You're the only chap who can pack SO much concise and relevant information into 600 seconds of non-stop tutorial . I could watch you talk about anything I had not a clue about , and come out of it feeling quite well informed Peter . Neil in Brisbane .
I appreciate the visual illustration of the saw upgrade idea, with the cheap saw sliding out of frame immediately followed by the festool sliding in 😁!
@@54mgtf22 same here. It was on a silly offer with 2 x 1200 tracks and 2 x600( maybe 750?) for an extra £10. Made all my daughters wardrobe and cupboard doors with it
Downside after owning a scheppach for 4 years. These rails are incompatible with anything else so now an upgrade is due I need to replace everything. Together with the deflection this saw is prone when cutting worktop for instance I would steer clear
I've got the DeWalt tracksaw and I've lost count of the times I could have used a square clamp for the track. I didn't know it will rum on the Festool track so thank you for that, it's something I may consider buying.
I have an Erbauer track saw and tracks, saw never ran smoothly on it's original tracks. Bought a pair of Evolution 1400mm tracks and they are a game changer, the saw now glides on them. Thanks for the advice on the Evolution tracks-brilliant👌
I had the same issue of binding at the joints, my nephew is an engineer & machined them straight over lunch, was only 1 of the 4 but poor QC all the same.
Must admin Peter that the anti-tipping function on the Makita saw/rail have been very useful when I've been cutting at an angle and I would not do without it. I would like to get a 700-800mm rail for cross cuts. The 1m Makita is too long, while the Festool is too expensive..... Better off buying the Makita and cutting it down!! 😲
I have a Makita tracksaw and I bought three Makita rails during the years - 1 meter, 1.5m and 3m. The 1m rail is dedicated to cross cutting: I have a Chinese square which is surprisingly accurate and is permanently mounted on. For most cuts I use the 1.5m rail. The 3m one is invaluable when cutting a full sheet. I used to join 1+1.5m but having one solid rail is just another thing. I use the anti tip feature all the time, I feel the saw is more secure when cutting. Great video, I may need another rail and will look at this again.
@@stefanopassiglia i found a good deal on a solid used one but havent had time to use it yet. Dying to start working on the new shop tables! Just purchased materials
Very interesting. I wish I had seen this years ago when I bought my first rail. However note that Mafell has a range of accessories that fit their rail fine. I have never felt anything was lacking on that front.
I have the Bosch rails and agree that Bosch/Mafell do make some accessories for them. But those products are not well marketed in North America so can be hard to get in the US and Canada. As a result, support from the bigger aftermarket vendors like TSO is also very poor. For example, I have the Bosch router sled that works with the Bosch "holey" rail for creating 5mm system holes for euro cabinetry. But I had to order it from a company in the UK and the product does not support routers meant for the NA market (including Bosch routers!). I was able to make it work, but Bosch/Mafell could do a far better job of marketing and supporting their products in NA. Bosch/Mafell are you listening??
@@ogwoodworks Indeed, a bit of a shame. There's a good local distributor in the Benelux (where I live) but indeed, if the products are not available locally it's a pain
Very cool. I'm still a circular saw and clamp (short side) or T square (long cut) kind of guy as I don't have to make critical cuts on sheet material for money. Every few months I find I turn an 8 by 4 or two into something or other and thereforeI do really appreciate this contnet and if I had a project where I needed this tool then a track saw would be an easy gateway. I did wonder about the compatability between team colours and this is really useful. Thanks and great work.
Thanks for this Peter, as always a detailed and informative summary, the new evolution rails look like a great option ! I originally bought a Makita 1m rail to use with my little 12v Bosch which has an adapter guide, and have now added a 1.5m rail, clamps and the Makita SP6000j , I've only used it last week so still getting used to it all but was impressed with the clean cut in 18mm ply !
i love your content and your set up. You make the most out of a very small shop. My dream is to be as proficient and accurate as your cabinet making bussines. Here in my country we have very little options, Dewalt system is around 600usd, makita around the same, festool over 1.2k, so i tried Einhell (which is widely distributed here) because i don't do this for a living, and the plunge saw and track came for around 150usd. The negative part, is that you have barely any replacement options
@10MinuteWorkshop yes, i know. Bought the saw first. Don't know what to think about the rails. But i hat to get a pair of 😁 Interesting that they differ from "normal" 700mm rails. 1000mm 👍
Lots of very useful info. I wish there was a table though, or tables, to recap what works with what. For example, starting from a Makita saw, what are my options for non Makita rails to save some coin.
Great in depth video as usual Peter 🙌 As a huge parkside fanboy 😂 I still have to get their version👍 I’m determined to have a display of green tools 😂 Cheers Rob
I paused the video and went to look at my WEN rails, bought with the corded WEN saw (minor mistake) the rails seem to be 100% Makita pattern, black splinter strips, two piece joining bars, etc. My one minor complaint is that the anti-slip strips are not very grippy. But if I wipe them down with isopropanol (rubbing alcohol) they are better. I don't know if the rails in the older 100-inch kit are exactly the same as the newer 110-inch [edit numbers are hard] rail set. It may not be available (under that name) in the UK/EU markets. And as you pointed out I can always upgrade my kit with the purchase of a higher end saw.
Having owned the Parkside for a few years now I'd be interested in hearing what improvements you get for the extra money from the big boys. Obviously the short track and course blade out of the box are a downside but the saw itself seems to do everything I've asked of it from manmade boards to natural timber old and new. I guess the big kick is by the time you've upgraded those weak points you're 180 odd quid in and could possible save yourself the hassle buying elsewhere. That being said Parksides customer service and warranty is very good, I bought some extra track and it arrived missing a grubscrew, they sent me a full set of track and said keep the other one. I now have six short lengths of track that I dont really know what to do with 😂 I've set a pair aside for bevel cuts for now.
I do like my Bosch rails and saw, very easy to join and the splinter guard fits well in the groove not stuck on. However it is harder to get accessories as you say. Bench dogs of course do some great kit that works with Bosch / Mafell of course…
Thanks once again Peter. In Oz there's a huge saving if you buy a Makita rail over a Festool and I like the fact that Makita are embracing the rail for router accessories, etc these days. A quick tale of woe .. a while back I joined my 3000mm and 2424mm (LR32) Festool rails to cut metal .. ignorant of the fact that I was trashing the splinter guards with bits of metal :( It was a brilliant way to cut metal efficiently but if I do more in the future I'll grab some long Makita rails and dedicate them to metal cutting. Just for reference in Oz a 3000mm Festool rail goes for $880AUD and the same in Makita $289AUD ... yep a third of the price of Festool ... unless I'm buying LR32 rails or FSK rails in future they'll all have blue strips instead of green! :) I've only done a little investigation myself but I believe an interesting tangent on the topic of rails is the compatibility they have with things beyond the tracksaw. I've recently purchased a number of Makita saws that are track friendly ... crazy that I can run a 270mm XGT cordless Makita on a track and achieve a 100mm+ depth of cut! Now the groove cutter never comes off the HK85.
I purchased a WEN tracksaw and the 2 x 55" tracks/rails it came with a few years ago to trim a tabletop that I had made. It works very nicely for me with a Diablo blade. I don't use it very often, so there was no point in me buying the more expensive brands. All I need now are short tracks to go with it. 55" is a bit much when cutting a 14" wide hardwood shelf.
Hi there, first time viewer, liked and subscribed. I am running Hilti Nuron (transitioning into from M12 and M18, lots of red here) and never got into the Milwaukee track saw (I have clamped a straightedge when not using the m18 jobsite saw). I have the Nuron framing saw, and there are also Hilti rails that it is compatible with, as well as a Nuron plunge cut saw. Interested to see what you have to say about any of that, thank you.
Hi, welcome and apologies for the slow response. I've never used Hilti tbh, and I'm pretty sure we only started getting the plunge saw here fairly recently. Hilti are a bit of a specialised trade brand aimed at site work, so not have never really been on my radar tbh - nor I on theirs, come to that - but appreciate your insite and will definitely look into the Nuron platform, thanks! 👍
Not sure if you have the Powertec or Wen rails, but both are great inexpensive options as well. The Powertec have the Makita (and Milwaukee) anti-tipping feature, but the Wen tracks do not, and are identical to the Festool track style. I got the 110" Powertec tracks (2x55") with carrying bag ($140), and I bought the 110" Wen tracks (2x55" and $68) and bought a Rugged Tools bag to hold them ($40), but I wish I had bought the Powertec bag ($30) instead. The Wen tracks gave me a reasonably priced set of tracks to cut down for more specific uses. It's important to pay attention to the length of the Wen tracks if you decide to go with them for your main set of tracks. They sell a 100" set that is just a bit short for comfort when breaking down sheets of plywood - you want the 110" set. The difference in price is only $5 at this time, so I don't even understand why they still offer the 100" set, as it WILL cause frustration for those who try to squeeze every nickel, and save that $5 by going with the shorter set. The Wen tracks cut easily on a miter saw with your regular wood blade, and this allows me more specific lengths which don't have as much of the track hanging around, potentially shifting if they hang out in space, and moving. Less overhang feels more stable and consistent to me Both of these brands of tracks work with my Milwaukee track saw, as well as any attachments that work with the Festool/Makita/Milwaukee track styles. I don't have access to the G2 tracks here in the US, but they have a "regular" Evolution 110" set (2x55") that seems to be similar and comparable in price ($150) to the Powertec set (comparing the set that would include a carrying bag, for both brands), with Powertec slightly less expensive at this time.
Great video, but as with all the others there is one track that consistently gets left out. It is the Grizzly/Shop Fox track saw and rail. It looks very similar to the original Festool track with the exception that it does not have an open track on top but both are open on the bottom side of the rail. However the spacing looks almost identical. Perhaps that was a way to get out patent design laws or maybe just a different interpretation. I would like to see how the Grizzly/Shop Fox track lines up with others though. Thanks for all you do.
The Milescraft track saw guide comes with a sliding baseplate that accepts saws from all the manufacturers you mention. Unfortunateley, mine sits unboxed in my workshop corner, as I haven't had time to take a look. I'm happy to send it you if you wish to see if it can live up to its claims. I always enjoy your reviews, even if not looking for the product you are reviewing 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshopcould be interesting to hear your take, since there are a bunch of "tracksaw killer" / "you don't need an EXPENSIVE!!! tracksaw" etc videos. Most of those sounds like half-truth at best, simple ad at worst. Make your own counter-clickbait clickbait video of this subject What is the best cheapest tracksaw replacement you can buy?! 😂
8:05 there is a "problem" with the DeWalt track - no common Clamps fit. You have to buy expensive DeWalt clamps. Not sure if Bosch/ Mafell clamps fit, but they also are very expansive.
Here in the US I bought Powertec tracks & they work well, one thing is when I switch to the 1 section of my Makita track I have to readjust the cams. The non slip grips & the splinter guards are much better on the Makita rail
I still just use my 9 euro rail that I made from some birch ply. It just does the basic "I want a straight cut for about a metre" but as a weekend warrior that's enough for my uses. As a bonus I made it in such a way that it'll fit my circular saw on one side and my router on the other side. Biggest downside is because it was made out of a sheet of plywood, it'll never be long enough to do a cut on a full sheet of plywood.
Would be great to have a compatibility matrix of all the saws vs all the tracks. Ive got a TSC55 and would like to get the 3m Makita rail, but hearing the baseplates on some of the recent Festool saws are too wide and foul on the anti-tip lip. Any ideas?
I'd be very surprised at that with Festool saws - unless they're the HK series, maybe? AFAIK the Festool TS and TSC saws are OK with Makita rails, but I'll check, thanks. And yes, I missed a trick with a compatibility fact-sheet - I'll get that done
Hi Peter thanks again for a fantastic video, I have watched the previous track saw video and was hoping you might cover my saw this time I have the GMC purchased from amazon it seems to me to be a clone of the Excel .
Hi Peter You are a master at imparting information in a clear and concise way, always enjoy watching your videos. I am a total newbie just learning the ropes at a ripe old age of 59! The Evolution G2 tracks looks great and am looking to buy these instead of Featool tracks. I have the Festool T60. Will the TSO GRS-16 Guide Rail Square and parallel guides work with the G2s?
Thank you. I can’t say for sure about the TSO products as I don’t have them, but the G2 rails are the closest copy of the Festool rail that I’ve come across so I can’t imagine there would be any issues. Perhaps check with TSO - they may have a ‘made for…’ guide? 👍
Great video. Indeed, great videos. Been watching load of them recently. I'm looking at getting the G2 rails and a Makita circular (HS7601J/2) saw with Makita's adaptor kit for the ciruclar saw (197005-0). I've looked at loads of pictures and watched many videos. Seems like that should work. Does that seem feasible based on your experience with the G2 track?
Thanks! The G2 tracks are almost identical to the Festool - so basically like the Makita, but without the anti-tipping lip - so they shoukld wotk fine, but I've no direct experience with the track adapters I'm afraid.
@@10MinuteWorkshop Thanks for your reply. As it is, I'm going to be purchasing an SP6000 this weekend anyway. But if that falls through, the above is my fallback plan.
Maybe Kreg will enter the discussion in the future? I haven't felt the need to upgrade to any different brand track saw, so hopefully compatibility won't be an issue for me in the future, however one never knows..
Excellent video as always. Thank you. I'd be curious to know which of the rubber edging strips are cross compatible, as sometimes certain brands can be out of stock. The Mafell has a very odd shape, but perhaps the Festool and Makita ones can be used interchangeably?
Thanks! The Mafell and Bosch are interchangable, and the Makita fits Festool and all the Makits pattern rails. I've used Makita rubber on my Festool rails for years as I prefer it and it's a lot cheaper!
Hi Peter, you do make the replacement of splinter guards look easy but I do have to point out that the factory fitted Makita splinter guard replacement is a total mare. The rubber strip comes off OK but the material used to stick it in place is dreadful to remove before fitting a replacement. On the positive side once you have replaced the original splinter guard subsequent replacements are easier. I still have one track with the original guard fitted and would welcome any advice on removing the sticky residue.
I've done entire videos about splinter guard changing, I'll link one up below. I've never found Makita to be a particular problem tbh; single edge razor blade to remove any tape, then a squeeze of lighter fluid usually takes away any sticky residue. "5 tips to keep your tracksaw happy" - ruclips.net/video/ifFmIHMAoeI/видео.html
I have found kerosene to be good for removing sticky residue from most things. It softens it without making it tacky. Most other solvents I've tried turn it into a gooey mess. I've also used an orange oil based goo remover that worked well. It smells a lot better than kero but is much more expensive.
Amazing video as usual! Looking forward to see a plunge saw test from you! I’m trying to decide between the Bosch GKT 18V 52GC or going Festool for the more versatile track. Not sure if TS55 FEBQ or cordless TSC55 would be the way to go, as I have several Bosch 18v tools and don’t want to invest in lots of new batteries and charging stations… any recommendations?
The Bosch saw will work on Festool tracks - I know a number of guys who use the Bosch or Mafell saws, but stick with Festool tracks for the accessories. 👍
Thanks for the reply, really appreciated. I got a good deal on a TS 60 and went for it now, same cost as TS 55. Since I plan to do everything with the track saw, I thought I rather invest on that tool. 😂 First build with the saw will be your MFT table with some changes, top already arrived, 1200x700mm, Benchdogs fence is on its way as well. Amazing content and help, keep it coming! Will look into your Patreon as well.
I use a Festool TS-55 and have both festool & milwaukee tracks (they are standard aluminium colour in Canada) I like both but I really prefer the festool simply because the replaceable cut through splinter guard is light coloured and I can see it against the pencil mark much easier. The festool tracks are lighter as well but not something that really makes any difference.
Interesting that Festool got the design right “first time” some forty years ago. I didn’t realised that Dewalt users can switch to Festool rails for the various benefits in terms of accessories. That’s worth knowing. Thanks.
I'm not sure Festool got it right the first time, according to their museum they invented the track saw in 1964 and their current track design was patented in 1981, (or that theirs was the absolute first track saw), but they certainly have far sighted vision better than any other tool maker. Long range compatibility to the entire Festool system seems to be built into every product they make.
@mrcultureshock Good to know. The dewalt rails are still incompatible with most accessories though. Even just referencing the left edge against bench dogs is less reliable because of the second splinter guard. I have a dewalt saw and have wanted to switch to a festool style rail for a while, but they're so expensive
@@mikeking7470 I believe that when I first purchased Festool products back in late 2005 that their '/2' guiderail was new at that time. The '/2' version has the upward facing t-track on the far left edge of the rail while their prior version did not.
Metabo have one more track pattern available, but it's legacy and they will probably phase it out at some point. It comes in 1500 mm only, model number 631213000. It's rather unique, but still compatible with the Festool pattern.
Hello, Peter Very interested in this type of revue. Just one question the Revolution Square rails is not available in France. Could you have a look at an alternative. Thank you for your time and for the quality of your content.
Hi Peter, I'm beginning to think I'm the only one with a Scheppach track saw, am I right that it uses the same profile rail as the Festool ? It came with 2 long rails but I need a short (700mm ) rail for my MFT style table and didn't want to cut these up so I'm looking for an alternative. Many thanks for your very informative videos, just the right lenght and full of great info.
I took a look at the Aldi / Scheppach saw a few years ago - it featured in the Tracksaw Workshop series - and I highlighted the issues with the saw (and rails) then. The rails are proprietary, and the saw won’t run on Festool or compatible rails as it would cut into the rail. It is a frankly, very odd design that does itself no favours I’m afraid.
Hi Peter, have you seen the Milescraft Tracksaw Guide kit and is designed to take any saw. It 's $199 here in Oz. I enjoy ypur videos each week so please keep 'em coming. Cheers Russell
Thanks! I haven’t seen it ‘in the flesh’ but here in the UK it’s priced higher than many entry-level tracksaws, so unless you have a burning need to use a circular saw you already own then I can’t see it making a lot of sense tbh. 👍
I have been wondering about the recently introduced HiKOKI 36v plunge saw, (I am on there battery system for some other tools) there are now kits with proprietary rails which I suspect are identical to the related Metabo. intitaly dealers were just selling the bare tool on its own with no rails.
I have the Draper Tracksaw which I bought from Toolstation. It is commonly around £120 and available all year which is why I bought it rather that the Parkside. It never seems to get reviewed or turn up in comparisons. It satisfies my needs. I've used it to cut hardwood as well as plywood. I tell myself I'll upgrade to something better when it dies, but it just keeps going. I'm not sure which tracks will be compatible with it. Do you?
I don't have one, but it looks like another version of the Parkside / Einhell saw; do your rails have the C profile on the left edge like the Parkside rails I show here? If so then it's likely that you wont be able to use the Makita pattern rails because of the lip, so Festool or Evolution are your options, really. 👍
Hi Peter, my tools currently run on the Hikoki system and I'd be very interested to hear your opinion on their 3606DPA tracksaw and rails. It's a battery run saw but they do also sell an adapter that converts it (or any of their battery tools) to mains power. I've heard some good things about it but I would be really interested to hear your opinion!
Thanks! I don’t really look at cordless tools that much because of the battery lock-in but yes, I’ve seen this about the Hikoki and it is interesting. I’m curious about how this will work out long term as the science behind it is quite complex - seems there are some issues with eg the DeWalt battery > mains converter for their saws. 👍
Thanks for this review Peter. I'm looking at the evolution track to replace the Kreg system that I'd bought years ago (what a complete waste of money that was). All I have to do now is pick a saw to go with the track.
I dont know if that's still true, but Bosch (blue) has actually two rail systems which are not compatible with each other. One is the e.g. the FSN1100 which is compatible with e.g. the GKS190 (a popular Bosch blue saw that can be found in every hardware store. The information I have is, that this saw is not compatible with e.g. FSN 1400. And of course at Bosch green you have a third system made out of plastic.
Peter, I have the Dewalt system. Options appear to be limited but I know that both Benchdog and TSO do a rail square guide. The TSO is almost double the price of the Benchdog.......do you have any thoughts as to which might be best? I don't particularly want to spend almost £200 but if I have to, I will. Many thanks Dave
Between the two then Benchdogs would get my money - well, most of it as you can get a 5% discount with the offer code “10MinuteWorkshop”. I think FC tools also do a Dewalt-friendly square, but the Benchdogs is the most compatible AFAIK so you won’t be stranded if you have a change of rails further down the line. 👍
Hi Peter. Sorry for not keeping to the topic. I was wondering when you can do a video on beaded face frame units? Perhaps a couple of different methods? Cheers
I live in the US so some brands may vary. I had a Wen track saw with Powertec rails. When I upgraded the saw to a Festool, the spacing changed, so I bought the powertec branded replacement splinter guard strips. However, I’m finding that they keep wanting to peel off (maybe the last 2”/50cm). I always have to remember to reseat it correctly before cutting. Should I buy Festool replacement strips? Festool rails?
I like the Makita replacement strips. Peel off the old splinterguard, scrape off any remaining tape with a razor blade scraper and clean off any sticky residue with lighter fluid. I go through the whole process in the 5 tracksaw tips video here:- 5 Quick Tips to keep your Tracksaw - and you - Happy [video 553] ruclips.net/video/ifFmIHMAoeI/видео.html
@@10MinuteWorkshop Thank you, I'll give that video a look. I forget the UK brand name, but you reviewed the spitting image of my Wen tracksaw a few years ago. I completely share your conclusions that it's perfectly adequate, but you'd never love it. Boy do I love my Festool TS60.
Yes. The corded Rutlands saw is very similar to the Parkside / Excel / Lumberjack saws; before the G2 rails came along your only option for extra rails was Festool, but they work fine on the new Evo G2 👍
I wish the Festool pattern rails came in 1.5m/1.6m as opposed to 1.4m The 1.4m length is just that tad too short to fully support a saw right through 1220mm crosscut of a full sheet. I know one could buy a 1.9m Festool rail and trim it down, but that seems like a pricey option. I did once see a Makita 1.5m rail in an Australian hardware store, but subsequent searches wth my local Makita dealers (here in New Zealand) turned up dry.
some of the length of the saw's base plate needs to be accounted for. A sort of "take-off" and "landing" runway to ensure one makes it through the whole cut, fully guided, wth blade at correct depth. This is approximately 150mm either side (saw model dependant). On a 1.4m rail, one often has to complete the last part of the full-sheet cross-cut without the saw's guide cams engaged, meaning the last part of the cut could go slightly skew.
@@patchesZA This is very dangerous information. This means that if I want to cut a 280cm board and the machine is 40cm long (tsv60) Festool, that means I want a 360cm track, three meters is not enough, right? Looks like I'm in trouble haha
Ryobi has a tracksaw, I think it's popular enough to be included. It's known internationally, whereas some of the brands you included seem to me UK only. Schepach too, I think. In Australia there is Ozito, but I think it's sold in other markets under other names. I think the source is a German company.
Along with the G2 2x140cm rails, I’m also looking for a shorter rail, around 70-90cm, for my Makita saw. Could you recommend an affordable option? I understand that some of the suggestions from your earlier videos may no longer be available.
Most shorter (~700 mm) rails aren’t available individually - you’re paying for a ‘1400’ rail even if it does come in 2 pieces - so I think you’d probably need to be looking for a well- priced longer rail that you can cut down. The Excel 1.4 metre can be had for £40 at the minute. Other than that then the evolution g2 2x700 with the joining bars are £70 or thereabouts, or you can get the Makita 1-metre for about £30-ish. 👍
Hi Peter, im thinking of buying a Makita SP6000J. Can you advise if i would be better off buying the Makita rails or the Evolution G2s? Thanks in advance and great videos and information.
You'll probably get a better price on the bundled Makita rails when you're buying the saw tbh - though I'd check carefully. The Makita rails are fine, the only niggle is the anti-tipping lip that can get in the way of some acessories eg parallel guides and rail squares, though most manufacturers are pretty accommodating of it these days - just the far-east stuff than can be a bit hit and miss. FWIW I'd say if the price is close, then go for the Evolution rails as the joining bars are 100 x better than the Makita. 👍
Hi Peter, I have the Titan saw and got a pair of the 1400 evolution rails (the orange version) to cut full sheets. What is the difference between the old and new evolution rails, would you say it's worth upgrading?
The big difference is that the new ones are more compatible with other accessories; the older orange ones had a down-facing t-slot at the left-hand edge which made fitting accessories like rail squares, parallel guides or stops more of a challenge. If you don't need those things and the current ones are working for you then no, I'd stick with what you have. However, the joining bars that come with the new G2 rails are a massive improvement over the originals, so if you're regularly joining rails together then consider the full package as it isn't much more than the joining bars alone. 👍
Sorry but I’m still unsure after watching - is the Bosch rail system completely incompatible with the other/festool types? But a Bosch saw might well be compatible with the other/festool rail as well as the Bosch one? Is this correct?
Bosch and Mafell rails are compatible with each other but are otherwise proprietary. Pretty much all saws** will run on Festool rails, though some will work better than others. **notable exception are saws from Scheppach, also branded by Aldi, as mentioned in this vid.
Peter I can't find Aldi link to spare track, says saw not available, is buying spare track still current? Do Lidl do similar track and is that available?
Sorry to bug you with this, Peter but I've got the workzone saw & rail. It doesn't seem that I can get more WZ rail by itself. With all your swotting up on this subject can you tell me what rails (available as an add-on) are compatible with Workzone? I've seached the web but come away more confused. Cheers. p.s. are rail clamps universal btw?
I’m sorry to say the Aldi Workzone / Scheppach PLxxx are a dead end as far as additional rails are concerned, apart from scheppach’s own rails - a point I made at length in a video a few years back (ruclips.net/video/nZGt_LqR5O8/видео.htmlsi=uIJJOgQ6XsWN_DZz). If you can’t get OEM Scheppach rails, then I think your only option is to make something - I showed how relatively straightforward it is to make an 8’ rail in the track saw workshop series. As for rail clamp compatibility, the answer is yes, mostly - depending on what you want to use them for eg clamping rails or on an MFT. Sorry, no easy answers to this. 🤷♂️👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop Thanks Peter, I expected most of this as the supermarket stuff isn't really 'pro' gear. e.g. I can't get a smooth joint between the two pieces of WZone track. I just pimp-it up as best I can, better blade etc and it'll have to do - in my price range - I'm only DIY after all.
anyone else find the clamps for the mafell rail bind up in the T slot?, ive tried deburring and polishing out the clamps but they still bind up, the sticky soft aluminium of the rail doesn't help either
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You're the only chap who can pack SO much concise and relevant information into 600 seconds of non-stop tutorial . I could watch you talk about anything I had not a clue about , and come out of it feeling quite well informed Peter . Neil in Brisbane .
Thank you! 🙌👍
You are the most transparent and honest person on RUclips.
Thank you! 👍
How about John Cena though?
I appreciate the visual illustration of the saw upgrade idea, with the cheap saw sliding out of frame immediately followed by the festool sliding in 😁!
Thank you! 🙌👍
Hello Peter, I use the Bosch system on my table with hinges. And I am very satisfied.
Thumbs up 👍
Excellent. I bought a cheap Scheppach track saw for a single job a couple of years ago. Still going strong.
@@54mgtf22 same here. It was on a silly offer with 2 x 1200 tracks and 2 x600( maybe 750?) for an extra £10. Made all my daughters wardrobe and cupboard doors with it
I bought a Scheppach this year. Great as a first time budget compromise purchase.
Got a cordless Scheppach a few years ago. Works great, although getting a second battery was a bit tricky.
Downside after owning a scheppach for 4 years. These rails are incompatible with anything else so now an upgrade is due I need to replace everything. Together with the deflection this saw is prone when cutting worktop for instance I would steer clear
I've got the DeWalt tracksaw and I've lost count of the times I could have used a square clamp for the track. I didn't know it will rum on the Festool track so thank you for that, it's something I may consider buying.
@@paulhume8083 it also runs on the Evolution track.
I have an Erbauer track saw and tracks, saw never ran smoothly on it's original tracks. Bought a pair of Evolution 1400mm tracks and they are a game changer, the saw now glides on them. Thanks for the advice on the Evolution tracks-brilliant👌
Great to hear, thanks! 👍
I had the same issue of binding at the joints, my nephew is an engineer & machined them straight over lunch, was only 1 of the 4 but poor QC all the same.
This video is a constant stream of excellent detailed info produced in a high quality way. Well done!
Thank you! 👍
Extraordinary healing powers on the right tumb between 0:45 and 1:00 ;-)
I feel a monster spreadsheet coming round the corner Pete.
I should have done a fact sheet! I'll put one together soon!
MOST EXCELLENT REVIEW. You did a superb job with this comparison. Very well done.
Really useful. Thanks for taking the time to do the research and share the detail. You’ve helped me confirm my rail purchase plans.
No problem 👍
What a fantastic informative video, thank you for going through all the details of a confusing area.
Thank you! 👍
Must admin Peter that the anti-tipping function on the Makita saw/rail have been very useful when I've been cutting at an angle and I would not do without it. I would like to get a 700-800mm rail for cross cuts. The 1m Makita is too long, while the Festool is too expensive..... Better off buying the Makita and cutting it down!! 😲
I have a Makita tracksaw and I bought three Makita rails during the years - 1 meter, 1.5m and 3m. The 1m rail is dedicated to cross cutting: I have a Chinese square which is surprisingly accurate and is permanently mounted on. For most cuts I use the 1.5m rail. The 3m one is invaluable when cutting a full sheet. I used to join 1+1.5m but having one solid rail is just another thing.
I use the anti tip feature all the time, I feel the saw is more secure when cutting.
Great video, I may need another rail and will look at this again.
@@stefanopassiglia i found a good deal on a solid used one but havent had time to use it yet. Dying to start working on the new shop tables! Just purchased materials
Very interesting. I wish I had seen this years ago when I bought my first rail.
However note that Mafell has a range of accessories that fit their rail fine. I have never felt anything was lacking on that front.
I have the Bosch rails and agree that Bosch/Mafell do make some accessories for them. But those products are not well marketed in North America so can be hard to get in the US and Canada. As a result, support from the bigger aftermarket vendors like TSO is also very poor. For example, I have the Bosch router sled that works with the Bosch "holey" rail for creating 5mm system holes for euro cabinetry. But I had to order it from a company in the UK and the product does not support routers meant for the NA market (including Bosch routers!). I was able to make it work, but Bosch/Mafell could do a far better job of marketing and supporting their products in NA. Bosch/Mafell are you listening??
@@ogwoodworks Indeed, a bit of a shame. There's a good local distributor in the Benelux (where I live) but indeed, if the products are not available locally it's a pain
Watching from Vancouver Island, thank you for all your good reviews🏝️👍
Thank you! Best wishes from London! 👍
I've been very happy with the affordable WEN track system. It's not fancy, but it has been reliable.
Very cool. I'm still a circular saw and clamp (short side) or T square (long cut) kind of guy as I don't have to make critical cuts on sheet material for money. Every few months I find I turn an 8 by 4 or two into something or other and thereforeI do really appreciate this contnet and if I had a project where I needed this tool then a track saw would be an easy gateway. I did wonder about the compatability between team colours and this is really useful. Thanks and great work.
Thank you! 👍
Well done Peter. I will check out the evolution rail.
Thanks for this Peter, as always a detailed and informative summary, the new evolution rails look like a great option ! I originally bought a Makita 1m rail to use with my little 12v Bosch which has an adapter guide, and have now added a 1.5m rail, clamps and the Makita SP6000j , I've only used it last week so still getting used to it all but was impressed with the clean cut in 18mm ply !
Nice! And thanks! 👍
Sounds like a spreadsheet matrix of plunge saw vs track compatibility would be useful, with the summarised list of pros and cons for each track
i love your content and your set up. You make the most out of a very small shop.
My dream is to be as proficient and accurate as your cabinet making bussines.
Here in my country we have very little options, Dewalt system is around 600usd, makita around the same, festool over 1.2k, so i tried Einhell (which is widely distributed here) because i don't do this for a living, and the plunge saw and track came for around 150usd. The negative part, is that you have barely any replacement options
Finally, I know what rail to buy for my Titan track saw, cheers for that
7:49 looking forward to you looking at the Einhell saw.
I got this saw and have to say i been very impressed, got much saw for the price 👍
Thanks Michael! Yes, looks very solid; not sure what they were thinking with the guiderails, but it works on the standard ones. 👍
@10MinuteWorkshop yes, i know. Bought the saw first. Don't know what to think about the rails.
But i hat to get a pair of 😁
Interesting that they differ from "normal" 700mm rails. 1000mm 👍
Lots of very useful info. I wish there was a table though, or tables, to recap what works with what. For example, starting from a Makita saw, what are my options for non Makita rails to save some coin.
Thanks. Yeah, I’ve started doing a chart / table but there’s so much information to collate it’ll take a long time to get anywhere. 🤷♂️👍
Great in depth video as usual Peter 🙌 As a huge parkside fanboy 😂 I still have to get their version👍 I’m determined to have a display of green tools 😂
Cheers
Rob
Cheers Rob! 👍
I paused the video and went to look at my WEN rails, bought with the corded WEN saw (minor mistake) the rails seem to be 100% Makita pattern, black splinter strips, two piece joining bars, etc. My one minor complaint is that the anti-slip strips are not very grippy. But if I wipe them down with isopropanol (rubbing alcohol) they are better. I don't know if the rails in the older 100-inch kit are exactly the same as the newer 110-inch [edit numbers are hard] rail set. It may not be available (under that name) in the UK/EU markets. And as you pointed out I can always upgrade my kit with the purchase of a higher end saw.
I really love the red Milwaukee rails. I should buy one and put in on a shelf. 😄
Having owned the Parkside for a few years now I'd be interested in hearing what improvements you get for the extra money from the big boys. Obviously the short track and course blade out of the box are a downside but the saw itself seems to do everything I've asked of it from manmade boards to natural timber old and new. I guess the big kick is by the time you've upgraded those weak points you're 180 odd quid in and could possible save yourself the hassle buying elsewhere. That being said Parksides customer service and warranty is very good, I bought some extra track and it arrived missing a grubscrew, they sent me a full set of track and said keep the other one. I now have six short lengths of track that I dont really know what to do with 😂 I've set a pair aside for bevel cuts for now.
TSO makes Guide square and rails for Dewalt tracks. I just upgraded the grip strips to Festool grip on Dewalt tracks
Great round up Peter loads of food for thought.
Great video Peter. ThNks for tips.
Thanks! 👍
Hi Peter, Great review on saw rails and all we need to know, as always a great video have a good weekend Take care
Cheers Shaun! 👍
The mafell saw will run on festool pattern rails too.
I do like my Bosch rails and saw, very easy to join and the splinter guard fits well in the groove not stuck on. However it is harder to get accessories as you say. Bench dogs of course do some great kit that works with Bosch / Mafell of course…
Thanks! 👍
You surely did the homework necesary for this.
I have Makita, Festool and Powertec rails. All work well with my Makita track saw.
Thanks once again Peter. In Oz there's a huge saving if you buy a Makita rail over a Festool and I like the fact that Makita are embracing the rail for router accessories, etc these days. A quick tale of woe .. a while back I joined my 3000mm and 2424mm (LR32) Festool rails to cut metal .. ignorant of the fact that I was trashing the splinter guards with bits of metal :( It was a brilliant way to cut metal efficiently but if I do more in the future I'll grab some long Makita rails and dedicate them to metal cutting.
Just for reference in Oz a 3000mm Festool rail goes for $880AUD and the same in Makita $289AUD ... yep a third of the price of Festool ... unless I'm buying LR32 rails or FSK rails in future they'll all have blue strips instead of green! :)
I've only done a little investigation myself but I believe an interesting tangent on the topic of rails is the compatibility they have with things beyond the tracksaw. I've recently purchased a number of Makita saws that are track friendly ... crazy that I can run a 270mm XGT cordless Makita on a track and achieve a 100mm+ depth of cut! Now the groove cutter never comes off the HK85.
Great info, thanks! 👍
I purchased a WEN tracksaw and the 2 x 55" tracks/rails it came with a few years ago to trim a tabletop that I had made.
It works very nicely for me with a Diablo blade.
I don't use it very often, so there was no point in me buying the more expensive brands.
All I need now are short tracks to go with it. 55" is a bit much when cutting a 14" wide hardwood shelf.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi there, first time viewer, liked and subscribed. I am running Hilti Nuron (transitioning into from M12 and M18, lots of red here) and never got into the Milwaukee track saw (I have clamped a straightedge when not using the m18 jobsite saw). I have the Nuron framing saw, and there are also Hilti rails that it is compatible with, as well as a Nuron plunge cut saw. Interested to see what you have to say about any of that, thank you.
Hi, welcome and apologies for the slow response. I've never used Hilti tbh, and I'm pretty sure we only started getting the plunge saw here fairly recently. Hilti are a bit of a specialised trade brand aimed at site work, so not have never really been on my radar tbh - nor I on theirs, come to that - but appreciate your insite and will definitely look into the Nuron platform, thanks! 👍
Not sure if you have the Powertec or Wen rails, but both are great inexpensive options as well. The Powertec have the Makita (and Milwaukee) anti-tipping feature, but the Wen tracks do not, and are identical to the Festool track style.
I got the 110" Powertec tracks (2x55") with carrying bag ($140), and I bought the 110" Wen tracks (2x55" and $68) and bought a Rugged Tools bag to hold them ($40), but I wish I had bought the Powertec bag ($30) instead. The Wen tracks gave me a reasonably priced set of tracks to cut down for more specific uses.
It's important to pay attention to the length of the Wen tracks if you decide to go with them for your main set of tracks. They sell a 100" set that is just a bit short for comfort when breaking down sheets of plywood - you want the 110" set. The difference in price is only $5 at this time, so I don't even understand why they still offer the 100" set, as it WILL cause frustration for those who try to squeeze every nickel, and save that $5 by going with the shorter set.
The Wen tracks cut easily on a miter saw with your regular wood blade, and this allows me more specific lengths which don't have as much of the track hanging around, potentially shifting if they hang out in space, and moving. Less overhang feels more stable and consistent to me
Both of these brands of tracks work with my Milwaukee track saw, as well as any attachments that work with the Festool/Makita/Milwaukee track styles.
I don't have access to the G2 tracks here in the US, but they have a "regular" Evolution 110" set (2x55") that seems to be similar and comparable in price ($150) to the Powertec set (comparing the set that would include a carrying bag, for both brands), with Powertec slightly less expensive at this time.
Thanks. No we don’t get the powertec or when brands here. From what I see online powertec are a dead ringer for Makita. 👍
Great video, but as with all the others there is one track that consistently gets left out. It is the Grizzly/Shop Fox track saw and rail. It looks very similar to the original Festool track with the exception that it does not have an open track on top but both are open on the bottom side of the rail. However the spacing looks almost identical. Perhaps that was a way to get out patent design laws or maybe just a different interpretation. I would like to see how the Grizzly/Shop Fox track lines up with others though. Thanks for all you do.
Thanks. If grizzly / shop fox ever sell in the UK I’d be happy to take a look, but I won’t review what I can’t buy. 👍
I learned from talking with customer service that evolution G2 rails will be available in the US in q1 2025
The Milescraft track saw guide comes with a sliding baseplate that accepts saws from all the manufacturers you mention. Unfortunateley, mine sits unboxed in my workshop corner, as I haven't had time to take a look. I'm happy to send it you if you wish to see if it can live up to its claims. I always enjoy your reviews, even if not looking for the product you are reviewing 👍
That's kind of you to offer, thanks, but a baseplate / adapter aren't the same as a plunge saw and guiderail. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop You're welcome. The offer remains, if you ever wish to review something that may be a viable alternative.
@@10MinuteWorkshopcould be interesting to hear your take, since there are a bunch of "tracksaw killer" / "you don't need an EXPENSIVE!!! tracksaw" etc videos. Most of those sounds like half-truth at best, simple ad at worst.
Make your own counter-clickbait clickbait video of this subject
What is the best cheapest tracksaw replacement you can buy?! 😂
8:05 there is a "problem" with the DeWalt track - no common Clamps fit.
You have to buy expensive DeWalt clamps. Not sure if Bosch/ Mafell clamps fit, but they also are very expansive.
Here in the US I bought Powertec tracks & they work well, one thing is when I switch to the 1 section of my Makita track I have to readjust the cams. The non slip grips & the splinter guards are much better on the Makita rail
I still just use my 9 euro rail that I made from some birch ply. It just does the basic "I want a straight cut for about a metre" but as a weekend warrior that's enough for my uses. As a bonus I made it in such a way that it'll fit my circular saw on one side and my router on the other side.
Biggest downside is because it was made out of a sheet of plywood, it'll never be long enough to do a cut on a full sheet of plywood.
Did something similar myself way back. Not the same as an actual tracksaw through. 👍
Cant wait for the updated plunge saw comparison vid
It's coming... 👍
Would be great to have a compatibility matrix of all the saws vs all the tracks. Ive got a TSC55 and would like to get the 3m Makita rail, but hearing the baseplates on some of the recent Festool saws are too wide and foul on the anti-tip lip. Any ideas?
I'd be very surprised at that with Festool saws - unless they're the HK series, maybe? AFAIK the Festool TS and TSC saws are OK with Makita rails, but I'll check, thanks. And yes, I missed a trick with a compatibility fact-sheet - I'll get that done
I really like the Powertec rails which I've used on both my old WEN saw and my more recent Makita. Good value, too, I think.
Yes, not available in the UK unfortunately. 🤷♂️👍
Hi Peter thanks again for a fantastic video, I have watched the previous track saw video and was hoping you might cover my saw this time I have the GMC purchased from amazon it seems to me to be a clone of the Excel .
Thanks! Not familiar with the GMC, I'll take a look 👍
Another great vide0, thanks 😊
Thank you! 👍
Hi Peter
You are a master at imparting information in a clear and concise way, always enjoy watching your videos.
I am a total newbie just learning the ropes at a ripe old age of 59!
The Evolution G2 tracks looks great and am looking to buy these instead of Featool tracks. I have the Festool T60.
Will the TSO GRS-16 Guide Rail Square and parallel guides work with the G2s?
Thank you. I can’t say for sure about the TSO products as I don’t have them, but the G2 rails are the closest copy of the Festool rail that I’ve come across so I can’t imagine there would be any issues. Perhaps check with TSO - they may have a ‘made for…’ guide? 👍
Great video. Indeed, great videos. Been watching load of them recently. I'm looking at getting the G2 rails and a Makita circular (HS7601J/2) saw with Makita's adaptor kit for the ciruclar saw (197005-0). I've looked at loads of pictures and watched many videos. Seems like that should work. Does that seem feasible based on your experience with the G2 track?
Thanks! The G2 tracks are almost identical to the Festool - so basically like the Makita, but without the anti-tipping lip - so they shoukld wotk fine, but I've no direct experience with the track adapters I'm afraid.
@@10MinuteWorkshop Thanks for your reply. As it is, I'm going to be purchasing an SP6000 this weekend anyway. But if that falls through, the above is my fallback plan.
Maybe Kreg will enter the discussion in the future? I haven't felt the need to upgrade to any different brand track saw, so hopefully compatibility won't be an issue for me in the future, however one never knows..
They don't sell their plunge saws in Britain; if they ever get around to it I'll be happy to take a look. 👍
Excellent video as always. Thank you.
I'd be curious to know which of the rubber edging strips are cross compatible, as sometimes certain brands can be out of stock. The Mafell has a very odd shape, but perhaps the Festool and Makita ones can be used interchangeably?
Thanks! The Mafell and Bosch are interchangable, and the Makita fits Festool and all the Makits pattern rails. I've used Makita rubber on my Festool rails for years as I prefer it and it's a lot cheaper!
Hi Peter, you do make the replacement of splinter guards look easy but I do have to point out that the factory fitted Makita splinter guard replacement is a total mare. The rubber strip comes off OK but the material used to stick it in place is dreadful to remove before fitting a replacement. On the positive side once you have replaced the original splinter guard subsequent replacements are easier. I still have one track with the original guard fitted and would welcome any advice on removing the sticky residue.
I've done entire videos about splinter guard changing, I'll link one up below. I've never found Makita to be a particular problem tbh; single edge razor blade to remove any tape, then a squeeze of lighter fluid usually takes away any sticky residue. "5 tips to keep your tracksaw happy" - ruclips.net/video/ifFmIHMAoeI/видео.html
I have found kerosene to be good for removing sticky residue from most things. It softens it without making it tacky. Most other solvents I've tried turn it into a gooey mess.
I've also used an orange oil based goo remover that worked well. It smells a lot better than kero but is much more expensive.
Amazing video as usual! Looking forward to see a plunge saw test from you! I’m trying to decide between the Bosch GKT 18V 52GC or going Festool for the more versatile track. Not sure if TS55 FEBQ or cordless TSC55 would be the way to go, as I have several Bosch 18v tools and don’t want to invest in lots of new batteries and charging stations… any recommendations?
The Bosch saw will work on Festool tracks - I know a number of guys who use the Bosch or Mafell saws, but stick with Festool tracks for the accessories. 👍
Thanks for the reply, really appreciated. I got a good deal on a TS 60 and went for it now, same cost as TS 55. Since I plan to do everything with the track saw, I thought I rather invest on that tool. 😂 First build with the saw will be your MFT table with some changes, top already arrived, 1200x700mm, Benchdogs fence is on its way as well. Amazing content and help, keep it coming! Will look into your Patreon as well.
I use a Festool TS-55 and have both festool & milwaukee tracks (they are standard aluminium colour in Canada) I like both but I really prefer the festool simply because the replaceable cut through splinter guard is light coloured and I can see it against the pencil mark much easier. The festool tracks are lighter as well but not something that really makes any difference.
Interesting that Festool got the design right “first time” some forty years ago. I didn’t realised that Dewalt users can switch to Festool rails for the various benefits in terms of accessories. That’s worth knowing. Thanks.
Thanks! 👍
I'm not sure Festool got it right the first time, according to their museum they invented the track saw in 1964 and their current track design was patented in 1981, (or that theirs was the absolute first track saw), but they certainly have far sighted vision better than any other tool maker. Long range compatibility to the entire Festool system seems to be built into every product they make.
TSO Products makes a guide rail square for the Dewalt track saw.
@mrcultureshock Good to know. The dewalt rails are still incompatible with most accessories though. Even just referencing the left edge against bench dogs is less reliable because of the second splinter guard. I have a dewalt saw and have wanted to switch to a festool style rail for a while, but they're so expensive
@@mikeking7470 I believe that when I first purchased Festool products back in late 2005 that their '/2' guiderail was new at that time. The '/2' version has the upward facing t-track on the far left edge of the rail while their prior version did not.
Metabo have one more track pattern available, but it's legacy and they will probably phase it out at some point. It comes in 1500 mm only, model number 631213000. It's rather unique, but still compatible with the Festool pattern.
Hi Peter. Sooo glad you ve done this Vid. Question will my mafel run on the new evolution rails? Top channel by the way!
Yes it will; If they run on the Festool rail, they'll run on the Evolution G2.👍
Hello, Peter
Very interested in this type of revue. Just one question the Revolution Square rails is not available in France.
Could you have a look at an alternative. Thank you for your time and for the quality of your content.
Hi Peter, I'm beginning to think I'm the only one with a Scheppach track saw, am I right that it uses the same profile rail as the Festool ? It came with 2 long rails but I need a short (700mm ) rail for my MFT style table and didn't want to cut these up so I'm looking for an alternative. Many thanks for your very informative videos, just the right lenght and full of great info.
I took a look at the Aldi / Scheppach saw a few years ago - it featured in the Tracksaw Workshop series - and I highlighted the issues with the saw (and rails) then. The rails are proprietary, and the saw won’t run on Festool or compatible rails as it would cut into the rail. It is a frankly, very odd design that does itself no favours I’m afraid.
Hi Peter, have you seen the Milescraft Tracksaw Guide kit and is designed to take any saw. It 's $199 here in Oz. I enjoy ypur videos each week so please keep 'em coming. Cheers Russell
Thanks! I haven’t seen it ‘in the flesh’ but here in the UK it’s priced higher than many entry-level tracksaws, so unless you have a burning need to use a circular saw you already own then I can’t see it making a lot of sense tbh. 👍
I have been wondering about the recently introduced HiKOKI 36v plunge saw, (I am on there battery system for some other tools) there are now kits with proprietary rails which I suspect are identical to the related Metabo. intitaly dealers were just selling the bare tool on its own with no rails.
Haven't seen it in the flesh anywhere, so couldn't say I'm afraid. 👍
I have the Draper Tracksaw which I bought from Toolstation. It is commonly around £120 and available all year which is why I bought it rather that the Parkside. It never seems to get reviewed or turn up in comparisons. It satisfies my needs. I've used it to cut hardwood as well as plywood. I tell myself I'll upgrade to something better when it dies, but it just keeps going. I'm not sure which tracks will be compatible with it. Do you?
I don't have one, but it looks like another version of the Parkside / Einhell saw; do your rails have the C profile on the left edge like the Parkside rails I show here? If so then it's likely that you wont be able to use the Makita pattern rails because of the lip, so Festool or Evolution are your options, really. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop Yes, it does have the C profile on the left edge. I'll give the Evolution rails a go at some point - thank you.
Hi Peter, my tools currently run on the Hikoki system and I'd be very interested to hear your opinion on their 3606DPA tracksaw and rails. It's a battery run saw but they do also sell an adapter that converts it (or any of their battery tools) to mains power. I've heard some good things about it but I would be really interested to hear your opinion!
Thanks! I don’t really look at cordless tools that much because of the battery lock-in but yes, I’ve seen this about the Hikoki and it is interesting. I’m curious about how this will work out long term as the science behind it is quite complex - seems there are some issues with eg the DeWalt battery > mains converter for their saws. 👍
Thanks for this review Peter. I'm looking at the evolution track to replace the Kreg system that I'd bought years ago (what a complete waste of money that was). All I have to do now is pick a saw to go with the track.
Except for the Scheppach saw (Cuts beneath the splinter guard) every saw will fit to the Evolution rails.
Good choice! 👍
I dont know if that's still true, but Bosch (blue) has actually two rail systems which are not compatible with each other. One is the e.g. the FSN1100 which is compatible with e.g. the GKS190 (a popular Bosch blue saw that can be found in every hardware store. The information I have is, that this saw is not compatible with e.g. FSN 1400. And of course at Bosch green you have a third system made out of plastic.
Peter, Can I cut the aluminum profile using a track saw instead of using a miter saw?
Yes, absolutely! I've done this many times. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop Aluminum extrusion too? 45 degree? All these?
Thancks peter
@@10MinuteWorkshop "smell of freshly cut rail in the morning" 😊
I cut a rail yesterday, you'll see.
So many choices. I use the Bosch rails with my Mafell MT55.
Peter any chance you could review the Evolution R255TBL+?
Keith @RagnBoneBrown did a good review of this recently and compared it with the small table saw from Rutlands 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop Great thanks
Peter, I have the Dewalt system. Options appear to be limited but I know that both Benchdog and TSO do a rail square guide. The TSO is almost double the price of the Benchdog.......do you have any thoughts as to which might be best? I don't particularly want to spend almost £200 but if I have to, I will.
Many thanks
Dave
Between the two then Benchdogs would get my money - well, most of it as you can get a 5% discount with the offer code “10MinuteWorkshop”. I think FC tools also do a Dewalt-friendly square, but the Benchdogs is the most compatible AFAIK so you won’t be stranded if you have a change of rails further down the line. 👍
I bought a cheap 15eur guide rail square to pair with my titan. Can't beat it for the price.
Maybe a video on the best joining bars on a budget might be helpful - if I haven't missed one already!
Making connections; the essential guide to guiderail connectors - ruclips.net/video/fAhSvhD2zEo/видео.html
Hi Peter. Sorry for not keeping to the topic. I was wondering when you can do a video on beaded face frame units? Perhaps a couple of different methods? Cheers
It’s not something I’ve really done tbh. 🤷♂️👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop fair enough. Hopefully it’s one for the near future 🤞🏻
I live in the US so some brands may vary.
I had a Wen track saw with Powertec rails. When I upgraded the saw to a Festool, the spacing changed, so I bought the powertec branded replacement splinter guard strips. However, I’m finding that they keep wanting to peel off (maybe the last 2”/50cm). I always have to remember to reseat it correctly before cutting.
Should I buy Festool replacement strips? Festool rails?
I like the Makita replacement strips. Peel off the old splinterguard, scrape off any remaining tape with a razor blade scraper and clean off any sticky residue with lighter fluid. I go through the whole process in the 5 tracksaw tips video here:-
5 Quick Tips to keep your Tracksaw - and you - Happy [video 553]
ruclips.net/video/ifFmIHMAoeI/видео.html
@@10MinuteWorkshop Thank you, I'll give that video a look.
I forget the UK brand name, but you reviewed the spitting image of my Wen tracksaw a few years ago. I completely share your conclusions that it's perfectly adequate, but you'd never love it. Boy do I love my Festool TS60.
Hi Peter! Apologies if this has been answered before. Will the Parkside saw run on the new Evolution G2 rail?
Yes. I literally run all the saws along the evolution rails at the end of the video. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop Thank you very much!
Used all rail variants and hands down for me the mafell is day and night above any other. It’s not even remotely close 😅
Do you know if the corded Rutland track saw fits the new Evolution rail?
Yes. The corded Rutlands saw is very similar to the Parkside / Excel / Lumberjack saws; before the G2 rails came along your only option for extra rails was Festool, but they work fine on the new Evo G2 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop many thanks for the answer!
I wish the Festool pattern rails came in 1.5m/1.6m as opposed to 1.4m
The 1.4m length is just that tad too short to fully support a saw right through 1220mm crosscut of a full sheet.
I know one could buy a 1.9m Festool rail and trim it down, but that seems like a pricey option.
I did once see a Makita 1.5m rail in an Australian hardware store, but subsequent searches wth my local Makita dealers (here in New Zealand) turned up dry.
Yes, I know what you mean; there’s a Makita-pattern 1.5m rail available here for about £40 which is good value. 👍
@TenMinuteWorkshop - who makes that please Peter?
Why ? 122+ 15 cm rail square= 137 cm ! Or?
some of the length of the saw's base plate needs to be accounted for. A sort of "take-off" and "landing" runway to ensure one makes it through the whole cut, fully guided, wth blade at correct depth. This is approximately 150mm either side (saw model dependant).
On a 1.4m rail, one often has to complete the last part of the full-sheet cross-cut without the saw's guide cams engaged, meaning the last part of the cut could go slightly skew.
@@patchesZA This is very dangerous information. This means that if I want to cut a 280cm board and the machine is 40cm long (tsv60) Festool, that means I want a 360cm track, three meters is not enough, right? Looks like I'm in trouble haha
Ryobi has a tracksaw, I think it's popular enough to be included. It's known internationally, whereas some of the brands you included seem to me UK only. Schepach too, I think.
In Australia there is Ozito, but I think it's sold in other markets under other names. I think the source is a German company.
Einhell Germany AG
The Ryobi has only recently been made available here in Britain, and the tracks aren't available separately AFAIK. Next time maybe. 👍
Ryobi use their own non standardised track profile as do Ridgid.
Along with the G2 2x140cm rails, I’m also looking for a shorter rail, around 70-90cm, for my Makita saw. Could you recommend an affordable option? I understand that some of the suggestions from your earlier videos may no longer be available.
Most shorter (~700 mm) rails aren’t available individually - you’re paying for a ‘1400’ rail even if it does come in 2 pieces - so I think you’d probably need to be looking for a well- priced longer rail that you can cut down. The Excel 1.4 metre can be had for £40 at the minute. Other than that then the evolution g2 2x700 with the joining bars are £70 or thereabouts, or you can get the Makita 1-metre for about £30-ish. 👍
Hi Peter, im thinking of buying a Makita SP6000J. Can you advise if i would be better off buying the Makita rails or the Evolution G2s? Thanks in advance and great videos and information.
You'll probably get a better price on the bundled Makita rails when you're buying the saw tbh - though I'd check carefully. The Makita rails are fine, the only niggle is the anti-tipping lip that can get in the way of some acessories eg parallel guides and rail squares, though most manufacturers are pretty accommodating of it these days - just the far-east stuff than can be a bit hit and miss. FWIW I'd say if the price is close, then go for the Evolution rails as the joining bars are 100 x better than the Makita. 👍
@10MinuteWorkshop thanks for your advice. Appreciated.
Hi. Another great video, thank you. Do you wear bi-focal glasses, It always feels that you're "looking down" on your viewers...
Varifocals, yes. Sorry about that - I’m also trying to avoid reflections off the lights! 🤷♂️
Maybe I missed it, what other rails do the festool saws run on ?
Festool typically run on any of the Festool or Makita pattern rails, but the main ones of interest are the Evolution G2 and the OEM Makits rails.
Is the promised 2024 entry level plunge saw roundup coming soon? In time for Black Friday if possible 😅 or did I miss it?
That’s the plan - should be up in a couple of weeks. 👍
So since i have festools saw and tracks, for addition tracks i get the evolution 2’s. Now if only they were sold in NZ. 😢
Hi Peter, I have the Titan saw and got a pair of the 1400 evolution rails (the orange version) to cut full sheets. What is the difference between the old and new evolution rails, would you say it's worth upgrading?
The big difference is that the new ones are more compatible with other accessories; the older orange ones had a down-facing t-slot at the left-hand edge which made fitting accessories like rail squares, parallel guides or stops more of a challenge. If you don't need those things and the current ones are working for you then no, I'd stick with what you have. However, the joining bars that come with the new G2 rails are a massive improvement over the originals, so if you're regularly joining rails together then consider the full package as it isn't much more than the joining bars alone. 👍
Sorry but I’m still unsure after watching - is the Bosch rail system completely incompatible with the other/festool types?
But a Bosch saw might well be compatible with the other/festool rail as well as the Bosch one?
Is this correct?
Bosch and Mafell rails are compatible with each other but are otherwise proprietary. Pretty much all saws** will run on Festool rails, though some will work better than others.
**notable exception are saws from Scheppach, also branded by Aldi, as mentioned in this vid.
@@10MinuteWorkshop great thanks for clarifying! :-)
Peter I can't find Aldi link to spare track, says saw not available, is buying spare track still current? Do Lidl do similar track and is that available?
The Aldi saw us a rebadged Scheppach. AFAIK Aldi have never offered spare rails for the Workzone saw.
Sorry to bug you with this, Peter but I've got the workzone saw & rail. It doesn't seem that I can get more WZ rail by itself. With all your swotting up on this subject can you tell me what rails (available as an add-on) are compatible with Workzone? I've seached the web but come away more confused. Cheers.
p.s. are rail clamps universal btw?
I’m sorry to say the Aldi Workzone / Scheppach PLxxx are a dead end as far as additional rails are concerned, apart from scheppach’s own rails - a point I made at length in a video a few years back (ruclips.net/video/nZGt_LqR5O8/видео.htmlsi=uIJJOgQ6XsWN_DZz). If you can’t get OEM Scheppach rails, then I think your only option is to make something - I showed how relatively straightforward it is to make an 8’ rail in the track saw workshop series. As for rail clamp compatibility, the answer is yes, mostly - depending on what you want to use them for eg clamping rails or on an MFT. Sorry, no easy answers to this. 🤷♂️👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop Thanks Peter, I expected most of this as the supermarket stuff isn't really 'pro' gear. e.g. I can't get a smooth joint between the two pieces of WZone track. I just pimp-it up as best I can, better blade etc and it'll have to do - in my price range - I'm only DIY after all.
Metabo rails will work with Fess joining bars.
Scheppach has had a direct copy of the festal rail for years.
They really don’t.
anyone else find the clamps for the mafell rail bind up in the T slot?, ive tried deburring and polishing out the clamps but they still bind up, the sticky soft aluminium of the rail doesn't help either
It looks like the Evolution Store on the Amazon USA site only has the older style rails, the ones with the orange stripe. Buyer beware!
@@charleskrueger5523 they are coming very very soon along with all accessories and the new R255 TBL+ tablesaw.
G2 coming Q1 2025
Ryobi has Ryobi only rails and I think AEG does as well.
Thanks! Only just started getting the Ryobi here and you can get the rails separately. We don’t have the AEG saw or rails.
Do you know if bosch rail connector is the same as metabo (almost twice the price of a bosch)?
It is not. Looks similar, but the Metabo one is wider then the Bosch/ Mafell one.
@ thanks, i have already bought bosh and it was 2-3 mm smaller. I exchanged for hikoki one and it worked perfectly. Anyway - thanks for your reply!
@@efektmurowany Hikoki and Metabo are same Company 😉
Thanks, i'll see if i can get Hikoki connector here in Germany.
@@Micha_Ba yep, i know, hikoki was 25% cheaper 😁😇😇
Can you confirm Dewalt saw runs on evo g2 track?
If a saw runs on Festool rails (Dewalt does) then it’ll run on the Evolution G2. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop thanks for reply 👍