19:34 GMT -5
On that topic, though, other than the rail kit, is the angle guide (or other extra goodies while I'm going for broke) worthwhile? looks handy for angle cuts, but it also looks expensive at $150+. Angle guide has it's place, but probably not really worth it... a good fixed rail square is a better bet.
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Post by aas on May 23, 2020 11:25:27 GMT -5
The options/naming system is dizzying! I think from what I'm seeing is that the KSS50 K55???
Almost... the K55 and KSS50 ar pretty much the same saw; the K65 and KSS60 are almost the same saw; if at some point you may wish to used a KSS rail, get the KSS version - the K55 and K65 do not have the groove in the base for using with the KSS rails - I found and the hard way and ended up with a hybrid - K65 with KSS60 base - very nice saw by the way!
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Post by arvid on May 23, 2020 16:04:15 GMT -5
[Edit]
Though, with that said, my local options for 7.25" blades are pretty wide and far cheaper, so even though it's a hair heavier, the KSS60 does have good appeal.
Check the bore - do imperial blades have metric bores? Nope.
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Post by hecon5 on May 23, 2020 21:09:56 GMT -5
That would've been unpleasant to learn. From reading other threads, seems concsensus is to just use the Mafell blades on whatever I choose?
Does anyone have both kss50 and kss60 and think one over the other for a better all around compliment to the MT55? Trying to not spend everything at once on new tools, and I think those are the two best contenders from reading your replies and other threads.
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Post by aas on May 24, 2020 2:05:15 GMT -5
That would've been unpleasant to learn. From reading other threads, seems concsensus is to just use the Mafell blades on whatever I choose? Does anyone have both kss50 and kss60 and think one over the other for a better all around compliment to the MT55? Trying to not spend everything at once on new tools, and I think those are the two best contenders from reading your replies and other threads. Yes it would have been a surprise!.. shame US can't join the rest of the world on metric, but that's a long discussion that's been already been had!
Back when I had the Festool TS55, it was pretty cool that the HKC55 used the same diameter blades. The KSS50 and MT55 don't use the same diameter blades, so you can't do this.
I would say either go for the KSS40 if you want light and nimble, or go for the KSS60 if you want a greater depth of cut, the extra cost and weight of the latter over the KSS50 is negligible, but the extra few mm on depth of cut will always come in handy.
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Post by hecon5 on May 24, 2020 6:00:22 GMT -5
Thanks aas! I'm going to get the KSS60, and save up for the 40 later. Thank you all! I'm excited to finally have amazing tools vs. pretty decent tools.
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Post by hecon5 on May 26, 2020 13:29:16 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for input...ouch. That hurt$. Finally pushed the buy button; got the KSS60cc, MT55cc, a few rail stops; already had the "holey" rail and kit FSN OMA thanks to Amazon.co.uk for my router and a (gasp!) Bosch rail kit & bag on order (I read it's kraftt's favorite color). Anticipation abounds!
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