Mafell KSS-300 or TS55R ?

[ishtiak]

Dear FOG members,

I need a circular saw, and was eying the TS-55R. But a few days ago I went to a local retailer and who had the Mafell KSS-300. In France the KSS is a little bit more expensive that than the TS-55BEQR.

I love the petiteness  of this saw for the far much better WAF but also since I'm somewhat clumsy with heavy tools.
So I have a couple of question, for users of both saws, about the following :
- I will sometimes need to cut kitchen worktops, and most of them are between 38mm and 42mm (that is 1.5" to 1.65") : is there a "standard/clean" way to cut this with the KSS (for instance by cutting both side of the panel) ?
- Is the KSS-300 compatible with mafell and bosch "standard" rails or is the flexible one the sole option for long cuts ?
- The plunge systems are looking very different : the system of the KSS looks somewhat awkward  compared to the festools one (which looks very smooth). Is it true in real life ? Does the locked depth feature exists on the festools saw ?
- With the electronic brake and the automatic hiding of the blade, the festool looks safer, on the other hand, the KSS is lighter : would you say that one is safer than the other ?
- is there an easy way to make those angle cuts with the TS55R which look so easy with the KSS ?

Thank you !

P.S this is my first post but I read FOG since several months.
My only festool tool is the ps300 atm but I'm interested in the C12 set, the MFT/3 and the rotex (and of course the TS55R), I'm confident to get enough money to buy one or 2 of these tools at some point in the next decade  

 

[nerdan]

take a look at this thread :
http://festoolownersgroup.com/other-tool-reviews/mafell-kss-300/

I believe that the kss 300 is too small to fits the F rails, but not too sure about this.

 

[Alan m]

welcome to ye both.
i think the ts55r is a lot better than the ts55 but i dont think it is enough. the mafel is still slightly on top.

 

[ajones]

the mafell mt55cc is the saw to buy check it out

 

[Makkus]

I heard that the Mafell saw comes without a wood cleaver (riving knife, hope I got the correct term), that would be a knock out criteria for me. Also, is there a something like the CMS-module table from Mafell to convert the saw in a table saw.....

Mark

 

[GhostFist]

The KSS does work on the f rails. Plunging does take some getting used to, much easier with the mt55 or a ts saw. The 300 is hands down my favourite tool. You can Get so much done, often faster with just this one tool and a vac. Depth of cut will just do 1 1/2" so if you're cutting deeper than that often, i'd get a bigger saw. I have an Mt55 and the KSS 300. The 300 is always with me though, I can't live without it now.
Ps the KSS 300 does have a spring loaded riving knife

 

[ishtiak]

Thank you all for the feedback !

I will certainly go for the kss.

We can see the riving knife on the kss in this video :

 

[Christian A.]

Hi,

Have you had a look at the Mafell KSS 400? It's not equipped with a flexible guide rail but has one clear advantage compared to the KSS 300: 55 mm cutting depth (without rail). Both, the KSS 300 and the KSS 400, have a riving knife that automatically retracts when you make a plunge cut.

- Is the KSS-300 compatible with mafell and bosch "standard" rails or is the flexible one the sole option for long cuts ?

To my knowledge: The KSS 300 basically can be used with Mafell (and Bosch) standard guide rails but this combination only works for rectangular cuts. Bevelled cuts can't be done with the KSS 300 on a standard Mafell rail. This is the information I got some while ago. I would contact Mafell on this subject, though.

- The plunge systems are looking very different : the system of the KSS looks somewhat awkward  compared to the festools one (which looks very smooth). Is it true in real life ? Does the locked depth feature exists on the festools saw ?

The Mafell KSS and KSP saws are operated differently than the TS 55 and the MT 55. With the KSS and KSP, the plunge mechanism is only used for "real" plunge cuts (such as a cut out in a kitchen work top). For regular cuts that are started at the edge of a work piece, the cutting depth is preset and locked. A plunge saw such as the TS 55 always needs to be pushed down. The cutting depth can't be locked - for safety reasons. (Contrary to KSS and KSP saws the TS 55 doesn't have a swivelling blade guard below the base of the saw. The saw blade of the TS 55 (and similarly designed saws) needs to be pushed down and automatically retracts.)

- With the electronic brake and the automatic hiding of the blade, the festool looks safer, on the other hand, the KSS is lighter : would you say that one is safer than the other ?

Not really. In my opinion, they are different and both have their advantages.

Hope this helps,

Christian

 

[GhostFist]

Just to confirm the KSS 300 is fine for perpendicular cuts on the f rails but will cut into the splinter guard on an angle. Also not you lose a few mm in cutting depth using f rails over the flex rail supplied and the cross cut attachment. Something to consider.

 

[Jalvis]

The KSS 300 is in class of its own.  Theres no other tool like it.....so you cant really compare it to the TS55. 

Personally I would jump on the KSS 300 as it will do most work and is extremely compact.  If you need more cutting depth add the Mafell MT55 and then you have cross compatibility with Rails.  Besides Mafell quality is incredible......you will not regret the purchase.  Every time I use Mafell tools I'm impressed and thats just about everyday!

 

[ishtiak]

Hi,

Have you had a look at the Mafell KSS 400? It's not equipped with a flexible guide rail but has one clear advantage compared to the KSS 300: 55 mm cutting depth (without rail). Both, the KSS 300 and the KSS 400, have a riving knife that automatically retracts when you make a plunge cut.

The KSS-400 is as big as the TS-55 and 150 euros more expensive. The sole advantage seems to be the small rail for angle cuts. I wil not cut a lot of kitchen worktop (but will begin with that !), so I will make with the "small" cutting depth.

All yout informations as well those provided by ghostfish helped a lot, thank you !!
Since the mafell MT55 is significantively more expensive than the festool TS55 here (in France), I did not consider this saw. I've read that a lot of people  like it except for the lack of riving knife (but I may be plain wrong about this). Thank you Jalvis for the feedback, indeed the last question would be : is the kss compatible with festool rails (like the MT55 if I remember well what I've read)

Thank you all again,
best,
A.B

 

[GhostFist]

The only Mafell saw that is compatible with festool rails is the MT55.