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Torque Test Channel has shown the battery itself makes a world of difference, I wonder how the Milwaukee Track Saw would chew through material with the new 12.0 Forge battery?
I decided to go ahead and purchase a track saw. Was tired of fighting a straight edge clamp that would shift when I clamped it. I was on the M18 battery platform, and the was a sale for the M18 track saw, included a 55” track and track clamps. Got it in, and I am very happy with the purchase, Adjustments, riving knife, etc.
I'm proud of you for bringing in Makita to the mix of your tool reviews. I've been using them for 20+ years and have never looked back. Thanks for sharing your opinions and for explaining all the features.
I've been a carpenter for 45 plus years. When i started working for my dad, also a builder/carpenter all his working career. We never used any kind of track type tools for cutting plywood. Just a straight 1x4, clamped to the sheet, if you needed a perfectly straight cut. When i went on my own, I found a very simple track set-up that came with 2 pieces of 3/16s aluminum angleiron and an attachment for a circular saw. So I permanently attached it to a 6 1/2 inch corded circular saw. I believe it cost me under 200 dollars. The 2 pieces of angle aluminum were 9 ft and 5 ft. Allowing full 8ft and 4ft cross cut. I guess to each his own, but these big ole track rigs don't impress me as a carpenter. But I appreciate your video. 👍
My uncle has the Festool track saw. He was very pleased with himself for having fine German power tools. He was very displeased when his batteries died and I ran my $200 DeWalt circular saw along the side of his $1,100 track saw kit and got the same results with only a tiny amount more effort.
I've had a Wen 7&1/4" corded saw for a few years. At the time it was the cheapest track saw around. Thought I wouldn't use it too much, but I've ended up using it A LOT. Built two kitchens with it. Running it on Powertec tracks it works fine for breaking down sheet goods. I'm perfectly happy with it.
I just purchased the 7 1/4 " Wen track saw. IMHO it can't be beat for it's value. I just can't justify the money for those top 3 choices. By the way, want to save money on track? Buy WEN, their track works with all 3 of your top choices.
I'm a DIYer and really liked your review. I live in Australia so power tools are much more expensive. The lowest priced locally available track saw is AU $229. But it looks inferior to the Grizzly, Our Ryobi system is $499 for the basic with 1400mm track. The Makita 18v x2 (skin only) is AU$845. I have made my own track system using the cheapest Makita cordless saw and plywood tracks. They have served me well.
I have what is almost certainly that budget no-brand saw (Toolshed NZ), and it has been surprisingly good. I dont think it would survive being dropped, but the motor has been bombproof and done a ton of work - honestly, orders of magnitude better than the two $hite Bosch Green tools that I've had to bin after just a couple of hours cumulative work.
I completely agree, I have the Ridgid and Milwaukee track saw. I love both of them, I really think they are very comparable, especially running the Ridgid 12 AH and the Milwaukee Forge. Good job !!
For years I saved and saved thinking of buying the Festool track saw. Then... Milwaukee has a track saw.... and everyone has a "decent" track saw offering. I went with Milwaukee since I already have Packout and M18 batteries. Then again, I also have Systainer as I do have a Festool sander and a Festool dust extractor. Ah well, I love the Milwaukee track saw. It adjusts accurately, it cuts precisely and it has decent storage and works with accessories. Thanks for doing all this work, Matt. Your videos are great at explaining the details that are so important in these tool purchase decisions.
I got the Milwaukee M18 since I was already on their battery system... For my projects a track saw is a game changer for my home DIY. It's fun to watch a video about the best, but for me the best one is the one that works for me in my shop... So far, loving it as it speeds me along my project and I can break the sheet goods down quickly. I tried the circular saw and the table saw can't make the cuts safely if I'm by myself... Fantastic saw and I'm using it almost all the time now.
I run that Makita and love it. This is a fair review (finally!). The Milwaukee did not exist when I bought mine. If I were starting from scratch, I think Team Red would just barely scrape out ahead of the competition. Go with whatever battery platform you'd rather be on. If you have both, go with whichever is on sale. The Makita goes on sale about every 18-ish months at Home Depot. I suspect the same will happen with the Milwaukee.
Milwaukee makes good tools(unless you get one of the couple models of impacts that kill themselves right out of the box) but their batteries don't last. My OG Makita LXT 18v drill and impact driver are over 10 years old and still using the original batteries from over 10 years ago, and they still outperform the Milwaukee batteries. All the other guys at work are team red and they go through batteries like crazy and I've never had a Makita battery go bad, and I've got about $8k worth of makita tools and batteries.
For me Makita would still edge out, the red tools are not as common here where I live and the repairability and reliability of Makita edge out over the red tools which is important in my book, which isn't covered in the review for obvious reasons.
@@smnkm4ehfer I even have had good luck with Makita battery knockoffs working well. They are OK compatible with the charger (sometimes the fully charged green light does not come on), the run time even after a few years of use is still great, and have good power output. I have my whole shop running on Makita batteries so that would be a no-brainer for me. I have no use for a track saw tho, as I am getting too old to sling sheet goods around.
Great review. One of my first selection criteria is where the product is manufactured. I try to buy built in USA, but price, quality, expandability, and features are also considered. I’m just a DIYer for home jobs. I have an original Skil Saw that’s around 55 years old and still running. Unfortunately, the new 6.5 inch blades seem to be thinner than what they used to be. It’s amazing what a few thousandths of an inch can do in not being able to securely tighten the blade. What advantage (if any) does a blade saw have over a table saw? Trying to decide where to spend my money. Also, can a blade saw be used without the blade and is there a limited distance it can cut without the blade? Thanks again.
I had a makita corded track saw, I now have a festool tsv 60. For me as a cabinet maker we use melamine coated particle board and laminate a lot. The TSV 60 with its extra scribing blade leaves chip free cuts which I can then run through the edge bander. Expensive but cheaper than a sliding panel saw.
The fact that the Milwaukee only needs one battery to do the same work seems like a HUGE benefit over the other high end saws. It's also a testimony to the quality of their motors.
I have the corded Festool. Since I'm only using it in my shop and I'm always going to have the dust hose attached anyway I don't see any benefit to cordless.
@@mcapaldi3 every one of the 40/80v Makita tools I own are as powerful as the corded variant and the batteries seem to last forever. Any time I let someone try my tools, they’re blown away too. And not having to deal with cords on tools that aren’t stationary is massive as far as efficiency goes. I had a project last week putting in joists on a house where the nearest power was 250’ away. Usually I use my corded Bosch 10/12” slider chop saws because they’re one of my favorite remaining corded tools (their tablesaw is one of the others), but running that much cord is impractical and not smart. So I broke out the 40 volt 12” Makita slider saw. I was able to cut all the crush blocks for the joists with less than 2 4ah batteries. That’s about 100 cuts through 3.5”x12” TJIs. Get a bigger battery and you could set a saw up like this on site and run it all day and never have to change out the battery. Not sure why people still living in the past thinking cordless tech hasn’t evolved drastically over the last 10 years but I’m totally fine with it cause I have plenty of high quality tools I need to sell.
We use cordless for everything except demolition hammers and concrete breakers, 9' grinders and track sanders. My father was concerned about the power of the tools and how long will the tools and batteries last. Our Makita tools withheld 4 years without a single issue and downtime, except for our 36V rotary hammer which after 3 years of heavy use burnt its motor out, likely because it overheated. The practical nature of not having to set up a cord is easily understated. We work at remote sites and sometimes you can't get electricity if the neighborhood is empty apartment buildings. Work on roof and high places is also safer and less cumbersome if there is no cord to worry about. 13 18V Makita tools and 22 batteries, and recently we purchased 4 40V XGT tools and batteries, as we look to upgrade several of our tools to a beefier platform. 4 years of work with 18V Makita tools, I can tell you corded is so much better.
In my country Australia, just for the skin, no kit, the milwaukee is $150 cheaper, and in a kit the makita is 150 cheaper. Its strange the difference between countries
I agreed with every placement except for one. I'd put the Ridgid #4. Plenty of power for 99% of work. I don't see the downside on compatibility because the tracks are reasonable priced anyhow. Power doesn't outway the lack of anti-tip, cumbersome blade change, cumbersome track adjustment, and most importantly, the Jabba/Ursula indicator...For the $ I just don't see a lot of negatives? IMHO of course🤜🤜🤜🤜 Thanks for the vid!
I got very confused when I came to "outway". I read fast so that was mostly my bad as I had to try to understand what was being said. (Literacy is very overrated)
I looked at all these saws and some others. I have quite a few Rigid and a couple Milwaukee tools. Just picked up the Rigid, with the 8 Ah battery and tracks. Didn't feel the need to spend more on the others as I will be using mine on the occasional home project and felt this would be a good fit. Also hard to beat the warranty as long as you register your tool.
Several years ago, I purchased the Festool and fell in love with it. Last year I was using it, suddenly it was making weird noises and started to smoke. I sent it to Festool for a repair estimate. I was shocked by the estimate (sorry I don't remember what it was) and the very limited warranty. After my research, I decided to go with the Makita. During one cut (sheet goods), due to an error on my part, the blade was pinched as it finished the cut. The saw jumped backwards, damaged the track edge, rode up on top of the track cutting a small chunk out of the track. During the cuts, I did notice that it would slightly bog down. With Festool, I never noticed the motor bogging down. For me, adjusting the cut depth was more difficult on the Makita. Yes the Festool is MORE expensive than the Festool but knowing what I know now, I would purchase the Festool rather than the Makita. BTY, dust-collection on the Makita is as good as the Festool.
I've had the cordless Festool for about four years now, and it is a great tool, but if I was buying now, I'd go for the Milwaukee. For one thing, I prefer a riving knife over Festool's new kickback protection mechanism. Paradoxically, I suspect you're going to get more kickbacks from which you need protection with the kickback protection system. You can't really go wrong with any of your top 3 saws, though. They're all much better than what you could get when I started out.
I'm journeyman carpenter and contractor specializing in millwork installation. I've been using track saws on the job site since 2002. I use Festool simply because they were the only track saw on the market in 2002. I've never bought "accessories" for my saws because for the most part all I wanted out of them was a quality cut on finished material and dust collection. I'm retired now but still run a shop and still use a 2002 vintage festool to break out sheet goods. What they don't tell you ... and the reason I use Festool sanders, routers and saws ... is you can ship them back to festool and get them rebuilt for a fraction of the cost of a new tool. They come back like brand new tools. The initial cost of a new festool saw is high but the lifecycle cost of the saw is relatively cheap if you have to buy a new saw every 5 years.
I've had 4 sanders and a kapex rebuilt/serviced/fixed.... about half the cost of new but they come back so clean they look like new.... it's kinda amazing.
Thank you for this review, very helpfull. I am going for the thewalt for jobsite straight cutting, and the festool for fine woodworking. The possibillity to adjust the rating based on things I find iportant, makes an good review in my opnion.
Strongly agree. I also have the Bosch and it is a beast. Powerful, accurate, and great dust collection. The guide rails are also excellent and they have the best track connector of any system. In his defence, the Bosch TS doesn't get a lot of love in the US and Canada because Bosch does a terrible job of marketing it here. Bosch/Mafell is very popular in Europe because they actively market and support the product over there. It's also much harder to buy aftermarket accessories compared to Festool, Makita etc. because companies like TSO completely ignore Bosch. Fortunately European companies like Benchdogs make great accessories for it such as rail squares, rail hinges and parallel guides. I've never understood why Bosch doesn't market their track saw system better because they push all of their other power tools quite aggressively in North America. Any Bosch reps out there listening?
@@realJohnJohn They're in the middle from what I can see. Slightly more expensive than the other top saws from Makita and Milwaukee. But much cheaper than Festool.
@@ogwoodworks on the other side, Default and Milfookee cost about 2x more in Europe, and there is a limited selection. Still better than like 10yrs ago when they weren't available in EU at all. And, to add salt to the wound, the dark grey Flex lineup is completely non-existent in Europe. All I can do is watch the reviews of them and envy. I'd build up my collection from them for sure.
I agree Milwaukee based on price and battery system, last time the Milwaukee won with you on battery options. Great review should of had prices on all models.
This is a fantastic review and I think you really got it completely right. The big 3 are at the top for a reason. I have an erbauer which is almost a carbon copy of the triton ( just a different colour) and I get some fantastic cuts from it. No issues and I find it very accurate , but it could b better. If I could justify the price I would buy Milwaukee. At work we use various Milwaukee tools ( grinders, nut guns, drills , impact drivers, saw-saws , battery grease guns and impact ratchets ) for the past few years now and they have proven to be bullet proof. They have been dropped , partially driven over , submerged in water and been left outside in all types of weather conditions....but they never break or fail. I'm looking to buy the Makita soon , as I think that when price is considered it is without doubt the best bang for your buck on the plunge saw market. And the reliability is very close to Milwaukee. A lot of tradesmen that I know are now turning hair back on Dewalt. Their reliability and usability issues are becoming a bad reputation for the company. A major fall from grace in the recent years.
Fantastic and very helpful for review! I do suggest you make the thumb icons on your ratings a different color because on the phone we can't tell the difference with the bold
I use the dewalt track saw. It's been amazing. The odd pivoting I was show by dewalt was actually and engineer difference allowing better plunging or something. I don't personally see the advantage how I use it, but I remember at the time being shown and going...ah... I got mine for a steel with a sale that I swear was a misprint and for my investment it trumps anything I have ever scene. I bought the 102"track.. i need a short track still. . The 102 is great for sheet rips but must things I cut are far less and then it's almost to much.
About two years ago I bought a Makita over the festool. I have several 110v festool tools that I love. Price was an advantage and already had several battery powered Makita yard tools. I love it and was well used to build my garage cabinets.
I love my makita, it's a really nice tool. I'm neck deep on the makita platform, which is the reason I went with the makita track saw. I was skeptical about a track saw, but I'm so glad I got one. I use it way more than I thought I would, and I kind of got lucky that makita makes a damn good one.
I got the Ryobi track saw for $130 from Direct Tools. I’m pretty happy with it. I just use it from breaking down plywood and making angle rips. With a 6ah HP battery, it does well. I cut two 3/4 inch pieces of plywood on top of each other yesterday 🤷♂️
I think the Milwaukee is the nicest one, but I'm on the DeWalt platform, and already had a couple of 60 volt batteries so I choose that one. I do have the Milwaukee Packout storage system.
The Milwaukee would take an edge over Makita for their storage (Makita boxes are garbage) BUT one thing to consider is that Makita caters more to carpenters, whereas Milwaukee caters to electricians and plumbers. The only exception I can see is the Milwaukee nailers are top tier. Makita has really shit the bed when it comes to their nailers which is why I decided to add another battery pack to my 18/40v Makita lineup. Got tired of waiting and am very pleased with their trim/framing nailers. They’re amazing. In conclusion, turquoise for carpenters (mostly), and Milwaukee if you’re a sparky that likes to cut plywood real nice….? FYI I have the 6.5” and 9.25” Makita track saws. They’re amazing but wish I would’ve waited for the 40v to come out because the 40v is the next level. Every 40/80v tool of theirs I have is insane. Far superior to anything out there. The Japanese just build everything superior.
i picked up the corded Wen with 2 55" tracks for $160 all in. i only got it to break down plywood. put some epoxy putty in the bevel adjustment once i had it dead set at 90° so there is no movement or flex. works great for the one purpose i got it for. the depth adjustment has slipped on me a couple times so i removed it and 3d printed some clip in stops for specific depths. for the money, i'm happy with it, but i wouldn't recommend it to most people.
I used the Makita and bought the Milwaukee. The Makita has awesome power with the dual batteries, but I already own all Milwaukee tools. Your review is spot on , these are the two best track saws for sure.
I came across your test by chance. I have had a Festool plunge-cut saw for 30 years and it still does a very good job. However, as I own many Makita cordless tools, I bought the Makita saw from your test a few months ago and am more than satisfied. I can confirm all the points in the test. The reason for not choosing Festool was the price and the unfortunately small number of other Festool cordless tools. I also didn't want to buy a second battery system.
Good job. I already had a Kreg when I watched this. I like my Kreg because it is 120v. I don't want batteries. I've used a Festool in the past and loved it but not in my budget. Thanks
The tools are very much starting to exceed corded tool performance in many instances 36v 40v and even some 60v performance compared to corded is very much surpassed whats available in plug in offerings. I never thought such a day would come but it very much has. Heck high torque impact greatly surpass their phnematic counter parts . I would have not believed it if someone had said that a makita 18v would out perform in every way my trusty old saved many a day Mac ugga dugga!
I'm leaning towards a corded one, probably Kreg or maybe the plug in Wen. My brother just got the corded Wen and has been pretty happy with it, and it's a lot cheaper than the Kreg. I have Ryobi tools and have been pretty happy with them. I'm a little disappointed in the reviews of their track saw though. I'm also hesitant to get a tool in a different battery platform, so I'm thinking a cord won't be that big of a deal and I should just do that.
Very good review of the low end track saws. I got the Kreg several months ago and really like it. It does all you say it will and the cut is assembly ready. You point out that it will only fit the Kreg track but I am not sure why that is a ding against the saw. I only got the one track but I will probably go back for a second. First cut I made was on 1" foam squares on the garage floor and I did not get the depth adjustment tight enough. Bumbed me out. Amazon delivered new blade in 2 days. Blade change went really well. 🖖
I went with makita corded, i will always use a vacuum so cord can be attached. As well no battery. If i need to breakdown ply at hd i will get them to do it or use my cordless circ saw
I watched many videos and read hundreds of reviews before buying my corded Makita track saw. (Nobody was making cordless options) I've added some additional tracks and it's a great option for me.
I've had the Makita for a couple years and have enjoyed it. As far as anti kick back is concerned. Having anti-tip engaged helps with kick back. It locks the track saw to the track. Having anti-tip is a must have for doing beveled cuts. And I keep my Makita in a Milwaukee Packout. Which ironically enough sits on top of a Milwaukee Dust Extractor.
Fantastic and a very fair and open review, when you brought Makita into the review i knew it would end spat the top of the list and already knew where it would place, Milwaukee has pushed everybody in the industry with the pack out system to get better about serving the customer , the pros ,not the DIYers ,Makita hasn't chased that part of the industry as well as Milwaukee, I use Makita and have since the 80's and have used other systems , none have compared to the batteries or overall build quality ,when a tool is comfortable to use that has to say something about the engineering gone into it, I have a cousin overseas in New Zealand who does the same work as you and says Makita for him hands down and Milwaukee has a very strong presence there and growing 👍
All my work tools are Milwaukee Fuel. All my "around the house" tools are Ryobi. Ryobi is fine for general stuff your doing occasionally, and as you mentioned, their selection is great. But at work, doing heavy or very repetitive work, spend the extra to get a high quality tool that will last.
You should really try the 40v Makita track saw. It has a kickback function and has replaced the 18v version imo. One battery, one charger, less weight, more power than dewalt, longer battery life, better design, and the 40v Makita platform is starting to expand, making it worth the investment.
Decent reviews there ⬆️ 👏🏼 I’m usually a DeWalt user… However I went for a Festool track saw as I needed precision and preferred the plunge action. Kit here comes with batteries so not an issue.
Great review. We're all fan boys of some tool line & it's really hard to turn it off to be objective. My kudos to you as you were able to do what most of us couldn't!
Thanks for the reviews. I was hesitant to buy into the festool system due to price and as you mentioned their lack of other compatible battery tools. Plus the Mikita is on a killer Prime day sale today so gotta pull the trigger on it.
Very fair review of these saws and I also agree with the Festool for the vacuum, I have the Festool Vac and the Makita tracksaw and I want the Milwaukee saw just sadly can not justify the switch yet.
I've had the Makita 36V for a few years and it's been great. A while ago, I impulse-bought the M18 when I saw it on deep discount, largely because I wanted to consolidate to M18 & have a track saw that uses just 1 battery. They're so close/comparable that I haven't been able to bring myself to sell the Makita yet. So naturally, I still have both...
Great comparison as always! I’m glad you mentioned the case differences between the Milwaukee & Makita. I’m surprised Makita still hasn’t changed that bottom tray out with a piece of molded foam or something else.
I got the Milwaukee tracksaw as a kit for a really great deal. I bought the 55" track and I like it so much that I gave my old Makita corded tracksaw and track to a friend.
As usual, honest and independent testing.... Milwaukee always comes out at or very near the top. Just honestly wish I had Milwaukee money to buy their tools.
Agree that they have great tools. I went with Ryobi. No regrets at all. They do everything that I need to do as a DIYer, I've never had one of their tools fail, and a reasonable pricing allows me to get a lot of specialty tools that I could never afford with a contractor brand like Milwaukee or DeWalt.
@@sociopathmercenary I standardized on Ryobi as well, and wish I felt the same way. The more I learn, the more it seems that Milwaukee doesn't make Contractor-grade tools. They just make quality tools. The type of tools grand-pa could easily afford when he was a younger man; for maintaining his home. The type of tools that were the standard for DIYers back then. Nowadays, if you want affordable tools around the house, you have to get lesser quality ones.
@@NGMonocrom If it gives you joy, go for it! I budget myself wherever I can so I can splurge a little when I want. I work from home so I have a 15-year-old car that I keep maintained but only gets a thousand miles a year on it. Hard to justify spending more and it let's me get my wife something nicer with no complaints about the handful of motorcycles in the garage. I budget myself on tools but probably have 50 firearms and a pallet of ammo. We can take vacations whenever we feel like it. I got laid off a few months ago and I just shrugged and have been enjoying the time off. Money doesn't make you happy but it gives you options. However, probably about time to start looking for a job again. LOL
Awesome video! May never purchase a track saw, but I appreciate the insights. Had an opportunity to purchase the Makita but did not have the funds available at the time.
Good review of the offerings. Having owned the Fezzy and the Mak I found them to be very similar in terms of use and quality. The one thing I haven't figured out is that the majority of people are right handed so a left sided blade saw is more natural to use. Most of these saws, you have to use left handed or cock your hand over at a weird angle to use your right hand. Personally, as I work in a shop, I don't need a cordless saw. You already have the dust extractor hose attached so a power cord isn't adding any complication.
Great review, I’ve been struggling with all three of these and trying to select one. Festool first no.. accessories too expensive and limited battery tool options. Milwaukee is a close 2nd only because I don’t have a bunch of their battery operated tools.. Makita, I’m buying primarily because I have a ton of Makita battery tools and chargers. Thank you! ❤❤
As always an awesome video. I am in the market for a track saw and I’m in all the TTI battery platforms. I was surprised to see the Dewalt ranked above the Ridgid as aside from the power it sure seems the Dewalt leaves much to be desired. What I’m curious about is if you could get either the Milwaukee or Ridgid and money was/is a thing to be concerned about, which would you pick? Bare in mind I’m just a home gamer just getting started in woodworking.
Great video as always Matt I bought the Ridgid track saw after watching your review when it came out and then you had it on your tool deal and being on a budget I took advantage of the deal and it a great track saw for me. Thanks for sharing Matt .
Great reviews, Matt. Thank you. Makes me feel better about eventually buying the Dewalt tool, as I've been in that battery system for a while now. God bless, brother!
Great review! Very helpful. Here’s my question for you. I’m using the old plywood board with straight edge homemade “track saw” that we all use at the beginning. I want you upgrade to a track saw. I see myself eventually getting the Makita because im already in that battery platform. My question is …. Are the the cheap options worthwhile? How much better are they than the diy board with a straight edge?
Great info, but I believe that Makita has a new single battery platform (40V) and I’ll wait for a review on that track saw to make my decision, also for the miter saw on that same 40V platform 😃👍🏼
Great review. I have the Makita, and it works brilliantly. Depth of cut might be a criteria to consider in track saws, especially at 45 degrees. Since I always use a dust extractor, I really could go with a corded if I bought again. Then considering the Festool TS60 which is corded solves the battery platform issue. As an option then use Makita tracks and save. The TS60 also has a greater depth of cut. I did not realize how important that could be on some projects. My conclusion, to do again it would be either a corded Makita or corded Festool, track saws are so important to me now, I would prioritize a track saw budget over table saw or even miter saw budgets.
You are spot on for the Ryobi. I only use mine to break down plywood. Works well for that, certainly much better than the circular saw and a straight edge. But I have a table saw for final cuts in plywood and everything else. If I didn’t have the table saw, I would invest in something better, like the Milwaukee or Makita.
Pretty decent review, timely too. I've been considering one for a while and you get an extra tick as my platform is mostly Makita. Thanks for the vid, interesting and informative.
thanks for the review. it was interesting to find that the Kreg runs in the "opposite direction". as a right handed persion, the Kreg allows you to use your right hand when walking along the edge of a cut. no offense to lefties, but wouldn't you think that this would be the norm? why do you suppose the rest are the way they are?
First of all great comprehensive view of track saws. I have two track saws and I am interested in the Kreg saw because it cuts in the opposite direction (for cutting stair skirting to risers - probably the only time I will use this feature) plus the corded Kreg is easily adapted to the CT dust extractors. As far as dust extractors go, I will always recommend the Festool CT MIDI I, easy to transport, already has BT and easy to install the $50.00 BT switch.
Fair review! I have kicked about going with either the Makita or Milwaukee. I have a ton of Milwaukee batteries, but Im not opposed to buying into a saw that comes with enough batteries like the Makita. I may end up buying the corded Makita simply because its less pricey, but time will tell.
You'll be more than happy with the Makita; and you'll be blown away by the Makita batteries in comparison to the others(batteries are an expensive part of cordless tools and the Makitas last FOREVER. I've got two 3aH batteries that are going on 11 years old and they still work like new, charge quickly, hold a charge properly, operate as expected, gets hard use everyday in a shop environment, and have outlasted every other cordless tool batteries I've ever tried(including all the guys at work).
@@smnkm4ehfer I've been watching for the corded version of the Makita to go on a decent sale. I run dust collection already so what is the difference if I pull a cord and a hose, or just the hose? Almost nothing in the grand scheme. I have not used Makita enough to give a fair assessment of the battery platform, but I do like Makita corded tools. My choice many years was to go to the M18 platform, and I haven't looked back. For what I use my cordless tools for, it was the best route at the time and I haven't regretted it
I have a Triton and a Kreg Adaptive Cutting saw. I've had the Triton for my "Traveling" track saw and of course, the Kreg for shop use. The Kreg has burned out already. I did like the saw but for what I paid and how little I used it..... It should have lasted much longer. I will stick with my Triton but wish I could find a hinge system to replace the Kreg system on my adaptive table. Loved the review...My next will be a Milwaukee for sure.
Festool fanboy here. Super fair review there. Can’t disagree. Festool need to add that anti tip switch. I have a Makita tracksaw from about 15 years ago with that. It’s a great saw even now.
If you work only in a shop environment, then Makita or Festool systainers are superb. If you need more rugged storage, then the Milwaukee is a no-brainer and the best option. Of course, if you are already on a battery platform, that is the foremost choice, unless you are looking to “step up” from Ryobi as I did (went Milwaukee).
It's interesting that the Makita uses the two-generation old Festool systainer. I've had my Festool (corded, obviously) track saw for almost 15 years. At the time the only two were Festool and Makita. They were essentially the same price, so I went with the Festool. What's the deal with Milwaukee's Pack Outs? I was looking at them at the BORG a few days ago. When I opened one it smelled like something died in it. It really was that putrid. I had a Ridgid case do that too. It was a couple of years before could even use it. I haven't because it sat so long, unusable, that I wend another way.
Thanks for the review... very well explained, with a few missing information, like DEWALT track how has 2 sides to cut because of the angle cut how dose not falling on the same pattern as 90°, and the margins for evry saw when it's coming to how much track you need in the back and on the front of the saw before falling from the track . In this case the Metabo it's the best because has only 1 nob for adjustment . You didn't talk about the rip fence, like one from Festool which DEWALT adopted, Milwaukee made the bolts nuts ready but I didn't find a rip fence for that .
I’ve got the Makita and I would have to agree with you on everything you said. I had a corded Wen that was pretty good believe it or not but I switched to the Makita because I wanted a cordless track saw since I’m a general contractor. I do actually use it more since the rest of my tools are cordless and it is always in my truck. I bought the Wen as a cheap alternative to see if I really needed one and I did. 😅😂
My tracksaw has a mains cable....so no worries about the battery platform, charger or running out of power halfway through a job :-) But yes, I do realise the great benefit of cordless! Great comparison video - I think you were spot on!
I bought the Masterforce track saw from Menards cause I wanted to try one without spending an arm and a leg. I've been happy with it so far. You should review that one too.
Really appreciate you making this video and doing such a deep dive. Too bad the festool doesn't have anti-tilt, that's surprising. I bought the red one, even if it didn't end up on top I'd still have purchased as I'm so deep into the m18 platform I really don't want to deal with other batteries and chargers at this point. Thanks for going into such detail sir
The Dewalt does have another small feature that some might find useful. It is fitted with square to the blade runners on the blade guard side. If you are happy with the clearance, this can make it possible to trim off the bottom of a door parallel to the floor without taking it off the hinges.
I think you should do a comparison on corded track saws. Cordless tools are great for a lot of reasons, but I still have heavy-duty corded tools. If you have a vacuum hose on it, a cord is not really any more inconvenient, and lighter. More power. No dead batteries.
I would have liked to see a review of a Bosch track saw. I have several Bosch cordless tools and would like to remain with the same batteries. BTW, I even purchased a Bosch cordless weed whacker from Amazon UK a couple years ago. Works great. I just had to buy an inexpensive battery adapter since Bosch has a slightly different battery on its lawn care tools.
That’s a great and Fair review. Not much in it so I chose Makita because all my gear is the same. So my batteries and sustainers can all work together. 👍🏾
Great overall review!! I’m probably going to go for a track for my corded circular saw. (FYI- the boxes to watch the Milwaukee and Makita reviews didn’t pop up.)
Only question that was not addressed was track accuracy. I do a lot of straight line ripping and glue line accuracy is needed. I prefer one solid length track at a minimum of 16ft. Which saw track would be best for that? Does Milwaukee make a long one piece track? I know Festool does but price is too high for me. Does Milwaukee track connections go together accurately?
A16' track ? Are you serious ? And just what would you need a track that long for, and most importantly...how would you store and transport it ? 16' ANYTHING is subject to deflection &/or bending just picking it up. Makes zero sense to me.
I just broke in the Makita track saw, make sure you get two of the longer tracks in order to do an 8-ft sheet, I like the fact I can storm behind the seat in my truck, but the long and short track makes cutting a 8-foot sheet very tricky, put in the world of DeWalt I'm glad Makita was at the top!
i picked up a makita corded saw at a amazon auction for only 130$ about a year and a half ago love it!! but need to pick up the track to go with it just using a cheap hf trac it works But! good review have fun
Based on your's and other woodtubers recommendations I have been absolutly impressed with how clean the Milwaukee is/has been. One specific note to mention, there are a number of people who complain about it's "non-standard" arbor size (20mm). They litterally use this complaint to drive the saw down because they can't run cheaper/alternative blade options on it. Which fair enough, the problem is I believe this was a very specific and calculated engineering FEATURE to prevent injury. The 20 mm will make you less likely to use blades whose kerf is less wide than the riving knife which could create a dangerous situation and almost garantee kickback. Futhermore, I am of the opinion the kerf is so wide because it give the riving blade more ridgitity. It would be nice to know what the caliper readout is on each with a riving knife to confirm this small detail.
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Grizzly Track Saw- go.magik.ly/ml/2387p/
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WEN Track Saw - amzn.to/3KRr7dy
Triton Track Saw - amzn.to/3XpgTIS
Kreg Track Saw - amzn.to/4c7u59A
Kreg Adaptive Cutting System - amzn.to/4b9FhRY
RIDGID Track Saw - go.magik.ly/ml/2387l/
DeWALT Track Saw - amzn.to/3RxvZYQ
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Festool Track Saw - amzn.to/3xd1XTC
Makita Track Saw - amzn.to/3z8I3K5
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thanks you for sharing
Torque Test Channel has shown the battery itself makes a world of difference, I wonder how the Milwaukee Track Saw would chew through material with the new 12.0 Forge battery?
I decided to go ahead and purchase a track saw. Was tired of fighting a straight edge clamp that would shift when I clamped it. I was on the M18 battery platform, and the was a sale for the M18 track saw, included a 55” track and track clamps. Got it in, and I am very happy with the purchase, Adjustments, riving knife, etc.
I'm proud of you for bringing in Makita to the mix of your tool reviews. I've been using them for 20+ years and have never looked back. Thanks for sharing your opinions and for explaining all the features.
Their batteries have no rivals, or even peers. They just outlast everyone else ha ds down.
I picked up the Milwaukee about 6 months ago and it quickly became one of my favorite tools to use. Glad to see it’s getting some love.
I've been a carpenter for 45 plus years. When i started working for my dad, also a builder/carpenter all his working career. We never used any kind of track type tools for cutting plywood. Just a straight 1x4, clamped to the sheet, if you needed a perfectly straight cut.
When i went on my own, I found a very simple track set-up that came with 2 pieces of 3/16s aluminum angleiron and an attachment for a circular saw. So I permanently attached it to a 6 1/2 inch corded circular saw. I believe it cost me under 200 dollars. The 2 pieces of angle aluminum were 9 ft and 5 ft. Allowing full 8ft and 4ft cross cut.
I guess to each his own, but these big ole track rigs don't impress me as a carpenter. But I appreciate your video. 👍
My uncle has the Festool track saw. He was very pleased with himself for having fine German power tools. He was very displeased when his batteries died and I ran my $200 DeWalt circular saw along the side of his $1,100 track saw kit and got the same results with only a tiny amount more effort.
I've had a Wen 7&1/4" corded saw for a few years. At the time it was the cheapest track saw around. Thought I wouldn't use it too much, but I've ended up using it A LOT. Built two kitchens with it. Running it on Powertec tracks it works fine for breaking down sheet goods. I'm perfectly happy with it.
I just purchased the 7 1/4 " Wen track saw. IMHO it can't be beat for it's value. I just can't justify the money for those top 3 choices. By the way, want to save money on track? Buy WEN, their track works with all 3 of your top choices.
I second the Wen. Been working great for me.
The same here!
Any thoughts on the comments about issues cutting perfect angles with the WEN? That is my only concern at this point based on his review.
@@AeroPRI hated it for precise cuts like that. Does fine breaking down sheets but still had to take it to the table saw.
I'm a DIYer and really liked your review. I live in Australia so power tools are much more expensive. The lowest priced locally available track saw is AU $229. But it looks inferior to the Grizzly, Our Ryobi system is $499 for the basic with 1400mm track. The Makita 18v x2 (skin only) is AU$845. I have made my own track system using the cheapest Makita cordless saw and plywood tracks. They have served me well.
I have what is almost certainly that budget no-brand saw (Toolshed NZ), and it has been surprisingly good. I dont think it would survive being dropped, but the motor has been bombproof and done a ton of work - honestly, orders of magnitude better than the two $hite Bosch Green tools that I've had to bin after just a couple of hours cumulative work.
I completely agree, I have the Ridgid and Milwaukee track saw. I love both of them, I really think they are very comparable, especially running the Ridgid 12 AH and the Milwaukee Forge. Good job !!
For years I saved and saved thinking of buying the Festool track saw. Then... Milwaukee has a track saw.... and everyone has a "decent" track saw offering. I went with Milwaukee since I already have Packout and M18 batteries. Then again, I also have Systainer as I do have a Festool sander and a Festool dust extractor. Ah well, I love the Milwaukee track saw. It adjusts accurately, it cuts precisely and it has decent storage and works with accessories. Thanks for doing all this work, Matt. Your videos are great at explaining the details that are so important in these tool purchase decisions.
I got the Milwaukee M18 since I was already on their battery system... For my projects a track saw is a game changer for my home DIY. It's fun to watch a video about the best, but for me the best one is the one that works for me in my shop... So far, loving it as it speeds me along my project and I can break the sheet goods down quickly. I tried the circular saw and the table saw can't make the cuts safely if I'm by myself... Fantastic saw and I'm using it almost all the time now.
I run that Makita and love it. This is a fair review (finally!). The Milwaukee did not exist when I bought mine. If I were starting from scratch, I think Team Red would just barely scrape out ahead of the competition. Go with whatever battery platform you'd rather be on. If you have both, go with whichever is on sale. The Makita goes on sale about every 18-ish months at Home Depot. I suspect the same will happen with the Milwaukee.
Same boat as me - if the Milwaukee had existed when I bought my Makita, I would have gone team red. Such is the world of tool buying.
Milwaukee makes good tools(unless you get one of the couple models of impacts that kill themselves right out of the box) but their batteries don't last. My OG Makita LXT 18v drill and impact driver are over 10 years old and still using the original batteries from over 10 years ago, and they still outperform the Milwaukee batteries. All the other guys at work are team red and they go through batteries like crazy and I've never had a Makita battery go bad, and I've got about $8k worth of makita tools and batteries.
For me Makita would still edge out, the red tools are not as common here where I live and the repairability and reliability of Makita edge out over the red tools which is important in my book, which isn't covered in the review for obvious reasons.
@@smnkm4ehfer I even have had good luck with Makita battery knockoffs working well. They are OK compatible with the charger (sometimes the fully charged green light does not come on), the run time even after a few years of use is still great, and have good power output. I have my whole shop running on Makita batteries so that would be a no-brainer for me. I have no use for a track saw tho, as I am getting too old to sling sheet goods around.
Great review. One of my first selection criteria is where the product is manufactured. I try to buy built in USA, but price, quality, expandability, and features are also considered. I’m just a DIYer for home jobs. I have an original Skil Saw that’s around 55 years old and still running. Unfortunately, the new 6.5 inch blades seem to be thinner than what they used to be. It’s amazing what a few thousandths of an inch can do in not being able to securely tighten the blade. What advantage (if any) does a blade saw have over a table saw? Trying to decide where to spend my money. Also, can a blade saw be used without the blade and is there a limited distance it can cut without the blade? Thanks again.
I had a makita corded track saw, I now have a festool tsv 60. For me as a cabinet maker we use melamine coated particle board and laminate a lot. The TSV 60 with its extra scribing blade leaves chip free cuts which I can then run through the edge bander. Expensive but cheaper than a sliding panel saw.
The fact that the Milwaukee only needs one battery to do the same work seems like a HUGE benefit over the other high end saws. It's also a testimony to the quality of their motors.
He said the festool can use only one battery
@@garypaige1553 but only at a low power.
I have the corded Festool. Since I'm only using it in my shop and I'm always going to have the dust hose attached anyway I don't see any benefit to cordless.
Same is true for sanders either in the shop or not. The moment dust extract is a thing, you might as well use the corded version.
I am a contractor and I’m a bit unusual. I absolutely hate all the batteries. Other than drills, I avoid cordless like the plague.
Try Makita 40/80 volt systems someday and you’ll be eating your own words. I promise you. 😂
from a pollution/sustainability view they are ALWAYS going to be better than no matter what comes out next.
@@downbytheriver501 why? Genuinely curious
@@mcapaldi3 every one of the 40/80v Makita tools I own are as powerful as the corded variant and the batteries seem to last forever.
Any time I let someone try my tools, they’re blown away too.
And not having to deal with cords on tools that aren’t stationary is massive as far as efficiency goes.
I had a project last week putting in joists on a house where the nearest power was 250’ away. Usually I use my corded Bosch 10/12” slider chop saws because they’re one of my favorite remaining corded tools (their tablesaw is one of the others), but running that much cord is impractical and not smart. So I broke out the 40 volt 12” Makita slider saw. I was able to cut all the crush blocks for the joists with less than 2 4ah batteries. That’s about 100 cuts through 3.5”x12” TJIs. Get a bigger battery and you could set a saw up like this on site and run it all day and never have to change out the battery.
Not sure why people still living in the past thinking cordless tech hasn’t evolved drastically over the last 10 years but I’m totally fine with it cause I have plenty of high quality tools I need to sell.
We use cordless for everything except demolition hammers and concrete breakers, 9' grinders and track sanders. My father was concerned about the power of the tools and how long will the tools and batteries last. Our Makita tools withheld 4 years without a single issue and downtime, except for our 36V rotary hammer which after 3 years of heavy use burnt its motor out, likely because it overheated.
The practical nature of not having to set up a cord is easily understated. We work at remote sites and sometimes you can't get electricity if the neighborhood is empty apartment buildings.
Work on roof and high places is also safer and less cumbersome if there is no cord to worry about.
13 18V Makita tools and 22 batteries, and recently we purchased 4 40V XGT tools and batteries, as we look to upgrade several of our tools to a beefier platform. 4 years of work with 18V Makita tools, I can tell you corded is so much better.
Milwaukee is ~$200 more than the Makita....that makes Makita the winner for me. A foam insert in the packout isn't worth $200.
Amen. I’ll put some foam in there myself if it’s needed 😂
In my country Australia, just for the skin, no kit, the milwaukee is $150 cheaper, and in a kit the makita is 150 cheaper.
Its strange the difference between countries
I agreed with every placement except for one. I'd put the Ridgid #4. Plenty of power for 99% of work. I don't see the downside on compatibility because the tracks are reasonable priced anyhow. Power doesn't outway the lack of anti-tip, cumbersome blade change, cumbersome track adjustment, and most importantly, the Jabba/Ursula indicator...For the $ I just don't see a lot of negatives? IMHO of course🤜🤜🤜🤜
Thanks for the vid!
I got very confused when I came to "outway". I read fast so that was mostly my bad as I had to try to understand what was being said. (Literacy is very overrated)
Lol "outweigh". My bad! Nice 'ketche'😉
I looked at all these saws and some others. I have quite a few Rigid and a couple Milwaukee tools. Just picked up the Rigid, with the 8 Ah battery and tracks. Didn't feel the need to spend more on the others as I will be using mine on the occasional home project and felt this would be a good fit. Also hard to beat the warranty as long as you register your tool.
Several years ago, I purchased the Festool and fell in love with it. Last year I was using it, suddenly it was making weird noises and started to smoke. I sent it to Festool for a repair estimate. I was shocked by the estimate (sorry I don't remember what it was) and the very limited warranty. After my research, I decided to go with the Makita. During one cut (sheet goods), due to an error on my part, the blade was pinched as it finished the cut. The saw jumped backwards, damaged the track edge, rode up on top of the track cutting a small chunk out of the track. During the cuts, I did notice that it would slightly bog down. With Festool, I never noticed the motor bogging down. For me, adjusting the cut depth was more difficult on the Makita. Yes the Festool is MORE expensive than the Festool but knowing what I know now, I would purchase the Festool rather than the Makita. BTY, dust-collection on the Makita is as good as the Festool.
Sounds more like you should not be using power tools ..😂😂
I've had the cordless Festool for about four years now, and it is a great tool, but if I was buying now, I'd go for the Milwaukee. For one thing, I prefer a riving knife over Festool's new kickback protection mechanism. Paradoxically, I suspect you're going to get more kickbacks from which you need protection with the kickback protection system. You can't really go wrong with any of your top 3 saws, though. They're all much better than what you could get when I started out.
I'm journeyman carpenter and contractor specializing in millwork installation. I've been using track saws on the job site since 2002. I use Festool simply because they were the only track saw on the market in 2002. I've never bought "accessories" for my saws because for the most part all I wanted out of them was a quality cut on finished material and dust collection. I'm retired now but still run a shop and still use a 2002 vintage festool to break out sheet goods. What they don't tell you ... and the reason I use Festool sanders, routers and saws ... is you can ship them back to festool and get them rebuilt for a fraction of the cost of a new tool. They come back like brand new tools. The initial cost of a new festool saw is high but the lifecycle cost of the saw is relatively cheap if you have to buy a new saw every 5 years.
buy once...cry once. just sayin...
for years I've wondered why this Tula so expensive, sir you're the first one that explains the rebuild process, now it makes sense to me. thanks!
I've had 4 sanders and a kapex rebuilt/serviced/fixed.... about half the cost of new but they come back so clean they look like new.... it's kinda amazing.
Thank you for this review, very helpfull. I am going for the thewalt for jobsite straight cutting, and the festool for fine woodworking. The possibillity to adjust the rating based on things I find iportant, makes an good review in my opnion.
Too bad you didn't include Bosch. Their track Saw has been amazing for me. Never had one complaint. Great video, thank you!
Strongly agree. I also have the Bosch and it is a beast. Powerful, accurate, and great dust collection. The guide rails are also excellent and they have the best track connector of any system. In his defence, the Bosch TS doesn't get a lot of love in the US and Canada because Bosch does a terrible job of marketing it here. Bosch/Mafell is very popular in Europe because they actively market and support the product over there. It's also much harder to buy aftermarket accessories compared to Festool, Makita etc. because companies like TSO completely ignore Bosch. Fortunately European companies like Benchdogs make great accessories for it such as rail squares, rail hinges and parallel guides. I've never understood why Bosch doesn't market their track saw system better because they push all of their other power tools quite aggressively in North America. Any Bosch reps out there listening?
bosh usually more expensive in the usa
@@realJohnJohn They're in the middle from what I can see. Slightly more expensive than the other top saws from Makita and Milwaukee. But much cheaper than Festool.
@@ogwoodworks on the other side, Default and Milfookee cost about 2x more in Europe, and there is a limited selection. Still better than like 10yrs ago when they weren't available in EU at all.
And, to add salt to the wound, the dark grey Flex lineup is completely non-existent in Europe. All I can do is watch the reviews of them and envy. I'd build up my collection from them for sure.
The Bosch GKT55 is basically a Mafell. Don't know if there's any relation between their battery powered options, but yeah, Bosch is strong with these.
I agree Milwaukee based on price and battery system, last time the Milwaukee won with you on battery options. Great review should of had prices on all models.
This is a fantastic review and I think you really got it completely right. The big 3 are at the top for a reason. I have an erbauer which is almost a carbon copy of the triton ( just a different colour) and I get some fantastic cuts from it. No issues and I find it very accurate , but it could b better. If I could justify the price I would buy Milwaukee. At work we use various Milwaukee tools ( grinders, nut guns, drills , impact drivers, saw-saws , battery grease guns and impact ratchets ) for the past few years now and they have proven to be bullet proof. They have been dropped , partially driven over , submerged in water and been left outside in all types of weather conditions....but they never break or fail. I'm looking to buy the Makita soon , as I think that when price is considered it is without doubt the best bang for your buck on the plunge saw market. And the reliability is very close to Milwaukee. A lot of tradesmen that I know are now turning hair back on Dewalt. Their reliability and usability issues are becoming a bad reputation for the company. A major fall from grace in the recent years.
Fantastic and very helpful for review! I do suggest you make the thumb icons on your ratings a different color because on the phone we can't tell the difference with the bold
I use the dewalt track saw. It's been amazing. The odd pivoting I was show by dewalt was actually and engineer difference allowing better plunging or something. I don't personally see the advantage how I use it, but I remember at the time being shown and going...ah...
I got mine for a steel with a sale that I swear was a misprint and for my investment it trumps anything I have ever scene.
I bought the 102"track.. i need a short track still. . The 102 is great for sheet rips but must things I cut are far less and then it's almost to much.
About two years ago I bought a Makita over the festool. I have several 110v festool tools that I love. Price was an advantage and already had several battery powered Makita yard tools. I love it and was well used to build my garage cabinets.
I love my makita, it's a really nice tool. I'm neck deep on the makita platform, which is the reason I went with the makita track saw. I was skeptical about a track saw, but I'm so glad I got one. I use it way more than I thought I would, and I kind of got lucky that makita makes a damn good one.
I got the Ryobi track saw for $130 from Direct Tools. I’m pretty happy with it. I just use it from breaking down plywood and making angle rips. With a 6ah HP battery, it does well. I cut two 3/4 inch pieces of plywood on top of each other yesterday 🤷♂️
I'm waiting for that DTO sale again...or for Ryobi to come out with a new version that fixes some of the shortfalls
I think the Milwaukee is the nicest one, but I'm on the DeWalt platform, and already had a couple of 60 volt batteries so I choose that one. I do have the Milwaukee Packout storage system.
The Milwaukee would take an edge over Makita for their storage (Makita boxes are garbage) BUT one thing to consider is that Makita caters more to carpenters, whereas Milwaukee caters to electricians and plumbers. The only exception I can see is the Milwaukee nailers are top tier. Makita has really shit the bed when it comes to their nailers which is why I decided to add another battery pack to my 18/40v Makita lineup. Got tired of waiting and am very pleased with their trim/framing nailers. They’re amazing. In conclusion, turquoise for carpenters (mostly), and Milwaukee if you’re a sparky that likes to cut plywood real nice….?
FYI I have the 6.5” and 9.25” Makita track saws. They’re amazing but wish I would’ve waited for the 40v to come out because the 40v is the next level. Every 40/80v tool of theirs I have is insane. Far superior to anything out there.
The Japanese just build everything superior.
Another FANTASTIC review video! One of the best reviewers on RUclips now! Keep going!!
i picked up the corded Wen with 2 55" tracks for $160 all in. i only got it to break down plywood. put some epoxy putty in the bevel adjustment once i had it dead set at 90° so there is no movement or flex. works great for the one purpose i got it for. the depth adjustment has slipped on me a couple times so i removed it and 3d printed some clip in stops for specific depths. for the money, i'm happy with it, but i wouldn't recommend it to most people.
I have used my Ridgid track saw on several occasions (just a DIYer). The track saw is a solid middle of the road tool-no complaints.
I used the Makita and bought the Milwaukee. The Makita has awesome power with the dual batteries, but I already own all Milwaukee tools.
Your review is spot on , these are the two best track saws for sure.
I came across your test by chance. I have had a Festool plunge-cut saw for 30 years and it still does a very good job. However, as I own many Makita cordless tools, I bought the Makita saw from your test a few months ago and am more than satisfied. I can confirm all the points in the test. The reason for not choosing Festool was the price and the unfortunately small number of other Festool cordless tools. I also didn't want to buy a second battery system.
Good job. I already had a Kreg when I watched this. I like my Kreg because it is 120v. I don't want batteries. I've used a Festool in the past and loved it but not in my budget. Thanks
And it's the only one made for rightys
Would you ever compare all the corded track saws? I always prefer a cord over a battery.
Yeah corded for a trackball seems the way to go in a shop
The tools are very much starting to exceed corded tool performance in many instances 36v 40v and even some 60v performance compared to corded is very much surpassed whats available in plug in offerings. I never thought such a day would come but it very much has. Heck high torque impact greatly surpass their phnematic counter parts . I would have not believed it if someone had said that a makita 18v would out perform in every way my trusty old saved many a day Mac ugga dugga!
@@williambrodmanvi5944 yeah at this point just making cordless versions and offering a plug in adapter makes a lot of sense.
I'm leaning towards a corded one, probably Kreg or maybe the plug in Wen. My brother just got the corded Wen and has been pretty happy with it, and it's a lot cheaper than the Kreg. I have Ryobi tools and have been pretty happy with them. I'm a little disappointed in the reviews of their track saw though. I'm also hesitant to get a tool in a different battery platform, so I'm thinking a cord won't be that big of a deal and I should just do that.
The best part about a corded track saw IMHO is the ability to plug it into a dust collector and have it come on automatically when you start the saw.
Very good review of the low end track saws. I got the Kreg several months ago and really like it. It does all you say it will and the cut is assembly ready. You point out that it will only fit the Kreg track but I am not sure why that is a ding against the saw. I only got the one track but I will probably go back for a second. First cut I made was on 1" foam squares on the garage floor and I did not get the depth adjustment tight enough. Bumbed me out. Amazon delivered new blade in 2 days. Blade change went really well. 🖖
I went with makita corded, i will always use a vacuum so cord can be attached. As well no battery. If i need to breakdown ply at hd i will get them to do it or use my cordless circ saw
I watched many videos and read hundreds of reviews before buying my corded Makita track saw. (Nobody was making cordless options) I've added some additional tracks and it's a great option for me.
I've had the Makita for a couple years and have enjoyed it. As far as anti kick back is concerned. Having anti-tip engaged helps with kick back. It locks the track saw to the track. Having anti-tip is a must have for doing beveled cuts. And I keep my Makita in a Milwaukee Packout. Which ironically enough sits on top of a Milwaukee Dust Extractor.
I’ve got the 40v xgt makita track saw Great saw haven’t had a problem with it.
Fantastic and a very fair and open review, when you brought Makita into the review i knew it would end spat the top of the list and already knew where it would place, Milwaukee has pushed everybody in the industry with the pack out system to get better about serving the customer , the pros ,not the DIYers ,Makita hasn't chased that part of the industry as well as Milwaukee, I use Makita and have since the 80's and have used other systems , none have compared to the batteries or overall build quality ,when a tool is comfortable to use that has to say something about the engineering gone into it, I have a cousin overseas in New Zealand who does the same work as you and says Makita for him hands down and Milwaukee has a very strong presence there and growing 👍
All my work tools are Milwaukee Fuel. All my "around the house" tools are Ryobi. Ryobi is fine for general stuff your doing occasionally, and as you mentioned, their selection is great. But at work, doing heavy or very repetitive work, spend the extra to get a high quality tool that will last.
You should really try the 40v Makita track saw. It has a kickback function and has replaced the 18v version imo. One battery, one charger, less weight, more power than dewalt, longer battery life, better design, and the 40v Makita platform is starting to expand, making it worth the investment.
Agreed, I don't care if he calls me a makita fanboy!
Makita is definitely a win. Even the 36v is better than most if not all other saws.
Yep almost Festool precision/capability at better price with >Dewalt power
I'll be buying the 40v Makita at some point this summer. Already invested in the Makita 40v battery system.
Going for Makita corded
Decent reviews there ⬆️ 👏🏼 I’m usually a DeWalt user… However I went for a Festool track saw as I needed precision and preferred the plunge action. Kit here comes with batteries so not an issue.
Great review. We're all fan boys of some tool line & it's really hard to turn it off to be objective. My kudos to you as you were able to do what most of us couldn't!
Thanks 👍
Thanks for the reviews. I was hesitant to buy into the festool system due to price and as you mentioned their lack of other compatible battery tools. Plus the Mikita is on a killer Prime day sale today so gotta pull the trigger on it.
Thanks for the video Matt. Love all the info you give out. Definitely for the DIYer I’m happy with my Rigid tools. Next gotta purchase the mitre saw
Very fair review of these saws and I also agree with the Festool for the vacuum, I have the Festool Vac and the Makita tracksaw and I want the Milwaukee saw just sadly can not justify the switch yet.
I've had the Makita 36V for a few years and it's been great. A while ago, I impulse-bought the M18 when I saw it on deep discount, largely because I wanted to consolidate to M18 & have a track saw that uses just 1 battery. They're so close/comparable that I haven't been able to bring myself to sell the Makita yet. So naturally, I still have both...
Great comparison as always! I’m glad you mentioned the case differences between the Milwaukee & Makita. I’m surprised Makita still hasn’t changed that bottom tray out with a piece of molded foam or something else.
Yeah, it's a bit lacking!
While I'm not needing a tracksaw, had to mention this was a very well-done and thorough review; Bravo!
I got the Milwaukee tracksaw as a kit for a really great deal. I bought the 55" track and I like it so much that I gave my old Makita corded tracksaw and track to a friend.
As usual, honest and independent testing.... Milwaukee always comes out at or very near the top. Just honestly wish I had Milwaukee money to buy their tools.
Agree that they have great tools. I went with Ryobi. No regrets at all. They do everything that I need to do as a DIYer, I've never had one of their tools fail, and a reasonable pricing allows me to get a lot of specialty tools that I could never afford with a contractor brand like Milwaukee or DeWalt.
@@sociopathmercenary
I standardized on Ryobi as well, and wish I felt the same way. The more I learn, the more it seems that Milwaukee doesn't make Contractor-grade tools. They just make quality tools. The type of tools grand-pa could easily afford when he was a younger man; for maintaining his home. The type of tools that were the standard for DIYers back then. Nowadays, if you want affordable tools around the house, you have to get lesser quality ones.
@@NGMonocrom I can afford Milwaukee but just don't see the point. It's like buying a Corvette to commute to work.
@@sociopathmercenary
True, but why not? 😂
@@NGMonocrom If it gives you joy, go for it! I budget myself wherever I can so I can splurge a little when I want.
I work from home so I have a 15-year-old car that I keep maintained but only gets a thousand miles a year on it. Hard to justify spending more and it let's me get my wife something nicer with no complaints about the handful of motorcycles in the garage.
I budget myself on tools but probably have 50 firearms and a pallet of ammo.
We can take vacations whenever we feel like it.
I got laid off a few months ago and I just shrugged and have been enjoying the time off. Money doesn't make you happy but it gives you options. However, probably about time to start looking for a job again. LOL
Awesome video! May never purchase a track saw, but I appreciate the insights. Had an opportunity to purchase the Makita but did not have the funds available at the time.
Good review of the offerings.
Having owned the Fezzy and the Mak I found them to be very similar in terms of use and quality. The one thing I haven't figured out is that the majority of people are right handed so a left sided blade saw is more natural to use. Most of these saws, you have to use left handed or cock your hand over at a weird angle to use your right hand.
Personally, as I work in a shop, I don't need a cordless saw. You already have the dust extractor hose attached so a power cord isn't adding any complication.
I run Makita, my plate form, Festool and Milwaukee I would be happy any day of the week. Thanks for the review.
Great review, I’ve been struggling with all three of these and trying to select one. Festool first no.. accessories too expensive and limited battery tool options. Milwaukee is a close 2nd only because I don’t have a bunch of their battery operated tools.. Makita, I’m buying primarily because I have a ton of Makita battery tools and chargers. Thank you! ❤❤
As always an awesome video. I am in the market for a track saw and I’m in all the TTI battery platforms. I was surprised to see the Dewalt ranked above the Ridgid as aside from the power it sure seems the Dewalt leaves much to be desired. What I’m curious about is if you could get either the Milwaukee or Ridgid and money was/is a thing to be concerned about, which would you pick? Bare in mind I’m just a home gamer just getting started in woodworking.
Great video as always Matt I bought the Ridgid track saw after watching your review when it came out and then you had it on your tool deal and being on a budget I took advantage of the deal and it a great track saw for me. Thanks for sharing Matt .
Great reviews, Matt. Thank you. Makes me feel better about eventually buying the Dewalt tool, as I've been in that battery system for a while now. God bless, brother!
Great review! Very helpful. Here’s my question for you.
I’m using the old plywood board with straight edge homemade “track saw” that we all use at the beginning. I want you upgrade to a track saw. I see myself eventually getting the Makita because im already in that battery platform.
My question is …. Are the the cheap options worthwhile? How much better are they than the diy board with a straight edge?
Great info, but I believe that Makita has a new single battery platform (40V) and I’ll wait for a review on that track saw to make my decision, also for the miter saw on that same 40V platform 😃👍🏼
Great review. I have the Makita, and it works brilliantly. Depth of cut might be a criteria to consider in track saws, especially at 45 degrees. Since I always use a dust extractor, I really could go with a corded if I bought again. Then considering the Festool TS60 which is corded solves the battery platform issue. As an option then use Makita tracks and save. The TS60 also has a greater depth of cut. I did not realize how important that could be on some projects. My conclusion, to do again it would be either a corded Makita or corded Festool, track saws are so important to me now, I would prioritize a track saw budget over table saw or even miter saw budgets.
I truly enjoy my corded Makita! Never looked back on the purchase thinking I could do better. Accuracy has exceeded my expectations.
I would like to see the Makita 40v compared. It only uses one battery and is narrower. I have been using the 36v for years and it has been solid.
Perfect video !! I couldn’t decide which saw I have to buy but now I definitely know !!
Great video. I think you absolutely nailed it with your rankings.
You are spot on for the Ryobi. I only use mine to break down plywood. Works well for that, certainly much better than the circular saw and a straight edge. But I have a table saw for final cuts in plywood and everything else. If I didn’t have the table saw, I would invest in something better, like the Milwaukee or Makita.
Pretty decent review, timely too. I've been considering one for a while and you get an extra tick as my platform is mostly Makita. Thanks for the vid, interesting and informative.
Thank you for the reviews, Matt! It's always a pleasure hearing what you have to say. 🙂🙂❤❤
thanks for the review. it was interesting to find that the Kreg runs in the "opposite direction". as a right handed persion, the Kreg allows you to use your right hand when walking along the edge of a cut. no offense to lefties, but wouldn't you think that this would be the norm? why do you suppose the rest are the way they are?
Matt, you continue to impress with your balanced reviews, great advice, and your focus on the common person and their wallet. Thank you!
I appreciate that!
First of all great comprehensive view of track saws. I have two track saws and I am interested in the Kreg saw because it cuts in the opposite direction (for cutting stair skirting to risers - probably the only time I will use this feature) plus the corded Kreg is easily adapted to the CT dust extractors. As far as dust extractors go, I will always recommend the Festool CT MIDI I, easy to transport, already has BT and easy to install the $50.00 BT switch.
Fair review! I have kicked about going with either the Makita or Milwaukee. I have a ton of Milwaukee batteries, but Im not opposed to buying into a saw that comes with enough batteries like the Makita. I may end up buying the corded Makita simply because its less pricey, but time will tell.
You'll be more than happy with the Makita; and you'll be blown away by the Makita batteries in comparison to the others(batteries are an expensive part of cordless tools and the Makitas last FOREVER. I've got two 3aH batteries that are going on 11 years old and they still work like new, charge quickly, hold a charge properly, operate as expected, gets hard use everyday in a shop environment, and have outlasted every other cordless tool batteries I've ever tried(including all the guys at work).
@@smnkm4ehfer I've been watching for the corded version of the Makita to go on a decent sale. I run dust collection already so what is the difference if I pull a cord and a hose, or just the hose? Almost nothing in the grand scheme.
I have not used Makita enough to give a fair assessment of the battery platform, but I do like Makita corded tools. My choice many years was to go to the M18 platform, and I haven't looked back. For what I use my cordless tools for, it was the best route at the time and I haven't regretted it
I have a Triton and a Kreg Adaptive Cutting saw. I've had the Triton for my "Traveling" track saw and of course, the Kreg for shop use. The Kreg has burned out already. I did like the saw but for what I paid and how little I used it..... It should have lasted much longer. I will stick with my Triton but wish I could find a hinge system to replace the Kreg system on my adaptive table. Loved the review...My next will be a Milwaukee for sure.
Festool fanboy here. Super fair review there. Can’t disagree. Festool need to add that anti tip switch. I have a Makita tracksaw from about 15 years ago with that. It’s a great saw even now.
If you work only in a shop environment, then Makita or Festool systainers are superb. If you need more rugged storage, then the Milwaukee is a no-brainer and the best option. Of course, if you are already on a battery platform, that is the foremost choice, unless you are looking to “step up” from Ryobi as I did (went Milwaukee).
It's interesting that the Makita uses the two-generation old Festool systainer. I've had my Festool (corded, obviously) track saw for almost 15 years. At the time the only two were Festool and Makita. They were essentially the same price, so I went with the Festool.
What's the deal with Milwaukee's Pack Outs? I was looking at them at the BORG a few days ago. When I opened one it smelled like something died in it. It really was that putrid. I had a Ridgid case do that too. It was a couple of years before could even use it. I haven't because it sat so long, unusable, that I wend another way.
Thanks for the review... very well explained, with a few missing information, like DEWALT track how has 2 sides to cut because of the angle cut how dose not falling on the same pattern as 90°, and the margins for evry saw when it's coming to how much track you need in the back and on the front of the saw before falling from the track .
In this case the Metabo it's the best because has only 1 nob for adjustment .
You didn't talk about the rip fence, like one from Festool which DEWALT adopted, Milwaukee made the bolts nuts ready but I didn't find a rip fence for that .
Nice, objective analysis. Good video for those looking at track saws. Personally using the corded Makita track saw and it's been a wonderful tool.
I’ve got the Makita and I would have to agree with you on everything you said. I had a corded Wen that was pretty good believe it or not but I switched to the Makita because I wanted a cordless track saw since I’m a general contractor. I do actually use it more since the rest of my tools are cordless and it is always in my truck. I bought the Wen as a cheap alternative to see if I really needed one and I did. 😅😂
My tracksaw has a mains cable....so no worries about the battery platform, charger or running out of power halfway through a job :-)
But yes, I do realise the great benefit of cordless!
Great comparison video - I think you were spot on!
I bought the Masterforce track saw from Menards cause I wanted to try one without spending an arm and a leg. I've been happy with it so far. You should review that one too.
I’d like to see a battery/longevity shootout between the Makita and Milwaukee. How much cutting can you do before having to recharge?
I think makita will release the xgt version soon too.
Really appreciate you making this video and doing such a deep dive. Too bad the festool doesn't have anti-tilt, that's surprising. I bought the red one, even if it didn't end up on top I'd still have purchased as I'm so deep into the m18 platform I really don't want to deal with other batteries and chargers at this point. Thanks for going into such detail sir
The Dewalt does have another small feature that some might find useful. It is fitted with square to the blade runners on the blade guard side. If you are happy with the clearance, this can make it possible to trim off the bottom of a door parallel to the floor without taking it off the hinges.
Nice video, as always. I appreciate your real world experience in evaluating these saws, especially since I’m looking at buying one soon.
I think you should do a comparison on corded track saws. Cordless tools are great for a lot of reasons, but I still have heavy-duty corded tools. If you have a vacuum hose on it, a cord is not really any more inconvenient, and lighter. More power. No dead batteries.
Agree....
Could you test the 36v Metabo HTP track saw? It looks interesting because you can run it with a battery or plugged-in.
Great video, two more saws I'd love to see how they stack up. Metabo hpt 36v track saw and Bosch profactor 18v track saw
Metabo review comes out tomorrow. :)
I would have liked to see a review of a Bosch track saw. I have several Bosch cordless tools and would like to remain with the same batteries.
BTW, I even purchased a Bosch cordless weed whacker from Amazon UK a couple years ago. Works great. I just had to buy an inexpensive battery adapter since Bosch has a slightly different battery on its lawn care tools.
That’s a great and Fair review. Not much in it so I chose Makita because all my gear is the same. So my batteries and sustainers can all work together. 👍🏾
Great overall review!! I’m probably going to go for a track for my corded circular saw.
(FYI- the boxes to watch the Milwaukee and Makita reviews didn’t pop up.)
Only question that was not addressed was track accuracy. I do a lot of straight line ripping and glue line accuracy is needed. I prefer one solid length track at a minimum of 16ft. Which saw track would be best for that? Does Milwaukee make a long one piece track? I know Festool does but price is too high for me. Does Milwaukee track connections go together accurately?
A16' track ? Are you serious ? And just what would you need a track that long for, and most importantly...how would you store and transport it ? 16' ANYTHING is subject to deflection &/or bending just picking it up.
Makes zero sense to me.
I just broke in the Makita track saw, make sure you get two of the longer tracks in order to do an 8-ft sheet, I like the fact I can storm behind the seat in my truck, but the long and short track makes cutting a 8-foot sheet very tricky, put in the world of DeWalt I'm glad Makita was at the top!
i picked up a makita corded saw at a amazon auction for only 130$ about a year and a half ago love it!! but need to pick up the track to go with it just using a cheap hf trac it works But! good review have fun
Based on your's and other woodtubers recommendations I have been absolutly impressed with how clean the Milwaukee is/has been. One specific note to mention, there are a number of people who complain about it's "non-standard" arbor size (20mm). They litterally use this complaint to drive the saw down because they can't run cheaper/alternative blade options on it. Which fair enough, the problem is I believe this was a very specific and calculated engineering FEATURE to prevent injury. The 20 mm will make you less likely to use blades whose kerf is less wide than the riving knife which could create a dangerous situation and almost garantee kickback. Futhermore, I am of the opinion the kerf is so wide because it give the riving blade more ridgitity. It would be nice to know what the caliper readout is on each with a riving knife to confirm this small detail.
Thanks a lot. Very helpful. I think makita makes the most clean, smooth and neat cut