Anyone switching to Mafell MT55?

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Sep 30, 2014
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I have had the ts75 for years and a ts55req for 6 months.  I really like both saws.  I feel like the flaw is the splinter strip on the guide rails.  I noticed it more in the summer from the heat, being a site carpenter i notice the splinter strip will fall off if the guide rail is left in the sun.  Also with moving the guide rails around the splinter strip peals on the ends.  So now that brings me to the Mafell option.

I have always looked at Mafell but dismissed them being there was only one dealer in the US.  Being that tool nut started stocking Mafell, im looking into the option.  From everything I have read the MT55 and guide rail system is awesome.  I can sell me ts55req and ts75 and get the MT55.  What are your thoughts?
 
Do you often need the cut depth of the ts75? I could see that as being an issue if you regularly do. On the other hand the larger mafell saws up to the kss80 even ride on the same fsk rails so you could pick one of those up if necessary and get a kss saw also.
 
rizzoa13 said:
Do you often need the cut depth of the ts75? I could see that as being an issue if you regularly do. On the other hand the larger mafell saws up to the kss80 even ride on the same fsk rails so you could pick one of those up if necessary and get a kss saw also.

I rarely use the ts75 since I bought the ts55req.  With the right blade the ts55req will do most tasks. 
 
The lack of a riving knife on the Mafell is one thing that concerns me...I never really heard a satisfactory explanation for why they didn't go with one.
 
If we assume the Bosch gKT, he MT55 and the TS55 are all equals, then we still have a simmer with the Bosch rails.
I think that the 3000-mm rail is about $/cm, which covers some of the differential between the TS and MT 55.

Like a scene from a old western film, "We don't need no riving knives".
 
promark747 said:
The lack of a riving knife on the Mafell is one thing that concerns me...I never really heard a satisfactory explanation for why they didn't go with one.

I think that it is because of the electronics in the machine if memory serves me.
 
Tyler Ernsberger said:
I have had the ts75 for years and a ts55req for 6 months.  I really like both saws.  I feel like the flaw is the splinter strip on the guide rails.  I noticed it more in the summer from the heat, being a site carpenter i notice the splinter strip will fall off if the guide rail is left in the sun.  Also with moving the guide rails around the splinter strip peals on the ends.

To clarify: your main problem is with the rails (adhesive used to fix the splinter guard strip), not with the saws?
 
This does all seem very much a "throw the baby out with the bath water" thing !

The ends peeling on the splinter strips is an issue, but I think a common problem is the first time this happens the adhesive gets contaminated with dust and you're a gonna from that point on. I've also noticed that sometimes the splinter strips are bent out way to far at the ends when you buy the rails, so there's little holding the ends together when you trim the.

All said though, Festool seems to ignore the hotter climates - the adhesives they use on the splinter strips is rubbish.

Lastly, splinter strips aren't hard to replace and also are relatively inexpensive.
 
They're just saying that the Bosch rails have a bulb on the back of the splinter guard and a slot on the rail to fix that issue. It's a nice perk.
 
Gregor said:
Tyler Ernsberger said:
I have had the ts75 for years and a ts55req for 6 months.  I really like both saws.  I feel like the flaw is the splinter strip on the guide rails.  I noticed it more in the summer from the heat, being a site carpenter i notice the splinter strip will fall off if the guide rail is left in the sun.  Also with moving the guide rails around the splinter strip peals on the ends.

To clarify: your main problem is with the rails (adhesive used to fix the splinter guard strip), not with the saws?

Your right,  I have no issues with the saws.  I love my ts55req.  Just hate the splinter strips.  I feel the Mafell and Bosch rails are far superior. 
 
"I feel the Mafell and Bosch rails are far superior. "

They are, but when they wear (and that can happen with one cut with knotty wood and a ripping blade) they have to completely replaced. How much does that cost in time and money?
 
Michael Kellough said:
"I feel the Mafell and Bosch rails are far superior. "

They are, but when they wear (and that can happen with one cut with knotty wood and a ripping blade) they have to completely replaced. How much does that cost in time and money?

Not sure I follow?
 
[member=297]Michael Kellough[/member]

? Bosch rails still have a splinter guard, so why do you need to replace the rails ?

(I've never touched one of the Bosch rails in the flesh .. or Mafell .. so I could be ignorant of something here)
 
Kev said:
[member=297]Michael Kellough[/member]

? Bosch rails still have a splinter guard, so why do you need to replace the rails ?

(I've never touched one of the Bosch rails in the flesh .. or Mafell .. so I could be ignorant of something here)

I've never handled a Mafell or Bosch rail either so I could be wrong but from the photos I've seen the splinter guard is a shaped extrusion as opposed to the Festool flat rubber strip. The Mafell extrusion has to be slid into a groove in the guide rail from one end and slid down to the opposite end. There are some extra details to secure it but my point is the strip can not simply be moved over like the Festool strip. Here is a description of the process of splinter guard replacement on a Mafell guide rail. It's from a post a few years ago so it's also possible that the guide rails have been re-designed? Gostfist should weigh-in here.

Of course you only have to replace the strip not the entire rail. I didn't write that well enough, sorry.
 
FWIW - when I replace the splinter strips on my rails I take a minute to abrade the AL with some fine grit paper after cleaning it with lacquer thinner, then clean it again after sanding. I don't think any of the replaced strips have come off the way the factory installed ones to. Have to check this to verify my impressions though. YMMV

RMW
 
I have yet to replace the splinter strips on my Mafell rails. Because they're a thicker material they're rather resilient. The flex rail and less rail for my 40 and 300 I've replaced loads as they're both the tape on kind. Standard rails are still pristine
 
I've had my Festool 1400 rail for a shade shy of 2 years. I have used it in rough framing and breaking down house sheeting. One day it was 100 degrees with 100% humidity no clouds no wind and I left my rail bake in the sun on top of the sheets. I seriously couldn't touch the dang thing. No problem with the splinter coming off all day.

I have a sign shop and I am also a 3M trained professional. When using any adhesive to apply anything there is a protocol to follow first and fore most is to get all adhesive off even the film you can barely see or feel with some type of degreaser. Than clean surface with 100% IPA (not the beer [big grin]). Once all the chemicals are dry apply the adhesive. Have a few pounds per inch acrossed the strip for an hour or two and leave it for 24 hrs.

 
Just purchased a mt55cc with a few rails and really really like it.  I know it will replace my atf55 that stays in my van and am thinking I'll replace the ts55 that stays in the shop in the not too distant future.  I think the rail is superior in almost all ways, but after handling festool rails for 10 years, the mafell's feel kind of strange as does the thumb release on the saw.  Just a matter of getting used to something new mostly.

I will keep the festool saws and rails for sure.
 
what you're not going to get on the mafell rails is parallel guide attachments. If these are essential to your workflow then it should be noted
 
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