mcfal12
Member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2021
- Messages
- 117
Yes it is expensive. No it is not for everyone. Now that that is out of the way….
I suspect many of you have had a similar journey with tools. Starting out, we could not afford or justify the cost of tools made by Festool, Mafell, Lamello, etc and so we purchased other brands. Then, after learning to use the tools we have at our disposal and accept (or are ignorant of the compromises we are making), we write those brands off as unnecessary and overpriced. Now I am in a place where I have revisited and used many of these brand’s offerings and realized in the long haul, I have spent more money and time, and my work quality has, at times, suffered. I am not ashamed to say looking back, I regret not investing in the best tool.
The above isn’t isolated to just tools. I can draw similar parallels to when I started playing paintball. I purchased what I could and, along the way, ended up spending more than having just invested in the best available Paintball marker. Perhaps this is unique to me, but I’m confident this will resonate with all of you.
So why am I saying this? Well, I recently reached a period of peak frustration on a walk-in closet installation in late 2022. Having been aware of the Mafell product line for some time and what their offerings were and recognizing how the Mafell KSS 40 18M BL would simplify and improve the quality of my work; while improving the quality of my life (more below) - in the long term I would’ve made more money and been happier had I purchased this saw sooner.
The Mafell KSS 40 18M BL is one of a kind. Festool’s HKC 55 has similar features, but having used it, it is not the same. To name a few differences, the HKC 55 is larger and doesn’t fit in a systainer… As with the Mafell, it is a quality, top-notch tool. Where the Mafell excels is that it is the right size, weight, compactness, and power to complete 90% of the work I do.
Further, the fact that Mafell is on the CAS platform means the battery Is compatible across hundreds of brands. The cutting capacity is sufficient to cut 2x material while on the guide rail. Splinter-free cuts in hardwoods and softwoods relieves stresses and concerns with tear-out on expensive materials. Time-saving features include a simplified blade-changing process and one dial miter cuts for speed and accuracy. As everything fits in a single box, all the necessary accessories are always within reach. Further efficiency is achieved on angle cuts by the turn and slide of a dial.
Will all that, the compactness and completeness of the package in itself would be stand-out features; it’s not until you pull out the Flexi-rail and cut down a door or large panel that TRUE appreciation of the engineering and design of this tool is experienced.
Allow me to get back to the improvement this tool brings to my quality of life. Jobs are less stressful; the cutting saw, guides, battery, chargers, etc, are in a single box. This equates to less stress over forgetting tools behind, and fewer trips in and out of a job means I finish my work sooner. The lighter form factor results in less fatigue, and better dust collection equals less cleanup and a safer working environment. The combined results are that I am more energetic when I get home and in a much better state of mind to enjoy my friends and family. It also means that over time I am more productive. Productivity = money.
And these are the peripherals of buying this tool.
Some are going to argue that the cost doesn’t outweigh the benefits. I’m not going to argue. Some may argue that the cutting depth creates limitations. Again, I am not going to argue. All tools, and life, comes with sacrifices. Some are going to argue that the saw can only through 2x material while on the guide rail. A 7-1/4” blade is overkill for cutting 2x and sheet goods and cannot cut 4x or 6x materials in a single pass (most aren’t cutting those sizes regularly anyway). As the saying goes, “the best saw is the one large enough to get the job done”.
I am not telling a DIY or homeowner that they cannot get tremendous results from their existing tools and methods. I am, however, advocating that as DIY’ers and homeowners tackle projects, they would be better off having the best quality tools and avoiding the compromises and pitfalls associated with “less expensive tools”. I am avoiding calling tool brands ‘inferior’ for a specific reason - most brands make the tools they feel reach their customer base. Ryobi, which I proudly use, knows that most people aren’t going to walk into a store and plop down $1,500 for a saw. As a result, they conduct the necessary engineering, research, and development to produce a quality product for their customer base.
To close...I purchased the KSS 40 18M BL with my own money and have not been compensated in any way. This is my opinion based on my experiences with this tool.
I suspect many of you have had a similar journey with tools. Starting out, we could not afford or justify the cost of tools made by Festool, Mafell, Lamello, etc and so we purchased other brands. Then, after learning to use the tools we have at our disposal and accept (or are ignorant of the compromises we are making), we write those brands off as unnecessary and overpriced. Now I am in a place where I have revisited and used many of these brand’s offerings and realized in the long haul, I have spent more money and time, and my work quality has, at times, suffered. I am not ashamed to say looking back, I regret not investing in the best tool.
The above isn’t isolated to just tools. I can draw similar parallels to when I started playing paintball. I purchased what I could and, along the way, ended up spending more than having just invested in the best available Paintball marker. Perhaps this is unique to me, but I’m confident this will resonate with all of you.
So why am I saying this? Well, I recently reached a period of peak frustration on a walk-in closet installation in late 2022. Having been aware of the Mafell product line for some time and what their offerings were and recognizing how the Mafell KSS 40 18M BL would simplify and improve the quality of my work; while improving the quality of my life (more below) - in the long term I would’ve made more money and been happier had I purchased this saw sooner.
The Mafell KSS 40 18M BL is one of a kind. Festool’s HKC 55 has similar features, but having used it, it is not the same. To name a few differences, the HKC 55 is larger and doesn’t fit in a systainer… As with the Mafell, it is a quality, top-notch tool. Where the Mafell excels is that it is the right size, weight, compactness, and power to complete 90% of the work I do.
Further, the fact that Mafell is on the CAS platform means the battery Is compatible across hundreds of brands. The cutting capacity is sufficient to cut 2x material while on the guide rail. Splinter-free cuts in hardwoods and softwoods relieves stresses and concerns with tear-out on expensive materials. Time-saving features include a simplified blade-changing process and one dial miter cuts for speed and accuracy. As everything fits in a single box, all the necessary accessories are always within reach. Further efficiency is achieved on angle cuts by the turn and slide of a dial.
Will all that, the compactness and completeness of the package in itself would be stand-out features; it’s not until you pull out the Flexi-rail and cut down a door or large panel that TRUE appreciation of the engineering and design of this tool is experienced.
Allow me to get back to the improvement this tool brings to my quality of life. Jobs are less stressful; the cutting saw, guides, battery, chargers, etc, are in a single box. This equates to less stress over forgetting tools behind, and fewer trips in and out of a job means I finish my work sooner. The lighter form factor results in less fatigue, and better dust collection equals less cleanup and a safer working environment. The combined results are that I am more energetic when I get home and in a much better state of mind to enjoy my friends and family. It also means that over time I am more productive. Productivity = money.
And these are the peripherals of buying this tool.
Some are going to argue that the cost doesn’t outweigh the benefits. I’m not going to argue. Some may argue that the cutting depth creates limitations. Again, I am not going to argue. All tools, and life, comes with sacrifices. Some are going to argue that the saw can only through 2x material while on the guide rail. A 7-1/4” blade is overkill for cutting 2x and sheet goods and cannot cut 4x or 6x materials in a single pass (most aren’t cutting those sizes regularly anyway). As the saying goes, “the best saw is the one large enough to get the job done”.
I am not telling a DIY or homeowner that they cannot get tremendous results from their existing tools and methods. I am, however, advocating that as DIY’ers and homeowners tackle projects, they would be better off having the best quality tools and avoiding the compromises and pitfalls associated with “less expensive tools”. I am avoiding calling tool brands ‘inferior’ for a specific reason - most brands make the tools they feel reach their customer base. Ryobi, which I proudly use, knows that most people aren’t going to walk into a store and plop down $1,500 for a saw. As a result, they conduct the necessary engineering, research, and development to produce a quality product for their customer base.
To close...I purchased the KSS 40 18M BL with my own money and have not been compensated in any way. This is my opinion based on my experiences with this tool.
