Mark Jerde wrote:
> Careful with this one.... ;-) SWMBO saw me upgrade from a bench
> saw to a contractor saw, and purchase a used jointer, plainer, drill
> press and band saw. I got my tools but she still has the worn-out
> 1960's metal kitchen cabinets.
... and I forgot to mention a sh*tload of HD Bessy closeout clamps, two 1/2"
routers and a dust collector....
Don't know much about the Mafell. Festool is way overpriced. The only
thing really nice about it is the plunge design -- I'd buy two nice
Porter_Cable circular saws for the price of one Festool. Then you
could dedicate one to panel cutting and the other to whatever......
The "flexitrack" has competitors:
Lee Valley: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=41707&category=1,240,45313&abspage=1&ccurrency=2&SID=
Tru Grip -- I think it's sold by micro-fence and Amazon. Just do a
google seach on "tru grip"
Woodcraft has a verions, too -- or maybe it's Japan Woodworker --
don't recall righnt now.
Porter-Cable also sells a system.
I'd get to Porter-Cable circule saws -- the new one just introduced
and a Tru-Grip.
You might do and advanced search this news group for posting by Never
Enough Money" and titles containing the word "Festool".
[email protected] (Ade) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I'm interested in purchasing a new circular saw, mainly for cutting
> panels to size.
>
> I'm torn between the Festool TS55 & Mafell KST 55 offerings, (the
> flexitrack looks useful)
>
> Is the Festool worth the extra money?
>
> regards
>
> Adrian
Thanks everyone for your replies,
I think I will probably wait and go for the Festool, just because I'm
a tool Junkie!!!
I just need to convince the wife that I 'need' this to be able to
start the new kitchen.
Regards
Adrian
[email protected] (Christian Aufreiter) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Hi Adrian,
>
> about one year ago I faced the same situation as you. I was deciding
> between a Festool and a Mafell plunge saw.
> I have to admit that the Mafell KSP 40 Flexistem (the saw with the
> flexible guide rail) is *very* nice. Unfortunately, there are hardly
> any accessories such as angle unit, longer rail, etc and the flexible
> rail can't be used along with a router. Besides, the cutting depth of
> the KSP 40 is only 42 mm (I think 40 mm if used with the rail).
>
> I asked at Mafell if one of the larger saws (I was contemplating the
> KST 55 SE) could be used with the flexible rail. The response was no,
> if I remember correctly. It might be possible to use it for 90° cuts
> but not for cuts at a different angle. Anyway, I'd recommend to ask
> Mafell for some information about this.
>
> Finally, I bought the Festool TS 55 EBQ (including a 1400 mm rail and
> a Systainer). I really love this saw. If you have any other Festool's
> (maybe the router) or want to get one one day, you should get the
> Festool saw IMO. The circular saws, the jigsaws and the routers use
> the same rails. BTW, Festool offers an extremely wide range of
> accessories for the rails.
>
> You might like to check out some reviews (regarding the ATF 55, the TS
> 55's
> predecessor:
> http://benchmark.20m.com/tools/Festool/FestoolIndex.html
> http://www.cjohnhebert.com/toolreviews.htm
> http://www.woodshopdemos.com/men-fes.htm
> http://www.thewoodshop.20m.com/festool_atf_55e_part1.htm
>
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> Christian
Hi Adrian,
about one year ago I faced the same situation as you. I was deciding
between a Festool and a Mafell plunge saw.
I have to admit that the Mafell KSP 40 Flexistem (the saw with the
flexible guide rail) is *very* nice. Unfortunately, there are hardly
any accessories such as angle unit, longer rail, etc and the flexible
rail can't be used along with a router. Besides, the cutting depth of
the KSP 40 is only 42 mm (I think 40 mm if used with the rail).
I asked at Mafell if one of the larger saws (I was contemplating the
KST 55 SE) could be used with the flexible rail. The response was no,
if I remember correctly. It might be possible to use it for 90° cuts
but not for cuts at a different angle. Anyway, I'd recommend to ask
Mafell for some information about this.
Finally, I bought the Festool TS 55 EBQ (including a 1400 mm rail and
a Systainer). I really love this saw. If you have any other Festool's
(maybe the router) or want to get one one day, you should get the
Festool saw IMO. The circular saws, the jigsaws and the routers use
the same rails. BTW, Festool offers an extremely wide range of
accessories for the rails.
You might like to check out some reviews (regarding the ATF 55, the TS
55's
predecessor:
http://benchmark.20m.com/tools/Festool/FestoolIndex.html
http://www.cjohnhebert.com/toolreviews.htm
http://www.woodshopdemos.com/men-fes.htm
http://www.thewoodshop.20m.com/festool_atf_55e_part1.htm
Hope this helps,
Christian
[email protected] (Ade) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I'm interested in purchasing a new circular saw, mainly for cutting
> panels to size.
>
> I'm torn between the Festool TS55 & Mafell KST 55 offerings, (the
> flexitrack looks useful)
>
> Is the Festool worth the extra money?
>
> regards
>
> Adrian
No. The Festool is not worth the extra money IMO. I saw it
demonstrated at a recent wood working show, and didn't see any
advantage it offered over my Skil HD77M MAG 77 wormdrive saw with
Freud plywood blade and a shop-made straight edge track with C clamps.
My setup does a great job at dimensioning panels, and I couldn't ask
for a better saw.
Festool does make some nice tools, but at completely unreasonable
prices to me. I do have their barrel grip jig saw which I bought on a
closeout for the same price I would have paid for the Bosch. And I
think that outside of highly discounted sales, their tools just don't
make sense.
I've never seen a Mafell, but looking at the website, I can only
assume it is another overpriced option like the Festool. These tools
appear very plasticky to me and less versatile, unlike the Skil 77
which I have to worries about banging around in the backyard.
FWIW
Brian.
Festool is worth the money if:
1. You have the extra money to spend
2. Want to keep the tool for decades
3. Either want the best or do it 10 hours a day, 5 days a week
4. Want the best dust control, since European standards are more stringent than
American ones.
My next (and presumably last) shop vac will be either a Festool or a Fein. They
ar emuch quieter, much more pwerful, and farmore reliable than the others. But
if money is an issue, well, go with another brand. My jog saw is a Bosch, and
while I am sure the Festool is better, I don't think of it as a precision tool,
and would not spend the bucks on it.
I'll say this thoughh. Aime Fraser came to our club (the Long Island
Woodworkers Club) in May, bringing some of her tools. She really liked her
Festool circular saw, and she does not work for the company; so there is
someting to be said for it. The accessories are really nice too.
Regarding the Festool dust control -- I'm pretty sure you MUST buy
their dust vacuum (or make a hose adapter) to attach to their tools.
Whereas the more well known tools like Porte-Cable, Milwalkee, DeWalt,
etc have standard hose diameters. Maybe Festool sells an adapter????
My conclusions about Festools are
(1) high quality
(2) overpriced by about a factor of 2,
(3) all the accessories have to be Festool, and
I don't want to keep a tool ten years, it's exciting to replace a tool
with newer more advanced tools about every ten...besides I think some
non-Festool tools last a long long time too.
Regarding the Fein "shop vac" -- just bought mine -- it's very nice --
I have not compared it with Festool but I suspect I could buy two
Fein's for one Festool -- and there's just no wat the Festool is twice
as good -- maybe, I say maybe, 5% better.....
[email protected] (DarylRos) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Festool is worth the money if:
>
> 1. You have the extra money to spend
> 2. Want to keep the tool for decades
> 3. Either want the best or do it 10 hours a day, 5 days a week
> 4. Want the best dust control, since European standards are more stringent than
> American ones.
>
> My next (and presumably last) shop vac will be either a Festool or a Fein. They
> ar emuch quieter, much more pwerful, and farmore reliable than the others. But
> if money is an issue, well, go with another brand. My jog saw is a Bosch, and
> while I am sure the Festool is better, I don't think of it as a precision tool,
> and would not spend the bucks on it.
>
> I'll say this thoughh. Aime Fraser came to our club (the Long Island
> Woodworkers Club) in May, bringing some of her tools. She really liked her
> Festool circular saw, and she does not work for the company; so there is
> someting to be said for it. The accessories are really nice too.
On 10 May 2004 15:53:55 GMT, [email protected] (DarylRos) wrote:
>Festool is worth the money if:
>
>1. You have the extra money to spend
>2. Want to keep the tool for decades
>3. Either want the best or do it 10 hours a day, 5 days a week
>4. Want the best dust control, since European standards are more stringent than
>American ones.
>
>My next (and presumably last) shop vac will be either a Festool or a Fein. They
>ar emuch quieter, much more pwerful, and farmore reliable than the others. But
>if money is an issue, well, go with another brand. My jog saw is a Bosch, and
>while I am sure the Festool is better, I don't think of it as a precision tool,
>and would not spend the bucks on it.
>
>I'll say this thoughh. Aime Fraser came to our club (the Long Island
>Woodworkers Club) in May, bringing some of her tools. She really liked her
>Festool circular saw, and she does not work for the company; so there is
>someting to be said for it. The accessories are really nice too.
Anyone here a dedicated Festool user? If you were to be tooling a brand new
custom cabinetry shop, in the expectation of having very steady work, do you
think Festool would be a more sound investment than a mix and match of other
brands? It's intriguing....
JP
JP,
I have been asked that question by about 6 of my readers in the past 3
weeks. I will have an answer pretty soon. I am setting up the Festool corner of
the shop for the work flow of cabinet making. It will be most all Festool
product. The exception is I will build a Jessem mast-r-lift into a Festool MFT
with a Porter Cable router...to do rail and stile amd raised panel door making.
I think evey other task will be in Festool's arena. I have already done parts
of this in stories of a year ago. This will be for a "white paper" approach.
Stay tuned. I am looking for thoughts.
John Lucas
www.woodshopdemos.com
Ade wrote:
> I just need to convince the wife that I 'need' this to be able to
> start the new kitchen.
Careful with this one.... ;-) SWMBO saw me upgrade from a bench saw to a
contractor saw, and purchase a used jointer, plainer, drill press and band
saw. I got my tools but she still has the worn-out 1960's metal kitchen
cabinets.
I couldn't buy a used 3/8" washer "Because it's needed for the kitchen
cabinets" right now.... <g>
-- Mark