Bosch GKT55 and Mafell MT55 are the same saw?

[Svar]

Someone on FOG mentioned recently that Bosch GKT55 and Mafell MT55 have the same motor.
I never paid attention to that, but took a closer look:
Identical motor housing, shoe, tilt hinge, speed control. Nearly identical gear housing (except for fine adjustment screw). There is more if you look at different angles.
Is Bosch a re-branded Mafell at 1/2 price?
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[Tom the Remodeler]

Hi there Svar!

The Bosch saw is based on the MT-55cc but is not identical. The Bosch has a front handle which is not present of the Mafell, the Bosch lacks the one-touch scoring function, I think the blade change is different, and lacks the micro depth adjustment. I wouldn't be surprised if there are other differences as well.

If you live in North America I would steer clear of trying to import the Bosch to save a few pennies. My MT-55cc is rock solid and there's nice piece of mind knowing there is a support structure for it should I need repairs, versus trying to import parts for an imported tool. Just my $0.02.....

 

[Svar]

Tom, I realize Bosch lacks some fine features, but the bulk of it seems to be the same. Identical motor and gear housing suggests identical motors.

 

[bobfog]

Tom, I realize Bosch lacks some fine features, but the bulk of it seems to be the same. Identical motor and gear housing suggests identical motors.

With the exception of the features mentioned above, it is the same saw.

 

[Svar]

Tom, I realize Bosch lacks some fine features, but the bulk of it seems to be the same. Identical motor and gear housing suggests identical motors.

With the exception of the features mentioned above, it is the same saw.

Motor and electronics, arbor assembly, and tilt mechanism are critical. The rest is just icing on the cake.

 

[McNally Family]

Tom, I realize Bosch lacks some fine features, but the bulk of it seems to be the same. Identical motor and gear housing suggests identical motors.

With the exception of the features mentioned above, it is the same saw.

Motor and electronics, arbor assembly, and tilt mechanism are critical. The rest is just icing on the cake.

Go to Sears and compare the brand name appliances with their Kenmore equivalent.  Overall design may look the same, but the differences are in the features, many of which are controlled by the electronics.  I would not buy a Bosch track saw assuming it was nothing but a Mafell on sale, if what I really wanted was the Mafell. 

I would however consider the Bosch tracks themselves as an alternative to the Mafell version, should I ever need to purchase additional tracks (no concealed internal electronics involved). 

 

[Holmz]

...
Motor and electronics, arbor assembly, and tilt mechanism are critical. The rest is just icing on the cake.

[member=15585]Svar[/member] I have an MT55. I use the scoring function more than I thought I would, but if one never has one, then it is harder to miss it.
It is sort of like comparing the Metabo drills with the Mafell drills... The majority of the DNA is the same, and this is also true with the two saws.

You get the good tracks, and the good motor.Not sure where you get the tracks from, as I got Bosch tracks because they have those 'in-country'. You may need to timberwolf them, or import them, and 1600-mm size make the shipping add up.

As mentioned you do not get:
- the scoring (which I use on sheets)
- the quick blade change (which I rarely take advantage of)
- the other feature (which I do not use)

If I was in the US and wanted a 110v saw, I would be looking hard at getting the 110v Bosch in from the UK, and weighing up the costs.
You also have to do something with the cord... Either replace the cord with a pigtail with a Nuetrik TrueOne, or maybe a Plug-it, or just a pigtail with a 110v US-Male end. They are double insulated so there is no ground, just the blue/brown which is like US white/black.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

I actually own both. Or rather, I did, I sold off the Bosch GKT55CE last week. I don't think you could go wrong with the GKT55CE - I ditched my Festool TS55 to get one and get into the FSN rail system and I think the Bosch has done better than the TS55.

The Bosch saw is actually a great saw. I used it in the workshop on larger kitchen tops for some cutouts and other quite critical cuts in Staron. The front handle suits me fine. The Bosch blades are top notch and the saw is quite quiet too. The FSN rail system is great and I have overall been very pleased with the saw. My reason for selling it is that I don't use it in the work shop all that often and I might as well bring the MT55cc to the shop for those cuts. I have plenty of rails in the shop from 800mm to 3000mm for Bosch/Mafell as I run a few Bosch routers.

The Mafell MT55cc is a little better and sturdier than the Bosch. After locking down the Bosch the base plate seems to wiggle a little under pressure but I have never seen a deflection of cut in real life usage - and a few cuts have been very critical for deviations (Staron/Corian cuts) so for me it was never an issue. There is also no reason at all to put high pressure on the saw/plate. That is just bad technique.

The Mafell locks down more securely and is simply put, a brilliant saw. It has no flex when locked down and I have used the scoring function a few times to great effect.

I do have the Mafell KSS40 (18V saw) which I use 80-90% of the time so I decided to sell the Bosch to get more use out of the MT 55cc which at one point was my least used saw due to the Bosch catering to the workshop and the KSS40 to most of the field work.  [unsure]

If I had to do it all over again I am sure I could get by just fine with the Bosch saw over the Mafell, for half the price of the Mafell I do consider the Bosch a bargain. As a side note my local Mafell dealer are ditching Mafell so getting the stuff will be a little harder from now on for me. They are selling off the inventory at a 25% discount - too bad I don't really need anything of what they have left in stock. (I did get the Mafell A18Mbl drill though!)

 

[delevic]

Is Bosch a re-branded Mafell at 1/2 price?
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95% Yes And Mafell Dust extractors are re-branded Bosch...

When I bought TS 75, Festool was the only one who made plunging circular saw. I had no choice and I must by Festool. But now the situation is completely different. Mafell, Makita and Bosch made a good copies of Festool. If you ask me, by Bosch or Festool. Festool has the cleanest cut, because it has splinter guard on both sides. And Bosch has the best value for money.

If you plan to buy CMS, you can put only Festool saw in that.

Don't buy the most expensive tool, buy the best tool Unfortunately today the price is not a measure of quality.

 

[AlexThePalex]

95% Yes And Mafell Dust extractors are re-branded Bosch...

Re-branded Starmix actually.

 

[amt]

I actually own both. Or rather, I did, I sold off the Bosch GKT55CE last week. I don't think you could go wrong with the GKT55CE - I ditched my Festool TS55 to get one and get into the FSN rail system and I think the Bosch has done better than the TS55.

I did the same for the same reason: the rails and their joining process is vastly superior to the Festool rails.  The superior saw is icing on the cake.