MAKITOOL !!!

R

ririmarqueverte

Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2007
Messages
48
Hi,

Makita had already copied the Systainer idea for their tools. Now they have copied the TS55 and its rail!!! I have seen it today and it costs 100 ? less. Exactly the same but for the colour blue replacing the green. I thought it was patented...

riri
 
Where did you see it? I checked the Makita company site and there is nothing.

Sounds very interesting.  I am not too sure that it will have the same quality as Festool.

You get what you pay for.
 
Now and then, I've seen this mentioned.  But I have only seen it listed in the UK, for $600 or more (converted British pounds into American dollars).  It comes with a 1.4m guide rail.  That would make it $160 more than the TS55, which sells for $440.
[attachimg=1]

I've also seen something that allows a jigsaw to run on a similar guide rail.
[attachimg=2]

If you do an Internet search, you'll often see mention of adapters that allow people to use a Makita saw on a Festool guide!

Personally, I'll stick with Festool.

Matthew
 
Jeff
http://www.makitauk.com/index.php?page=36&catid=78&open=78

It is made in Telford UK and I had a quick look at one at a local dealers last week. It can be ordered in a Systainer and these seem to be popular with a few manufacturers now eg Metabo.

The saw costs about ?310 or $620 in the UK and comes complete with a guide rail. It is a nicely made and well balanced saw and the plunge action is very smooth but does not have the solidity or quality feel of the TS55/75 range. It is easy to adjust, has a quick blade change mechanism and brakes as quickly as the Festools. It is quite noisy but then the TS saws are not exactly quiet. The guide rail is very substantial but I do not think that it will be compatible with the Festool system. (Cannot be sure as the dealer did not carry Festools to compare). The cut is good but I have been used to the glass-like finish of my TS saws and I did not think that it was as good. Very accurate on the guide rail though.

I have a couple of Makita tools and have been very pleased with their performance (especially the cordless Impact driver) but I think I will stick with the Green and Lime.

Its a very nice saw if all you need is a saw and a guide rail.
 
Hi,

I saw it this morning in Brussels. It was proudly displayed on its rail in my favorite dealer shop. It is a new model and a new rail. The model is: SP 6000 K and the rail is ( as far as i can see ) exactly the same as ours except for the blue silicone bands replacing the greens. It looks cute and well made. It is less angular that the TS 55 and looks very handy to me. Over here virtually all Makita tools are now being sold with systainers.

riri
 
Alleged "copying" by Makita does not mean that Festool is sharing any know-how with Makita.  Patents have a finite period during which the owner can exclude others from making, using or selling (or importing) what is covered by the patent.  And patents are territorial, too.  A German patent cannot be asserted against an infringer in USA and vice versa.  Anyone can try to reverse engineer a product made by another except as may be blocked by a patent.  Maybe the involved Festool patents have expired or Makita is doing things somewhat differently than what Festool patented. 

From this you might be able to guess what pays my bills!

Dave R.
 
Eric Olthwaite talked crap. You never did, well hardly ever. ;D

Mafell have had plunge saws out for a few years using the same FS guide rails as Festool and before the TS series arrived Festool had the ATF 55 and AT65 plunge saws.

Mafell and Festool work together on a few tools the small routers being a perfect example.

 
Llap Goch said:
Eric Olthwaite talked crap. You never did, well hardly ever. ;D
Click to expand...

I take offence to that. When did Eric ever talk crap ??? Just because he told the world of shovels to be found on Denley Moor and of the rainfall that was static there
at twenty-eight point four, i thought he was a rather interesting chap.

Oh` and interesting point about the Festool/Mafell conection ;)
 
Hi all,

Riri,
A patent may apply to the rail or it may not currently. Even if it does, Makita need only change the width of the rail or the guide by a few mm to bypass the Patent. You need to be certain that the system is identical in all ways.
Also, I'm quite happy that Makita have made this system available. Copying is the highest form of flattery. The other aspect is that the entire system is now available, hopefully at a lower cost to those whoa cannot or will not pay Festool price. But remember, you only get what you pay for.

On another note, I'd like to know Simou's position and involvement with the fracas over the cow in Wales, which allegedly has a nasty cough and dresses in sartorial splendour!

Trebor
 
Trebor Mint

I think it is Shambo-lic. But I am busy reading Shakespeare....... TB or not TB that is the

Simou

 
Hi,

      Two interesting things on those Maffel Rails-  The one that has the dust extraction through the a rail channel, and the roll up rail that fits in a systainer!  Neat stuff.

Seth
 
Your picture confirms what i said ie. that the rail is identical to that of Festool. I am ready to bet that it is made in the same factory.
 
Look at it from Festool's possible perspective. If they are secure with their patents (Germans, you know), then they've licensed it to Makita and are making money on every sale without the need to pay for the support of the product.

Just a wild ass guess, but it's possible.
 
I tend to agree with laser gecko.
If Festool were worried about Makita making a competive instrument in violation of patent, they would have taken them to the cleaners. At the end of the day, it's really a case of ...so what?

Rob
 
I can see yr argument. If Festool can make money when Makita sells its SP 6000 K and rail, why not! At the same time it is a slipery slope; why not then having the whole range made by someone else ( chinese why not ) and just sell it? Research, subcontracting, marketing, and selling. Others brands have tried it and not all of them were succesful in the long term. Let us not forget that Festool is a mere division of FESTO one of the world leaders in automation.

riri
 
Hi Riri,
So long as Festo can keep distance from their "other range" and maintain their excellent name within the industry, I would think they will be just fine. Makita is not regarded as a cheap low level brand, so if they maintain relationships with companies like Makita or Metabo, no real damage will be done. (Assuming this is what they are doing.)
There will always be a market for high end products that meet all specs time after time after time.
But you are absolutely correct about the slippery slope. This, I think, comes from companies either on their way out and looking for any revenue they can get, or companies who want market share regardless of cost and who may regard maintenance of a service infrastructure as a major cost center. Thus, replace rather than fix. :'( :(

Regards,

Rob

 
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