Festool TS55 vs Bosch GKT55

[Darren1972]

Festool plunge saw is better than bosch end of

Only if you had posted this so definitive and well thought out response sooner we could have saved all the trouble of this whole thread... [blink] [tongue]

ok i have used both and the festool one is better in every way exept price think ford v ferarri thats a good analogy

Was that the LeMans GTFord that beat Ferrari?

J

no just the bog standard ford verses bog standard ferarri era you on drugs should i draw you a picture

 

[Wuffles]

Festool plunge saw is better than bosch end of

Only if you had posted this so definitive and well thought out response sooner we could have saved all the trouble of this whole thread... [blink] [tongue]

ok i have used both and the festool one is better in every way exept price think ford v ferarri thats a good analogy

Was that the LeMans GTFord that beat Ferrari?

J

no just the bog standard ford verses bog standard ferarri era you on drugs should i draw you a picture

What does that make the MT55?

 

[Darren1972]

Festool plunge saw is better than bosch end of

Only if you had posted this so definitive and well thought out response sooner we could have saved all the trouble of this whole thread... [blink] [tongue]

ok i have used both and the festool one is better in every way exept price think ford v ferarri thats a good analogy

Was that the LeMans GTFord that beat Ferrari?

J

no just the bog standard ford verses bog standard ferarri era you on drugs should i draw you a picture

What does that make the MT55?
[/quote about the same as the ura 8008 lol

 

[jacko9]

Festool plunge saw is better than bosch end of

Only if you had posted this so definitive and well thought out response sooner we could have saved all the trouble of this whole thread... [blink] [tongue]

ok i have used both and the festool one is better in every way exept price think ford v ferarri thats a good analogy

Was that the LeMans GTFord that beat Ferrari?

J

no just the bog standard ford verses bog standard ferarri era you on drugs should i draw you a picture

What does that make the MT55?
[/quote about the same as the ura 8008 lol

Somebody is entirely too serious here [eek]

 

[Holmz]

The car analogy is good.

Most people need a basic car t go from point A to B. Or they need a van or truck.
Then they decide what milage, acceleration, towing performance or braking that they want.
After that they go to the dealer for a Nissan Sentra. There they find that it is only a few more $ for leather seats, But wait... There is blue tooth so you can talk on the phone and be distracted from driving. Then airbags are mandated so one can be further inattentive. And ABS because when one it inattentive and does not wish to understand or learn the driving skills, then they need aids. The car is designed as "A System"...
In the end they leave with a fully loaded Sentra which is also a status symbol.
Is that Sentra better than a base model of a different car with better performance without the frills?

Then there is the occasional fellow (usually) that you see driving a Caterham. And you think, crickey, no windscreen, no ABS, no power steering, little power, but the fellow has a super silly smile.

So back to the Ferrari... They get the Ferrari and then the driving shoes, and the belt, and the hat. Just about a complete Kimi look or Alonzo. They have the full System... But they drive to the shops for a latte and do not have Kimi or Alonzo skills. Kimi in a base Honda would do better than the average Ferrari driver on most tracks. Yes there are some that use the Ferrari, but most? yeah get the get a lot of "look cool-points".

In this case the Ferrari is red and the Mafell is red. While I like my Mafell I am also not driving it to its full potential.
The only similarity left is that all three were designed for the track, the same as a Porsche or Ferrari. However the Bosch and Mafell also designed the best race track for them as well.

Analogies aside, all three are good, and there is not a great deal of evidence that the higher priced FT is better system-wise than the Bosch.

 

[Darren1972]

The car analogy is good.

Most people need a basic car t go from point A to B. Or they need a van or truck.
Then they decide what milage, acceleration, towing performance or braking that they want.
After that they go to the dealer for a Nissan Sentra. There they find that it is only a few more $ for leather seats, But wait... There is blue tooth so you can talk on the phone and be distracted from driving. Then airbags are mandated so one can be further inattentive. And ABS because when one it inattentive and does not wish to understand or learn the driving skills, then they need aids. The car is designed as "A System"...
In the end they leave with a fully loaded Sentra which is also a status symbol.
Is that Sentra better than a base model of a different car with better performance without the frills?

Then there is the occasional fellow (usually) that you see driving a Caterham. And you think, crickey, no windscreen, no ABS, no power steering, little power, but the fellow has a super silly smile.

So back to the Ferrari... They get the Ferrari and then the driving shoes, and the belt, and the hat. Just about a complete Kimi look or Alonzo. They have the full System... But they drive to the shops for a latte and do not have Kimi or Alonzo skills. Kimi in a base Honda would do better than the average Ferrari driver on most tracks. Yes there are some that use the Ferrari, but most? yeah get the get a lot of "look cool-points".

In this case the Ferrari is red and the Mafell is red. While I like my Mafell I am also not driving it to its full potential.
The only similarity left is that all three were designed for the track, the same as a Porsche or Ferrari. However the Bosch and Mafell also designed the best race track for them as well.

Analogies aside, all three are good, and there is not a great deal of evidence that the higher priced FT is better system-wise than the Bosch.

use the bosch for a day and then use the festool for a day and then you will know where the extra money goes AND it will be still working in ten years time when the bosch is dead and replaced twice

 

[Holmz]

[member=55478]Darren1972[/member] I cannot comment on the Bosch or the Festool as I have not used them.
I can say that the MT55 is a quality saw, and the using the rails is a breeze. So using the same rails for the Bosch should be a breeze as the rails I have are Bosch rails.

Have you used both saws?
and from what do you base your comments on Bosch's longevity?
Just because one costs more does not mean that one gets what they for, or what are you paying for? FT has an outstanding policy with the 30day and the 1 or 3 years service. That is great, but it does not make the saw any good, it only makes the saw a safe choice. As the saw is generally good they probably do not get many back. That also makes their policy a wise business decision.

While there are many that seem to have issues with the angles of the cuts being accurate, the main reason I went to Mafell/Bosch was the rail situation. The FT rail cost more, and they do not seem to work as well. As the Mt55 fits on a FT rail, I can still use them if I choose to.

Slogans of "you get what you pay for" are generally true when, but at these levels of gear there is not a lot in it. The people who have tried both can contrast and compare. Or one can look for comparisons like the grenchapnl site. Coming on here asking is wise as this is one place where the OP can likely find someone who knows both saws.

 

[Darren1972]

[member=55478]Darren1972[/member] I cannot comment on the Bosch or the Festool as I have not used them.
I can say that the MT55 is a quality saw, and the using the rails is a breeze. So using the same rails for the Bosch should be a breeze as the rails I have are Bosch rails.

Have you used both saws?
and from what do you base your comments on Bosch's longevity?
Just because one costs more does not mean that one gets what they for, or what are you paying for? FT has an outstanding policy with the 30day and the 1 or 3 years service. That is great, but it does not make the saw any good, it only makes the saw a safe choice. As the saw is generally good they probably do not get many back. That also makes their policy a wise business decision.

While there are many that seem to have issues with the angles of the cuts being accurate, the main reason I went to Mafell/Bosch was the rail situation. The FT rail cost more, and they do not seem to work as well. As the Mt55 fits on a FT rail, I can still use them if I choose to.

Slogans of "you get what you pay for" are generally true when, but at these levels of gear there is not a lot in it. The people who have tried both can contrast and compare. Or one can look for comparisons like the grenchapnl site. Coming on here asking is wise as this is one place where the OP can likely find someone who knows both saws.

right t for one the maffel is a brilliant saw but this post is not about a maffel it is asking bosch or festool so i put it to all the people who have commented on this one question should sort this out easily here it is    if the ts55 was the same price as the bosch which saw would you all buy simples

 

[Holmz]

It is complex. I have a friend who is a friend of by best friend.
He is a smart fellow, he has a garage full of green, and his make all sorts of stuff for his wife and him. I cannot tell him his saw is crap, because it is not.
All we can do here is point out the strong and weak points of the saws and the tracks. If one is in a shop then rail connection nuance is not a factor.

The new Bosch has some of the guts of the Mafell. I am not sure which ones, but I think the motor controller. So without any other evidence I am not sure I would buy the TS55 over the Bosch even at the same price. But then I need to connect rails and break them apart. Also I can use the P1cc on the rails

If you rank them for scoring, power, squareness of cut, etc then it is a no brainer.
Add cost, warranty, repairs, which Systainer it comes in, etc, and then it gets really complicated even before you add in the emotion and psychology.

The good news is that any of three are better than what was available 20 years ago.

 

[heiko1974]

I see no problem in joining two Festool rails, if i need 100% accuracy i tool a level or straight edge at the joint and I am ready to go. Mafell has the better solution Herr ok but wenn you need clamps Festool scores, if you want parallel guides you have to take Festool ...
Between Bosch and Festool I would chose Festool.

Heiko

 

[Deansocial]

Ive used both saws quite alot and the festool is a better saw and rail. The bosch rail needs lubrication to run smooth after a while.

The bosch just isnt as smooth either

 

[heiko1974]

Thats right, the Mafell/Bosch rails don´t have glidestripes like the Festool rails and the baseplate runs on pure anodized aluminium. When you look at the Bosch baseplate picture with all the scratches after only one use witout rail than you can imagine that it will run harder and harder on the rail
The Mafell MT55 is better coated and stand brave against usage without rail but runs not so smooth like Festool on rails...

 

[pingvinlakrits]

I have to agree with Holmz; they are all great saws. At least in my book. I don't run the GKT 55CE all day long and only use it for more critical cuts and so far it runs smooth on the track and cuts like a champ. I think and feel it is a step up from the TS55 I used to have - both rails and machine. The TS55 is a screechy saw and linking rails was a pain I thought. Liked it but didn't love it during the six/seven years I used it. 

I have yet to feel the need for glide strips on the Bosch. I do keep machines and rails clean enough. I am not worried about micro scratches on baseplates on a work horse but I do agree with Heiko that the Mafell MT55cc is a step up in material quality on most of the saw - albeit at a weight penalty.

Since I have the Mafell KSS300 - which is my daily workhorse - I am happy with my choice of the "poor mans MT55cc", i.e. the Bosch saw. The next step upwards for me would be to the Mafell MT55cc which I think might be the best tracksaw out there - but I honestly don't have the need for it. I have a bonus coming up in february that would get me DF700 or a MT55C and some other fun stuff but I would like to run the Bosch saw a little longer - it doesn't feel like a write off just yet. The prospect of getting an MT55cc for free is of course tempting but it still needs to be put to good use, not only intermittent use.

For a person alreadily invested in either rail system I would say, get the saw that fits your tracks. I prefer the Bosch/Mafell rail system so I will stay put in that camp (though I have the odd Festool LR32 rail for my OF1010).

 

[Wuffles]

For a person alreadily invested in either rail system I would say, get the saw that fits your tracks. I prefer the Bosch/Mafell rail system so I will stay put in that camp (though I have the odd Festool LR32 rail for my OF1010).

On the flip side of that argument, I only use my MT55 on Festool rails and don't take the Mafell rails out of the bag - I was already invested in lots of sizes of rail. Works a charm for me.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Flipping it further,  the Bosch saw has the advantage of running on both rail systems.

 

[Holmz]

...
For a person alreadily invested in either rail system I would say, get the saw that fits your tracks. I prefer the Bosch/Mafell rail system so I will stay put in that camp (though I have the odd Festool LR32 rail for my OF1010).

^This!^
It is when does not already have tracks that it gets to be a chin scratcher.

But buying a track saw usually means that they do not already have rails.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

True that. Going into a rail system would probably tip the scales in favour of Festool

I find I only use the track system for circ saws and for routers and nothing else so the system pull factor isn't really there for me.

The router baseplate I have for the Mafell/Bosch rail systems fits the OF1010/1400 too so I am covered for that and I only kept a LR32 rail to use with the LR32 kit I have for my OF1010, for convenience. It never leaves the shop anyway. 

 

[Wuffles]

Flipping it further,  the Bosch saw has the advantage of running on both rail systems.

As does the MT55, was my point really.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Ok, gotcha! I am a bit thick (in the throat) today so the thinking cap fell off early.

 

[Darren1972]

What about the tsc 55 mine is awsome and the dust collection is unbelievably good