Rollin22Petes said:
So my PC 4 1/5'' trim saw died on me over the summer and I was looking at replacing it with the Mafell KSS300. While I was looking at there saws I looked at the MT55CC also. I have a Festool TS55REQ but the Mafell seems to be a step above watched some video's It's a really nice saw and it will work on Festool rails. My question is does anybody in the US have experience with them quality , customer service, and such as we only have one distributor here in the US. On a side note I wish Festool would come up with an angle base like Mafell has for there jigsaw not only do you get the full width of the base but it also works with there circle attachment. Looking for some good advice from guys that actually own and use there tools before I purchase as they as some of there prices make Festool look cheap [eek] Thanks
I've been very happy with my Mafell saws. I own the KSS-400, MT-55cc, and P1cc, looking forward to purchasing a Erika 70 and MF-26cc in 2015.
Pros:
First off, Mafell build quality is, at a minimum, on par with Festool, superior in some cases. The tools are extremely well engineered, very well built, and well supported. As mentioned above, they can also make Festool look like a "bargain brand" when it comes to pricing. (The P1cc jigsaw costs $700+, compared to $350 for the Carvex).
There are no NAINA Mafell tools. If it appears on their German website, you can get it in North America.
Mafell tools are fully compatible with Festool D27 and D36 hoses.
Many users have modified their Mafell tools to work with Festool's Plug-It, or a similar Neutrik system.
Mafell manufactures saws from 4" to 16"+, all compatible with their guide rail system.
Cons:
As of now, there are no retail locations for Mafell tools in North America. That means, there is really no window shopping, unless you can find a local contractor who is willing to let you try their tools.
There is no 90 day return policy. Actually, there's really no return policy. If you have a tool shipped to you and you decide you don't like it, you're on the hook for shipping. If you plug in the tool and use it, even once, there is no return.
Some Mafell tools (primarily the larger circular saws and their beam-cutting chainsaw) are not available in 120v, meaning you need a 120v->240v converter.
Warranty. To qualify for the 1-year Mafell warranty, you need to fill out and return the signed and dated warranty card and a copy of the invoice within 30 days of purchase. By signing the warranty card, you are acknowledging that, among other things, you are "a professional user of power tools". Mafell also goes out of their way to say that their tools are "not intended for personal, family or household uses". Basically, they seem to be eschewing the hobby market, and are explicitly marketing themselves to professionals.
Service. While I have had wonderful experiences with the North American distributor for Mafell, they do not have a dedicated service center like Festool does. While Festool generally has a 2 or 3 day turnaround time, there are no such guarantees with Mafell. Basically, you're better off maintaining the tools yourself, ordering parts as needed.
Ultimately, there are pros and cons going with Mafell. For a given class of tool they tend to be the best available, but you need to decide whether it's worth sacrificing the phenomenal support network Festool has established. For myself, I absolutely adore my Festool sanders, routers, Kapex and Domino, but have shifted to primarily Mafell for my portable saws.
There is another forum out there exclusively dealing with Mafell, if you perform a search it shouldn't be too hard to find. I hope this helps! [smile]
