Metabo

[festoolman]

Can anyone tell me their experience with Metabo tools?  I am not very familiar with their products.  Any info would be great, thanks, Leon.

 

[EcoFurniture]

Back in Germany, when working in the woodworking industry, Metabo was at the same level as Festool. Quality is, in my mind, outstanding and the tools are worth the money.

 

[Frank-Jan]

My experience with metabo only consist of 2 not so good corded hammerdrills. But a lot of professionals really like their sds+ rotary hammers and little angle grinders (I myself prefer bosch for those tools)

 

[darkstar]

I Just bought a Metabo kgs 303 10" sliding miter saw - precision build. Used it for five days now and like it. Kind of a no frills machine, with excellent dust control (with the purchase of optional dust kit), and is very quiet. It wieghs 42 pounds and its fairly compact.

 

[Peterm]

Can anyone tell me their experience with Metabo tools?  I am not very familiar with their products.  Any info would be great, thanks, Leon.

Positive experience all round; well  made, good value. The KGS 255 was my first SCMS - still is, though I bought mine when they were branded 'Elektra Beckam'. I've had a 6" Metabo dual orbit sander ( 400 duo SXE something??) forever, and it's a great bit of kit, though I recently bought an ETS 150/5 and have to say it's a significantly better sander, though more expensive. I also have a Metabo detail sander which is OK (and I'd say no better than OK) but based on my recent experience may consider adding a Deltex before too long.

Metabo don't always get it right - I had a Metabo PowerGrip 4.8v screwdriver that was a shockingly bad design - though they do seem to learn; the latest version (PowerMaxx??) is much better, just launched at the time Bosch and Makita were turning to 10.8v cordless tools....

So yes, well made, good value; probably not the best in any sector, but I'd say far, far from the worst.

Hope this helps, Pete

 

[Frank-Jan]

We had an elektra beckum saw too, kgt500, jobsite combination table/mitersaw, very good quality. But I disliked the drills so much I personally wouldn't buy a metabo tool for myself, and I don't like their slogan "work, don't play"... I want my work to be fun

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I have an Eleckra Beckum single stage dust collector (~3/4 hp, 120 VAC) that has been problem free for many years, but it has not seen that much use.  (I don't bother with DC when planing a lot of rough lumber; I just roll the planer outside.  And now I have a larger cyclone DC.)  Every aspect of the Electra Beckum unit is well thought out and well made, with Bosch electrics.

Dave R.

 

[Skylar]

Having only used their angle grinders, I find it interesting to hear that their woodworking tools are received with mixed reviews. Their grinders are impossible to kill! Outlast any other brand hands down!

        Skylar

 

[AlexThePalex]

I've got a Metabo jigsaw which I am very fond of, it is a delight to work with it, strong, precise and runs very smoothly with a low noise. I've got it over 10 years now and though I'm not a pro who uses it every day I've cut quite some wood with it by now. It never lets me down. This machine is an absolute winner in my opinion.

I also have a Deltex type detail sander, I've had it also for more than 10 years and the story is basically the same as with the jigsaw, good to work with, strong,  low noise and good to handle. I was always very fond to work with it. I have to say 'was', because it broke down not long ago, even though I haven't used it that much or that intensive. I thought it might just be the coal brushes so I opened the sander to see if I could replace them, but then I found this wasn't the problem, unfortunately.

Instead I saw that the ball bearing of the axle in the head had melted through the rims of the plastic casing it rested on. I couldn't believe what I saw, I regard this as a serious design flaw.  The head is where you press down on the machine to get a good grip on your workpiece, and when the axle revolves through the ball bearing it can generate some serious heat. And all that rested on some plastic that was hardly one mm thick. I was very disappointed with this. I have yet to contact their customer service to confront them with this but I will do so shortly and find out what they think is a good solution to solve my problem.

But when you buy Metabo you have to keep in mind that the company has fallen for the big hobby market. You can't simply think "Oh, Metabo is Metabo". The quality of their machines is not the same for all. They have brought out cheaper models to appeal to hobby users also, and not just solely professionals. You have to keep an eye on the price. Their cheaper models are priced at about the same as brands as Black & Decker and green Bosch. The quality of those machines is only slightly better than B&D or green Bosch but not comparable with professional machines. However, if you buy a more expensive machine you'll be sure to get the professional quality.

 

[dirtydeeds]

i have a metabo long nose die grinder for removing rotten wood FAST, for this job, nothing beats it

with all tools like this dust / chip suppression......... forget it

AND

wear ski goggles to protect you eyes unless you want a trip to A&E

 

[andrew]

In New Zealand Metabo has had some problems with there Grinders. I suspect it might be related to the fact that all there tools are made in China?

Plino

 

[extiger]

My only Metabo tool is the small 4.6volt battery drill. Now that I have a Festool C12 drill, I find that I reach for the Metabo more often. It has a nice feel in the hand.

If I were doing production work, I think I would favor the beefier Festool.

Gary Curtis
Northern California

 

[jo041326]

Hi,
I have a Metabo drill hammer and it's a piece of crap - strong vibrations, too much clearance. Very disappointed. I've heard their combo planner thicknesser HC260 was good but now it's made in China and it's useless.
Josef

 

[richard.selwyn]

I used to have an Electra Beckum chop saw - the 303 (?) mentioned above - they still make it as a Metabo, its now blue instead of green.  Very sturdy and still going strong (I gave it to a retired friend) after 15 years.  I have their biggest sliding compound mitre saw which is currently laid up as I'm using the Kapex.  It is very well made, solid and accurate but doesn't have the dust collection of the Kapex (or the old 303).  The only other Metabo I own, apart from the little screwdriver mentioned above,o is their paint remover.  It's an angled grinder motor with are cutter head that uses removable cutter blades like on shaper heads.  It is unique, works really well for rapid paint removal and "wood butchery" and comes in a systainer.  I'm not in the shop so don't remember what its called but I'd recommend it to anyone who does a lot of renovation.  Its probably NAINA  - must be dangerous that head spinning round with those sharp little blades and paint and splinters flying everywhere.  It does have dust extraction but removes so much that even a big Festol vac has trouble.
Hope that helps.

 

[Iggy1965]

I have and had several tools some with real bad experience like the Elektra Beckum miter saw KS2100. It jammed and i'm lucky to still owning my fingers. (it came up 1 foot in the air when it jammed). And some with real good experience like their normal corded drill (high torque). Its really 'China on the label, Trash on the table'. But when 'made in Germany', I like it. Their Belt sanders are the same as Festool. Its the old HolzHerr design.

 

[Frans]

I've got a Metabo corded drill, which is excellent, if a bit noisy. My father has one as well, a different model bought around 1980. When he needed some replacement parts in 2005, the bloke on the phone was pleasantly surprised that the machine was still serving well. They dug up the needed replacement parts somewhere, and sent them at no charge!

Frans

 

[monte]

.

I have  the Metabo SXE400 Compact Random Orbital Disc Sander with 3 inch discs and I'm very happy with it for when I need an orbital disc action in a tight space.
(very handy when working with fiberglass parts) It's not an everyday sander and falls more into the category of "specialty once in a while sanders".
Dust collection works well and has a foam pad for contour surfaces.
http://www.tools-plus.com/metabo-sxe400.html?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=froogle&utm_term=METSXE400

Review...... http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideProduct.aspx?id=5885

[attachimg=#]

 

[Radone]

Bringing this one back to life

Have to kinda agree that Metabo don't alway get it right.

Just bought a Metabo KGS 216 Sliding Compound Mitre Saw as referred to by a mate and my previous experience with Metabo and there's always a place in my heart for German and Austrian wordworking machines and was a field service tech for Felder Group for awhile.

At the sub $600 mark I was a bit hesitant but I did a bit of research and found mostly good reviews and know that Metabo saws are quite accurate, dependable and reliable. Nowhere did anybody have any bad workds to say. Plus, I didn't see the worlds 'Made in China' anyware which I thought was odd at this price range.

Anyway, pulled it out of the box and found hard, lower quality plastics but good quality metals which is more important to me. That explains the price, right? Then I used the slider.... ! Felt like it had a bad bearing. Even an Ozito and Makita clones runs smoother. Maybe not as accurate or sturdy but definitely smoother in the push and pull department. How can I get that wrong, right?

Immediately took it in for warranty service where I am told that that's how it's supposed to be?! Service tech also tells me it is indeed made in China although it doesn't say so anywhere. Very nice guy. Tells me that he'll see what he can do for the bearing and will keep it for a couple of days.

I'm just using the saw for home improvement and investment property renovation but wonder if it's worth taking back due to a rough slide if the tech can't improve it. I haven't cut with it yet but I have heard good things about the saw.

First impressions last a lifetime and on this one, I'm dubious. Any suggestions, recommendations?

 

[harry_]

See how it is when you get it back. If it is not up to snuff, refund it.

 

[Radone]

Yeah, that's where I was heading. On one hand you have a otherwise good saw. On the other you have a very noticable annoyance that may not affect performance but diminishes your overall product ownership happiness.

I'll let you guys know how it goes.