Mafell on sale by Timber Wolf tools

[Michael Kellough]

Called to check on scope of delivery for the KSS 40, the small HKC style saw. It’s very interesting because of the Flexirail that rolls up to fit in the Sys 4 but unrolls to allow you to (just barely) cross cut a sheet of plywood.

There are two ways to buy the saw, basically with batteries ($999) or without batteries ($815) But, the sans batteries version also omits the Flexirail which costs $195 by itself so if you want the Flexirail you can get it for less by buying the full kit, and get 2 batteries a charger thrown in. Quite an incentive.

 

[Cheese]

Just received my Mafell MT 55cc today. The packaging reminds me of Bob Marino.  [smile]

Inside the Systainer the saw is cradled with bunched-up packaging paper. The Systainer is then packaged inside of a tight fitting white cardboard box. The white cardboard box is packaged with air pillows and placed in a larger cardboard box. The larger outside cardboard box has 4 FRAGILE CONTENTS labels on the cover and 1 FRAGILE CONTENTS label on each of the other 4 sides.  [big grin]  Pretty sweet.

Also, Timberwolf guarantees the product for 1 year. However, if you register the product on the Mafell.de website, Mafell will issue a 3 year warranty card.

Also of note is the sale prices are still available while Timberwolf negotiates future pricing with Mafell.

 

[ScotF]

Just received my Mafell MT 55cc today. The packaging reminds me of Bob Marino.  [smile]

Inside the Systainer the saw is cradled with bunched-up packaging paper. The Systainer is then packaged inside of a tight fitting white cardboard box. The white cardboard box is packaged with air pillows and placed in a larger cardboard box. The larger outside cardboard box has 4 FRAGILE CONTENTS labels on the cover and 1 FRAGILE CONTENTS label on each of the other 4 sides.  [big grin]  Pretty sweet.

Also, Timberwolf guarantees the product for 1 year. However, if you register the product on the Mafell.de website, Mafell will issue a 3 year warranty card.

I did not know that you could get a 3 year warranty - interesting! Yes, the packaging is good. Even so, I had some minor damage to my Systainer - not enough to send back, but a bummer on a new tool nonetheless. TT took care of it with a credit and all is good. Love the MT55 saw. Getting my DuoDoweler on Monday!

 

[Michael Kellough]

I give Timberwolf top marks as a dealership.

My KSS 40 arrived with a stealth upgrade. The originally scope of delivery listed 92 watt hour batteries. They were replaced by the newer 99 watt hour packs. The same batteries that add nearly $600 to the price of the MT55 18M bl added less than $200 to the KSS 40 (and includes a free Flexirail).

 

[Cheese]

Does it work with Festool rails?  Can it be adjusted to fit existing rails?

It does work with Festool rails. There's a black Delrin insert held in with 4 screws that needs to be removed first.

I'm curious if the Mafell can be adjusted relative to the Festool splinter strip and if it can also be adjusted for fit on the Festool rail.

I'll take a look today.

I'm blown away with how easy it is to change blades.  [not worthy] [not worthy]

 

[ScotF]

The MT55 is an exceptional saw. Power is more than the TS75 with the newer 13.5 Amp motor. The only thing that is a knock is cutting bevels is off the splinter guard on the rail - it does not pivot around the cut-line. I do not cut that many bevels, but if I do I would consider a separate set of rails dedicated to bevel cuts. Otherwise it is near perfect in my opinion. I still really like my TSC too and do not think that will ever be replaced. It is another tool where I think that Festool just got everything right.

 

[jeh]

Just received my Mafell MT 55cc today. The packaging reminds me of Bob Marino.  [smile]

Inside the Systainer the saw is cradled with bunched-up packaging paper. The Systainer is then packaged inside of a tight fitting white cardboard box. The white cardboard box is packaged with air pillows and placed in a larger cardboard box. The larger outside cardboard box has 4 FRAGILE CONTENTS labels on the cover and 1 FRAGILE CONTENTS label on each of the other 4 sides.  [big grin]  Pretty sweet.

Also, Timberwolf guarantees the product for 1 year. However, if you register the product on the Mafell.de website, Mafell will issue a 3 year warranty card.

Also of note is the sale prices are still available while Timberwolf negotiates future pricing with Mafell.

You might want to double check this. I think the 3 year warranty is only for tools purchased from Europe resellers. If there was a 3 year warranty then Timberwolf would offer it directly as Woodcraft and other vendors do for Festool. Things may have changed though.

If you were to travel to Europe and buy a tool and then register it you probably could get it serviced though you would have to mail it back to Europe.

 

[Cheese]

You might want to double check this. I think the 3 year warranty is only for tools purchased from Europe resellers. If there was a 3 year warranty then Timberwolf would offer it directly as Woodcraft and other vendors do for Festool. Things may have changed though.

When you register on line at mafell.de and then add the tool number & serial number and you then choose from a pull down list of about 1000 dealers (most of which seem to be in Germany), and choose Timberwolf Tools, the screen comes back with your personal information, the tool you purchased, the dealer you purchased it from and the words 3 year warranty.  They also mentioned something about sending out an extended warranty card. I don’t know what form that will take, could be just an email or a plastic credit type card. We’ll see... [big grin]

 

[ScotF]

Thanks [member=44099]Cheese[/member]. I just registered it and it worked great! Would have never known but for this thread. Hopefully will not need to use it.

 

[Cheese]

Thanks [member=44099]Cheese[/member]. I just registered it and it worked great! Would have never known but for this thread. Hopefully will not need to use it.

ScotF I echo your thoughts, if these tools are designed to be used by the timber framers on commercial sites, why is there only a 1 year guarantee? 

I’ve been a big Milwaukee fan for the last 40+ years. With over 50 Milwaukee tools, I’ve only had 3 warranty issues. 3 years of warranty coverage are the norm with Milwaukee tools. 

So focussing on Mafell, I never quite figured out why an industrial tool designed to be used for 8 hours, 5 days a week would only garner a 1 year warranty. There’s not a lot of pride in that statement.

Consequently, the Mafell 3 year offer resonated with me because at last the manufacturers were not just BS’ing the public about their warranty but actually standing firm and making a commitment.

 

[Cheese]

It does work with Festool rails. There's a black Delrin insert held in with 4 screws that needs to be removed first.

I'm curious if the Mafell can be adjusted relative to the Festool splinter strip and if it can also be adjusted for fit on the Festool rail.

So here's the skinny with photos.

A photo of the sole plate of the MT 55 with the black Delrin insert still installed.

[attachimg=1]

A photo of the sole plate with the Delrin insert removed, this will now ride on the Festool rail. The remaining black Delrin piece in the photo is an adjuster in the neutral position to fine tune the fit for use on a Mafell rail or a Festool rail. It's a rather clever twist.

[attachimg=2]

One edge of the adjuster contacts the Festool rail while the other edge of the adjuster contacts the Mafell rail. Obviously one size doesn't fit all. [smile]

Here the adjuster is tweaked slightly, potentially applying pressure to both the Festool rail slot on the bottom and to the Mafell rail slot on the top.

[attachimg=3]

And finally, here's the adjustment screws that will position the Mafell saw closer to or further away from the splinter strip. Again, one size doesn't fit all.

In my situation, I'll probably just adjust the MT 55 to fit the Festool splinter strip so it will work with the TSC & the HKC.

I'll then purchase a Mafell rail to use with the P1cc and the MT 55cc and the Mafell will cut the splinter strip as it is won't to do.

As a side note, the track engagement adjusters on the Mafell are really slick. They're detented so that each adjustment is a positive step and you can go forwards or backwards one small step at a time. Pretty slick.

As noted before, this saw really raises the bar on most every item.

The MT 55 blade spins at 6250 rpm vs the TS 55 blade at 5200 rpm.
The MT 55 blade has a kerf of 1.8 mm vs the TS 55 blade of 2.2 mm.
The MT 55 draws 1620 watts vs the TS 55 at 1200 watts.

The only nit I can pick is that the MT 55 does not have a riving knife. I'm thinking however, that the combination of the increased blade speed, decreased kerf thickness and higher amperage draw will negate the advantage of a riving knife as it will continue to soldier on cutting through the wood when the TS 55 has stalled out. We'll see...time will tell.

 

[ScotF]

I think that the new MT55 is closer to 1600 watts - it got a boost. Timberwolf told me that the it got more power when the Bosch came out to keep it as a differentiated, more top of the line saw. This also has an electronic riving knife - so the electronics detect if the blade is stalling and cuts power. I have done some tests in all manner of hardwood, 8/4 and thinner and have had zero issues so far. This saw never even seems to break a sweat.

 

[Cheese]

I think that the new MT55 is closer to 1600 watts - it got a boost. Timberwolf told me that the it got more power when the Bosch came out to keep it as a differentiated, more top of the line saw. This also has an electronic riving knife - so the electronics detect if the blade is stalling and cuts power. I have done some tests in all manner of hardwood, 8/4 and thinner and have had zero issues so far. This saw never even seems to break a sweat.

Thanks [member=6605]ScotF[/member] for the heads-up.  [big grin]  I checked mine and it's rated at 13.5 amps at 120v which equates to 1620 watts. That puts it at 1/2 amp greater current draw than either the Kapex or the TS 75. Pretty heady stuff for a 160 mm diameter saw blade.

It's also nice to know about the electronic riving knife because now that just makes sense. I looked at some of the larger Mafell saws and noticed they came with mechanical riving knives. That was a disconnect for me because it didn't make sense that they'd leave it off the MT 55. Now it's starting to come together.  Prove the functionality on the new smaller saw and if it passes muster, incorporate it into the other saws as they get upgraded.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I read a Mafell white paper that claimed the higher speed of the blade made up for the lack of a physical riding knife.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Got a chance to use the KSS 40 for the first time today.

“Cuts like a hot knife thru butter”. Read this many times but never said it before. And I was just cutting 5/4 Azek with a brand new blade but it was so smooth I had to double check that I’d set the depth of cut correctly and that I’d actually cut the stock. It had. And there was so little dust escaping that the idea was reinforced that I’d only scored the stock. The CT Sys gets credit there.

The motion of the saw on the rail is also extremely smooth compared to the HKC. Love that it fits (with rail attached) in the Sys 4. The only disappointment is that the battery has to be removed and stowed in the bottom of the Sys first.

 

[lshah72414]

[member=297]Michael Kellough[/member], what battery are you using? I have the Kss 40 with the 4.0 ah battery, and it stores fine without having to remove the battery. Are you using a 5.0 ah battery, or larger?

 

[lshah72414]

I just went and swapped out my 4.0 Ah with an 8.0 Ah battery and it closed also. Albeit, it was tight. Is your saw all the way down?

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

My KSS-40 stores in the Systainer with the 6.2Ah (112Wh) battery mounted on the saw. It’s a snug fit, but it fits nonetheless.

That being said, if I expand to more Mafell or Metabo cordless tools I may make a separate home for the batteries and chargers in a Sys2, which is how I have my HILTI cordless tools set up (batteries and charger in one Systainer, “bare” tool kits in separate Systainers).

 

[Michael Kellough]

Mine came with 5.5amp batteries.

Do you guys have the Flexirail in there too?
With the Flexirail it seems like not enough space but I didn’t push too hard.

Okay, I pushed pretty hard. It’s not going to fit with the Flexirail

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

I have the KSS-40 on its track, Flexi-track, charger, 2x 6.2Ah batteries, edge guide, dust bag, and several blades in the Sys 4. That being said, yeah it’s a snug fit, and I’ll likely separate the batteries and charger into a separate case.