In Germany and Europe, where ERIKA is much better known than here in the U.S., for what type of work do professionals mainly use such a pull-push saw? Is its use limited primarily to flooring contractors and others who need not make crosscuts on long (3-4 m) materials? Do professionals actually forego deploying a normal compound miter saw on the job in favor of this two-in-one machine? Or is Erika viewed as a multi-talented and versatile improvement on a standard table saw, but nonetheless a companion rather than a replacement? Also, would the answer to this two-in-one sufficiency question be different if asked in regard to amateur/DIY owners vs. professional tradesmen? Is the market for ERIKA primarily found among professionals engaged in specific aspects of construction, or among serious DIY enthusiasts who use it as their primary, or even their only, saw? I am a professional finish carpenter, mostly working solo. The idea of eliminating one more machine (MS) from the on-site inventory is appealing, especially by the substitution of one of ERIKA's quality and unique capabilities, but I'm not sure whether ERIKA would be a viable replacement for a standard miter saw.
I use a festool table saw which is sort of similar. They are intended to be light weight table saws that you can take on site. For some applications you could use it for cross cutting instead of a mitre saw but if you are only doing cross cuts there would be no point in using that saw. Now if using for flooring as in ripping floorboards in in half it could be useful. It is down to you the user how you intend to use such tools and if there is extra benefit that you could see then go for it. Are you intending that it would be used for cross cuts or mitre cuts?
@@bighands69 I am an inventor as well as a career carpenter/cabinetmaker. Years ago, Mafell took interest in my first innovation, then known as the "Joiner's Edge" Modular Fence and Table Extension System. They provided me with their "Erika" pull-push saw and also a little 12" over-under combo planer-jointer that they named "Paul." My system could make Paul's tables as long as 10' with perfect automatic alignment, regardless of depth of cut. (I still sell components casually after all these years from my carpentry business website at www.michaelschuler.com/Tech. ) I really liked the pull-push saw, but as a pro finish carpenter, I didn't see how the saw could actually replace my compound miter saw, due to the problem of providing properly aligned extended work support for work pieces that must be supported at ever-changing positions for quickly changing angular cuts. Recently, I started thinking about the pull-push saws again, primarily just to further cut down the number of weapons I need to drag on and off the worksite every day. In the end I developed another novel support system that I think will make the Mafell or any other pull-push saw a reasonable replacement for a miter saw. The design is novel and slick enough that I have protoyped a serious version and will soon go so far as to file US patent on it. So my questions on this thread and elsewhere have been aimed at getting a reality check on what the market for such an accessory might be. What I should do next and which company I approach will hopefully become more clear after I learn more from and about people who use these machines. From what I have gathered so far, the saws appeal to both professional craftsmen and serious amateurs. Hopefully there will be interest from both groups in an accessory that can truly turn these pull'push saws into 2-in-1 machines. Regardless whether I've come up with something that will have a significant market, I'm more than pleased enough with its efficiency and accuracy to follow through and buy a pill-push saw to lighten my daily carry. (The older I become, the heavier my gear seems to get. Thank7js for your response. (My latest little product is a level survey gauge for those of us who are called upon to make clean and true installations in older structures where nothing is level or plumb. You can check it out at www.howfarout.com)
@@michael.schuler Any more development on your support system for angle cutting? I'm also interested in not having to bring a large mitre saw and rip saw to jobs
@@Ewoodster You can pick up a festool for half the price but it depends on what you are after. Both are accurate. I find Mafell very hard to source though and festool much easier.
Increíble maquina, la recomiendo 100%
In Germany and Europe, where ERIKA is much better known than here in the U.S., for what type of work do professionals mainly use such a pull-push saw? Is its use limited primarily to flooring contractors and others who need not make crosscuts on long (3-4 m) materials? Do professionals actually forego deploying a normal compound miter saw on the job in favor of this two-in-one machine? Or is Erika viewed as a multi-talented and versatile improvement on a standard table saw, but nonetheless a companion rather than a replacement?
Also, would the answer to this two-in-one sufficiency question be different if asked in regard to amateur/DIY owners vs. professional tradesmen? Is the market for ERIKA primarily found among professionals engaged in specific aspects of construction, or among serious DIY enthusiasts who use it as their primary, or even their only, saw?
I am a professional finish carpenter, mostly working solo. The idea of eliminating one more machine (MS) from the on-site inventory is appealing, especially by the substitution of one of ERIKA's quality and unique capabilities, but I'm not sure whether ERIKA would be a viable replacement for a standard miter saw.
I use a festool table saw which is sort of similar. They are intended to be light weight table saws that you can take on site.
For some applications you could use it for cross cutting instead of a mitre saw but if you are only doing cross cuts there would be no point in using that saw. Now if using for flooring as in ripping floorboards in in half it could be useful.
It is down to you the user how you intend to use such tools and if there is extra benefit that you could see then go for it.
Are you intending that it would be used for cross cuts or mitre cuts?
@@bighands69 I am an inventor as well as a career carpenter/cabinetmaker. Years ago, Mafell took interest in my first innovation, then known as the "Joiner's Edge" Modular Fence and Table Extension System. They provided me with their "Erika" pull-push saw and also a little 12" over-under combo planer-jointer that they named "Paul." My system could make Paul's tables as long as 10' with perfect automatic alignment, regardless of depth of cut. (I still sell components casually after all these years from my carpentry business website at www.michaelschuler.com/Tech. ) I really liked the pull-push saw, but as a pro finish carpenter, I didn't see how the saw could actually replace my compound miter saw, due to the problem of providing properly aligned extended work support for work pieces that must be supported at ever-changing positions for quickly changing angular cuts. Recently, I started thinking about the pull-push saws again, primarily just to further cut down the number of weapons I need to drag on and off the worksite every day. In the end I developed another novel support system that I think will make the Mafell or any other pull-push saw a reasonable replacement for a miter saw. The design is novel and slick enough that I have protoyped a serious version and will soon go so far as to file US patent on it. So my questions on this thread and elsewhere have been aimed at getting a reality check on what the market for such an accessory might be. What I should do next and which company I approach will hopefully become more clear after I learn more from and about people who use these machines. From what I have gathered so far, the saws appeal to both professional craftsmen and serious amateurs. Hopefully there will be interest from both groups in an accessory that can truly turn these pull'push saws into 2-in-1 machines. Regardless whether I've come up with something that will have a significant market, I'm more than pleased enough with its efficiency and accuracy to follow through and buy a pill-push saw to lighten my daily carry. (The older I become, the heavier my gear seems to get. Thank7js for your response. (My latest little product is a level survey gauge for those of us who are called upon to make clean and true installations in older structures where nothing is level or plumb. You can check it out at www.howfarout.com)
@@michael.schuler Any more development on your support system for angle cutting? I'm also interested in not having to bring a large mitre saw and rip saw to jobs
I'd say it ain't an Altendorf or Martin, but seems to cut just fine.
Welsh Rabbit aye it’s not but they are not portable jobsite tablesaws though.
It’s a Wehrmacht Erika
Incredible saw though
Is this saw available in USA?
Yep - In 220v through Timberwolf, or direct import from Germany.
Just go with festool.
While Festool is the Mercedes of woodworking tools, Mafell is the Rolls Royce. Since the market price is quite similar, Mafell wins hands down.
@@Ewoodster
You can pick up a festool for half the price but it depends on what you are after. Both are accurate. I find Mafell very hard to source though and festool much easier.
bighand69 what Festool product are you comparing here?
I invented an improved version of the Pull Push Saw. No need to pivot board in work space. Check it out. th-cam.com/video/yCfxxC3Ll5Q/w-d-xo.html