- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
Denwood
Well-known member
Ryan, I've been using the Makita for a few years and reviewed it here on the forum. Be sure to check the blade for squareness to the base plate as mine required adjustment. Check also that the baseplate is dead flat with the screws tightened. Mine was not and required a few shims to fix the slight wobble on the track...pics etc here:
www.garagejournal.com
Makita SP6000X2 Track Saw Review
Makita SP6000 X2 Track Saw Review As part of my garage thread, I've been running through a basement renovation including a new laundry room and theater area. My shop is small, and the Rigid table saw I use does not have the large infeed/outfeed setup that would be required to break down 4x8...
www.garagejournal.com
OP
Ryan, I've been using the Makita for a few years and reviewed it here on the forum. Be sure to check the blade for squareness to the base plate as mine required adjustment...pics etc here:
Makita SP6000X2 Track Saw Review
Makita SP6000 X2 Track Saw Review As part of my garage thread, I've been running through a basement renovation including a new laundry room and theater area. My shop is small, and the Rigid table saw I use does not have the large infeed/outfeed setup that would be required to break down 4x8...
I haven't been able to accurately calibrate mine as I don't have a square here small enough to really do so. I have done test cuts and compared it against my larger square and it's close... but not perfect.
Denwood
Well-known member
If it's cutting nice and clean..and you're happy, all good. The level to which these track saws capture dust is pretty amazing...I have mine set up to connect to my shop vac/dust deputy system and there is near zero dust.
I would suggest you take a pc of wood and rip it, flip it over & rip a thin strip. from that you can tell if it is cutting square by looking at the parallelism of your 2 cuts
OP
Exactly what I did to get it close enough...
OP
The makita is dust free so long as you aren't edging a piece. The Festool is virtually dust free in every instance... and feels like it's made to an entirely different standard.
However, is the Festool worth twice as much? Certainly not if you don't use a track saw as the sort of center piece of your shop... But if you use one like I do in Texas, I believe it is. Maybe? Not sure... and that should tell you something.
Two Door
Well-known member
Interesting that you mention the trigger. The one I bought would work for a few seconds and then stop. Same pattern over and over. After reading a review or two that mentioned the entire saw going bad I decided to return it.
OP
Mine isn't doing that yet... but the trigger feels like a McDonalds toy if that makes sense...
Denwood
Well-known member
How is Festool managing full dust control on the edging? The Makita is my go to for 4x8 sheet breakdown, then I almost always go to my table saw for repeated precision. It's also the right tool for trimming doors down, counters etc. Nice tip on the tracks as I've found having both a 10 ft and 5 ft track is very handy...I use the 10' all the time.
The other use case for me now is buying rough edge maple, oak, etc. which is much cheaper than finished lumber. The track saw lets you establish a straight edge on one side very quickly so you can rip etc. for cabinet work, planer etc. In any case, the Makita setup is one of the best tool acquisitions with respect to workflow I've had in a long time.
Voi
Well-known member
Was this comparison made with the same extractor setup on each saw? I've been sharing the corded Makita along with my business partner for a while now and am considering going with a dedicated setup at my home shop. Dust control will be at more of a premium.
I'm using the Makita with a Dewalt extractor with good results but am considering upgrading to a Festool sander/extractor combo.
Thanks for the link to the blade. I'm not super crazy about the stock Makita blade.
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Glad you posted this, was thinking about a setup like this and did not know what to get.
OP
OP
When I say edging, I mean cutting 5mm off a new sheet of ply to get a fresh edge. So long as there is material on the right side of the blade, the festool is virtually dustless.
With the makita, the material on the right side of the blade has to be wider than the base or dust collection doesn’t seem to be as effective.
nicholam77
Well-known member
Hey @Ryan , glad you posted this. I have the Makita + Makita rails, and am a fan. I noticed a refurb saw on eBay recently and was thinking of recommending the same combo with the Powertec rails (never used them myself) to others that might be interested in a track saw but deterred by the price.
I've not used the TS55 (only picked it up in a Rockler once), but I've never felt like the Makita is cheaply built. I guess what I don't know won't hurt me. Or my wallet.
I will say when I handled the TS55 in person, it did have a premium feel to it.
That's awesome to hear the Powertec rails are good. I've been slightly disappointed with the machining consistency with the Makita rails. If Powertec made a single 110" track for less than the competition I'd be all over it.
Curious what blade you put in your Makita? I'm still going strong on the stock blade after lots of use, and it produces excellent cuts in plywood for me.
To me the biggest differences between the saws (despite never having used the Festool) are the features:
Good stuff!
I've not used the TS55 (only picked it up in a Rockler once), but I've never felt like the Makita is cheaply built. I guess what I don't know won't hurt me. Or my wallet.
I will say when I handled the TS55 in person, it did have a premium feel to it.That's awesome to hear the Powertec rails are good. I've been slightly disappointed with the machining consistency with the Makita rails. If Powertec made a single 110" track for less than the competition I'd be all over it.
Curious what blade you put in your Makita? I'm still going strong on the stock blade after lots of use, and it produces excellent cuts in plywood for me.
To me the biggest differences between the saws (despite never having used the Festool) are the features:
- Price (Makita takes this by a long shot when you factor in the price of the rails)
- Riving Knive (+1 to Festool, if you only cut sheet goods it may be negligible)
- Scoring Feature (+1 to Makita - this works great in melamine btw!)
- Waste side zero-clearance insert (+1 to Festool)
- Depth setting mechanism (+1 to Festool Fast Fix, much better design in my opinion)
Good stuff!
OP
Hey @Ryan , glad you posted this. I have the Makita + Makita rails, and am a fan. I noticed a refurb saw on eBay recently and was thinking of recommending the same combo with the Powertec rails (never used them myself) to others that might be interested in a track saw but deterred by the price.
I've not used the TS55 (only picked it up in a Rockler once), but I've never felt like the Makita is cheaply built. I guess what I don't know won't hurt me. Or my wallet.
That's awesome to hear the Powertec rails are good. I've been slightly disappointed with the machining consistency with the Makita rails. If Powertec made a single 110" track for less than the competition I'd be all over it.
Curious what blade you put in your Makita? I'm still going strong on the stock blade after lots of use, and it produces excellent cuts in plywood for me.
To me the biggest differences between the saws (despite never having used the Festool) are the features:
But when it comes to quality of cut, accuracy, and results, I'd be shocked if the Festool was noticeably better.
- Price (Makita takes this by a long shot when you factor in the price of the rails)
- Riving Knive (+1 to Festool, if you only cut sheet goods it may be negligible)
- Scoring Feature (+1 to Makita - this works great in melamine btw!)
- Waste side zero-clearance insert (+1 to Festool)
- Depth setting mechanism (+1 to Festool Fast Fix, much better design in my opinion)
Good stuff!
yeah… at this point I’d say there is a significant difference in quality between the two… but only a small difference in functionality.
The thing about Festool is that if you are as stupid as me, you buy into the ecosystem and you get used to little luxuries… for instance, the interchangeable power cord thing seems silly on paper. But it totally changed my work flow and using tools without it becomes a pain in the ***.
purplezr2
Well-known member
I 3D printed a cover for my blade access hole, this seemed to help with dust issues some.
William Payne
Well-known member
I’m looking at the festool track saws for a project. I looked at the makita but what put me off was that regular makita circular saws don’t fit the track. Festool makes all their saws track compatible at least all the ones I was looking at.
ez-duzit
Well-known member
An affordable option is to buy the best (Festool) used, like I did--$350 for the TS55 saw, including a 55" track, Systainer and clamps (which are not needed). Since that purchase I have added a ~6' and a ~10' track.
IndyGarage
Well-known member
Give
The Japanese have a way of making things that look like they are lower quality, but in reality they have engineered out most of the flaws.
Given your statement of a small difference in functionality and a large difference in quality, the first thing that comes to my mind is it a real quality difference or a perceived quality difference?
The Japanese have a way of making things that look like they are lower quality, but in reality they have engineered out most of the flaws.
ez-duzit
Well-known member
I own some good Makita (brushless drill/drivers) and some very disappointing Makita (power plane and angle drill) tools. Most every manufacturer has a sweet spot--something at which they excel. Likewise virtually every one has a dog or two.
OP
Yeah, no… the makita track saw simply isn’t made all that well relative to the festool. In fact, it just doesn’t seem to be made all that well period.
Voi
Well-known member
Makita makes three cordless, blade-right saws that are track compatible. The XSH08 is 7 1/4" and the XSH10 is 9 1/4". The third is another 7 1/4" in their new 40V line. Not sure if they have a 9 1/4" saw in their 40V line yet.
I don't know of any of their corded circular saws having a track compatible base.
Downwindtracker 2
Well-known member
I have been using clamp-on straightedges to break down sheet goods. It looks like track saws take some of the skill out of that process. Even when my workshop was empty and the run to and from the table saw clear., cutting a plywood sheet was tricky. And I was much younger and stronger then.
Good topic.
Track saws excel in breaking down sheet goods. And then you find all sorts of other things they excel at that you never thought of going in.
I dove in to Dewalt cordless tools quite a few years ago, so when I started looking at track saws I leaned towards the Dewalt cordless. I finally bought the cordless track saw last fall, so I've been using it about 9 months. I like it very much.
Each brand of saw has it's finicky tidbits that you need to get used to. Trigger/safety/plunge mechanism ergonomics. Besides getting used to the Dewalt the only "out-of-the-box-rut-row" was that the riving knife was not aligned with the blade. Easily adjusted.
A track saw is a terrific tool when working away from the shop too. Brings a whole new level of not just precision, but precision with speed, to any project.
Track saws excel in breaking down sheet goods. And then you find all sorts of other things they excel at that you never thought of going in.
I dove in to Dewalt cordless tools quite a few years ago, so when I started looking at track saws I leaned towards the Dewalt cordless. I finally bought the cordless track saw last fall, so I've been using it about 9 months. I like it very much.
Each brand of saw has it's finicky tidbits that you need to get used to. Trigger/safety/plunge mechanism ergonomics. Besides getting used to the Dewalt the only "out-of-the-box-rut-row" was that the riving knife was not aligned with the blade. Easily adjusted.
A track saw is a terrific tool when working away from the shop too. Brings a whole new level of not just precision, but precision with speed, to any project.
William Payne
Well-known member
macgee
Well-known member
I would maybe look into Grizzly's track saw, gets great reviews (on various sites) and price is very reasonable. Put a proper Freud blade (LU79 Ultimate plywood) on it and get cuts equal to much higher priced track saws.
https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-6-1-4-track-saw/t10687
https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-6-1-4-track-saw/t10687
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csp
Well-known member
I have that same saw with a Wen label on it (no longer available) and am completely happy with it, knowing that the price I paid resulted in less than optimal dust collection and depth of cut labels which are completely whacked. I never even attempted a cut with the blade it came with, and chose a Oshlun blade for it.I would maybe look into Grizzly's track saw, gets great reviews (on various sites) and price is very reasonable. Put a proper Freud blade (LU79 Ultimate plywood) on it and get cuts equal to much higher priced track saws.
https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-6-1-4-track-saw/t10687
The Shop Fox track saw is also the same as the Grizzly. My extra tracks are Shop Fox.
eastbaysubaru
Well-known member
I have to say I wish I found the Makita tracksaw earlier in my life. It's been a game changer. I'll also have to say that it's a good thing I've never used the Festool, though I can't imagine how much better it could be (in order to justify the huge jump in price). There is absolutely nothing better for breaking down sheet goods that a tracksaw and the Makita has been amazing. I recommend it to friends all the time. Excellent tool (even the stock blade which is still going strong).
-Brian
-Brian
OP
Frankly, the Festool is ALOT better… it’s taken me a few weeks with the makita to realize that… but it is.
jar944
Well-known member
Int
I've had the makita since 2013, and have no issues with it. I have not used the ts55, however I do own other Festool power tools and don't find the makita to be lacking in fit/finish/function compared to them.
I'm curious what you specifically find better on the festool. If I were to upgrade at this point I'd get the mafell, but likely will continue using the makita unless it dies for some reason.
Interesting.
I've had the makita since 2013, and have no issues with it. I have not used the ts55, however I do own other Festool power tools and don't find the makita to be lacking in fit/finish/function compared to them.
I'm curious what you specifically find better on the festool. If I were to upgrade at this point I'd get the mafell, but likely will continue using the makita unless it dies for some reason.
Never used a Makita but I have used the Festool alongside a Dewalt tracksaw and I don't find the difference very significant. I own quite a few Festool tools (Domino, Dust extractors, sanders, etc) so, I'm not a Festool-hater, at the same time, IMO a lot of their tools perform similar to other brands.
OP
I have zero brand loyalty. I have bought into the Festool ecosystem in Texas, but sort of resent the company for its price increases and their business model. To be frank, I don't know that I would buy into that ecosystem again (I'm just a novice), but there is no denying it's convenience and I do believe their tools make me appear to be a better woodworker than I really am.
That being said, what are my thoughts on the Makita track saw vs the TS55 after using the Festool for a few years and the Makita for a number of weeks now?
1. The most obvious difference is the fit and finish. The Makita isn't made as well... and you can feel that the instant you pick it up. It's lighter, the plastic feels cheaper, and the plastic joinery (is that a thing?) isn't as sharp.
2. Dust collection is only marginally better with the Festool.
3. The Makita is noisy... The bearing sound reminds me of something you would possibly find at Harbor Freight?
4. The track centering system isn't as well thought out on the Makita. With my TS55, I calibrated it the day I got it and haven't touched it since... After using the Makita for a week or so, I had to recalibrate it as it felt lose on the track again. This could be do to the cheap guide rails I'm using, but it you compare the two systems (makita and festool), the Festool cam system seems smarter to me.
4. The trigger on the Makita is of poor design. At first, mine just felt cheap... Now, however, it's started sporadically not working at all. And I guess this is a common and well known issue with the Makita.
Anyway.... It's possible that many of these issues are related to my unit only. I bought it refurbished.... But I am returning it for another soon.
My take is this:
If you only use a track saw to break down sheet goods, get the Makita and take care of it.
However, if you use the track saw as a sort of table saw replacement... or you center your shop around it like I do, get the Festool. I think this is a case of getting what you pay for... some people need the expensive one. Other people don't.
That being said, what are my thoughts on the Makita track saw vs the TS55 after using the Festool for a few years and the Makita for a number of weeks now?
1. The most obvious difference is the fit and finish. The Makita isn't made as well... and you can feel that the instant you pick it up. It's lighter, the plastic feels cheaper, and the plastic joinery (is that a thing?) isn't as sharp.
2. Dust collection is only marginally better with the Festool.
3. The Makita is noisy... The bearing sound reminds me of something you would possibly find at Harbor Freight?
4. The track centering system isn't as well thought out on the Makita. With my TS55, I calibrated it the day I got it and haven't touched it since... After using the Makita for a week or so, I had to recalibrate it as it felt lose on the track again. This could be do to the cheap guide rails I'm using, but it you compare the two systems (makita and festool), the Festool cam system seems smarter to me.
4. The trigger on the Makita is of poor design. At first, mine just felt cheap... Now, however, it's started sporadically not working at all. And I guess this is a common and well known issue with the Makita.
Anyway.... It's possible that many of these issues are related to my unit only. I bought it refurbished.... But I am returning it for another soon.
My take is this:
If you only use a track saw to break down sheet goods, get the Makita and take care of it.
However, if you use the track saw as a sort of table saw replacement... or you center your shop around it like I do, get the Festool. I think this is a case of getting what you pay for... some people need the expensive one. Other people don't.
Two Door
Well-known member
This perfectly describes my experience. I don't have strong brand preferences, I expect most tools from the big makers to be pretty usable these days, especially since I'm only a hobbyist. That said, for some reason I've never gotten into DeWalt.
I bought the Makita tracksaw, new, mainly because I wanted something higher-end than the Grizzly/ShopFox/Wren, but not as expensive as DeWalt. Out of the box it would cut out at least once during any rip cut. This didn't really effect the work, but it was disconcerting and I could reasonably expect it to get worse, so I returned it and got the Dewalt corded.
Except for the cutting out issue I had been perfectly content with the Makita, and would otherwise have been quite happy to keep it. But the DeWalt just felt far better, more stable, even though if someone else were writing this I would downplay it as purely subjective. Not to mention that the DeWalt swings forward into the work, which takes some getting used to. But in the end it was impossible not to like the DeWalt more and feel it was a better piece of equipment.
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This I can agree with. I know folks that have the Festool tracksaw/ MFT system in their shops and I can't imagine going that route but that goes for any tracksaw system trying to replace a tablesaw in function. I only use a tracksaw to breakdown sheet goods and occasionally straight line rip rough cut lumber.
Germany vs Japan
The Japanese tend to do more with less.
Its odd though, from that picture posted of the Makita ts, it looks a little different then mine I believe. But i have yet to go actually look at my circa 2016 model and compare notes.
I wouldnt be surprised, just disappointed to find out Makita cheapened the design to find more buyers/$. I would caution Festool does do a great job of both building nice tools, and selling the idea that you are buying superior tools. Ive used both extensively, as a package, hoses, cords, vacs, adapters, etc... Festools wins. But as a singular tool, (my) Makita track saw was a better buy.
now im obligated to go inspect my Makita
The Japanese tend to do more with less.
Its odd though, from that picture posted of the Makita ts, it looks a little different then mine I believe. But i have yet to go actually look at my circa 2016 model and compare notes.
I wouldnt be surprised, just disappointed to find out Makita cheapened the design to find more buyers/$. I would caution Festool does do a great job of both building nice tools, and selling the idea that you are buying superior tools. Ive used both extensively, as a package, hoses, cords, vacs, adapters, etc... Festools wins. But as a singular tool, (my) Makita track saw was a better buy.
now im obligated to go inspect my Makita
OP
Yours is definitely different. If you’ve handled a TS55, you’d know the quality difference immediately. Makita prolly went for planned obsolescence…
But again… if you aren’t using the track saw as the center of your shop… I’d still recommend the Makita due to price.
Shop-made ones are perfectly accurate and fool-proof to line up on your lines. 2 stacked pieces of plywood, rip off the bottom one using top one as guid, from then on, you simply line up the ripped edge on your line and the cut will be exact. The key to this one is ripping the top strip on a table saw, since that is your guide edge. Been using these for 30 years in my sign business.
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ez-duzit
Well-known member
Shop-made guides are only that--guides--and what I used for decades..... until I discovered and bought the Festool track saw, which completely revolutionized the way I work.