Bosch Track Saw Coming to Canada/US (Mafell Made)

[Steven Owen]

The Bosch Track Saw will create more competition and put more pressure on the market to evolve again.  Festool needs some pressure applied to them.  They’ve taken their market for granted for the past 5-6 years.  Some new competition never hurts.

 

[JFelchlin]

After reading thru this thread - And seriously considering buying the coming Bosch TS -
In Reply #53 (above) -
I happily wrote: “Yesterday, I “scored” a TS 55 REQ-F-Plus USA and FS-1400 Guide Rail (55") combo - On Festool’s Recon Sale - At 75% of their New Price. Couldn’t pass it up.”

Well...
The saw arrived - DOA.
To add “insult to injury”, as it were - The angle indicator reads 0 degrees -
But, the Base isn’t close to being 90 degrees to the Blade.
Does anybody check these saws before their shipped?

The saw’s on its way to Festool Service tomorrow.
Maybe I should have waited for the Bosch TS.

 

[Svar]

To add “insult to injury”, as it were - The angle indicator reads 0 degrees -
But, the Base isn’t close to being 90 degrees to the Blade.
Does anybody check these saws before their shipped?
The saw’s on its way to Festool Service tomorrow.
Maybe I should have waited for the Bosch TS.

Why? It's a couple minutes of adjustments. Quicker than packing it for shipment. Chances are you may need the same adjustments with Bosch.

 

[JFelchlin]

Yea Svar. That would have been OK. That would been simple/easy.
I guess you missed the part about the saw being DOA on receipt.
Ya kinda expect that when you plug it in and pull the trigger... It outa start. Nada.

My point about the base not being 90 degrees to the base - Wasn’t about an adjustment.
My post was meant to point out that -
TWO separate problems existed with a product sent out as “reconditioned”.
It wasn’t.

BTW... GarethR commented on the subject in “TS 55 REQ - Setting blade angle squareness” Reply #5:
“Would be useful if Festool released some official instructions. To be told by the service agent that the saw needs sending in and then to read elsewhere that service agents provide instructions for doing it yourself, and that the methods differ, is confusing.”

 

[Cheese]

Ya kinda expect that when you plug it in and pull the trigger... It outa start. Nada.

It was meant to point out that TWO separate problems existed with a product sent out as “reconditioned”. It wasn’t.

To the first point that's funny... [big grin]

To the second point, that's disturbing because these are supposed to be reconditioned tools.

More importantly, this unfortunately is not the first time the issue has been raised about reconditioned items. It makes me wonder how much due-diligence Festool actually engages in when "reconditioning" these tools. 
Each tool should have its own list of items to check or adjust. Along with a list of items that need to be included in the Systainer.  The list then gets included with the tool and is initialed by the technician. If a customer has an issue with the tool or contents, the tool and check list both get returned to Festool for their perusal. It really is quite simple. Following their own ISO guidelines would have prevented this occurrence from happening.  [sad]

 

[Kevin D.]

Four of the first seven tools I ordered that when I got into Festool back in 2009 were recons and have served me well over the years, although I'm not an everyday trades person, but have used them well in those years since.

No idea if their recons are that well traded/done towards today.  Some back then were varying degrees of discounts.  Ten to 30% depending on their qualifying estimations of wear and tear at Festool themselves.  I'm still quite happy to this day with those items/tools.

I feel I lucked out as here in Canada, nobody does recon offerings on Festool for quite a few years now.  I did speak to a few of what was actual Festool USA staff at the the Roadshow a month ago here in Toronto, and was told that they will have a recon type sale here in Canada in July sometime, or at least at that time was their expected date for it,

 

[BigDan]

Shane - FYI...
In the link you listed (Coming September) - Under “FULL DETAILS” - It says:
“The Bosch GKT track saw is compatible with Festool and similar guide tracks, as well as Mafell and Bosch guide tracks...”.
I’m kinda in the “I’ll believe it when I see it” camp. But, we can hope for the best. 

A long time Festool TS 75 user/advocate - I’ve been looking for a “55” - For “day to day light work” - But have been a bit apprehensive after lately reading concerns about Festool’s TS 55’s being “underpowered” (bogging down on some cuts).
This Bosch saw looks like a winner!

Joe,

Do you use the TS 75 alot or is the 55 a better "first one" to have?  Normally, dont really cut 2" slabs of oak and generally just piece out sheet goods like 3/4" Baltic Birch, maybe two pieces at once for 1/5" but that's it. 

By the way, we miss you guys here in Virginia... [big grin]
Dan

 

[JFelchlin]

I had my TS-75 for 10 years - And used it for everything -
Before I bought the TS-55 this year - Via Festool’s Recon Sale.
As you can read above, I had some difficulties with the condition the saw came in (DOA) - But once Festool worked it out the saw is great.

The TS-75 is a bit heavier, for sure - But it cuts ANYTHING -
Hard wood - Soft woods - Thick or thin - Ripping or cross cutting.

Dan, for a big guy your size, I wouldn't hesitate to get the TS-75 heavier saw.
I bought the TS-55 to have for "light" work (and I’m getting old).
It's had a lot of commentary on the FOG about being under powered and bogging down.
True, if you're cutting harder woods - Or stuff too thick - Or using the wrong blade.

Also, bear in mind, the standard Guide Rail for the TS-55 is 1400mm long.
Things get more complicated when using the TS-75. It has a longer base.
The standard Guide Rail for the TS-75 is 1900mm.

Whichever you get, TS-55 with 1400mm Rail - Or the TS-75 with 1900mm Rail -
Pay the extra - And get the "Holy” Rail version - Same Rail - But with holes every 32mm.
Believe me you'll use it later - But won't have to buy it later.

Once down the "Green Kool-Aid" hole (Festool) -
You won't regret getting/using this quality of tools - But, it'll cost ya.

I miss you all, too. But, not enough to move back to the heat and humidity. [wink]

 

[rmhinden]

I started out with the TS-55 with the 55" rail.  I frequently use it to cut two layers of 3/4" baltic birch plywood with out any issues.  Just went at a reasonable pace.  I like to cut two layers at the same time to insure they come out exactly the same size. 

I added the TS-75 and a longer rail (106") when I had a project that was too thick for the TS-55.

The only thing I would do differently, is to get the 55" rail with the holes. 

 

[The.Handyman]

Bosch track saw has landed.

Here it is.
Available on Toolnut.

This was sent to me by Bosch as a review sample.

@TOOLSbyDesign on Instagram
-Travis

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Shane Holland]

Thanks, [member=62240]The.Handyman[/member], Travis!  [thumbs up]

Yes, after a long wait, it's finally landed in our warehouse. The Bosch track saw is in stock and ready to ship! Complete with dual metric/imperial scales.  [big grin]

Shane

 

[Bohdan]

I see that Bosch have no trouble fitting a combined imperial and metric scale on their tools.

 

[duburban]

How will rail accessories fit on these rails? parallel guides, squares, etc...?

 

[duburban]

FWIW...I noticed that the Bosch rails are significantly less expensive than the Mafell rails. All Bosch rails are approx. 40% less except for the 3100mm rail where the difference is 10%-15%.

It'd be nice if Bosch came out with their version of the Aerofix rail.

THE RAIL IS A DUST COLLECTOR?!!!!    [scared]

 

[fshanno]

How will rail accessories fit on these rails? parallel guides, squares, etc...?

Apparently they don't.  I guess that track won't work with gizmos.  Makes it useless to me.  No MFT?  Forget that.  I'm not shopping but if I was I'd check the cut quality of the Kreg and if it was okay that's probably the way I'd go.

 

[Lincoln]

Rail squares fit, and the rail can be fitted to the mft using the supplied hardware - with a couple of very basic modifications. Angle fences also fit...so, everything but parallel guides. Though there is a company in the UK about to release pg's that fit the Mafell/Bosch rails.

 

[mrboult]

FWIW...I noticed that the Bosch rails are significantly less expensive than the Mafell rails. All Bosch rails are approx. 40% less except for the 3100mm rail where the difference is 10%-15%.

It'd be nice if Bosch came out with their version of the Aerofix rail.

THE RAIL IS A DUST COLLECTOR?!!!!    [scared]

No the rail is not a dust collector. Like festool's CT Wings it uses the vacuum suction to hold the rail in place (the ct wings is for holding other stuff in place, but the real, but same concept..

 

[Svar]

Rail squares fit, and the rail can be fitted to the mft using the supplied hardware - with a couple of very basic modifications. Angle fences also fit...so, everything but parallel guides. Though there is a company in the UK about to release pg's that fit the Mafell/Bosch rails.

The bigger problem is that the saw base is wider than rail. Hence, you can't use rail dogs for rail positioning - the saw will bump into the dogs.

 

[Grev]

One of the more recent reviews on this saw ... hmmmm?

Bosch Track Saw Review

 

[duburban]

Complete with dual metric/imperial scales.  [big grin]

Shane

That saw is an perfect example of why tools should never have dual scales, that's completely awful.  I have deep issue with what Festool did, but at least they didn't go dual scale.

I don't see the issue, do you get confused?