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Post by jrichardson6 on Jul 17, 2014 4:18:05 GMT -5
Ive had a number of festool ts55s I was thinking of getting the mafell . i really like the rail joining system and the integrated rubber edge lip. Also i am fascinated by the flexible rail.. i can't seem to see anywhere online where two or more are joined.. is it possible to join them? Also is the mt55 a good replacement for the ts55 or maybe i could consider the smaller kss300 though it seems underpowered i do a lot of ripping of 18mm 25mm ply /mdf
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Post by wrightwoodwork on Jul 17, 2014 11:18:57 GMT -5
The rail can be joined a many times as you want as long as you have a conector you can join the next rail on. I sometimes join 3 rails together. A situation where I would join 3 rails is when laying chipboard flooring, when the floor joists turn 90 degrees I will let the flooring fly past the junction then join the 3 rails (2/1600 and 1100 giving 4300). It keeps the joint nice and straight and everything lined up nicely. If it is predominantly sheet goods you work with I would lean towards the mt. The little kss is actually more powerful than you might expect
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Post by mick on Jul 17, 2014 11:36:32 GMT -5
I could be wrong but if you are asking can the flexi track be joined to another flexi track the answer is no sorry if I have the question wrong
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Post by GhostFist on Jul 17, 2014 11:46:50 GMT -5
Flex rail doesn't join. If you're looking to replace a ts 55 go with the mt55
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Post by 7 on Jul 18, 2014 1:14:42 GMT -5
I am guessing you already know this but the MT55 will ride the Festool rails. Mafell rails are better but sounds like you already own Festool rails so you could take it in steps if you aren't ready to drop a bunch of money all in one purchase.
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luzzy
Junior Member
Posts: 88 
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Post by luzzy on Jul 29, 2014 20:56:31 GMT -5
I bought the TS55REQ. Then i "discovered" the Mafell rail system and was sold. I immediately sold the TS55 and rail. The MT55 is superior in several ways all by itself , including but not limited to - dust collection,power,ease of blade change etc. Now if you couple in the Mafell Rails which automatically align to straight when joined(unlike the Festool) and the fact that the connector conveniently self stores and can be tightened with a quarter or penny even - its a no brainer. I had to use the Festool rails at work the other day. I forgot how much i hate their joining system. I snapped the only screw driver that fit those tiny screws and still had a crooked cut after joining the two rails. It is a weak link in the Festool line.
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Post by GhostFist on Jul 29, 2014 21:09:37 GMT -5
Ouch
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Post by jalvis on Aug 3, 2014 12:49:29 GMT -5
The rail system is often the most overlooked value in the Mafell saw. I will never go back to the festool rails.
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Post by MrToolJunkie on Sept 7, 2014 9:09:15 GMT -5
For me it is being able to clamp material right at the cut line that is important. You can clamp some pretty narrow offcuts and still rip thin strips.
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Post by woodguru on Oct 12, 2014 13:23:49 GMT -5
I recently came to the conclusion that I needed (wanted) a rail saw, I was going to get the Festool TS55, but when looking on the web I came across the Mafell kss300, I was sold !! However, having considered the jobs I have coming up, there will be stuff which is larger than 40mm, so after much coin flipping I have just bought the kss400 !!  now I'm just waiting for it to turn up, Tuesday seems so far away! I first came across Mafell at the woodwork show in Birmingham NEC about 8 years ago, I was spending someone else's money in those days, so I bought the DD40, I didn't know about the Domino at the time, since then, every joiner and cabinet maker I know has a TS55 and a Domino ! Not wanting to follow the crowd I stuck with Mafell, I bought a DD40 for myself, I'm not a great fan of the Domino. Now that I have a kss400 on it's way, I'm wondering if having a kss300 as well is a bit over the top ?! Or should I get the MT55, the only advantage I can see with the MT55 is the scoring setting, whereas the kss300 is so compact. On another note, I want to get the guide rail for the DD40, and I noticed that there are pics on here of a Hoffman rail, is it the same as the Mafell, or is it a more economical option ?? |
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Post by wrightwoodwork on Oct 12, 2014 15:02:54 GMT -5
Choices. It properly depends on what material predominantly laminated sheet material then properly the 55. Then if doing various tasks then properly the 300. Either way both no doubt will. Get used. Not sure if can get the hoffmann guide rail for the dd40 and if can get easily. Maybe try the German ebay site
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Post by 7 on Oct 12, 2014 23:19:58 GMT -5
I own the 3 saws that you are discussing- kss300,400 and MT55. I almost always use the 55 on the rails for cutting any material, mostly sheet goods but occasionally rough stock hardwood. I very much prefer the 55 on the rail but the others works also. I think Tom, another forum member, uses his 400 on the rails a lot and seems to love that saw both on and off the rail. You will be able to know if you agree in a few days it sounds like. Tom also owned (or still does??) the 300...seems to favor the 400. I'll let him speak to that if he wants to. I love them both but for different reasons.
I dont think its overkill to have all three saws depending on the variety of work that you do.
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Post by woodguru on Oct 13, 2014 15:00:42 GMT -5
Well I'm hoping to have the 400 tomorrow I have quite a few tasks in hand, some kitchen units, wardrobes, a small workshop to build, a canopy, so a variety of materials, I did consider the 55, but the cross cutting capability of the 300 and 400 won me over, and as I most often deal with solid timbers made me go for the 400, I shall give you my verdict once I've had time to get used to it. |
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Post by 7 on Oct 13, 2014 23:16:26 GMT -5
Sounds to me like you made the right decision for what you do. The 55 is a mess to try to use for crosscutting solid wood, not even comparable to the 400. I use my 400 almost exclusively for building decks- everything from the rough framing to cutting the finished surface including at times mitering the skirting and perimeter surface boards. It is really nice to not have to pull out the speedsquare so often. I hope you enjoy the saw. We will all be interested in a brief report after you get some use out of the saw whether you love it or hate it.
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Post by woodguru on Oct 14, 2014 9:14:01 GMT -5
Well I'm sitting here eating humble pie, the saw has arrived, but without rails or case, there was I thinking I'd got a good deal, oh well, with the case and rails, it'll be pretty much the same price as the whole kit. I have used it already, just to trim a shelf for the unit I had installed this morning (while waiting for the saw to turn up) our flat is now square, so setting and moving and angled cut along the board a few inches was a piece of cake, just a pencil mark and go! No regrets, I'm sure this saw will get plenty of use, but I will be getting the 300 too, it is much more portable and compact |
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now I'm just waiting for it to turn up, Tuesday seems so far away!