A rather interesting review of cordless track saws

[ChuckM]

Snip.
Ergonomics & features is a large part of the Festool package and we're all aware of that from the CXS to the Kapex.

Snip.

Which part of the Kapex are you referring to here?  The handle? A good number of people who tried the Kapex didn't like it.

 

[Cheese]

Snip.
Ergonomics & features is a large part of the Festool package and we're all aware of that from the CXS to the Kapex.

Snip.

Which part of the Kapex are you referring to here?  The handle? A good number of people who tried the Kapex didn't like it.
[/quote]

The handle is just one item, personally I'm not really a fan of the ratcheting mechanism on the 1400 & 2200 routers but to each their own.
I'm referring to the features, Festool tools are for the most part known for their richness of features. Things that stand out...things that make a positive difference.

 

[ChuckM]

The Kapex's bevel control is second to none...smooth for precision control -- unlike the DF500's power switch.

 

[ScotF]

I thought this was a great review - one of the best tool reviews I have read or seen online - they do a good job with their other reviews too. I like all my track saws and there is not a clear number one in my mind. They all have their pros and cons. The Mafell probably is the best all around, but honestly I really like my cordless TSC55 too and my corded TS55 as well. They all excel at certain things and it is nice to have choices and options. It would be a tough call if I could only have one saw.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Agree with ScotF.  My little Mafell can crosscut a 2x8 faster than my M18 7-1/4” scms. But cutting an accurate bevel is much easier on the scms.

Back to the plunge saw review, they could have gone a step further and calculated the volume of wood removed per watt. How about putting an HKC blade on the TSC? The Makita with it’s dual batteries and narrow kerf clearly has the best cut per toolkit bundle cubic inch ratio.  [smile]

 

[Michael Kellough]

During September Acme is selling the Bosch FSN2100 for $140 after a $20 discount. Almost exactly offsets the tax and shipping to New York. It’s an odd size but plenty long enough to cut down to make a couple of gap filling rails. I was thinking of getting an extra 1600 rail to divide but the 2100 might be better.

 

[semenza]

I did not watch the detailed version and maybe I missed it in the video. Did they talk about the type of blade on the saws? Wera all the saws using the same type?  Not brand but type as in cross cut, rip, combination.

Seth

 

[ScotF]

I did not watch the detailed version and maybe I missed it in the video. Did they talk about the type of blade on the saws? Wera all the saws using the same type?  Not brand but type as in cross cut, rip, combination.

Seth

They used what came with the saw - each saw used its standard blade.

 

[semenza]

I did not watch the detailed version and maybe I missed it in the video. Did they talk about the type of blade on the saws? Wera all the saws using the same type?  Not brand but type as in cross cut, rip, combination.

Seth

They used what came with the saw - each saw used its standard blade.

  So that could definitely have something ( a lot) to do with the cut quality and speed of cut. I am betting that they did not all have the same type of blade. Pretty hard to make a true comparison that way. If that is the case it is too bad because it really screws up an otherwise well done comparison test.

Seth

 

[Svar]

They used what came with the saw - each saw used its standard blade.

  So that could definitely have something ( a lot) to do with the cut quality and speed of cut. I am betting that they did not all have the same type of blade. Pretty hard to make a true comparison that way. If that is the case it is too bad because it really screws up an otherwise well done comparison test.
Seth

I'm quite sure all plunge saws of this class come standard with 48 tooth 5 deg. hook finish blade.

 

[semenza]

They used what came with the saw - each saw used its standard blade.

  So that could definitely have something ( a lot) to do with the cut quality and speed of cut. I am betting that they did not all have the same type of blade. Pretty hard to make a true comparison that way. If that is the case it is too bad because it really screws up an otherwise well done comparison test.
Seth

I'm quite sure all plunge saws of this class come standard with 48 tooth 5 deg. hook finish blade.

Yup, was just looking them up. All listed with 48 tooth.

Seth

 

[Cheese]

So that could definitely have something ( a lot) to do with the cut quality and speed of cut. I am betting that they did not all have the same type of blade. Pretty hard to make a true comparison that way. If that is the case it is too bad because it really screws up an otherwise well done comparison test.

Ya, well I look at it as the same as a car review from Car & Driver. You take a production automobile (a saw), put it through its paces using the standard tires (a saw blade) and report the results. If the automobile manufacturer is concerned enough about paring the proper tires (saw blade) with their car to make sure that there is some synergism between the components then that's how the automobile is sold. I think the same thing applies to the saw tests. The saws were released and are sold with their respective saw blades...I consider this to be a recommendation from the manufacturer, otherwise the saws wouldn't come with a saw blade already installed.

Besides, the Dewalt is an oddball as it has a different diameter and a different arbor size than the rest...how would you equivocate that difference?

 

[Svar]

Besides, the Dewalt is an oddball as it has a different diameter and a different arbor size than the rest...

20 mm arbor, printed on the blade.

 

[Cheese]

20 mm arbor, printed on the blade.

Whoops...but my thought process still stands.  [big grin] 

Besides, how the heck do I know that, I'm certainly not a champion of Dewalt...I've been down too many dead end roads with those people.  [mad]  [mad]

 

[DeformedTree]

So that could definitely have something ( a lot) to do with the cut quality and speed of cut. I am betting that they did not all have the same type of blade. Pretty hard to make a true comparison that way. If that is the case it is too bad because it really screws up an otherwise well done comparison test.

Ya, well I look at it as the same as a car review from Car & Driver. You take a production automobile (a saw), put it through its paces using the standard tires (a saw blade) and report the results. If the automobile manufacturer is concerned enough about paring the proper tires (saw blade) with their car to make sure that there is some synergism between the components then that's how the automobile is sold. I think the same thing applies to the saw tests. The saws were released and are sold with their respective saw blades...I consider this to be a recommendation from the manufacturer, otherwise the saws wouldn't come with a saw blade already installed.

Besides, the Dewalt is an oddball as it has a different diameter and a different arbor size than the rest...how would you equivocate that difference?

I would add to the analogy, that if a reviewer said "we want to make this fair and put the same tires on all the cars", they would have the same issue as all the cars have different size rims.  So in this case, if there was a 48tooth diablo blade for all them, would it be fair? as the saws are designed with different kerf widths and so forth.  Also if you were doing the car test, and one of the cars came with the tire you put on all of them, it would be unfair as it was setup to that tire.

Like you say, it's fair to use the factory blade. Most folks will only ever run factory blades in these saws.  It's not an old framing saw you will run thru hell and trash blades on.  I'd actually be very curious for manufactures to explain how they decided on kerf widths,  and the blade size/arbor, etc.  Once you leave the US, it looks like everyone does "whatever", which is ok, but interesting they all do different things.  Like folks point out about if the HKC had just a slightly bigger blade so it could cut 45s thru 2 bys.  Or why does an Erika 85 not have a slightly bigger blade so it can single pass 4x material.

 

[semenza]

Just to keep this from going off track due to my first post about the blades .......................  please also see above where svar points out (and I confirmed) that they all have 48 tooth blades. Which should have been stated in the video along with the comment that the saws were tested using the supplied blades.

Seth

 

[Cheese]

Back to the plunge saw review, they could have gone a step further and calculated the volume of wood removed per watt. How about putting an HKC blade on the TSC?

I think putting an HKC blade on the TSC would make a huge difference in run time. It has a 1.8 mm kerf like the Mafell. The only problem is it's only a 32 tooth blade. So to get a 48 tooth, 1.8 mm kerf blade they'd have to install the Mafell blade which happens to be 162 mm in diameter.  [eek]

Speaking about blade diameter, how about putting the 162 mm Mafell blade on the HKC so that it will cleanly cut 2x material at a 45º angle.

 

[Michael Kellough]

The Mafell “55” blades are also 160mm. I do remember reading that the blades 162mm but all the blades at Timberwolf are 160.

The Makita tracksaw blade is 165mm (6.5”).

The Mafell 55 ripping blade has 16 teeth and cost the same as the Festool 12 tooth Panther.

Interesting to see that the Mafell 55 4 tooth diamond blade is $419 compared to $145 for the Festool 4 tooth diamond. The Festool blade maintains the 2.2mm kerf while the Mafell rakes 3mm.

 

[Michael Kellough]

According to this thread at MUF the MT55cc can run 165mm diameter blades.

 

[Svar]

The Mafell “55” blades are also 160mm. I do remember reading that the blades 162mm but all the blades at Timberwolf are 160.

My has 162mm engraved on it and it measures 162mm.