Using non-festool saw on festool track

[chase_leibowitz]

Hi everyone! I just got into using the Festool system and I love it. Ive read a lot of amazing things about the festool track saw, although i'd like to avoid spending 400$ on it. Is there any way to buy/make a mounting plate so i can use my makita circular saw on the festool tracks? it gets a pain setting up guides. Thanks!
-chase

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Hi everyone! I just got into using the Festool system and I love it. Ive read a lot of amazing things about the festool track saw, although i'd like to avoid spending 400$ on it. Is there any way to buy/make a mounting plate so i can use my makita circular saw on the festool tracks? it gets a pain setting up guides. Thanks!
-chase

Welcome to the FOG.

I have a Makita cordless track saw that is compatible with the Festool rail. At one time I had Makita and Festool rails but now I have only Makita rails. Two things to be aware of: 1) If you have more than one saw you need to make sure the distance from the blade to the guide groove is the same on all saws. 2) (this is why I went to one rail manufacturer) The guide rib on the Festool and Makita rails are not the same so you would need to adjust the saw when changing rails.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Is there any way to buy/make a mounting plate so i can use my makita circular saw on the festool tracks?

Yes there is. Before I got my Festool TS55 I used my DeWalt DW65 with a mounting plate on a Festool 1400 track.

I took a piece of 12 mm mdf and routed a slot in it that fits on the Festool track, the trick is to make the slot very precise. 

 

[Svar]

Makita 196953-0 Guide Rail Adapter. This is for regular circular saw.https://www.amazon.com/Makita-196953-0-Guide-Rail-Adapter/dp/B01GCGUTFG
This setup is better than a more common interface plate, because it does not decrease depth of cut as much. I.e. your saw sits directly on the rail, rather than on top of the interface plate + rail.
[attachimg=1]

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Sorry, my first response missed your desire to use a stock circular saw. But I suggest you not go there. I used another rail system for many years that required a base be bolted to the saw and I didn't know what I was missing until I bought a dedicated track saw system.

Also, for years I avoided a plunge saw because the first time I used one I didn't like it at all. After using my plunge saw for a while I love this design for the rail. Standard saws make you hit the rail hard enough to bump the blade guard up. Or if the saw is already on the rail the blade is totally exposed.

Ha - I'm a tool collector/user and another alternative is to use the saws below. They are designed to work on a track but are designed like common circ saws. I purchased the 7-14" one only to find out a year later they released the 9-1/4" so I have both. The 9-1/4" does incorporate a thumb lever to aid opening the blade guard when used on the rail. This 9-1/4" is the cats meow for deep cuts on the rail.
https://www.toolnut.com/makita-xsh0...P1IhIkQACqm_oB_3K0MyGOttzB0XPtmRoCpa0QAvD_BwE
https://www.toolnut.com/makita-xsh1...ss-cordless-9-1-4-circular-saw-tool-only.html

 

[chase_leibowitz]

Hi everyone! I just got into using the Festool system and I love it. Ive read a lot of amazing things about the festool track saw, although i'd like to avoid spending 400$ on it. Is there any way to buy/make a mounting plate so i can use my makita circular saw on the festool tracks? it gets a pain setting up guides. Thanks!
-chase

Welcome to the FOG.

I have a Makita cordless track saw that is compatible with the Festool rail. At one time I had Makita and Festool rails but now I have only Makita rails. Two things to be aware of: 1) If you have more than one saw you need to make sure the distance from the blade to the guide groove is the same on all saws. 2) (this is why I went to one rail manufacturer) The guide rib on the Festool and Makita rails are not the same so you would need to adjust the saw when changing rails.

Hi, thanks for the help! this actually isn't a makita track saw. its just one of their circular saws. I bought it a few years ago when i had just started woodworkinh.

 

[chase_leibowitz]

Sorry, my first response missed your desire to use a stock circular saw. But I suggest you not go there. I used another rail system for many years that required a base be bolted to the saw and I didn't know what I was missing until I bought a dedicated track saw system.

Also, for years I avoided a plunge saw because the first time I used one I didn't like it at all. After using my plunge saw for a while I love this design for the rail. Standard saws make you hit the rail hard enough to bump the blade guard up. Or if the saw is already on the rail the blade is totally exposed.

Ha - I'm a tool collector/user and another alternative is to use the saws below. They are designed to work on a track but are designed like common circ saws. I purchased the 7-14" one only to find out a year later they released the 9-1/4" so I have both. The 9-1/4" does incorporate a thumb lever to aid opening the blade guard when used on the rail. This 9-1/4" is the cats meow for deep cuts on the rail.
https://www.toolnut.com/makita-xsh0...P1IhIkQACqm_oB_3K0MyGOttzB0XPtmRoCpa0QAvD_BwE
https://www.toolnut.com/makita-xsh1...ss-cordless-9-1-4-circular-saw-tool-only.html

thanks for your help! yeah, i see what you are saying on that. I rarely use my circular saw as i far prefer the table saw, but having a good track would be super helpful when i do need to use it. I only use it when breaking down massive pieces of plywood which isn't super often so I'm not quite ready to spend 400+ on a track saw. If i do, it will definitely be a festool hahaha

 

[chase_leibowitz]

Makita 196953-0 Guide Rail Adapter. This is for regular circular saw.https://www.amazon.com/Makita-196953-0-Guide-Rail-Adapter/dp/B01GCGUTFG
This setup is better than a more common interface plate, because it does not decrease depth of cut as much. I.e. your saw sits directly on the rail, rather than on top of the interface plate + rail.
[attachimg=1]

Thank you!!!

 

[chase_leibowitz]

Is there any way to buy/make a mounting plate so i can use my makita circular saw on the festool tracks?

Yes there is. Before I got my Festool TS55 I used my DeWalt DW65 with a mounting plate on a Festool 1400 track.

I took a piece of 12 mm mdf and routed a slot in it that fits on the Festool track, the trick is to make the slot very precise.

Thank you so much for the advice! ill give that a shot. i also just saw the Kreg accu-cut system. Is that any good?