Makita track versus Festool Track

[jonathan-m]

There's a new guide rail option coming out very soon by Metabo.

- It uses the Mafell splinterstrips and connectors
- Comes in 80, 160, 250 & 310 cm
- Does not have an accessory T-Track on the left

An attached rail for their battery circle saw, like the Mafell KSS and Festool HK, is also coming down the pipeline.

 

[3PedalMINI]

I need a new track saw after an unfortunate event in the garage a few weeks ago. I have zero issue dumping money into tools and Im a festool die hard.

I was on tool nuts website about to pull the trigger on the TS55req only to see the makita pop up.....I am actually contemplating getting the makita to replace the TS55. Only because I have a PM2000 in the shop now and really only use a track saw to break down sheet goods into more manageable sizes....

I’ll feel dirty if I actually do it but my wallet will think me lol!

 

[kevinculle]

That's crazy...you'd buy a better performing saw that's about half the price???  What are you thinking man!

 

[broseiden]

I prefer using the Festool rails with my TS55.

I bought a long Makita track to save money, but ended up buying the Festool track as well. The  cams required adjustment to eliminate play every time I switched from one brand to the other.

I could be happy with one brand's track or the other, but not both (when paired with the same saw).

FWIW, I don't recall hearing about other people having this problem. I should check the difference with calipers. And I later bought the Makita saw to go with the track -- I prefer the Festool saw over the Makita, but would be ok with either (for my needs).

 

[RKA]

[member=17435]3PedalMINI[/member] you might take a look at this...
https://blog.ustoolandfastener.com/trade-up-festool

 

[ihadmail]

I just wanted to chime in that I have the Makita saw and both their short and long tracks. I found out the hard way the first time I really needed a long straight precise cut that the Makita 10' track is not straight. I went to my local tool dealer and checked all of his Makita tracks, they all had the same curve along their length.

I left that day with a Festool 3000 track. When I got home I found out that I needed to adjust the saw when switching between the Makita and Festool tracks, so I purchased a 1400 track also.

I couldn't be happier with this combination from a cost/performance standpoint. The only real complaints I have are that the Makita tracks were a bit of a waste of money since they're not straight and are no longer used, and that Makita didn't put an edge guard on the outside edge of the blade like the Festool saw has.

If I ever find a need for it I'd like to add a TS75 to my collection, but so far I'm happy with the smaller Makita being my only track saw.

 

[rapp]

I think there are a lot of people that just don't want to admit they over paid. I have a TQ75 and a battery power mikita and the mikita is better in every way.
Its more robust. My TQ75  fell off the bench and it broke.
Mikita offers many more tools.
The rails are hands down nicer at 1/2 the price.
Even the cases for the rails are so much better.

I use tools to make money not as a hobby or to brag to my friends and the festool it's not that I don't like it its not in the same league as the mikita. I just bought it with 4 batteries for 499. when Ill sell my festool to some hobbiest for almost the same price I paid for it not only will have have money in my pocket but I'm going to feel sorry for that sucker.

PS anyone want a TQ75 I have one for sale?

They just tool what festool was doing and did it better and cheaper. The only reason we have this conversation is because of little boys egos.

 

[mrboult]

I think there are a lot of people that just don't want to admit they over paid. I have a TQ75 and a battery power mikita and the mikita is better in every way.
Its more robust. My TQ75  fell off the bench and it broke.
Mikita offers many more tools.
The rails are hands down nicer at 1/2 the price.
Even the cases for the rails are so much better.

I use tools to make money not as a hobby or to brag to my friends and the festool it's not that I don't like it its not in the same league as the mikita. I just bought it with 4 batteries for 499. when Ill sell my festool to some hobbiest for almost the same price I paid for it not only will have have money in my pocket but I'm going to feel sorry for that sucker.

PS anyone want a TQ75 I have one for sale?

They just tool what festool was doing and did it better and cheaper. The only reason we have this conversation is because of little boys egos.

Unnecessarily hostile for your first post on the forum? [tongue]

Firstly, much of this thread was posted BEFORE the battery Makita saw existed. It is reported to be a great saw, and you obviously agree, congratulations on your happiness. [big grin]

I've owned both TS55 and SP6000 for 5 years+, and still have both with 2 tracks from each company. I think the festool is the nicer saw, is that OK?

You talk of little boys egos after you signed up to make THIS post?  Jokes. .

 

[peter halle]

Let's not let this escalate.  Post civilly or don't post.  At the end of the day we are still just talking about tools.

Peter

 

[lerabotperche]

No issue with the makita track I use for festool TS55 and OF1400. The only Festool track I have is for system 32.

 

[Koamolly]

Assuming the Festool is a bit better, one advantage to tools other than Festool is the discounted deals that periodically come up on those other tools.  When compared to Festool there are some incredible deals.  With Festool you get the 10% off with vac deals or trade up deals or refurbished tool deals.  I’ve gotten amazing deals on Makita.  You can compare the everyday Toolnut pricing on Makita to Festool and Makita will still be quite a bit cheaper, but when it goes on sale, promotionals or closeout at big box stores it really is tough not to go with Makita on similar tools.

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

I have Makita and Festool guide rails, no issues with either I’m glad to report. I tend to use the Makita rails more when I have the choice, only because my favourite saw is Makita and the little track lock tab.

I’m not keen on the clear type Festool splinter guard, as my old eyes see the black Makita version easier when lining up a cut. I’ll generally use either rails though, and I give the rails a quick blast with silicone spray to aid smooth operation and durability.

 

[Job and Knock]

Makita is going to steal Festool's business for saws with pricing like this.  Half price, for comparable quality.

Well, in TEN years they haven't managed it, despite being the 2nd or 3rd largest manufacturer of power tools on the planet - that's how long the SP6000 has been around - so what makes you think they are going to do it now?

Half price, comparable quality? Seriously? Have you ever used a TS55 and an SP6000 side by side? I have. In fact I currently own a TS55 and a DSP600 (the cordless Mak) and I can tell you that the Mak is not as well made or designed as the Fes - it's close, but it isn't as good. Bought the cordless Mak because I use mainly Mak cordless kit and have done for about 15 years. That made DSP600 choice a no-brainer. Will the Mak last as long? Based on my last SP6000 it probably will, but it will almost certainly need more parts; the depth controls on these saws is rather fragile and prone to damage (and losing bits) and the Makita tracks will wear out the base plate faster. The Makita isn't as easy or quick to use (depth setting is more fiddly, as is blade changing, etc), both my Makitas needed adjustment when they arrived to get them cutting plumb - the Festool didn't, my first Mkita was swapped twice until they got me one without a warped base plate (a problem with early SP6000s), and the dust extraction isn't anywhere near as good. Apart from that....

 

[Svar]

Makita is going to steal Festool's business for saws with pricing like this.  Half price, for comparable quality.

Well, in TEN years they haven't managed it, despite being the 2nd or 3rd largest manufacturer of power tools on the planet - that's how long the SP6000 has been around - so what makes you think they are going to do it now?

They already have stolen a big chunk of Festool business for track saws and will steal even more in the future. Initially the price was on par with FT, but it keeps dropping, while FT is increasing, hence more incentive to go Makita.

 

[mrboult]

Half price, comparable quality? Seriously? Have you ever used a TS55 and an SP6000 side by side? I have. In fact I currently own a TS55 and a DSP600 (the cordless Mak) and I can tell you that the Mak is not as well made or designed as the Fes - it's close, but it isn't as good. Bought the cordless Mak because I use mainly Mak cordless kit and have done for about 15 years. That made DSP600 choice a no-brainer. Will the Mak last as long? Based on my last SP6000 it probably will, but it will almost certainly need more parts; the depth controls on these saws is rather fragile and prone to damage (and losing bits) and the Makita tracks will wear out the base plate faster. The Makita isn't as easy or quick to use (depth setting is more fiddly, as is blade changing, etc), both my Makitas needed adjustment when they arrived to get them cutting plumb - the Festool didn't, my first Mkita was swapped twice until they got me one without a warped base plate (a problem with early SP6000s), and the dust extraction isn't anywhere near as good. Apart from that....

MY intention is never to bash Makita (I really like their tools) or tell anyone what they should be buying (I simply don't care what anyone else buys).

But thanks for your post! Because as someone who has also had both saws side by side for many years, I agree whole heartedly with your comments. And I've felt like the only one for a long long time.
And yes, my SP6000 has significant wear on the base plate and the depth adjustment failed/broke a couple years back. I fixed it and it lives on but it's just not as good a saw IMHO.

 

[tallgrass]

IF it is about the track, I have a tone of festool track and even a ton of their old track. I also have a bunch of makita track including their long track. I find them all straight and work perfectly. I prefer the black makita edge material better. I have found it sticks better over time, especially in the hot S cal summers. I have tested my tracks for straightness. They are all extremely strait considering they are made from extrusion and the limitations that induces. My sample size is not extensive. I have 4 makita track and over 10 pieces of festool track of the old and the new. I guess some people have had issues but I have not. I set all my saws to the same offset so I can run them interchangeable across all track. I am always curious how people are testing their equipment. As an engineer I suffer from a metrics sickness.   I measured my track on our large surface plate and using an optical targeting sled.

 

[Job and Knock]

They already have stolen a big chunk of Festool business for track saws and will steal even more in the future. Initially the price was on par with FT, but it keeps dropping, while FT is increasing, hence more incentive to go Makita.

The Makita was overpriced when it was introduced and the price came down to a more reasonable point to gain market share. Makita haven't upgraded the saw in 10 years and it shows, although having amortized their tooling costs I suppose they can afford to sell for less these days. Festool, on the other hand, revised their product, partly in response to the Mafell MT55cc and its' cut-down sibling the Bosch GKS55CE. The Makita isn't part of a system - yes there are rails (now in 3 lengths) and an adaptor for some routers, but that's about it. There is no real system. With the Festool there is, with parallel guides, Gecko clamps, a good selection of rail lengths, MFT table, saw module for the TS55 in the CMS. Oh, yes, and a real gripe from a professional standpoint - with the Makitas you really need to hunt around to get hold of different blades with consistent kerf widths. Maybe not much of an issue for you, but for me it is, as I currently run over a dozen different blades which all have the same 2.2mm kerf. And while we are on the subject of competitors I notice that you didn't mention the  deWalt saw(s) - a Makita-priced competitor.

TBH a lot of tradesmen here buying a plunge/rail saw for the first time tend to buy the Festool over the cheaper DW and Mak products. It might be snobbery, it might be reliability or spares availability, or it might just be that the Festool feels more comfortable to use, better in the hand. And if you use a tool 2-3-4 hours a day or more that intangible can make a lot of difference to how you view things.

Oh yes, and one really annoying point about the Makita 1400mm rail - it's just too short for crosscutting a 1220mm (4ft) sheet of plywood using a Makita plunge saw without running the base of the saw over the end of the rail (something which damages the base requiring early replacement). This is because the adjusters are set further out from the saw centre line on the Makitas, so they should have made the rail at least 100mm longer. I've ended up cutting a 3m rail into 1700mm and 1300mm to overcome what is, frankly, a design defect. A defect that you don't get with the Festool, Mafell or Bosch systems

 

[Svar]

Job and Knock, you can list all the fine points of Festool, all fair, and I can counter with TS55 is under-powered, which negates many of the advantages, and we can go at it forever... But, Makita does hold a sizable portion of track saw market, its a fact regardless of the underlying reasons. And it has gained it from Festool, which used to be the sole player. And it will likely gain more, because of their flexible (free market) pricing model. And the latter was exactly the point that RussellS was making.

 

[RussellS]

Yep.  If Makita is selling its track saw and rails for HALF price of Festool, Makita is going to take a lot of Festool's market share in the track saw market.  I own the Festool 55 saw and several rails.  All work great.  But 10+ years ago when I was buying my Festool 55, if I would have had the opportunity to buy a Makita track saw and rails for HALF the price of the Festool, I would have.  I'm not a professional.  I don't sell myself and tools.  I just like to cut wood with tools and make stuff.  The Makita would do everything I need it to do and I'd still have $4-500 extra dollars in my pocket.

An analogy.  Long ago there was something called biscuit jointers.  Plate jointers.  Lamello made the BEST biscuit jointer.  But after awhile Porter Cable and DeWalt started making biscuit jointers too.  And Makita too.  I own a DeWalt biscuit jointer.  It works more than well enough for me.  I am sure the four times more expensive Lamello biscuit jointer is better than my cheap DeWalt biscuit jointer.  But it ain't four times better.  I get along just fine with the much cheaper, but still fine quality, DeWalt biscuit jointer.  Same with the Makita track saw.  Its half price.  But it ain't half quality.  It has enough quality to make its owners happy.  There are some of us who would rather have the extra money than the unneeded quality.

 

[jeh]

Job and Knock, you can list all the fine points of Festool, all fair, and I can counter with TS55 is under-powered, which negates many of the advantages, and we can go at it forever... But, Makita does hold a sizable portion of track saw market, its a fact regardless of the underlying reasons. And it has gained it from Festool, which used to be the sole player. And it will likely gain more, because of their flexible (free market) pricing model. And the latter was exactly the point that RussellS was making.

Mafell makes tracksaws along with Triton, Dewalt, Kreg and probably others. I am too lazy to look for anymore