Makita 118" guide rail difference

[duc996]

      Hi All, recently I stumbled upon a thread stating that the Makita guide rails would work with the Festool track saws and did some research and ended up purchasing the Makita 118" rail. With the Makita $25 off special and free shipping I ordered a set through Toolnut!

    I compared the Makita rail to my Festool FS1900 rail and it's well built, the splinter guard is black in color and feels more pliable than the ones on the Festool. The pads that the tracksaw rides on is wider on the Makita than Festool and also has ridges unlike Festool. I noticed that when I switched over the Makita rails, I would have to adjust the play on the tracksaw. I confirmed it with my caliper that the Makita rails are smaller width than the Festool.

 

[RDMuller]

What is the price difference?

 

[duc996]

almost $200 difference with the Makita 25 off special

 

[bnaboatbuilder]

I picked up a Makita 118" rail as well recently. Cutting a bunch of maple ply today. It is noticeable the difference in the cam settings for my Makita cordless track saw on the Makita rail vs my other 4 Festool rails. A little irritating. If set for the Makita it's too tight for the Festool rails and way sloppy for the Makita when set for the Festools. I was adjusting the cams at first then would forget. As a result the splinter guard on the long rail isn't as perfect a line as it first was.

I do like the black splinter guard far more in color choice to the clear Festool ones.

I may experiment with tape or something to see if I can get the Makita rail to match for the cam settings. For the sake of time and accuracy. Otherwise I am pleased with the long rail. The best I can tell is that the rail may have a 1/4mm or so curve over it's length. Not enough to care over that distance. Straight enough for me. Many times I double check with a back side measure from the rail to ply edge before cutting down full sheets.

Or I just buy a Makita 55" rail and be done with it. But I do find the Festool 75" to be such an easier rail for crosscutting full sheets. I'd rather plunge outside the ply and cut in than plunge into the ply at the start.

 

[duc996]

I picked up a Makita 118" rail as well recently. Cutting a bunch of maple ply today. It is noticeable the difference in the cam settings for my Makita cordless track saw on the Makita rail vs my other 4 Festool rails. A little irritating. If set for the Makita it's too tight for the Festool rails and way sloppy for the Makita when set for the Festools. I was adjusting the cams at first then would forget. As a result the splinter guard on the long rail isn't as perfect a line as it first was.

I do like the black splinter guard far more in color choice to the clear Festool ones.

I may experiment with tape or something to see if I can get the Makita rail to match for the cam settings. For the sake of time and accuracy. Otherwise I am pleased with the long rail. The best I can tell is that the rail may have a 1/4mm or so curve over it's length. Not enough to care over that distance. Straight enough for me. Many times I double check with a back side measure from the rail to ply edge before cutting down full sheets.

Or I just buy a Makita 55" rail and be done with it. But I do find the Festool 75" to be such an easier rail for crosscutting full sheets. I'd rather plunge outside the ply and cut in than plunge into the ply at the start.

John, how do you like the Makita track saw? I will have to remember to adjust the cams when ever I use the makita rails. It’s not a deal breaker but, I wish I knew before I purchased the rail though.

 

[glass1]

I cut m6 Makita 118 in half. 8 prefer the 59”to cross cut sheet goods. The 75 is just a tad long.  I keep the cordless Makita, 2 55” Makita rails, a  42” festool rail and 1 59” Makita rail in a bag in the truck. Join the 55” to rip ply, grs16 on the 59” to cross cut and the 42”for smaller. I keep the 75” and 118” festool rails in the shop with the ts75.

 

[glass1]

And yes at longer lengths the festool rails tend to be straighter.