Track Saw Showdown!! Bosch vs Festool
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- Опубліковано 10 лип 2024
- Track Saw Showdown between Bosch and Festool. Track saws are a valuable tool to have for the shop or job site. Track saws really excel at cutting sheet goods and help lighten the load making work pieces more manageable. Also when working with slabs and solid lumber they can really pull their weight from ripping to cutting waterfall Miters. In this video we thoroughly go over both saws and look into all the features comparing them side by side. Find out what saw will work best for you.
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In Australia all Bosch tools, including this one, come with a 6 year warranty. It requires registration within 30 days of purchase, but Australian Consumer Law negates this requirement and you get the offered 6 years regardless of registration.
Great review! I got my TS55 used with two extra blades, extra track. I love it and on some projects, I use it more than I use my tablesaw. So far I have not had any alignment issues when cutting 8 foot material. Until got it I always had problems with cuts and getting them aligned but the TS55 has resolved those issues for me.
Thanks. That was a well planned and well produced video.
Great review guys, bringing in real scientific methods into your review, well done
Nice balanced review , thank you
Great saw especially ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxxnKxcY0vm4xjW8xkPbjaHuKt10gr-wG_ considering how drastically cheaper it is than every other track saw on the market. Only things I would mention is replace the blade immediately, the 24 tooth blade supplied leaves a lot to be desired.
Thanks for showing the adjustment for the 0/90 bevel stop on the Bosch. Mine was about 1.5 degrees out-of-wack from the factory and the damn manual doesn't say anything about how to adjust for it. Bosch customer support didn't even know. Now that I have it cutting square, I have one major gripe about the design of the Bosch. They didn't include a way to reset the bevel pointer on the scale so you can reset it to 0 after making the adjustment! What a massive miss in the design. I have to remember that whatever I set it to, is about 1.5 degrees off. Ugh.
Good overview. I haven’t seen a track test like that. Both high quality German tools.
My major complaint is your impression that riving knives improve cut quality. That isn’t true and it never has been. New Festool K saws don’t even use a riving knife because they have a new safety mechanism. (I know they weren’t out when this video was filmed.) It’s strictly a safety feature.
On the same note, the TS55 is fairly Awful for cutting slabs and live edge pieces. It only has a 160mm blade, 10 watt motor, and an comparatively larger blade kerf. Excellent for making cabinets out of stable sheet material. But far from the best choice for real timber.
As others have mentioned, Bosch (Mafel) has a great track connecting system. Festool has the worst! I agree it’s great to have a full rail for ripping 8’ sheets, but not always practical.
Makita has a much better system than Festool, which is single aluminum bar with set screws that get driven into the track... so the screws are always going to find that first depression made. The makita is much better, and will fit Festool as well. Makita uses two bars that are pushed against each other as the screws are tightened, never marring the track.
It is also best to use two sets, one above and one below. A good 4’ or longer level is great for alignment. But the most important tip is to make sure you leave a slight gap between the rails because the ends are not milled to absolute square.
Another tip: the makita 3 meter track is often listed at around $400 shipped, but the unit only costs around $200. It’s shipped in a crate, hence around $200 to have trucked to you. Also they are trucked to stores and often uncrated and reshipped and possibly damaged in the process. Find a makita dealer who stocks them and you should be able to pick up from them for no additional cost or worry about damage.
A couple of years ago, I upgraded / replaced my ageing Makita with the Bosch, here in the UK. The Makita had served me well for about 10 years, and proved to be excellent value for money - purchased for £330 in 2012.
I considered the Mafell ( stratospheric price ) and as I researched the Bosch, I came to the conclusion that they were basically the same saw. I know that at this point, some technical geek is going to point out their differences. I do remember that the Mafell had a more advanced system for enabling the blade to be held snug up against the blade, but, as I say, they appeared to be the same thing.
After a couple of years use, I can vouch for the quality of the Bosch, but I would like to draw to viewers attention, one important point ( which point is picked up on in this excellent U Tube appraisal) The track has a basic design deficiency, and that is, that it does not grip the workpiece as it could do because it only two thin, feeble strips of rubber . Of course this problem can be rectified by the replacement of these feeble little strips, with two wide foam rubber versions.
You should have mentioned how the Imperial/Metric scale on the Bosch saves alot of time for some users. As well the ability of the Bosch to use any track allows a user to purchase cheaper 1 piece tracks for the less used 8 ft cuts. If you had purchased the 1600mm Bosch track you would have seen how much more easily it was to cross cut sheet goods, not available on Festool or Makita. If the traction strips on the Bosch tracks wear you can pull them out, turn them slightly and put them back in for as new use.
This is definitely swaying me toward the Bosch. Thanks for the comment
I use the Mafell with the Bosch track. I bought the Mafell on a sale for the same price as the Bosch. The Bosch joiners make a perfect join, and I have no problems with cutting sheets with two rails joined.
I noticed Festool recently introduced a new guide rail connector, FSV/2, that solves the previous problem of easily merging 2 guide rails and keeping them perfectly straight.
Wow. The Bosch is crazy expensive over there it seems. Here in the UK/EU you can buy the GKT in L-Boxx with 2x1600mm guiderails, connector and rail bag for £440+/-. Way cheaper than the Festool TS55 set. You also get 3 year warranty on it here by registering online. Are you sure you cant register the Bosch online for 3 year warranty in the US? Bosch also do a 3.2m piece of rail too, if joining 2 isn't your thing.
Very informative video. Got alot out of it
Your reviews are so in depth. I have the makita for out on the job site. Been thinking about the festool for finish work. I have been pretty happy with the makita considering the price point. But there is a little play in the track. Great video!
Great review, nice process
Thanks!!😁
I've got the Bosch track saw, brilliant bit of kit, and they also made their 18 v circular saw fit the track, which works very well. Wouldn't swap it for anything. And the rail connection on the bosch is far better than festool
Makita did the same with their new 71/4
K brooks. Check out the new Bosch cordless plunge saw. I hope someone can do a review and comparing to the festool. Looks impressive.
@@ron1martens I didn't know bosch did one, thanks, I'll have a look
k brooks pleasure
What you missed about the Bosch track is that the track connector works better, but also when using a clamp for the track, the clamp fits closer to the cutting edge.
Might aswell get the mafell 😏😉
Lavrans. Seems a good feature. Also connecting fences.
Nice presentation. What about noise and dust outside of dust extraction?
Very good review. Bosch does have a 3100mm rail. I have it and it is about 40% cheaper than the Festool 3000mm rail. Bosch FSN rails are overall much cheaper and the connectors are very solid. For Festool I find the Makita connectors are better than Festool's own. I have the GKT55CE and the Mafell MT55cc (coming from the Festool TS55) and I mostly use the Bosch for plunge cuts as I prefer the front handle over the Mafell ergonomics. All three are great saws but if hard pressed I would rank my Mafell MT55 over the Bosch GKT55CE and the Bosch over the Festool.
I would be happy with any of the three as a got to saw but I prefer the Bosch FSN track system and the angle rail over the Festool track system. What keeps me in the Festool camp is the HKC55 which I love for the fixed short track and the overall handling.
I could have run with the Mafell KSS50cc (I did have it) but it is cheaper for me to have the HKC55 with dedicated rails and batteries over getting that Mafell so I am happy to have the HKC55 for decking and general use and keeping the Bosch/Mafell for more crucial interior work. I got the 3000mm rail (on sale) for sheet goods, a 1400 and an 800mm rail plus the FSK250 short chop rail providing me with exactly what I need for on site work with the HKC. For most it would make more sense to pair the HKC55 with the TS55 but I come from the other direction thinking that I prefer the Bosch/Mafell saws and track system but I also can't help but think the HKC55 is what Mafell should have made and Mafell does not have a short track in that cut capacity saw. Festool took the Mafell KSS concept and refined it, great job!
I could not write this much and omit the Mafell KSS40 18m bl, cordless which is my all time favourite. I use it whenever I can and it has a Flexirail that is 140cm and folds up into the #5 Systainer giving me a saw with a 1400mm track, a 300mm short track, two batteries, charger and spare blades in a very small package. That is pure genius from Mafell although the saw would have made much more sense if it had 45/47mm cut capacity instead of 42mm on rail. If they had a few more mm on the KSS40 it would be the greatest small saw ever made and I would not have to have the HKC55. But I digress, great review, thank you.
I had to work on a tight budget so both of these were way out, I bought a Divar55 I think made by Shppach, it's a great saw cost me less than £200 10 years ago, and apart from needing a new blade has done a lot of work and it is still fully working, it came with two 1400mm tracks.
Connecting two festool tracks is Easy to get crocked and misaligned. The Bosch tracks align perfectly with the Connector piece. I have Used the Bosch tracksaw. Its is smooth and i like the tracks. Own a Hkc55 wish works great. Metabo tracks has the best of both worlds. With a self aligning connector piece.
The nice thing about Mafell/Bosch is, that you can use the Bosch tracks or the Makita/Festool, but not vice versa. The longest Bosch track is 3,1m or 10 ft 2 inches long. And a lot of the Bosch and Mafell owners praise the milled through rail guide, as it allows them to cut wider slabs, as the saw has little or no play if you pull/push it more out of the end of the track.
I realize this is 3 years too late, but at least in the US, Bosch doesn't show anything longer than 2.1 meters. The 3.1m version seems to be discontinued or at best hard to find anywhere.
TS55 +1400mm track is c$8-900 in the UK.
Makita twin 18v cordless with 2x5Ah batteries and 2x1400mm track is $950, corded with 1x1400mm it's c$450-500.
A huge difference
Note that the Festool tracks don't have the exact same profile, so if you buy different length tracks rather than join 2 of the same length, you will need to readjust the groove knobs on the machine every time you switch.
Excellent comparison video. I am so impressed with your depth of knowledge as well as the ability to break it down to layman's terms. Your videography is excellent as well.
I recently purchased the Kreg adaptive cutting system complete set, because I liked the right hand action of the saw and the Imperial scale. However, I do alot of slab work and will be purchasing the ts75 when finances allow. Hopefully the Best of Both Worlds. The one downside to the Kreg system is they do not offer a extended track, you must use two of their 62 in tracks with the available adaption kit.
Can you do a video on the makita track saw
Great job Justin!
The Bosch saw & tracks are made by Mafell. The tracks are hard aluminum & connect true every time with no futzing around. I gotta laugh at those "special tools" for connecting Festool tracks straight. Festool tracks are soft aluminum. Mafell/Bosch is the way to go. It's just a shame that ALL track saws are built _Left handed._
Kreg track saw is right handed. Unfortunately, there aren't many reviews out yet.
@@ThePatriotPath Well how about them apples?!?! Thankyou! I had no idea someone FINALLY grew some common sense when it comes to tracksaws. Well good on Kreg!
Crosscut / cutoff saws should have the blade on the right. But a _Tracksaw_ is designed for ripping, _to replace a table saw,_ and should have the blade on the left.
I watch all sorts of vids comparing tracksaws... Skillbuilder etc... and all the experienced tradesmen are working cross-armed or actually climbing _hands & knees_ on top of their work to make a long rip... _and NOT ONE has even noticed they are using a Left-Handed tool!!!_
The Bosch saw and tracks are made by Mafell? Really?
@@BODGE71 Yup. The saws are different models, but the tracks are identical... apart from color & branding.
@@BODGE71 Yeah but the Bosch saw uses SOME parts of the Mafell but is not the same as the Mafell MT55CC, which is a finer tool. Its blade change and dust extraction are way better for example. Though I'll admit it's pretty nice to be able to buy Bosch tracks way cheaper than the Mafell ones (they're identical).
can't use bosch track at festool?
Wanna fix any friction issues? Buy the Mafell aerofix :) you'll cut vertically if you want! Or even plunge in you roof 😁
This is on my list 😄need this for my mt55 cc
One thing I've yet to see for the Bosch is parallel guides. With the Festool or Makita tracks you can attach the Seneca parallel guides for repeat cuts. I don't see how or where you would attach guides to the Bosch track. I do like the track connectors for the Bosch tracks as it also seems to guarantee straightness when using 2 or more tracks.
The Bosch will work on both Bosch/Mafell rails as well as Festool/Makita/Triton rails. So if you want to use Festool accessories, no problem. Here in the UK you can buy the FC Parallel Guide for Bosch/Mafell rails. Not cheap but very well made (made in Scotland too!) - karpenter.co.uk/product/fc-parallel-guide/
@@BischBaschBosch
Not bad. If you've seen the Seneca parallel guides you can see their advantage over the FC guides and the Festool guides.
The ts 55 has a 45 adjustment, a bit tricky, bit it’s there😊
is the riving knife necessary / a good thing to have on a track saw or is it unecessary?
Bosch has a longer warranty if you register on the site. and mine came with 2 1600 tracks and a nice bag to protect them for £450 uk
@@thebuilditchannel8609 is the bosch rep maybe getting confused between the green and blue ranges? The green household range is mostly corded, and has a shorter guarantee, but any of the blue range usually has a 2 or 3 year guarantee, but hardly any of it is corded.
Check out their 10 or 12" combo saw BTW, all the flooring fitters near me use them, its a chopsaw but you can lock it down and have a boardsaw across the top of it. Sounds like a gimmick, but I've heard nothing but good stories about it! Its very quick to go from one to the other, not like the 'flip-saws' offered by other companies. And its surprisingly cheap (in UK anyway) compared to even chopsaws from other companies
I'm pleased I was going to give away my ts55 as I bought the cordless festool plunge saw and festool contractor saw. I had my tools stolen so lost the cordless tools.
I found the cordless festool plunge saw more powerful and easy to cut material opposed to the ts corded version.
The only difference was it drew a considerable amount of power from the batteries.
I put on laybuy a festool 6.2 amp hour battery and hoping next year to get the festool cordless plunge saw.
We don't get the mafell in Australia although can purchase from USA.
That is a more refined saw and very similar to the Bosch. The mafell can use cross platform batteries although a higher amp hour in the 18 volt. I would like to see the higher voltage single battery with the bigger cell technology.
36 volt with 18 volt size and weight of superseded batteries.
Interesting is a link I want to look into the fact you can make batteries run on hemp.
It's a shame metabo don't pick up their game and make a quality plunge saw. Since metabo have amalgamated with hitachi now been called hikioki for their tool range.
Also interesting makita will bring out their new 40 volt system.
The makita cordless plunge saw looks very similar to the festool cordless plunge saw.
Recently used both..the festool just feels nicer to use. Tracks are much more solid and heavy . Feel like they wont move about.
Weird pricing. In Europe, Festool is about 50 to 100 euros more expensive at same equipment level, and Bosch warranty is 2 years extendable to 3 by simple registration in their website.
In Australia its $700 to festtools $1200
Bosch is 6 years warranty here.
In the uk Bosch is much cheaper than the festool. Your just paying for a name really.
Exactly!
Laughs in Mafell MT55CC...
Mafell is the best tracksaw ever, hands down
the Bosch is that good because it is build by Mafell... and if you buy the original Mafell you have some additional features wich makes it the best model on the market - so I wood go for the Mafell (except you have to do shadow gaps, then the Festool is way better9
@@thebuilditchannel8609 the German term ist "Schattenfuge" leo, dict aso gave me the translation "shadow gap"; isn't that an existing term? It's for example the small gap between a wooden floor and the wall wich you can cut very narrow with the Festool but not with the Bosch or Mafell
Expansion gaps are different from shadow gaps. Expansion gaps are typically the 1/4" or so gap before the flooring meets the wall to allow for horizontal movement in the flooring.
Shadow gaps are becoming more popular and are a modern look where there is no baseboard, only a narrow "shadow" gap around 3/8" - 1/2" at the bottom of the wall above the floor. The saw is laid on its side and run along the wall to cut this.
The Festool will lay completely flat on its side whereas the Bosch will not as a result of the dust port protruding slightly.
I thought if you register the bosch then u get 3 years
I've become disappointed with my Festool track. The glued on splinter strip is terrible because it comes off. I prefer the splinter strip of the Bosch/Mafell. I'm not buying another saw to change the splinter strip though.
I, too, grumble about my Festool splinter strips on EVERY ONE of my tracks. Repeatedly, the adhesive fails to hold the strip in place causing me to have to replace them. My solution -- Makita splinter strips. Works great. They hold like crazy until it's time to replace them. I can't believe that Festool is so oblivious to the mediocre performance of their adhesive. Deny, deny, deny.... Reminds me of their attitude towards the North American 120 volt version of the pre-2019 Kapex motor.
I have some DeWalt splinter guard I'm going to try out.
Just got th Bosch with 1600mm track and case for 400euros. The fsn track doesn't work with 18v Bosch saw, a bit disappointing, first time using a tracksaw and it sks
The 'G' versions of the circular saw work with the track only.
You dont just multiply the volts and amps for power. You need to incorporate the power factor as well.
The reason why it stalled so much was because you maybe wasnt a track and changing directions ever so slightly during the cuts
This is the problem I have with Bosch, the track slips badly especially on gloss finish. You can buy the expensive clamps but they're fiddly. The bosch tracks are too narrow.
They definitely have less traction.
Bosch has brought out a cordless plunge saw. They won't be available yet in Australia. Perhaps in 2021. I hope you can obtain the cordless Bosch and do a review also the difference between the festool and cordless Bosch. Looks like Bosch has really upped their game. I was told Government regulations stipulate companies cannot improve their products by more than 20% at a time. This means battery technology and will mean general technology also. I believe this rumour to be accurate because over a period of time tool companies have come out with the newer better tools. Also all tools now have mains power in the cordless range. I believe even better because of more amperage you don't achieve in mains power.
Perhaps the man at my tool place mistook the Bosch cordless to the metabo cordless plunge saw as he mentioned metabo are linked to mafel. Certainly Bosch is linked.
Hikoki have a mains power vacuum which is the 36 volt range. I'm not big at blue tooth. We have too many frequencies as it is we don't need to expose ourselves to this too often.
Bosch does have a 3100mm Track.
I'm trying to get a saw that run well on Bosch Track. Can you recommend one? Maybe there is a model out there for my taste that I didn't know about.
While track saw have its promising features... I can't help but feeling appalled by the price.
While $700 is not much (But this will added to over $1000 with ship & tax), but I'm not a contractions worker, it's still a pretty stupid idea to buy one for some household DIY projects which I probably use the saw like once or twice month or a year.
Contraction worker here are very hard to find... Most of them don't take their jobs serious enough... and if you don't watch them a hawk, they often screw up the project and you'll just have to accept it, because it's DONE. Ask them to fix it will cause more money. Small projects doesn't worth the money they charging you. And when they do work for you, they have have this Chronic Laziness embedded into their gene and seems to be contagious enough EVERY SINGLE CONTRACTOR WORKER I've dealt with, have them. They came to work at 8am, and take a few break every now & then... by 11am, they stop for lunch and a small nap. Only work again at 2pm, with a few other breaks in between and will ready to leave the sites by 4.30pm. And this has been the way for everyone I've work it.
And Bosch PROFACTOR 18V GKS18V-25GCB is compatible with track but it offered no zero adjustment on the track which is idiotic, it's just a few extra pieces of aluminum & plastic, why didn't THE FUCKING BOSCH added it to this Saw? It's almost a $400 Saw.
I found some reviews saying GKS18V wobbling on track, especially if tack get old. But not by much, like a 1-2mm offset. Problem is... I'm a freak when it's come to precision. If something is wrong is like 1mm off, it's pissed me for a whole day. I know I got problems, but I can't afford a therapist.
P.s. when I learned about Bosch having track, I was quick to look for one, it's hard to buy where I live, so I had to do some deep search to find sellers who can ship it to me cheap (Thanks to eBay but no thanks, I hate eBay). Then... I quickly get 18v Bosch Saw, one Big (for real wood) & One small (for MDF). I hunted for the newest generation with Brushless System (But small one didn't have Brushless). Wasted almost $600 on both Saw, actually close to $1000 if you including DHL shipping & taxing.
But Amazon new Taxing System of my country's standard is just insane. Let me give you a hint, PS4 cost $399 but will be $1200 on total if I were to placed an order from Amazon directly.
So do the math. My cheapest way to bought was to have Amazon ship to a DHL Freight Forwarder.
And after the deal is done.
I've waited almost a month & a half (Thanks to Ms. Covid-19) from DHL.
Only to learn it's not compatible with The Track.
WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT
THE
FUCK!!!
Miss a lot of functionality. Try mafell best tool. In world
The Bosch ist actually produced by mafell
@@Gramix666 an it is the same saw just without some small features. But the price difference u will notice. I'm using such Bosch saw for some 5 years now, today was the first problem - supply cable change :) Best everyday tool for me
1 year warranty. Really? Here in NL it's 3 years.
German products are great. Bosch, Festool, Mafell, Fein. Products too expensive? Never heard of service? The service is great
Bosch have 2.1m and 3.1m tracks
I do not think there is a showdown. I 7se the Triton track saw and track, it's amazing for a fraction of the price.
Never liked frestool. They are way overrated and way overpriced for what you get. Also the Bosch can easily be adapted to the festool track. Bosch also has a 3100mm track
But in this case the Bosch was more expensive
Named another Company that makes a tool is great is the domino?
robert sharpe and that is it. It’s their only tool that is worth it. The reste isn’t .
marcducati yea I agree they have a select few tools that are worth the money But as far as buying everything festool it’s just not worth it 90% of my tool are dewalt I do have the track saw and the domino and I love them might would buy a sander and a dust Extractor but that’s it! probably would have been just as happy with the Makita track saw but I went with the festool!
@@rsharpe1985 I have the Bosch GKT 55 and love it. It is also compatible with the festool rails. I buy what I like, not a brand. I have Bosch, Hitachi, Makita, Dewalt. I look at my need, my budget, and buy what makes sense. Festool never made sense. I usually steer away from batteries and usually only have them for impact drivers and one drill. My latest acquisition, the Bosch GDL 12 gcm. It is a beast and all around a great saw.
Festool has 75 and it is not much expensive than 55
The cordless Makita is better than both. For less $
Bring mafell it's guru in plunge saw used best metal component wich it's used on aircraft and also have aa future I wait you finding it. And that future its for cleaning cut
The Bosch track connector is so much better than the Festool system and in the UK you get 2 x 1600mm rails in the kit. Plus it’s cheaper and made by Mafell, no brainer really.
Bosch Skilsaw ? 10:50
@@thebuilditchannel8609 wow, pretty good collaboration.
Robert Bosch used to own skil
So the Bosch is actually more expensive as well as 1/3rd the warranty? This is sad! The same thing happened with dust collectors when all the brands started trying to catch up to Festool’s, and now most Chinese brands are way more money then the Festool.
WTF this 'Precession PRO"?)))) Where freud "top precession" best wood 48T?
It’s FeSStool, not FeZStool
when ripping like you were , you should not expect the 48 tooth blade to do that cut through such thick material , using festools 28 tooth blade would of ate that cut up . Festool forever
Перевод, метрика.
ПиZдетс тест, блин... За четверть часа выяснили что обе пилы умеют пилить по своим шинам дерево и другие виды материалов. Поставлю-ка я дизлайк за кликбэйт.
Who gives a shit about power? What production worker uses a freaking track saw? Power is a total non issue for these type of tools. I don't see why that is a factor mentioned at the end and made a point of. Its a minor factor that you did mention in one point of the video, fair enough. These are precision tools, not hoggin out wood tools to frame faster.
The Festool name is pronounced "fess" "tool". There is no "z" in the name.
You are completely wrong ! I use festool 8 yers and Bosch 3 years , Bosch track system is a lot !!! better, slimmer , better holds surfaces , and never need replacing side track rubber , that is not only my opinion , I suggest to You , You have to get moor skill to work with that plunge saw
Even after talking nonsense for so long, which model of boss he is not shown