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Post by theartificer on Dec 1, 2020 3:26:30 GMT -5
Hi all, I'm just In the throws of getting prices on an Erika 85 shipped to Australia.
Just thought I'd see if there's any things I should know about before going ahead with it.
I see the model has changed at some point, the dust/safety guard is clear rather than red, is that the only difference?
I've watched loads of videos and read a bunch of reviews and I'm preferring the Erika 85 to the festool cs70, I haven't seen either in real life though. Does everyone agrees the mafell is the better option?
All feedback muchly appreciated
Thank you
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Post by huntsgemein on Dec 1, 2020 5:03:55 GMT -5
Given its price, you'll be up for Import Duty as well as 10% GST. Unless it's second hand, of course, & you can convince the vendor to place a suk AU $1K valuation on the package.
A fine saw, I'm sure. But is it really what you NEED rather than want. Being heavy means that it can't be posted. You'll have to arrange for a shipping agent, but in this day & age of international commerce this shouldn't be too difficult. Just expensive & probably slow!
An Erika is definitely a much superior saw to the Festo. Yet another reason why they're so expensive. The CS70 is a bit of a portable hobby/site saw, whereas the Erika is much less easily transportable & should be therefore far more capable & accurate.
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Post by garagegrump on Dec 1, 2020 5:39:46 GMT -5
If someone gave me one I'd be very happy, and there was a time when I thought I might swallow hard and pay for one because it means I could get all the ripping and cross-cutting I need in the one tool that can fold away.
but....
If you are looking for reasons not to:
1. You're paying entry-level sliding-saw price (once duty and other import fees and GST included) for a (semi-)portable saw with an ally top. 2. You can have a top quality cabinet saw and a Festool Kapex for less money.
I find the pricing of this saw to be very frustrating from an Aussie's point of view. It fits a niche that no-one locally fills, but by the same token it isn't that much extra to step up to a Hammer.
For me if portability/stowability is a necessity then its a De Walt and a Bosch GDL mitre saw for a bit over AU$2K. (cf ~AU$8.5K for an Erika), or ~AU$10k for a Hammer/Felder if it isn't. Consequently I am saving for a Hammer.
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Post by theartificer on Dec 1, 2020 5:46:42 GMT -5
Given its price, you'll be up for Import Duty as well as 10% GST. Unless it's second hand, of course, & you can convince the vendor to place a suk AU $1K valuation on the package. A fine saw, I'm sure. But is it really what you NEED rather than want. Being heavy means that it can't be posted. You'll have to arrange for a shipping agent, but in this day & age of international commerce this shouldn't be too difficult. Just expensive & probably slow! An Erika is definitely a much superior saw to the Festo. Yet another reason why they're so expensive. The CS70 is a bit of a portable hobby/site saw, whereas the Erika is much less easily transportable & should be therefore far more capable & accurate.
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Post by theartificer on Dec 1, 2020 6:09:50 GMT -5
Hi guys, thanks for your responses. Shipping, gst, tax agents, etc are all under control. Theres two companies that can import it for me straight from mafell so I don't have to worry about import tax personally, agent hassle, etc, and I get an Aussie invoice for the whole amount, I'm GST registered so can claim the GST back, tax write off, etc...
Was more just asking about the saw itself. I have a DeWalt table saw which is great but I need something bigger, more accurate, more attachments, pull saw function, table extensions, etc.
I looked at some other DeWalt price range table saws, Bosch, Metabo, etc, but they don't seem any better than the DeWalt, or worse. There does seem to be a massive gap in those kind of table saws and the mafell, no happy medium, so don't really have many options. Admittedly want is up there with need though 🤣.
I don't have a workshop, all site work, but i do get work in big residential houses so i have space to set up, and I'm on some sites for weeks or months at a time, so won't be carrying it up pokey staircases to apartments for example. And so cabinet saws aren't really an option too.
Was heavily looking into the cs70 but honestly couldn't find one completely good review on the whole of the internet, where as I can't find a negative review regarding the Erika.
Would happily look into any other options but I don't really think they're are any. I'm hoping the Erika would be a good investment and last 10 years or more maybe, maybe wishful thinking, but my DeWalt was showing its age after a year or so, so it doesn't necessarily work out cheaper in the long run buying have a 1 or 2k saw.
Maybe I'm missing some perspectives of the situation, looking forward to hearing any more comments.
Thanks all!
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Post by alvychippy on Dec 1, 2020 14:45:04 GMT -5
Hi guys, thanks for your responses. Shipping, gst, tax agents, etc are all under control. Theres two companies that can import it for me straight from mafell so I don't have to worry about import tax personally, agent hassle, etc, and I get an Aussie invoice for the whole amount, I'm GST registered so can claim the GST back, tax write off, etc... Was more just asking about the saw itself. I have a DeWalt table saw which is great but I need something bigger, more accurate, more attachments, pull saw function, table extensions, etc. I looked at some other DeWalt price range table saws, Bosch, Metabo, etc, but they don't seem any better than the DeWalt, or worse. There does seem to be a massive gap in those kind of table saws and the mafell, no happy medium, so don't really have many options. Admittedly want is up there with need though 🤣. I don't have a workshop, all site work, but i do get work in big residential houses so i have space to set up, and I'm on some sites for weeks or months at a time, so won't be carrying it up pokey staircases to apartments for example. And so cabinet saws aren't really an option too. Was heavily looking into the cs70 but honestly couldn't find one completely good review on the whole of the internet, where as I can't find a negative review regarding the Erika. Would happily look into any other options but I don't really think they're are any. I'm hoping the Erika would be a good investment and last 10 years or more maybe, maybe wishful thinking, but my DeWalt was showing its age after a year or so, so it doesn't necessarily work out cheaper in the long run buying have a 1 or 2k saw. Maybe I'm missing some perspectives of the situation, looking forward to hearing any more comments. Thanks all! Most of Aus is one floor high, but heavens forbid, if you'll have to get it upstairs by yourself... Not just the weight, but the awkward size makes it really heavy
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Post by aas on Dec 1, 2020 15:30:20 GMT -5
Given how you'll use the saw, it's a good choice and you'll be very happy with it.
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Post by holmz on Dec 2, 2020 16:02:31 GMT -5
If someone gave me one I'd be very happy, and there was a time when I thought I might swallow hard and pay for one because it means I could get all the ripping and cross-cutting I need in the one tool that can fold away. but.... If you are looking for reasons not to: 1. You're paying entry-level sliding-saw price (once duty and other import fees and GST included) for a (semi-)portable saw with an ally top. 2. You can have a top quality cabinet saw and a Festool Kapex for less money. I find the pricing of this saw to be very frustrating from an Aussie's point of view. It fits a niche that no-one locally fills, but by the same token it isn't that much extra to step up to a Hammer. For me if portability/stowability is a necessity then its a De Walt and a Bosch GDL mitre saw for a bit over AU$2K. (cf ~AU$8.5K for an Erika), or ~AU$10k for a Hammer/Felder if it isn't. Consequently I am saving for a Hammer. Where are you at? a Hammer is good, but it takes more room. i got most of the goodies, but I am not sure they needed on an Erika 85... I have not used most of them yet.
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Post by huntsgemein on Dec 2, 2020 17:16:56 GMT -5
What happened to the router extension/s? They don't appear at all in the Mnf'r's. website. This (to me at least) is one of the major appeals of the Ericas. Making it a much more "complete" yet compact workshop solution.
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Post by aas on Dec 3, 2020 1:14:48 GMT -5
They've stopped the router extensions.
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Post by theartificer on Dec 3, 2020 4:34:03 GMT -5
What happened to the router extension/s? They don't appear at all in the Mnf'r's. website. This (to me at least) is one of the major appeals of the Ericas. Making it a much more "complete" yet compact workshop solution. Ive found its still around for the 70, but not the 85, annoyingly, can rig something up though I'm sure, have seen videos on YouTube of people making a router table function
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Post by theartificer on Dec 3, 2020 5:29:49 GMT -5
When does the sliding table come in handy? Does the pull saw function kind of do the same thing?
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Post by aas on Dec 3, 2020 6:08:37 GMT -5
When does the sliding table come in handy? Does the pull saw function kind of do the same thing? The sliding table has a longer run than the pull saw function.
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Post by bicycleclip on Dec 5, 2020 12:59:45 GMT -5
I enjoyed using an Erika, but came to the following conclusion. Don’t buy an Erika to save space. I did, because my shed is 14’ x 14’. But material indeed and out feed requirements are the same, no-matter the size of the table. There’s a reason table saws are the size they are. Most cuts on a table saw are on the large side and need support and a good stable base. Erikas get wobbly when your pushing a whole or half a sheet over them. If you want to save space, get a bandsaw and a track saw. The only way you save space with an Erika is if you fold it down at the end of each day. On the other hand it’s portable, which is what it’s intended for, being able to be put in the back of a truck and set up onsite. For this, it’s the best.
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Post by aas on Dec 5, 2020 13:26:08 GMT -5
I don't use my Erika for ripping sheets down, never have, never will - it's not a large format panel saw.
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