Makita Thows Its Hat into the Plunge Cut Circular Saw Arena

[Lucy]

Our Makita Rep. stopped by yesterday introducing their version of the plunge cut circular saw and guide rail system. Last year it was DeWalt, this year Makita and who knows what next year will bring.  ???

 

[peter halle]

Hey Lucy,

Later on sometime when you're not lost on your website or taking care of business, why don't you do a you tube comparison of all three side by side.  You do that and I'll send you some Festool Greenies as a token of my appreciation.

Woof!

Peter

 

[Lucy]

Hey Lucy,

Later on sometime when you're not lost on your website or taking care of business, why don't you do a you tube comparison of all three side by side.  You do that and I'll send you some Festool Greenies as a token of my appreciation.

Woof!

Peter

Great idea - Will do

 

[JayStPeter]

I'm actually interested in the pros/cons of using a Makita rail with the Festool system.  At about 2/3 the cost, I'm considering a 117" Makita rail instead of a 3000 Festool rail.  Having not seen one yet, I'm curious what the difference would be.  I know from some other reviews that they are size compatible, but what about the rubber on the underside and slick top surfaces etc.

 

[nickao]

"The Makita 117" Guide Rail is made for the SP6000K Plunge Cut Circular Saw ONLY"!  Makita 117inch guide Rail

This above is  info I just saw on Tyler tools.

Does it work with the Festool TS 75 or not?

Nick

 

[JayStPeter]

Don't know about the TS75, but from the PWW review ...

The TS55 will ride on the Festool and Makita rails.
The DW will ride on the DW and Festool rails (although the reverse lock feature won't work on the Festool).
The Makita will ride on the Makita and Festool rails (although the angle lock feature won't work on the Festool)

The Makita and Festool rails will lock together with the Festool connectors.

The TS75 will depend on the width of the base on the non-cut side.  Good question for a Makita rail review. 

I'm also guessing that anyone who uses the router guide off the back side of the rail won't be able to do that with a Makita rail.

 

[nickao]

Well Makita makes adapters for the DeWalt routers I use. I do not think it will be long until someone makes them for all the routers.

If the TS 55 works the TS 75 must work also, I will give one a try.

I found the 117" Makita guide Rail for 176.00, but the best overall price  I have found so far is 199.99 including shipping, about 85.00 savings over the Festool rail.

 

[Lucy]

Well Makita makes adapters for the DeWalt routers I use. I do not think it will be long until someone makes them for all the routers.

If the TS 55 works the TS 75 must work also, I will give one a try.

I found the 117" Makita guide Rail for 176.00, but the best overall price  I have found so far is 199.99 including shipping, about 85.00 savings over the Festool rail.

.

I do not have the Makita Products up on the web yet because they haven't arrived at our store.  But just give me a call and I'll get you a great price - My direct number: 914-475-0081.

 

[JayStPeter]

If the TS 55 works the TS 75 must work also, I will give one a try.

I'm not sure that's a valid statement.  Makita puts a tab on the side of the top t-slot on the rail.  This tab allows the Makita saw to lock onto the rail so the saw doesn't tip off the rail when set for a bevel cut.  The reason the DW saw fits on the Festool rail and not the Makita is that its base is wide enough that the tab interferes with the saw base engaging in the rail.  I'm not sure if the TS75 is wider in this dimension than the 55 or not.

There's a picture in this months PWW, but I couldn't find it on the web.  So here's a text diagram

Festool rail

     ┌─   ─┐                          ┌───┐
     │       │_____________│     │_________     < cutting edge

Makita Rail

              tab
              v
     ┌─     ┬──                       ┌───┐
     │       │_____________│     │_________   < cutting edge

Jay

 

[SPARKY FROM WINNIPEG]

That saw has been available in Canada for at least a year if I recall.