Repairing a Mafell KSS 300 cross cut saw with a burnt out motor. Expensive to buy and to repair

Some people rave about Mafell tools, but I cannot see why.
They are good tools, but not for the price tag.
This Mafell cross cut or panel saw is in need of a new motor. The armature has been burnt out and needs replaced.
#tools #powertools #toolrepair #toolrestoration #repairs #restoration #mafell #kss300 #broken #toolteardown #teardown

[@188fergie]

I have had one for nearly 20 years. if was just a saw, it would be a waste of money, But used with with a cross cut rail and guide rail ( All part of the kit) it is a massive time saver. and its paid for itself many times over.

[@wtlloyd6039]

I appreciate your perspective. But I have the 18 volt version of this saw and love using it every time I pick it up. It is small and compact, and the plunge function of it's base is not available in any other machine, and the fact that it fits a short integral track with spring return means I can cut in the workspace if needed instead of using the miter saw on a stand. As it's unique you should expect it to be expensive. The ability to make precision plunge cuts for a stopped cutout is a godsend when you need a clean, square hole. I've been a cabinetmaker for over 40 years and I wish i had known about Mafell plunge saws 39 years ago. I don't argue that they aren't overpriced, but if you need a thing, you just have to grin and bear it.

[@shontay9485]

It's worth every penny.

[@needaman66]

Glad you could convince yourself. Its not the tools that make a good tradesman.

[@danabenjamin3300]

Lol

[@darylhudson777]

Mafell AG is a manufacturer of high-end woodworking power tools specialized for carpentry, founded in 1899. They are the inventor of the first portable electric carpentry power tool, a chain mortiser invented in 1926. The company is located in Oberndorf am Neckar, Germany. Founded: 1899, Fellbach, Germany Headquarters: Oberndorf, Germany

[@mateuszQRDL]

Always good to hear a tradesman's perspective. I had an opportunity to handle several Mafell tools at a husqvarna distributor here and I must say, I love the ergonomy. Even though the switches are plastic everything seems sturdy and operates with very positive action. Just very well though out machines.

[@juiceofsapho]

Smashing that bearing was neat trick 👍 I'll be sure to use if I encounter similar situation

[@georgedavall9449]

Sure You will

[@michaelfairchild]

Mafell, a company that make Festool powertools look cheap to buy.

[@georgedavall9449]

Love this comment michael

[@Spencer481]

Selling individual brushes at 17 euro a pop tells you what kind of company this is. It would be like selling brake pads individually.

[@Dr_V]

I'm not sure if that's even legal in the EU, unless they clearly specify it's a single piece on both the order/catalogue page and the receipt.

[@avit24]

Yep correct... Mafell's problem was when their patents ran out on many of the big machines.. their parts went sky high after this event.. I build oak frames and have many big Mafell's but the majority are the older ones and bought second hand..

[@markrainford1219]

Absolutely the same thing.

[@georgedavall9449]

@ 15:57 Admirable! Dean a straight up no nonsense Man with integrity.

[@leonardpaciora5039]

Great work as always, Thanks Dean!!!!!!!

[@tableshaper4076]

Very helpful, I was going to go way out of my way to buy Mafell, being Canadian but not now. Hilti it is.

[@user-tu9lm3lp2n]

I got a vintage 1970s bosch drill,just needed a thorough cleaning, and fresh grease for the gearbox, after removing the old grease. It has the serial number 0001.

[@anthonyblacker8471]

No love lost here for the Mafell.. wow, if I've ever seen a product bought what seems to be solely for the name, this is the one! edit: WHOA those brushes must be made out of gold!!! WOW!!!

[@Stefan_Kawalec]

Replacing some metal parts with plastic ones makes the tools much lighter. I have 1992 Bosch collated screw gun. It's heavy as hell. I call is Schmeisser, BTW.

[@bratgrbic847]

A good machine is never overpriced if it does the job,i'ave got a mitre 254 the old metabo one from 2004 never been repaired since only brushes changed it cuts straight even after 20 years of use

[@CrookedSkew]

Wow. A brand I thought I'd never see here. Super interesting. Also disappointing that they're not particularly great and using the fan to lock against for blade changing is ridiculous. AvE did a review of a festool saw years back and claimed it's build quality did not live up to it's price. Makita do seem like the best cost-benefit brand for many basic tools. That said, this isn't exactly a basic tool as it rides on a rail. Thanks for the review. Fascinating as always! Also, I love to see how well you treat your customers - fair play.

[@MrHavokman]

To be fair you can make a rail for any saw base.

[@user-yq3oh9js6h]

good job

[@gerardedgar5961]

The blade in America would be an eighth inch thick, and that's it. You can cut it anything anywhere. Most of the time, it's blade, You can use a rip blade to do a cross cut. I don't know what they mean by that. bro, I am a carpenter, and I have been a carpenter for 38 years. I'm retired now. Hay!! Just to let you know, my mom and dad were born in Ireland. and Belfast and Newtownards. My mom worked in the linen factories. That's where my father did his apprenticeship as a millwright. In one of those Mills, that's how my mom and dad met. I like your program.

[@thomasbrown9402]

These are meant to be used on short guide rails, which is I think the draw behind the tool. They are quite well regarded by finish carpenters. Without the guide system, these (and Festools) would not be my first choice as general purpose circ saws.

[@alibeck9568]

Mafell plunge saw easily the best on the market for accuracy and ergonomics to use all day.

[@daves4026]

Very interesting

[@tattoos1988]

My wallet has just gone into hiding I can’t find it anywhere heard the price and bolted lol deans channel is invaluable I personally have saved a few quid repairing tools instead of replacing them

[@oliverharvey3792]

This has turned into a dis track+

[@atsimas]

Mafell justifies its price because of the features you can buy. The guide the saw sits on is the best I've ever seen. Pricey but the best.

[@ElMariachi1337]

When it comes to everyday use plunge saws I'd personally always advise the Festool TS55 over the Makita SP6000 even with the difference in price. The Makita's all have the same issue after a couple of years of use which is the plunge system itself. Also the bearings and armature on the Festool seems to last longer then the Makita. From my experience in the end you are getting more out of a Festool then the less expensive Makita when it comes to this specific type of tool.

[@georgedavall9449]

Sure, you go ahead and convince yourself to feel good about that SesPool tool there! 😯 😂

[@robertrada4783]

The corded Makita (don’t know about the cordless) had bearings failing right where Ave claimed that Festool using a bushing made it the world’s biggest scam. Methinks AVE never worked for a tool manufacturing company that sees thousands of tracksaws come in for repair.

[@ElMariachi1337]

@@georgedavall9449 I don't need to convince myself, just search for Makita SP6000 in Dean's vids and you will see what I'm talking about 😏

[@chris_hertford]

Crazy price this brand I'll never have chance to try one and compare to Bosch/Makita!

[@liftrucs]

Nice wee saw but that's pricey, and like you I would go for Makita.

[@AnthonySmith-hr2kp]

Nice job Dean. Abit pricey from me wallets view.

[@sanjay0196]

Just curious as to why you wouldn’t buy festool other than them being ridiculously expensive ?

[@asicdathens]

The price is high because it is made in Germany and it is a very specialized tool in the woodworking industry and those who buy it actually need it. It's very low volume of manufacturing explains the high price and why the company still remains afloat.

[@danielkulas8904]

Why you dont clean the tool with compressed air before dissasemble it ?

[@BurnzyXXD]

shocking for the price dean

[@wearsjorge55]

Hey Dean is your bench tiled?

[@deandohertygreaser]

No it's lino

[@atsimas]

Wait until you hear Miele does not sell brushes for their motors but the whole motor assy. Under the ruse that it changes the specifications... I pulled the bearings and passed the core through a lathe to freshen it up. My wife now thinks it's "too noisy". Success! Does anyone have available its brushes? Miele s5211.

[@zaxmaxlax]

34eur brushes, 170eur motor and it doesnt even come with the bearings and fan installed.

[@Matt-ns2ty]

Yeah even Makita install them on when they send you part

[@rcdogmanduh4440]

Maytag, scoring on previous quality, right into the ground!

[@darylhudson777]

Mafell AG is a manufacturer of high-end woodworking power tools specialized for carpentry, founded in 1899. They are the inventor of the first portable electric carpentry power tool, a chain mortiser invented in 1926. The company is located in Oberndorf am Neckar, Germany. Founded: 1899, Fellbach, Germany Headquarters: Oberndorf, Germany

[@magomat6756]

I just trust the blue bosch and makita and how long will I be before they also become just cheap crappie.

[@mo..6956]

Wow what a expensive piece of junk them are I shall be avoiding that brand thank you for the video fella 👍

[@alouisschafer7212]

Truly a product of the designer tool era.

[@gaz1967]

Who only buys one brush.

[@darylhudson777]

I really hate it when companies that have great reputations for making awesome products cut corners because they've got some new greedy office people who cut corners until the company is cheapened.

[@MyTubeSVp]

You leave all the dirt and grime in the machine body and handle? Seriously, how long does it take to give it a quick blow of compressed air? As a customer, I’d expect a little bit more of repair people …

[@georgedavall9449]

Dean does blow out the tools; He has explained before how some saws and drills have “caked on” residue taht doesn’t want to clean off easily, if at all. No Repair Shop/ person is going to hand scrub something clean for hours skippy!

[@MyTubeSVp]

@@georgedavall9449 He didn’t blow out this one. I subscribed recently, and am not yet aware of his usual way of doing things …

[@Zogg1281]

I can't believe they sell brushes as individual units!!! When would you ever need to buy 1 brush (OK, there's going to be someone on the planet that breaks a brush when they are working on a machine that has virtually brand new brushes in it)?!?!??! It sounds like this is a company who's moto is "milk every penny out of the customer"!!!!

[@markrainford1219]

How are they 'milking it' if they sell individual brushes? Oh right, "that will be seventeen euros sir."

[@SteifWood]

Plastic parts made correctly from the right material, resin and filler might be stronger, more shock resistant and def lighter than most metal parts. And cheaper. I bought a Partner P5000 chain saw yrs and yrs ago. The blade cover was made of a manganese alloy, and ofc it cracked and broke off after 1 month in the woods. I tried to have the piece welded back on, but bcs of its composition it was impossible. I'm sure I could have melted the pieces together had they been plastic.

[@needaman66]

My philosophy in tools is similar to yours. These overpriced tools the reinvent the wheel have a particular target, the gulible with too much money not enough sense. That 170€ is $272 here. Ridiculous for the design

[@kevinpattinson-jk8gt]

Hi Dean Mafell is just like milwaukee overpriced CRAP Makita and Bosch much better nice video mate

[@robertrada4783]

The Bosch plunge saw that was made with borrowed Mafell designs was notorious for having a wobbly out of flat base. The Makita was blowing up bearings where Festool and Mafell use bushings. The Festool’s up until very recently were underpowered (granted for the purpose of not blowing residential breakers with a vacuum). Mafell’s been the better tracksaws for a long time. A $1000 Lamello is mostly a fifty dollar Metabo grinder. Doesn’t change the fact that it’s the only biscuit joiner that doesn’t suck. Makita doesn’t have a crosscut track saw, but they do have 5” saws on XGT as a Japan exclusive. One of the first XGT products I got because of how much I use the KSS 40. The Makita has nicer stuff under the hood (as they typically do), but the saw was junky all over the outside, horribly balanced and etc. Sold the Makita, kept the Mafell.

[@Grantrude]

Why makita, just because they are easier to service? I mean, if it has been running since 2007, kinda worth the price.

[@mateuszQRDL]

Yeah, if the owner says it's worth fixing to him, that's kinda all we need to know. And if those plastic elements survived so long, that just means that there was thought put into their design and it was the right material choice when you take the weight into account.

[@zaxmaxlax]

To be honest it probably already paid itself multiple times but still too much expensive for what it is

[@nurtekin429]

800€ you can buy 4x Makita change every year and still ben chraper

[@harkbelial]

Only $17000

[@robertrada4783]

C’mon Dean, you’re a big boy, you know about economies of scale. Makita is exponentially larger than Mafell in ways that are hard to even fathom. Hell, Festool with its tiny two factories is larger than Mafell in ways that are hard to fathom. You work at a tool store. Surely you see the store’s costs and margins. Not only does the small production niche product cost more to you, you also have to markup that Mafell at retail by a drastically higher percentage than the Makita product that will outsell it 200:1 . A 7-1/4” XGT wood saw is way more expensive in parts than their 7-1/4” XGT Metal saw. Meanwhile that metal saw is three times the retail price of the wood saw. Is the metal saw a ripoff? Or are there just, y’know, literally tens of millions more wood saw customers in the world vs metal saw customers ? Makita manufactured fifty metal saws for the US. Meanwhile, the wood saw is in Home Depot stores. Metabo and Bosch branded batteries are half the price of their respective CAS and Ampshare partners branded batteries. I digress, the KSS 40 (cordless version of KSS 300) does things no other product does. It has saved my ass tens of times and made tasks easier thousands of times. The plunge saw you showcased earlier is much better than what Bosch and Metabo have to offer. So if you want a plunge saw that doesn’t suck for the arguably better Mafell/Bosch tracks, you’re stuck with paying for the Mafell. Their jigsaw does things no other can do and it, like the KSs 40, has saved my ass. Don’t get me wrong, 99% of the time, any jigsaw will do. They’re niche products. You pay the niche tax. Only a daft few would believe you’re getting better parts for that money.

[@georgedavall9449]

Try to ‘paragraph yourself’ mate! You make some valid points, but still cannot get around the fact this saw is crazy expensive and other than the unique drop design of the blade/ housing, the questionable locking lever and other plasticky parts is very sketchy. I’ll let You get back to your Economics class now!

[@robertrada4783]

@@georgedavall9449 I tried to break it up and it showed up as a wall of text. 🥺 What’s missing here is the tracks it comes with. Mafell invented the crosscut tracksaw and this one is the most manageable. You’re replacing a small sliding compound miter saw most of the time unless you need a long fence with a stop for repeated cuts. It also has a flexible roll up guide rail. All of it fits in one systainer. The cordless version that came out about six years back is infinitely more useful. I can pick up a quality cordless 6-1/2” saw for $200 any day of the week. So, yes, of course, I understand the criticism.

[@georgedavall9449]

@@robertrada4783 Hi Robert, appreciate the reply. You're very knowledgeable. You’ll have to excuse my tendency to be flippant or snarky at times. 🙄 Really good points taken, and I was not aware of those other features. It makes sense for someone that would use it almost daily, and it would “pay for itself” in the long run I am sure. The repair cost to value of the tool has to be taken into consideration. This saw was in nice condition, but it was a hefty repair price the owner was willing to pay. I am sure He weighed the options of repair VS new, especially if the Tool isn’t available anymore. We all have tools that we really like, and would hate to have to part with them. I enjoy seeing a tool that will be put back into service, rather than being tossed out. We live in an age of disposable this and that, and items that are made with planned obsolescence. Take care Robert

[@robertrada4783]

@@georgedavall9449 I didn’t take you as being flippant or snarky. No worries there.

[@georgedavall9449]

@@robertrada4783 Thank You Robert. Take care and stay safe and healthy. 🤝

[@darylhudson777]

900 Euros = $964.78 US not including tax which would put it over $1,000.00 US...THAT IS INSANE !!!

[@riba2233]

I see you haven't seen the pricing of industrial tools compared to consumer ones. They are usually 5 to 10x more expensive so nothing unusual

[@alouisschafer7212]

​@riba2233 yes but this isn't an industrial tool. The Bosch 300hz 200v tools THOSE are industrial.

[@riba2233]

@@alouisschafer7212 it kind of is imho, you will find it in the factories, not in hobbyist toolbox

[@darylhudson777]

@@riba2233 who are you people are that always try to comment on my comments and act like I'm an idiot or an idiot yourself

[@riba2233]

y0u wrote a 5tupld c0mment, so y0u got caIIed out for it, I don't see the lssue.

[@simonmuschamp4582]

That's a really obscene price for such low quality. Just another example of predatory capitalism.

[@smashyrashy]

Biggest waste of money ever my god

[@amcluesent]

Rip off pricing, same as BMW

[@MrHowieZ1973]

Thats a 150 dollar saw here in the USA , No way in heck would I pay 800

[@joinertanner]

If you can buy that for 150 I'm visiting the USA just to buy mafell.iv mafell and I love them I've this saw 15years no problems.

[@zaxmaxlax]

LOL search again, its probably 1500 in the US