Replies

1. 
   RickL | Feb 04, 2010 01:32pm | #1

   Can you be more specific such as model #

   You might also check out http://www.mafell.com

   It's the operator not so much the saw that makes the difference. Why would you want a saw that you would have a hard time getting parts and service?

   Take a look at http://www.kufogroup.com/ Also Rojek and of course Grizzly. Personally if it's not a slider it's only half a saw in my experience.

1. 
   swifty6 | Feb 04, 2010 10:23pm | #2

   I don't mean to be
   I don't mean to be disrespectful but there are very good reasons for my looking for a German or European table saw.

   Firstly, my future space will be very limited and will not allow for a larger USA or Chinese import. The Metabo I saw has a sliding table and is a very high precision machine. It is interesting that a number of high end industrial woodworking industries seem to be ordering German machines. The machine I am looking for should last much longer than my lifetime.

   The Metabo machine I saw had a small footprint and a sliding table. I have some other Metabo power tools and the far exceed most of the other tools I have except the Festool products, guess what they are made in the same place.

1. 
   kencaputa | Jan 15, 2013 04:28am | #7

   Metabo (Elektra Beckum) PKF 255 V8 DN

   Hi There,

   I hope this thread is still being watched.

   The saw you are talking about is the PKF 255 V8 DN .

   I live in Germany and own one.  It was produced by a company called Elektra Beckum which was bought by Metabo some years ago.

   What's special about the saw, as Swifty6 noticed when in Germany is the "sled".  Yes, this is normally a feature only seen on 

   industrial versions of panel-sizing saws.  

   As an American in Germany for almost 30 years, and a woodworker I've been looking for such a saw for the day I retire back to the states.  This workshop size version of a panel sizing saw (in German Formatsaege) does not seem to be on the US market.

   Unless something new has come out since I last looked.  Please let me know if this is the case.

   Otherwise I will ship my saw and look to have the motor swapped out, if possible.

   I hope someone reads this with helpful input.

   Ken

1. 
   RalphBarker | Jan 15, 2013 07:50pm | #8

   I'm not an authoritative source, but . . .

   . . . I haven't seen anthing similar in magazine ads here in the U.S. So, you might need to go to the trouble of crating and shipping it.

2. 
   JohnWW | Feb 05, 2010 07:58pm | #5

   The skill of the operator does make a difference but having a quality saw, properly tuned up, is just as important if you expect fits to be good right off the machine.

   The Kufo saws are nice enough in my limited experience with them, but I doubt if they are any easier to get serviced, or to get parts for, than a Mafell unless Mafell simply won't support machines in the U.S.

1. 
   swifty6 | Feb 06, 2010 09:40am | #6

   I would love to see a review of small footprint machines that are capable of cabinet making. I still have an Inca radial arm saw which is limited in its depth of cut. Inca made a smaller table saw.I hear the company is out of business. I don't trust the portable job site table saws after my experience with a "top of the Line" portable saw.

2. 
   Lataxe | Feb 05, 2010 07:22am | #3

   Swifty,

   I currently own a Scheppach TS with sliding table - another German machine of excellent function and relatively small footprint yet large capacity. I previously owned a smaller Metabo TS of similar design but lesser capacities. It was only with reluctance that I sold that Metabo, as it was a very precise machine. I used it for some 7 years before getting the larger Scheppach, which handles much larger workpieces.

   I sold that Metabo to a professional boxmaker, who was extremely pleased with its performance and not bothered by its lesser capacities (eg 2" max depth of cut at 90 degrees and only 30" crosscut depth in front of the blade).

   When considering a larger TS to replace that small Metabo I looked at the next model up in the Metabo range. This has a sliding table right next to the blade and similar capacities to the Scheppach I eventually chose. I chose the Scheppach in preference over the Metabo because of a slightly lesser price, the fact that it had a cast iron tabletop (rather than the cast aluminium of the Metabo) and more add-ons for specialist purposes.

   However, that Metabo still catches my eye.

   http://www.metabo.com/metabo/halbstationaere_stationaere/com/en/produkte/precisioncircularsaws_dimensioncircularsaws/dimensioncircularsawpku2502_1wn1800withlongdimensionslidingtable_0199250138.html

   Here is a page of their TS range as sold in the UK:

   http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/products.php?cat=Table%20Saws%20Metabo

   The small Metabo TS I had was in fact made by Emco, maker of some very high-precision machinery. I don't know if the Metabo TS of today are still made by Emco - the Emco website seems now to suggest that they have specialised in industrial milling machines with a few "hobby" machines but no TS.

   *******

   There are many TS of the Metabo type available in Europe and the UK. They are lesser machines than the Knapps, Minimax and similar industrial quality machines. However, they are very well made, versatile and suitable for anyone who won't be using them 10 hours a day, 5 days a week.

   Here is a list of "tests" by a UK WW magazine (not as robust as FWW tests I'm afraid). The "tests" do give a reasonable description of the machines however.

   http://www.woodworkersinstitute.com/page.asp?p=381

   You will find many other similar quality machines of the basic WW type available in Europe - planer/thicknessers, bandsaws, molders; and also combination machines of P/T - TS - molder - slot mortiser type. They are oriented at the amateur or small professional user and are therefore much less expensive than the industrial machines that seem to be the only variety avaialble in the USA.

   I suspect that you will find it expensive to import one, assuming that the various US trade barriers let you import one at all. Free trade? - Ha!

   Lataxe

1. 
   swifty6 | Feb 05, 2010 11:02am | #4

   Based on the weight of the machine I was looking at 360 pounds.

   It would cost about 300 usd to ship from Frankfurt to NewYork or East coast port of entry.

   I would drive to the port and bring home or have it shipped