Just realized this track guide missed the non-sticking surface under the guide. This is a BIG omission. One of the main convenience of current Festools, Makita track saw is their track guide almost has no need to clamp because the non-stick tape in the under side work so well. This makes their tracks so swift to use. I think you should add your own non-sticking tape under this guide. Now I see this guide as a clone of Kreg's saw guide (the part connect to the saw) combined with a clone of other manfacturer's track guides, without understanding their full benefits.
Makita sells track adapters for all their circular saws and they allow you to do bevel cuts, plus the Makita track isn't proprietary so you could get whatever big brand track is on sale.
I love the fact that some non mainstream companies are making it easy and INEXPENSIVE for those of us who can’t drop hundreds of dollars on name brand items.
I bought something off Amazon and they sent me a blatantly used item. I was pretty upset. Also it didn’t fit my tool so I returned it. I never left a review cuz I thought maybe it was an oversight. I will give them another try but I’m definitely skeptical
I think I'm going to get this. I break down sheet goods "on site" quite a bit, where I really wouldn't bring a track saw anyway. For a real track saw, I would prefer longer track pieces, for job-site work, the packability of short segments is an advantage.
Hey Matt. Because of your video, I ordered this from Milescraft. It came today, I set it up and bam! Perfect for a small garage/driveway shop that's a bit overwhelmed by my Grizzly tablesaw.😊 I've had the Bora for a few years. The track is much smaller and the sled is really cheap plastic. There's no stability, all kinds of play, and the clamping mechanism on the track is finicky and had me going back and forth around the workpiece to carefully get it square. I hated using it, so it was quickly retired and just used as a straight edge. Because of the clamp handle on the Bora, I couldn't use a long t square. Seriously, anyone considering a Bora guide, just don't do it. The Milescraft solved the squaring problem and my first cuts have been great. The blade spacer is brilliant. Thanks, man!
I've bought a few Milescraft products and I was very happy with the quality. Right now I can't afford a full blown track saw but I'm going to invest in this. It's the perfect solution for in between clamping a straight edge or track saw. Great video and review !
I've been using a 10' long piece of 3/4" steel square tubing. Clamp it down 1 1/4" in from cut for my saw on short side. Not going to keep the depth square but works great for straight cuts.
I'm a fan of Milescraft. I've purchased two of their products before. Best use I've got out of one of them is the circular cutting with a router jig and it does not disappoint! When I purchased it I was not sure what to expect because of the relative low price I had paid. But it's well worth it!
Aaron my husband got me that same Milescraft circular kit for Christmas but I haven't tried it yet. Good to know it is worth the purchase. I'm still very new to routers and learning how to use them. I also have the double pocket hole jig from Milescraft and like it very much. I just ordered the Milescraft 700 pocket hole screw assortment from Amazon and it was nice with the carry case that comes with it along with two more bits. I really like the star bits over the square that Kreg uses.
One point I didn't hear but is important. The squareness of the cut will only be as accurate as your blade to base plate angle. Most know this but it's worth mentioning for those just getting into this sort of stuff. Always check the blade to base plate accuracy on any skill saw with an accurate square. Make sure it's at 90 degrees, it doesn't take much to move it on many skill type saws. I've seen some that just setting it down a bit too hard moves the base plate (don't ask how I know that for sure).
I have 2 55” Makita tracks and the fancy TSO connector. And I found that to get them perfectly aligned, I still rely on an 8’ aluminum level when I’m screwing the connectors down. Lesson is: doesn’t matter if it’s 2 or 4 connectors: get an 8’ aluminum level for alignment.
I’ve had a cabinet shop for 15 years. Built every jig I have including my router table for cutting my own doors. Easiest track setup in the world is a piece of 1/2” import birch ply, about 8”x 72-96”, and then a piece of 1/2” or 1/4” and rip a 1 1/2-2 1/2” rip. Take your 6-8’ level, lay it on the larger piece and butt the factory edge of the 1/4” piece against the level and secure it to the 1/2”. Run your saw over it and your done. It’s free if you have scrap
I respect your take on this and tools are not getting any cheaper these days. I have a dedicated mafell track saw and therefore don’t need it. However, I like when there are options for younger guys with tight budgets to get into the trade or hobby; it’s not getting easier for younger guys these days to accumulate the tools needed to make an income from them. Additionally, your so much more capable in a trade or hobby the sooner you dive in, anything that helps that I’m all for.
Benjamin I just want to point out that wood working and buying tools is not gender specific. Many women like myself enjoy building and acquiring tools. I've piddled for years but just recently became more serious about buying all the correct tools for different jobs. Yes having options for lower cost quality tools is great for anyone just starting out.
Festool does have the end guard for the tracks, been available for years and included in the FS/2 angle stop kit that was released about 18 months ago.
I use to use a frame rail from an old bed. Set it on what I need to cut and clamp it down so the saw blade is on the mark at both ends of what I'm going to cut. I have a straight edge tool now. Two 4 foot pieces that can be connected for an 8 foot cut. I think it's made by Swanson. Just have to make sure the plate on the saw slides along the straight edge and the blade is set right on the mark. Pretty quick and easy and works nicely. I got the straight edge from my brother so I don't know what it cost. And a bonus. You can make beveled cuts.
I needed something to cut down 4x8 sheets a few years ago. I knew I’d only use a track once or twice a year and already owned 2 circular saws and couldn’t justify spending 2-4 hundred for a track saw. I purchased a similar product (not this one) and it worked perfectly for my needs around the house.
My problem exactly. I inherited 2 circular saws, had one of my own, and both my dad and I have battery powered minis. How many circular saws does a gal need?
Thanks for the confirmation video for this system. I just ordered this system last week. I didn't need to purchase a full track saw as I wanted something to basically breakdown sheet goods for easier cutting on the table saw. I tried a few "cheap" straight edge system and got what I paid for (lesson learned). I will probably buy a new circular saw to dedicate to this system. Thanks for all the good feedback...Blessings
Looks like the old eurekazone smart track system. I had one for years and then gave it to a friend who still uses it. Worked very well for angled cuts and square cuts. Biggest limitation was depth of cut. A normal 7 1/4 inch saw on the base could barely do a 2 by. Really only a problem when cutting something like an exterior door.
2:51 - seems like a better system than the Bora system. I bought the Bora system and it had no way to align the blade parallel to the track, other than whatever method you devise. Was very difficult. Then, there were only three plastic clamps holding the saw to the sliding base, and it didn't take much effort at all to push the whole saw relative to the base, throwing off whatever parallel-ness you created previously. No matter how much I tightened the clamps. I wound up sending it back on the second day, and just bought a Bora clamping straight edge, which I use without the sliding sled.
The more and more I look at the Milescraft the more and more impressed I am with them. Way under rated and very cost effective. I recently purchased their pocket hole jig and it's been fantastic! I'll likely be picking this up as well. Thanks for the video Matt! 👊🏼
Looks a lot better than the Kreg one that I have. The plastic sled on the Kreg is easy to warp when locking down the saw. Plus sawdust can collect around the saw pushing it out of alignment. I made several cuts then suddenly my cuts started eating into the track because of this.
I love this, it is a great system. They also have spare parts and replacement edging reasonably priced as I found out after an...ahem...mishap. One thing I wish they (or someone) made was a square attachment.
This looks like a great way to use your battery circular saw to break down sheet goods in the big box store parking lots as it seems most of their saws are always broken.
You could probably use superglue or other glue to make those endcaps more snug. Just add a spot of superglue to one or two strategic points, then shave off tiny bits of that until it fits very tight and take effort to pull it off. Just a thought I think worthy of trying.
I have the Kreg Rip-Cut guide, and while it mostly works, it has enough flaws that I've been eyeing track saws. The Kreg's clamps (that hold the saw in place) aren't great, and the thicker your saw's baseplate, the worse they hold. My corded DeWalt saw has a really thick Aluminum baseplate and I could never get it locked in to where I trusted it. Another drawback is the whole systems has to slide over the plywood as you are cutting. There's also a lot of flex in the whole system so its easy to end up with cuts that are not square. When I need to break down a full sheet, I use the Kreg for the initial cuts just to get the sheet into a more manageable size. Then then I have to take the smaller pieces over to my table saw to clean up the edges. This means my initial cuts have to be oversized and I waste more wood. The only thing that has kept me from getting a track saw is the price. For $100, this thing looks really tempting. I have a few other Milescraft products and they seem to do well at creating products that walk the fine line between affordable and good.
Ah! I think I heard what I wondered:as is this a option if I don't have a table saw? I have Milwaukee tools, but no saw. So I was going to buy one item "good enough" to do all. My needs will be rare: cutting maybe a board or post once a year for a DIY project. I figured the 6'ish sized circular saw, and perhaps this track to make sure my cuts are straight. Since I totally cop to being a novice, I'm writing to ask am I making the right choice? I have a jigsaw and a dremel, but those cuts are always ragged, not straight, and take forever.
🤛 Great review. This review was oddly timed for me. I just, 4 days ago, purchased a Kreg Adaptive Cutting System, Saw + 62" Guide Track Kit. I will definity be purchasing this Milescraft Track Saw guide system for one of my Dewalt circular saws. I will leave that saw connected to adapter once it's set up. This way I can use it to make quick work breaking down plywood along with simple rip and cross cuts.
Love watching your vids I’m diy not a contractor or woodworker but I see how every tool now revolves around batteries other than a drill and impact driver I still can’t see the justification for spending such enormous amount of dollars on cordless tools batteries are heavy, clumsy, and weather prone just my 2 cents
Two point about end caps; they are probably there mainly for shipping to protect all the channels from dropped box damage, and; if the cap is used to prevent snagged hose/cord then only one is needed at the start (any snag pushes it into track vs out of place), the one at the finish end is unnecessary. If you want to protect the track against drop damage the end caps could be glued in place, one on a start end, one on a finish end, and the rest slip on and off for storage.
I see many people running out to buy. With the many drawbacks you gave good examples of, Would not Wen be a better solution for approximate same price? If you do not agree, could you help us understand why? Thanks
I've never owned a Milescraft product, but I may look into this circular saw track. My Kreg Rip Cut has been fine for me for a couple years but it has its limitations.
I have an old Craftsman corded track saw. It has been great. Best way to cut down sheets. But it doesn’t get used very much and it wasn’t cheap! If this had been available back then I would definitely gone with it. 👍
Thanks for the video. I look forward to videos where you build projects that are possible for the woodworker on a budget and to tool reviews that a weekend woodworker can afford and use. Thanks again.
I made my own out of an 8 foot x 12 inch wide piece of 1/4 inch plywood, with an 8 foot piece of oak 1x2 glued and screwed about 2 inches from the left edge of plywood. You lay your circular saw against the 1x2 and make a full pass so that it cuts the plywood to the exact width. Now to use it, simply line up the right side edge of plywood where you want to cut, clamp the whole jig down with just 2 squeeze clamps, and run the saw against the 1x2! Done
That's exactly what I did with some laminate flooring. Works great and it's basically made of leftover junk. Mitre bond activated glue did the trick for joining the parts in seconds. I threw it away once it got a bit battered and will make a new one when needed.
For 90$ you can get a wen. That’s what I did because I just do 90s on rips for table tops etc. the Wen SUCKS for angle chamfer cuts, so if you need that go up to a makita or something. However, if you have a nice circular saw that’s larger then this track would work great.
I guess anyone wanting to make a bevel with this would have to create some angled jigs to go under the track and have a way to clamp it so it doesn't move. Too bad there isn't some option on the saw carriage that can shift the saw over as needed to get bevels, maybe this'll be a future upgrade for Milescraft.
I have a Kreg Accu-Cut that is very similar to the Milescraft system you have. The Kreg works okay, but can't compare to an actual track saw. I bought a used Makita track saw and it's not just the track itself that makes the dedicated one way better, but the ease of use of the plunge feature on the saw itself.
Thanks for the review! I might need to pick up a kit to help me break down sheet goods, because I'm definitely not comfortable with trying to use my ultra-cheap, crappy job-site table saw to break down full sheets.
Nice Informative Video, always enjoy your material. I purchase the newer version of Bora. Their new cradle is much improved over older cradle and their new rail & clamp system is much improved. That all said, ripped nice but didn’t meet the Track saw desire… purchased a Festool 55 REB, returned and purchased new Milwaukee and it’s a Great setup. Returned after Your’s and Several Others were showing the Milwaukee.
I mostly will be doing 90° cuts. The Wen tracksaw and 100" track or Powered track are about the same cost as the Milescraft tracksaw guide. So which purchase makes the most sense for accurate cuts, ease of use, and longevity. I won't be using this frequently.
I'd probably go with the WEN for ease of use. No set up, mounting saw in this carrier and taking it out. With the WEN, put track down, put saw on it, cut.
I really enjoy your videos. I’m definitely getting this. Because of your video on wood craft in ft worth I went there yesterday. It was so nice to find some of the items you’ve talked about. The store is great. The staff was so gracious in helping me since I’m in an electric chair. Can’t say enough good things about them and your videos. Thank you
I have the bora clamping tracks and the sled it comes with is cheap plastic. Also the tracks are too thick when combined with the sled so i can't cut very deep even with my 7 1/4" saw. I hoped it would be a cheaper alternative to a track saw but it's let me down. This is looking pretty attractive considering the Milwaukee track saw is over $500.
I've been holding out for track saw pricing to make more sense (excluding that Fischer-Price abomination re-branded as Wen). This looks to be a pretty good stop-gap. Think I'll pick it up. Thanks.
I have the 6 1/2" Kobalt circular saw. The blade is on the left side of the saw. I wonder it will work with this track? My main use is to break down 1/4" plywood for our laser.
Dang man, it’s like you’re reading my mind with these videos lately. Looks like I know what my track saw Setup is going to look like now. Thanks for the reviews 🤙🏻
Question - The Milescraft Track Saw Guide Kit will it work with the small RYOBI 18-Volt Cordless 5.5 inch Circular Saw? Will the small saw fit on the sled?
There was a tiny bit of unsquare there. However the chunk of walnut I was using, the top had quite a bit of snipe in it on top that caused it to look more out of square than it was. I think this is a good solution for sheet goods and 2x material. The quality of the blade and saw will make a big difference.
So when you use the spacer how do you make sure there’s a little space between the blade and the spacer and that it’s straight? Because I keep cutting into the red plastic straight edge because my blade is too close. Of course I could pull it back a little bit, but then I wouldn’t be sure to have it on straight and my cuts might be off a couple of degrees. Hopefully someone can help.
I’ve used a plan straight edge guide for my standard type skil saw for years. This seems maybe a step up from that. Not sure the time spent monkeying around with the plate and track is any better than just clamping a good straight edge to your material to cut. 🤷♂️ One of the main reasons to get a quality track saw is to cut an angle, and this won’t do that.
I have recently purchased Milescraft product. I see that the plate that you attach the saw to is a completely different one I received compared to yours. Mine is plastic and required some modification before it worked. Some of the details you show are not included in the product I received, but in any case I am very happy with the product. It works well and at a very good price. Thank you for the tip :)
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Just realized this track guide missed the non-sticking surface under the guide. This is a BIG omission. One of the main convenience of current Festools, Makita track saw is their track guide almost has no need to clamp because the non-stick tape in the under side work so well. This makes their tracks so swift to use. I think you should add your own non-sticking tape under this guide. Now I see this guide as a clone of Kreg's saw guide (the part connect to the saw) combined with a clone of other manfacturer's track guides, without understanding their full benefits.
Just a heads up, Amazon says it is, Currently unavailable
How does the saw guide compare to the rip guide which seems to work very similarly but doesn't need to have extra pieces?
Makita sells track adapters for all their circular saws and they allow you to do bevel cuts, plus the Makita track isn't proprietary so you could get whatever big brand track is on sale.
I love the fact that some non mainstream companies are making it easy and INEXPENSIVE for those of us who can’t drop hundreds of dollars on name brand items.
Always found Milescraft has the quality without the big price tag. Great products
Totally agree!
Absolutely. I have a bunch of their stuff and none of it has let me down.
@@731Woodworks Mafell includes the caps both sides on every track
I bought something off Amazon and they sent me a blatantly used item. I was pretty upset. Also it didn’t fit my tool so I returned it. I never left a review cuz I thought maybe it was an oversight. I will give them another try but I’m definitely skeptical
@@nonplayablecharacter4815 That's an Amazon issue, not Milescraft.
I think I'm going to get this. I break down sheet goods "on site" quite a bit, where I really wouldn't bring a track saw anyway. For a real track saw, I would prefer longer track pieces, for job-site work, the packability of short segments is an advantage.
Hey Matt.
Because of your video, I ordered this from Milescraft. It came today, I set it up and bam! Perfect for a small garage/driveway shop that's a bit overwhelmed by my Grizzly tablesaw.😊
I've had the Bora for a few years. The track is much smaller and the sled is really cheap plastic. There's no stability, all kinds of play, and the clamping mechanism on the track is finicky and had me going back and forth around the workpiece to carefully get it square. I hated using it, so it was quickly retired and just used as a straight edge.
Because of the clamp handle on the Bora, I couldn't use a long t square. Seriously, anyone considering a Bora guide, just don't do it.
The Milescraft solved the squaring problem and my first cuts have been great.
The blade spacer is brilliant.
Thanks, man!
Awesome! Great to hear!
I've bought a few Milescraft products and I was very happy with the quality. Right now I can't afford a full blown track saw but I'm going to invest in this. It's the perfect solution for in between clamping a straight edge or track saw. Great video and review !
I've been using a 10' long piece of 3/4" steel square tubing. Clamp it down 1 1/4" in from cut for my saw on short side. Not going to keep the depth square but works great for straight cuts.
I'm a fan of Milescraft. I've purchased two of their products before. Best use I've got out of one of them is the circular cutting with a router jig and it does not disappoint! When I purchased it I was not sure what to expect because of the relative low price I had paid. But it's well worth it!
Aaron my husband got me that same Milescraft circular kit for Christmas but I haven't tried it yet. Good to know it is worth the purchase. I'm still very new to routers and learning how to use them. I also have the double pocket hole jig from Milescraft and like it very much. I just ordered the Milescraft 700 pocket hole screw assortment from Amazon and it was nice with the carry case that comes with it along with two more bits. I really like the star bits over the square that Kreg uses.
One point I didn't hear but is important. The squareness of the cut will only be as accurate as your blade to base plate angle. Most know this but it's worth mentioning for those just getting into this sort of stuff. Always check the blade to base plate accuracy on any skill saw with an accurate square. Make sure it's at 90 degrees, it doesn't take much to move it on many skill type saws. I've seen some that just setting it down a bit too hard moves the base plate (don't ask how I know that for sure).
That is why you get the blade spacer with it. You have to align the blade to that, rather than rely on the saw base plate
I have 2 55” Makita tracks and the fancy TSO connector. And I found that to get them perfectly aligned, I still rely on an 8’ aluminum level when I’m screwing the connectors down. Lesson is: doesn’t matter if it’s 2 or 4 connectors: get an 8’ aluminum level for alignment.
I’ve had a cabinet shop for 15 years. Built every jig I have including my router table for cutting my own doors. Easiest track setup in the world is a piece of 1/2” import birch ply, about 8”x 72-96”, and then a piece of 1/2” or 1/4” and rip a 1 1/2-2 1/2” rip. Take your 6-8’ level, lay it on the larger piece and butt the factory edge of the 1/4” piece against the level and secure it to the 1/2”. Run your saw over it and your done. It’s free if you have scrap
Bingo!
Make a video, mate.
Not talented enough for all that, but I could build whatever you wanted
I respect your take on this and tools are not getting any cheaper these days. I have a dedicated mafell track saw and therefore don’t need it. However, I like when there are options for younger guys with tight budgets to get into the trade or hobby; it’s not getting easier for younger guys these days to accumulate the tools needed to make an income from them. Additionally, your so much more capable in a trade or hobby the sooner you dive in, anything that helps that I’m all for.
Benjamin I just want to point out that wood working and buying tools is not gender specific. Many women like myself enjoy building and acquiring tools. I've piddled for years but just recently became more serious about buying all the correct tools for different jobs. Yes having options for lower cost quality tools is great for anyone just starting out.
Festool does have the end guard for the tracks, been available for years and included in the FS/2 angle stop kit that was released about 18 months ago.
and they cost $19.99 each no doubt…😂
I use to use a frame rail from an old bed. Set it on what I need to cut and clamp it down so the saw blade is on the mark at both ends of what I'm going to cut. I have a straight edge tool now. Two 4 foot pieces that can be connected for an 8 foot cut. I think it's made by Swanson. Just have to make sure the plate on the saw slides along the straight edge and the blade is set right on the mark. Pretty quick and easy and works nicely. I got the straight edge from my brother so I don't know what it cost. And a bonus. You can make beveled cuts.
I needed something to cut down 4x8 sheets a few years ago. I knew I’d only use a track once or twice a year and already owned 2 circular saws and couldn’t justify spending 2-4 hundred for a track saw. I purchased a similar product (not this one) and it worked perfectly for my needs around the house.
My problem exactly. I inherited 2 circular saws, had one of my own, and both my dad and I have battery powered minis. How many circular saws does a gal need?
Hats off to Dino and his EZ Smart system who pioneered this many years ago
Thanks for the confirmation video for this system. I just ordered this system last week. I didn't need to purchase a full track saw as I wanted something to basically breakdown sheet goods for easier cutting on the table saw. I tried a few "cheap" straight edge system and got what I paid for (lesson learned). I will probably buy a new circular saw to dedicate to this system. Thanks for all the good feedback...Blessings
Looks like the old eurekazone smart track system. I had one for years and then gave it to a friend who still uses it. Worked very well for angled cuts and square cuts. Biggest limitation was depth of cut. A normal 7 1/4 inch saw on the base could barely do a 2 by. Really only a problem when cutting something like an exterior door.
2:51 - seems like a better system than the Bora system. I bought the Bora system and it had no way to align the blade parallel to the track, other than whatever method you devise. Was very difficult. Then, there were only three plastic clamps holding the saw to the sliding base, and it didn't take much effort at all to push the whole saw relative to the base, throwing off whatever parallel-ness you created previously. No matter how much I tightened the clamps. I wound up sending it back on the second day, and just bought a Bora clamping straight edge, which I use without the sliding sled.
I've used my Kreg track jig dozens of times and love it. These things are excellent resources.
Have you ever tested or looked at the Bora clamps and the saw guide accessory?
The more and more I look at the Milescraft the more and more impressed I am with them. Way under rated and very cost effective. I recently purchased their pocket hole jig and it's been fantastic! I'll likely be picking this up as well. Thanks for the video Matt! 👊🏼
Make sure you use the link in his description so he will get a little something from the purchase
@@woodworkingandepoxy643 I always do. I have no issue with it.
Looks a lot better than the Kreg one that I have. The plastic sled on the Kreg is easy to warp when locking down the saw. Plus sawdust can collect around the saw pushing it out of alignment. I made several cuts then suddenly my cuts started eating into the track because of this.
I love this, it is a great system. They also have spare parts and replacement edging reasonably priced as I found out after an...ahem...mishap. One thing I wish they (or someone) made was a square attachment.
I have 3 Milescraft tools and all 3 are great. Great price, good quality, and never any issues. Plan to buy more from them.
You can buy stops that hook onto the end of pretty much any track and keep your track square and locked to your material
This looks like a great way to use your battery circular saw to break down sheet goods in the big box store parking lots as it seems most of their saws are always broken.
Thank you for sharing this alternative to a full track saw. Stay warm, safe, happy and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia
You could probably use superglue or other glue to make those endcaps more snug. Just add a spot of superglue to one or two strategic points, then shave off tiny bits of that until it fits very tight and take effort to pull it off.
Just a thought I think worthy of trying.
I've got a Milescraft drill guide (no drill press). I've had good luck with this brand.
A little bit of rtv silicone on the bottom side of those end caps could hold them on, but still be easy to remove them when you need to.
I have the Kreg Rip-Cut guide, and while it mostly works, it has enough flaws that I've been eyeing track saws. The Kreg's clamps (that hold the saw in place) aren't great, and the thicker your saw's baseplate, the worse they hold. My corded DeWalt saw has a really thick Aluminum baseplate and I could never get it locked in to where I trusted it. Another drawback is the whole systems has to slide over the plywood as you are cutting. There's also a lot of flex in the whole system so its easy to end up with cuts that are not square. When I need to break down a full sheet, I use the Kreg for the initial cuts just to get the sheet into a more manageable size. Then then I have to take the smaller pieces over to my table saw to clean up the edges. This means my initial cuts have to be oversized and I waste more wood.
The only thing that has kept me from getting a track saw is the price. For $100, this thing looks really tempting. I have a few other Milescraft products and they seem to do well at creating products that walk the fine line between affordable and good.
Thanks for the review Matt! A definite improvement over cutting by eye. Those of us who cannot afford a track saw should give it a try! 😊😊😊❤❤
Ah! I think I heard what I wondered:as is this a option if I don't have a table saw? I have Milwaukee tools, but no saw. So I was going to buy one item "good enough" to do all. My needs will be rare: cutting maybe a board or post once a year for a DIY project. I figured the 6'ish sized circular saw, and perhaps this track to make sure my cuts are straight. Since I totally cop to being a novice, I'm writing to ask am I making the right choice? I have a jigsaw and a dremel, but those cuts are always ragged, not straight, and take forever.
🤛 Great review. This review was oddly timed for me. I just, 4 days ago, purchased a Kreg Adaptive Cutting System, Saw + 62" Guide Track Kit. I will definity be purchasing this Milescraft Track Saw guide system for one of my Dewalt circular saws. I will leave that saw connected to adapter once it's set up. This way I can use it to make quick work breaking down plywood along with simple rip and cross cuts.
Love watching your vids I’m diy not a contractor or woodworker but I see how every tool now revolves around batteries other than a drill and impact driver I still can’t see the justification for spending such enormous amount of dollars on cordless tools batteries are heavy, clumsy, and weather prone just my 2 cents
Two point about end caps; they are probably there mainly for shipping to protect all the channels from dropped box damage, and; if the cap is used to prevent snagged hose/cord then only one is needed at the start (any snag pushes it into track vs out of place), the one at the finish end is unnecessary. If you want to protect the track against drop damage the end caps could be glued in place, one on a start end, one on a finish end, and the rest slip on and off for storage.
I see many people running out to buy. With the many drawbacks you gave good examples of, Would not Wen be a better solution for approximate same price? If you do not agree, could you help us understand why? Thanks
100 percent agree. Buy a cheap tracksaw instead!
I've never owned a Milescraft product, but I may look into this circular saw track. My Kreg Rip Cut has been fine for me for a couple years but it has its limitations.
I've used 4' and 8' plywood factory edges for years , with simple measures of blade to saw plate I've accomplished thousands of straight edge cuts
That does look like it does a great job. For just breaking down sheets and squaring edges
Dont know if youve already done it but Milescraft also makes a really versitile router circle jig
I have an old Craftsman corded track saw. It has been great. Best way to cut down sheets. But it doesn’t get used very much and it wasn’t cheap! If this had been available back then I would definitely gone with it. 👍
Ive got a kreg 24 inch rip cut guide. So far its worked in every situation I've needed a track saw but it requires a square edge to reference.
Thanks for the video. I look forward to videos where you build projects that are possible for the woodworker on a budget and to tool reviews that a weekend woodworker can afford and use. Thanks again.
I made my own out of an 8 foot x 12 inch wide piece of 1/4 inch plywood, with an 8 foot piece of oak 1x2 glued and screwed about 2 inches from the left edge of plywood. You lay your circular saw against the 1x2 and make a full pass so that it cuts the plywood to the exact width. Now to use it, simply line up the right side edge of plywood where you want to cut, clamp the whole jig down with just 2 squeeze clamps, and run the saw against the 1x2! Done
That's exactly what I did with some laminate flooring. Works great and it's basically made of leftover junk. Mitre bond activated glue did the trick for joining the parts in seconds. I threw it away once it got a bit battered and will make a new one when needed.
Looks like they did a good job. You could hot glue the end in.
For 90$ you can get a wen. That’s what I did because I just do 90s on rips for table tops etc. the Wen SUCKS for angle chamfer cuts, so if you need that go up to a makita or something. However, if you have a nice circular saw that’s larger then this track would work great.
I guess anyone wanting to make a bevel with this would have to create some angled jigs to go under the track and have a way to clamp it so it doesn't move. Too bad there isn't some option on the saw carriage that can shift the saw over as needed to get bevels, maybe this'll be a future upgrade for Milescraft.
This looks so much better than the Bora track. Wish i would of picked this up over the Bora. Oh well it happens. thanks for the review.
This vs the Kreg version. Which would you recommend?
I have a Kreg Accu-Cut that is very similar to the Milescraft system you have. The Kreg works okay, but can't compare to an actual track saw. I bought a used Makita track saw and it's not just the track itself that makes the dedicated one way better, but the ease of use of the plunge feature on the saw itself.
Will definitely have to take a look at this. I just started my wood working journey and already have an M18 saw this can be used on.
$100 is a really good price for this. Thanks for the review
Really helpful video! Earned my subscription :)
I bought this and it works great! Thanks for the recommendation Matt! Broke down 2 sheets of plywood last weekend with it. 💪🏼
I just bought this based on your review. Thanks.
Hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for the review! I might need to pick up a kit to help me break down sheet goods, because I'm definitely not comfortable with trying to use my ultra-cheap, crappy job-site table saw to break down full sheets.
Nice Informative Video, always enjoy your material. I purchase the newer version of Bora. Their new cradle is much improved over older cradle and their new rail & clamp system is much improved.
That all said, ripped nice but didn’t meet the Track saw desire… purchased a Festool 55 REB, returned and purchased new Milwaukee and it’s a Great setup. Returned after Your’s and Several Others were showing the Milwaukee.
I mostly will be doing 90° cuts. The Wen tracksaw and 100" track or Powered track are about the same cost as the Milescraft tracksaw guide. So which purchase makes the most sense for accurate cuts, ease of use, and longevity. I won't be using this frequently.
I'd probably go with the WEN for ease of use. No set up, mounting saw in this carrier and taking it out. With the WEN, put track down, put saw on it, cut.
A weekend late. Building cornhole boards with my son-in-law last week. This is what we needed to break down lumber.
Hi
I cant find the additional tracks anywhere. Have you used the additional track to cut 8 foot plywood?
Thanks
Great video! Congratulations on 400000 SUBS ! For sheet goods break down looks great! Keep the video’s comin!
Thank you
I have a strait edge (one 4' one 8') and quick clamps, and a tape measure, do I really need this more expensive peice ?????????????????????
I have also found that battery operated saws don't last long enough to actually do any real work!
People cut perfect pieces for years without these things. I do the same as you and within seconds I'm set up.
Can you add multiple tracks together to make it 15ft long?
What if tou set the bevel before mounting the saw? Would it clear then?
Any idea when this will be available in Philippines? Thanks.
0:56 Bosch does include them.
Milwaukee track saw link is broken. Love your content. I respect your reviews and look forward to your recommendations.
The festool and the Mayfall track saws both allow be Elle’s cuts
I really enjoy your videos. I’m definitely getting this. Because of your video on wood craft in ft worth I went there yesterday. It was so nice to find some of the items you’ve talked about. The store is great. The staff was so gracious in helping me since I’m in an electric chair. Can’t say enough good things about them and your videos. Thank you
Thank you Mr. Buddy!
Hey was wondering if a track square would work on this if so what brand would you recommend thanks
WEN track comes with end guards - at least mine does when i arrived, 2 sets of 55"
Would accesories work with this guide rail? Like t track bench dogs, parallel guides, squares, etc.
Is the clamping solid safe, you wouldn't want someone having a serious kickback.
Is this compatible with both left-handed and right-handed circular saws?
I have the bora clamping tracks and the sled it comes with is cheap plastic. Also the tracks are too thick when combined with the sled so i can't cut very deep even with my 7 1/4" saw. I hoped it would be a cheaper alternative to a track saw but it's let me down. This is looking pretty attractive considering the Milwaukee track saw is over $500.
Una duda, en caso de que se cambiará la Sierra circular por otro modelo, no afecta???
at 4.05 I can see light at the top, looks a little out of square to me. And the backside also has a gap.
I noticed too
How does this compare to the Bora track saw system?
could you use the milescraft with a dewalt 4 1/2 inch circular saw ?
This looks like something to invest in since I can use a corded saw 😊
Will this work with a saw with the blade on the left side?
I've been holding out for track saw pricing to make more sense (excluding that Fischer-Price abomination re-branded as Wen).
This looks to be a pretty good stop-gap. Think I'll pick it up. Thanks.
Will this work on a cordless Dewalt left side cutting blade?
I have the 6 1/2" Kobalt circular saw. The blade is on the left side of the saw. I wonder it will work with this track? My main use is to break down 1/4" plywood for our laser.
Dang man, it’s like you’re reading my mind with these videos lately.
Looks like I know what my track saw Setup is going to look like now.
Thanks for the reviews 🤙🏻
Would you recommend the Wen Track Saw or the Milescraft?
Can it be run reversed if you have a left handed circular saw?
Question - The Milescraft Track Saw Guide Kit will it work with the small RYOBI 18-Volt Cordless 5.5 inch Circular Saw? Will the small saw fit on the sled?
I wish you would have done a direct comparison to the Kreg Tracksaw Jig. I bought one on January for $90 but did not have a chance to use it yet.
Correct me if I'm wrong but the cut @4:00 doesn't look square at all ? Is there so much blade wobble?
There was a tiny bit of unsquare there. However the chunk of walnut I was using, the top had quite a bit of snipe in it on top that caused it to look more out of square than it was. I think this is a good solution for sheet goods and 2x material. The quality of the blade and saw will make a big difference.
When you have a moment, please review the Bora system. I found them online at Home Depot. Thanks for the review,
So when you use the spacer how do you make sure there’s a little space between the blade and the spacer and that it’s straight? Because I keep cutting into the red plastic straight edge because my blade is too close. Of course I could pull it back a little bit, but then I wouldn’t be sure to have it on straight and my cuts might be off a couple of degrees. Hopefully someone can help.
I’ve used a plan straight edge guide for my standard type skil saw for years. This seems maybe a step up from that. Not sure the time spent monkeying around with the plate and track is any better than just clamping a good straight edge to your material to cut. 🤷♂️ One of the main reasons to get a quality track saw is to cut an angle, and this won’t do that.
Is there a "Guide Rail Square" accessory that works with this ?
That's pretty sweet. I've had good luck outta the few milescraft tools I've picked up.
I have recently purchased Milescraft product. I see that the plate that you attach the saw to is a completely different one I received compared to yours. Mine is plastic and required some modification before it worked. Some of the details you show are not included in the product I received, but in any case I am very happy with the product. It works well and at a very good price. Thank you for the tip :)
I haven’t used one, but isn’t clamping a straight board or 2x4 and using that just as fast?