Track saws

moefoemil · Post by **moefoemil** » Sun Jun 27, 2021 7:47 pm

Evening all,
I’m looking at buying a track saw kit off ITS, prices aside (my boss is paying) which would you recommend out of the Festool TS55 FEBQ, Makita SP6000J1 or Mafell MT55CC? Any advice/info would be appreciated.
Many thanks

moderator7 · Post by **moderator7** » Sun Jun 27, 2021 7:51 pm

I question per topic please.
I've deleted the duplicate.

moefoemil · Post by **moefoemil** » Sun Jun 27, 2021 7:55 pm

Hi, thanks for the welcome, I wasn’t sure which section to ask in, I now know I’m in the right place

arco_iris · Post by **arco_iris** » Sun Jun 27, 2021 8:15 pm

My vote goes:

1. Money no object, Mafell. £600

2. Value for money in comparison to 1, Festool. £400

Normally a Makita person, I have many (not this one) & come to realise that they are built to suit a market & several of mine have niggling issues.

ahfix · Post by **ahfix** » Sun Jun 27, 2021 11:07 pm

Skill builder did a full round up of all the main tracksaws on the market.

etaf · Post by **etaf** » Mon Jun 28, 2021 4:23 am

Just a DIYer
i looked into these a few months back, but did not purchase anything , as most where outof stock at the time I wanted. I also discussed with a few people like FFX & D&M tools , watched quite a few youtube Videos, one a comparison video which compared about 10 saws .
In the end the Mafell appeared to be the better option, at least for me. But out of stock, and I had to do the job with a circular saw instead
The 162mm blade was also looked into.
The Side opening completely, meant easy cleaning , and with no blade hole , also made for better dust extraction.

As ahfix said , Skill Builder
Plunge saw comparison
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0MWlxPtBHY
They did a Full test on all those tested, Heres the Mafell one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUpnfhd3ekg

Peter Millard compared Mafell & Festool , and had an issue with the 0.1mm Step function on the mafell, BUT he has a lot of replies, and theres another video , showing the step function working OK and maybe an issue in his particular saw.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kqui1b0SbU

What are you planning on doing with the saw ?

moefoemil · Post by **moefoemil** » Mon Jun 28, 2021 5:37 am

Thanks for the replies, after watching a few YouTube videos and reading abit I’m edging towards the Mafell but I’ve used the Festool a few times and was impressed

ahfix · Post by **ahfix** » Mon Jun 28, 2021 1:49 pm

moefoemil wrote: ↑Mon Jun 28, 2021 5:37 am Thanks for the replies, after watching a few YouTube videos and reading abit I’m edging towards the Mafell but I’ve used the Festool a few times and was impressed

If you plan to buy or other Festools then I'd day go for the Fes tracksaw, they way you can make full use of the Festool system like dust extraction, common power cord etc. Peter Milard talks about the advantages in one of his videos.

ah

fin · Post by **fin** » Mon Jun 28, 2021 4:14 pm

ive had my festool ts55 for about 8 years now. can not fault it whatsoever

oz0707 · Post by **oz0707** » Mon Jun 28, 2021 5:38 pm

I've got the Festool. Bang for buck probably your best bet although a bit underpowered. The cordless supposed to be better but a lot more bang for buck. Their after sales pretty good mines been back for service FOC

moefoemil · Post by **moefoemil** » Mon Jun 28, 2021 5:49 pm

Thanks for all of your help/advice, after reading up and watching a few videos I’ve opted for the Mafell and ordered it, my workmate has got the Festool TS55 so I’ll be able to test them side by side and I’ll let you know my opinion.
Once again, thanks for all the help

oz0707 · Post by **oz0707** » Mon Jun 28, 2021 7:01 pm

Fair play you won't be Dissapointed it's the best one

fin · Post by **fin** » Mon Jun 28, 2021 7:27 pm

my ts55 is bang on i dont find mine under powered. i do have a selection of blades though for different timbers etc ive seen lads trying to plow through solid oak worktops with a 48 tooth blade. their machine struggled big time. mine with a i think.... 18 tooth blade flew through it

never used a maffell before

Razor · Post by **Razor** » Mon Jun 28, 2021 7:53 pm

The Mafell eats worktops even with a 48 tooth blade but it has to be sharp.

Its the theft insurance that might have made me go for the festool but the Mafell has been fantastic

Job and Knock · Post by **Job and Knock** » Mon Jun 28, 2021 8:06 pm

I currently have a Festool TS55 (original), a Festool TS75, a Makita DSP600 cordless, a Bosch GKT55 and a Hilti WSC265. At work I have used the Makita SP6000, the Festool TS55R and the Festool TSC55R. I have tried the MT55cc on a fee days trial.

From the foregoing I can say that the TS75 is a specialist piece of kit which will not be of any use to the majority of people, if o lybevaie it is a nigheavy busterd. The WSC265 is an out of production model so can also be ignored. Similarly the original TS55 is now long gone

I think the first question has to be what will.you be cutting? The second one is does your application require cordless tool or in other words will you ever ne working where there is no mains power? Third question would be will your application ever involve cutting laminates? Fourth question is how frequently will you need to cut full length sheets? Finally, have you budgeted for wern appropriate dust extractor? This is a legal requirement for commercial use (and you said "boss", so I assumed...) and will cost as much as the saw, if not more

Without answering those questions any choice you make would appear to be a bit arbitrary. TBH, having had an MT55cc on loan to me I found it had little if any advantage over the Festool. Yes, the track design is slightly better, but other than that it has little more to offer most users over a Makita or Festool except for an eye watering price. So good value? If you want that track the Bosch GKT55 is available at a considerably lower price, with a few less bells and whistles (not that most people would notice). In terms of cordless i went Makita simply because the rest of my cordless kit is Makita, so I had the batteries already, but I initially I also saved money because it runs on the Festool tracks I already had (I now have Makita tracks). The Makita isn't as well finished as the others, but it has laid more than 30,000 square feet of plywood sub flooring for me to date, so maybe not a complete dud.

As to the hole in the side, if you really need the extra dust extraction (and believe me if reallgbisn't a significant difference) there are a number of outfits who'll do you a digitally printed plug for both Festool and Makita models (and Festool will also sell you one) but TBH a piece of gaffer tape over the hole works just as well!