Thread: Bosch GKT 55 track saw

Metrix on the renovate forum seems quite happy with his Bosch track saw - read here:
http://www.renovateforum.com/f216/go...k-saws-113788/

It's a Mafell design, lacking some of Mafell's convenience features, such as the "double reading" plunge/rail scale, hinged blade housing etc. It uses Mafell's track system, which is just as good, if not better than anyone else's (better rail joiners).

Mafell saws are also compatible with Festool/Metabo rails. The Mafell MT55 is universally regarded as the best plunge saw on the market, plus it's 40% cheaper (currently less than $780 with postage) than Festo/ol's insanely inflated price ($1315 plus postage).

Why be a Fess-tool when you can have the best for less?

Then again Metabo's KSE 55 Vario Plus is more versatile than any of them (combi. plunge/pendulum/rail saw) and about half their price ($560 plus postage with rail & Systainer). Not bad for a proper made in Germany cast magnesium saw with its own compatible rail/s, systainer & 3 yr warranty. Mine's been an excellent tool.

Thanks Ratbag I assume you mean something like this for the mafell..

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mafell-AK...item417cfa1eee

That looks like a great buy..

I cant tell how long that rail is, anybody read German?

The guide rail is the F160, so that's 1.6 meters.

That's the one. It's exactly the same guide rail as Bosch sells: different to F-tool & Metabo et. al.

I note they're also selling Fess-tools cheaper also.

Technically as the price listed for the Mafell includes VAT I should be eligible for a VAT refund, bring it down to $602. Although they may be counting on that as the postage is very cheap. I'll contact seller to find out.

Originally Posted by zzkazu

Technically as the price listed for the Mafell includes VAT I should be eligible for a VAT refund, bring it down to $602. Although they may be counting on that as the postage is very cheap. I'll contact seller to find out.

Best of luck trying that one on. In my experience, the whole "VAT free export exemption" is just a sort of scam that involves someone in the selling chain lining their pockets. I often hear excuses such as "it's too complicated", "there's a lot of paperwork involved", and "you can do it from your end" (untrue).

So maybe it's just a sort of de-facto postage subsidy or salesman's commission, although with E-commerce there's actually no salesman involved, as it's all done automatically and often picked from a remote, or even direct from the agent's or manufacturer's warehouses.

I'm going to highjack this thread for a bit. I got one of those Bosch rail/panel saws a couple of weeks ago. So far I am very very happy with my results, cutting 36mm Triboard ( a kind of mdf/chipboard/mdf sandwich made here in NZ) for benches in my new workshop. Very accurate with the 1.6m rail or with 2 rails joined; very thin super clean kerf, dust-extraction with the Bosch shopvac is excellent ...

One thing: When I start the saw it revs up, then slows down again before I even drop it into the cut. At times I seem to get speed variations while cutting as well, even though I push
the saw through the cut at an even, consistent, slow speed.

Do I need to worry about this? Is there something potentially wrong with the 'soft start' or 'constant speed' electronics or is this "normal" for this type of tool?

Depends on the nature of the speed "hunting" around the preselected setting. I'm no electronics geek, but there's different variable speed controls. Metabo lists them as "V", "VC" & "VTC". When the Krauts started putting computers in power tools in the 80's the definitive control was that of "full-wave speed control", or constant monitoring of speed using arbor mounted magnetic sensors & microcomputers to vary current in close response to micro variations.

As best as I can recall, it was the then global leader of power tool development AEG who started this trend in both their own branded tools and those made by them for clients like B & D Professional.

When it works it's great. Those "E" series V/S Elu routers were a revelation in excellence, & have yet to be significantly bettered even 35 years later. When it doesn't it's awful. I can recall trying to use a frightful Festo/Protool drill in a press for fine precision work that would randomly vary speeds like a mad thing!

All boards, even supposedly uniform synthetic ones, have variable density. Maybe you're hearing the microprocessor's too-sensitive response to this subtle variance. Does it occur on both light & heavy loads? Does it occur whilst idling? Give that it's electrical componentry is made by the world's premier construction tool manufacturer (Mafell) for the world's biggest power tool manufacturer (Bobbie Bosch) if there's any actual problem hereI I'm sure it can be easily & speedily resolved.

Another thought: there's also a new demand-based form of V/S control. Some tools, like one of my Kraut Jigsaws & an old Planer have a slow electronically controlled "idle" speed to reduce noise & unnecessary power consumption & wear. As the tool is applied to the workpiece, current demand spikes, and speed accelerates to either that preselected for V/S tools or to max revs for otherwise "fixed" speed tools. This is not the same as a "soft start" control, which is more about a progressive climb to preselected revs on startup.

Maybe a combination of variable speed preselection, soft start & elecronic idle control might make for strange variability in speed. My Metabo Jigsaw was initially a bit weird feeling until I came to terms with its pretty intelligent electronics package.

Thanks for the response! I have a feeling you may have hit the nail on the head with the 'controlled idle speed' scenario,
because once I enter into the cut the saw seems to speed up and the running speed appears to become more steady.

I haven't had it for terribly long, got it just before X-mas, so maybe I just need to get used to it some more. Being a
Bosch Pro tool, I got the 3 year warranty after registration, so I am not hugely worried about getting stuck with a dud.

I just found it slightly discombobulating how the speed of the thing would go up and down and up again ....

Just like my night.

Bloody spell checking! Once again.....

Just like my jiggy.

Additionally, one very valid reason for sticking with this saw is the fantastic guide rail system. It quite literally makes all others appear at best primitive & crude and at worst frustratingly inaccurate.

Those of you who have wasted an hour or more vainly trying to join 2 or more Festo or equivalent Metabo or Makita rails together in a semblance of straightness, only to find you still end up with a stepped or multi-angled cut will understand.

Bosch/Mafell solve this problem with an extremely cleverly engineered joiner that can be permanently dovetailed to the rail to eliminate loss & that efficiently & effectively self centres the rails together.

I'm jealous. I'm still struggling with a distinctly inferior system too. Ironically, I was in blissful ignorance of how much better the Bosch rail system is until a friend lent me his MT 55 CC.

Totally agree about the rails. I have two 1.6m rails, and the aforementioned joiner. It takes about 5 seconds to stick them together, another 5 seconds to pull the key out of the handle of the saw and tighten the joiner in place. NO slack, NO aberration ... rock solid. Makes cutting anything up to 9' sheets a doodle. I was astonished at how well they match up, and at how solid the connection is. Much better than anticipated.

This is going to become one of my favourite toys in the near future as I'm setting out to build the kitchen and cabinets for the new house that we're about to start building in March or thereabouts. Many sheets of birch ply to break down ....