Mafell Erikca Pull Saw

[Mark]

I think this video has been posted but I've never seen a pull saw being used and at about 2:00 on this video there is a guy demo'ing one: Lintera Mafell demonstration in Lithuania, Jonava (Part 2)  There's all kinds of other Mafell madness in this video... there is something that looks like a portable scroll saw for timber framing, a Mafell router that suspiciously looks like my OF1010.

 

[tallgrass]

i want it all! :-\

 

[spikfot]

The Erika is very similar to Festool's Precisio line. Nowadays, I use my CS 70 more than I use my SCMS, They are very versatile.
Too bad they didn't demo one of their 10,000 dollar-2 man-130 pound- 5 hp circular saws.
The indexing system for the doweling jig looked sweet, I'm sure Festool won't be too far behind with something like that for the domino.

 

[greg mann]

Makes me want to get into timberframing. Oh, wait, I just had bilateral hernia surgery.  [sad]

They have some really innovative tools. I have an OF2000 Festool router that I have heard is a re-badged Mafell. I don't know if that is true, it certainly could be since the router shown sure looks like a re-badged 1010, but I certainly don't mind having a tool made by these guys.

 

[Memphis Larry]

Droolworthy  [big grin]

 

[Peter Hamilton-Scott]

Amazing gear. I found the notched guide rail an interesting concept. I'm no safety expert but some of the tool usage had me fingering my shirt collar. Maybe I err on the conservative side.

 

[sw1211]

The indexing system for the doweling jig looked sweet, I'm sure Festool won't be too far behind with something like that for the domino.

Seems there should be some way to utilize the domino and the guide rail with holes, just need some kind of adapter similar to what is used with the router.

 

[Michael Kellough]

The wide mortises available with the Domino eliminate the need for precise lateral spacing. Just one of the reasons the Domino is better. Mafell and Hoffmann had to make such a positioning template because dowels have no tolerance for misalignment in any direction.

You can use the dowel template intended for the VS 600 with a Festool router (with the appropriate guide bushing and plunge bit) to drill 32 mm spaced holes (or multiples of 32 mm) across a panel.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

That Mafell saw is like 2500.00 bucks. [eek]

 

[proclive]

That is a beautiful saw. I really like that you can pull it towards you, though I know I would probably cut off a limb if I ever used it. It's too bad that I cannot afford one.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I really like that you can pull it towards you, though I know I would probably cut off a limb if I ever used it.

A pull saw is actually safer than a standard table saw. A lot of operator mistakes are made by feeding the wood into the blade because the wood gets stuck or the operator goes out of balance. With the pull saw, the operator stands completely still and the hand near the blade doesn't move either.

But it's very nice to see these videos with all the Mafell tools in action. In Germany Mafell is the biggest competitor of Festool. They aim at the same public and Mafell's quality level is on par with Festool's. And so are their prices. It's a shame though that Mafell is hardly seen outside Germany. Even in The Netherlands, which is right next to Germany, it is almost impossible to find them. 

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

They have a couple distributors here in the states but, you have to hunt for them.

I want the rail saw with the flexible rail.  That is pure genius.

 

[richard.selwyn]

It's a shame though that Mafell is hardly seen outside Germany. Even in The Netherlands, which is right next to Germany, it is almost impossible to find them. 

I noticed that Axminster have started selling them in the UK whcih should give them some more exposure there.  They seem quite scarce in France, although they are always at the trade shows.

 

[norwegian wood]

i bought one of the mafell erika 70E saws 6 months back and i absolutely love the saw

 

[flair woodworks]

Very cool tools.  Funny, I just read about the Erika saw a couple weeks ago in a 20-year old issue of Woodwork.  I tried to figure out what made it a pull saw.  Now I know.  So who makes better pull saws - Germany or Japan? 

 

[Chris Finck]

Ive ordered an Erika 70, it is expensive. I thought my festool panel system was expensive several years ago when I got it. At the time no one I new had ever tried it. Its been the best investment for my work paying many times over fir itself. I have feeling the Ericka is going to prove same result.
I will let you know

PS
My Bosch table saw of only few years and not really a lot of use , motor seized on jobsite this summer and just recently my tried and true Makita  bearings failed but that's was after more than ten years and constant use.  Needed a new site saw and have been studying Mafell tools especially the Ericka, I settled for Ericka 70 as its the only one available in 120V.

 

[semenza]

Hi Chris,

Welcome to the FOG !  [smile]

Please post some pics when you get the Mafell going.

Seth