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Post by calidecks on Dec 8, 2017 11:19:54 GMT -5
I use wet pressure treated exclusively. It doesn't have the power I need. I'm thinking of going with the corded version. Disappointing to say the least.
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Post by wrightwoodwork on Dec 8, 2017 11:47:03 GMT -5
Thats understandable I know for myself if I'm going to be cutting especially wet timbers I will try to take the corded 400 as the battery doesn't have the run time. Cordless is handy but if doing rips or cutting wet timbers constantly then corded is still the way to go
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Post by chippiegary on Dec 8, 2017 12:07:54 GMT -5
Yes I totally agree sometimes cord is king ,shame we are not on the same continent I’ve got a unused kss400 for sale it’s 240v which I think is wrong for you guys anyways . We could have maybe traded .
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Post by huntsgemein on Dec 8, 2017 20:19:37 GMT -5
I use wet pressure treated exclusively. It doesn't have the power I need. I'm thinking of going with the corded version. Disappointing to say the least. I haven't done a lot of work with CCA/tanalised timber myself. Just the odd outdoor setting. I can recall having to "split" some 45mm thick Microline dressed boards in half. About +/- 4.5 metres in total. One cut each side over the saw bench, & a pretty laborious cut with a 28" rip handsaw for the residual central 2". Took me forever, despite the slightly wider power saw kerfs each side. I'm guessing the problem was binding on the sides of the saw plate. The same issue both you & Henrik have described with your own local versions of pressure treated timber. This binding is going to sap the power of ANY saw, but especially a battery (or hand) saw. Maybe the most powerful compact mains power saw you can get that runs on your preferred rail system is the answer? Bosch GKS 85 G (85/65mm 2,200w), GKS 65 GCE (65/48mm 1,800w), GKS 55+ GCE (63/48mm 1,350w) or Mafell's K85 EC, K65 CC, or K55 CC all use your current rails. Unsure how many (if any) of these are available in USA voltage. Bosch USA tends to use unique model designations for its USA specific lower voltage power tools, & Mafell obviously offers only a limited range from their total repertoire. |
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Post by calidecks on Dec 8, 2017 21:00:47 GMT -5
Surprisingly the KSS40 is my go to saw. It's amazingly powerful. My mistake was buying the KSS40 first. I thought for sure the bigger saws would be better and more powerful. The KSS60 is more powerful but too heavy for this 54 year old man. At this point, I can't say either are better than the KSS40. Love that little guy!
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Post by kraftt on Dec 8, 2017 21:20:23 GMT -5
It's not much consolation but with the way cordless is progressing what you want is coming soon. Cordless opens up a new opportunity to reestablish brand ranking or knock out a competitor over previous corded perceptions so the competition will be strong.
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Post by aas on Dec 8, 2017 22:45:21 GMT -5
The larger the blade, the easier to slow it down or stop it - it's a question of leverage.
The reason the KSS40 feels so powerful (torquey) is because of it's small blade.
Back in my Makita days, I used to use the 136mm 14,4v saw more than the bigger 165mm 18v - felt more powerful for the same reason.
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Post by calidecks on Dec 9, 2017 1:28:59 GMT -5
Is the 300 more powerful than the KSS40?
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Post by chippiegary on Dec 9, 2017 2:49:07 GMT -5
I’d say yes the 300 is,but not much in it ,it definitely runs faster “obviously corded so no brake takes an age to slow down “ they are pretty much identical . The 300 was my first mafell “ Ive also got the above mentioned Bosch GKS 85g and it’s a monster not the finesse of mafell but if you want just grunt it’s your man . I’m 54 as well and that brute sure makes my arms ache .but I keep saying when it dies I’ll get the kss80 “it don’t wanna die though “
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Post by henrun on Dec 9, 2017 17:21:31 GMT -5
Is the 300 more powerful than the KSS40? I would say they are equal. I decided not to keep the KSS300 after getting the KSS40. The blade spin down was the single most tedious thing with the KSS300. The KSS40 feels like it has the same power plus it has the blade brake. The no cord on such an agile little machine is bliss too! From memory the blade spins faster on the KSS300 but also from memory there is no difference in "torque" and the KSS40 feels every bit as strong as the 300. The difference is negligible I think. I did use the heck out of the KSS300 though! For me there is no compelling reason to choose the KSS300 over the KSS40 - if you want a corded machine I think any pick of the larger machines are better. Going on what I have used the corded KSS60 would tackle anything within cutting specs. I did have a Festool TS75 a looong time ago and it was a solid performer too. The pressure treated timber cutting this year definitely took down some of the enthusiasm with cordless tracksaws and I don't foresee any major improvement in that regard from cordless machines. Since the KSS40 did _almost_ as well and perhaps even a little better in pressure treated wood I think the small blade and decent power is the winning ticket - at the cost of cut capacity of course. I don't really want a 9Ah battery that takes three hours to charge or is charged through a blow torch with short life span. My Black Friday purchases has yet to materialize... It will be VERY interesting to see what the Metabo LTX 57 can do. It has been delayed but I think I can pick it up on Monday. The 7Ah battery is scheduled in for Dec 19 so will have to drum my fingers a little while longer. The Metabo is seriously/suspiciously cheap and I will start out with buying a piece of pressure treated timber and see if it can hold its own. I don't expect much but it might be a beater saw for sure. Heck - it might even outperform the KSS50 (!) but I find it unlikely. I have a day off work on Monday and still have some chunky scraps to cut up. |
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Post by henrun on Dec 9, 2017 17:29:09 GMT -5
For corded circ saws I find the new Hitachi offerings very impressive, smaller housings and larger cut capacity compared to the competition as well as being corded-brushless which I think is a first. They are not track compatible with anything I have so not really anything for me but they do look the part.
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Post by henrun on Dec 12, 2017 13:07:27 GMT -5
Picked up the Metabo LTX 57 today. Seems well built and runs fairly quiet. Had no time to put it to use today as I was running late and picked it up on the fly. Colleague was impressed and could not believe that it was possible to buy a well built machine at that price in 2017. Will bring some batteries tomorrow to the workshop and get some cutting done. Will try to snap some pictures too. OFF TOPIC: Also got the Metabo KHA 18 LTX 24 hammer drill in the same delivery. Feels like a _very_ solid machine and features MVT vibration reducing technology. It does run smooth! It will replace my KHA 18 which is a pretty good hammer drill but I think the ergonomics on the new one is better. Plus - it does not make that annoying beeeeeping sound when you start drilling/driving. Smaller than expected and hopefully a very solid performer. I hesitated for a while on Black Friday but now that I have it I am glad I ordered it. It inspires confidence! Improvements over the "old" drill: No Metabo BEEEEP when starting up the drill/slow creeping the drill. MVT vibration reducing technology. Battery release improved - noticably. Battery slides out backwards and does not collide with the add on grip - as on the KHA18. Quick change jacobs chuck included. Slightly improved ergonomics and balance over the older drill. Can take add on vac that seems to work really well. Power: specs are similar but the new one runs smoother due to MVT. Old machine does really well in hard concrete, new one should too - with added comfort. EDIT: Two nitpicks... STILL can't gauge battery level with battery mounted on machine... ...no way to engage battery check button or read gauge - C'mon Metabo... You can probably press the b.c. button with long nails but no way to read gauge. Other slight drawback found so far is that there is no clip - I will add a clip or a Lug it to the machine. It is not that hard to make a clip solution though. The KHA18 has a webbed loop that clips on to a metal eyelet on the top of the machine (not visible from the angle on the photo though) and this is missing from the new machine which has a lower profile on the top of the machine. Which I like. I want to be able to hang the machine over my shoulder or on my person when I am on a ladder so I think they should have come up with something. I have straps/lugs that clip on to a belt but the machine is too heavy for these and would be uncomfortable to use. Metabo shipped the KHA18 with a shoulder sling and why they didn't include this solution on this machine is beyond me. Perhaps they are thinking a lot of people will buy the vac version and that it would be a bit cumbersome with a strap/clip but there is nothing more cumbersome than having NO means to relieve the burden and free up the hands while working in an elevated position.  |
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Post by henrun on Dec 14, 2017 3:21:17 GMT -5
7 Ah battery received, on charge at the moment. Chunky batt, for sure. Will look up charging times on the fast charger, not sure I want more than one or two 7Ah batteries as I like the 5,5 ones and find them adequate.
Pushed the Metabo LTX57 through some pine yesterday (with a 5,2Ah non LiHD batt) and the saw did very well. Chopping 55mm planks - no sweat. Ripping a two metre stretch of 49mm thick pine - went well, made two runs and letting the saw work it cruised through at a steady pace. Blade is 18 tooth and the machine did better than expected.
We all know the REAL test is pressure treated so I will see if I can dig up a piece and rip through.
At first pass it cut well outside the rubber strip (as precut for the MT55/18) but the base is adjustable and at max adjustment I ended up less than half a mm off/outside so cutting with the marking visible gets me right on the money. It is practically there and for a beater saw I find the Metabo so far tremendous value for the money!
It is a keeper for sure.
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Post by chippiegary on Dec 14, 2017 4:16:40 GMT -5
Did you find it deflected in the cut at all my colleague who has one says it’s ok on board work but in 2x lumber cut will wander off square but hey for the money ! He also pushes saws hard .
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Post by henrun on Dec 14, 2017 10:58:39 GMT -5
The supplied blade is a little "bendy" and I did have to tighten up the blade out of the box but my two rips in 49mm pine (four metres in total) came out square. I didn't push the saw too hard though, at one point it started straining so I eased off the pace. Quality of cut with the supplied blade is ok, but not great. No frayed edges and no chipping though - but not paint ready edges.
I can see how it could potentially be off square without the rail with a little flex in the blade - if ripping freehand especially or on a diagonal cut freehand. Will keep an eye on it.
For chopping studs it did fine and for ripping boards I don't think it will deflect in the cut. I will use it for ripping decking boards and a few cuts here and there and it seems to be just the ticket. I could try a better blade but I kind of like the idea of the el cheapo beater saw.
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