Thread: Makita track saw

This thread is very timely, I have been contemplating getting a track saw for a while so am appreciative of all the information also

Originally Posted by snafuspyramid

Thanks all, sage advice as always - I decided to to go with the Makita.

As far as benchtop setup goes, I have a few damaged doors floating around so planned to throw one on top of my (Nicholson style) carpenter's bench and sacrifice that.

The next issue is parallel guides. It looks like something I could throw together with some T-Track and some Perspex at a pinch, but does anyone have any reasonably priced options to suggest?

Have a look at a YouTube channel by Peter Millard called 10 minute Workshop. He is a British Cabinet maker with a tiny shop and uses the track saw extensively. He has a series on Track Saws and I am pretty sure he has a video on easy DIY parallel guides.

Cheers Andrew

Originally Posted by aldav

Can you point us to a comparable Festool system for about that price?

Sure!

You get this extractor: CT 15l HEPA Class Dust Extractor which cost you $599.01. Give you the extractor and a hose that's compatible with a TS55 and many other tools. Also gives you a bonus of the basic cleaning set so you can vacuum up other stuff in your shop.

Then get the TS55R track saw set including the 1400mm rail: TS 55R 160mm Plunge Cut Circular Saw in Systainer with 1400mm Rail which cost you $1149.01.

You just spent $1748.02 and you can drink beer for the change on the $1800 budget proposed in the original post.

None of this is on sale, these are regular prices (I checked the promo brochure to be sure).

Originally Posted by rwbuild

This thread is very timely, I have been contemplating getting a track saw for a while so am appreciative of all the information also

I should of bought one a long time ago, never appreciated how versatile they are, always just viewed them as a cabinet maker/ shopfitters tool but they are brilliant for hanging doors ( don’t use a plane anymore), trimming decks etc
Would definitely be on my short list of tools if starting out again

I went with the Makita, I figure it will be adequate for my purposes (and has longer rails included) and that the temptation to plug myself, or more precisely my credit card details, into the Festool "system" might not be a good thing.

On the parallel guide topic, the Peter Millard idea is a good one, but probably a pain where there are lots of different sizes that need cutting.

The Festool option for the parallel guide looks overly expensive to me for what it is, so I'm probably looking at a DIY job?

Originally Posted by snafuspyramid

The Festool option for the parallel guide looks overly expensive to me for what it is, so I'm probably looking at a DIY job?

Whilst this option is also comparatively expensive, I would go for the TSO Parallel Guide system over the Festool. It has a much broader size range, and thus more options/possibilities for using it: TSO Parallel Guide System for Festool, Makita and Trition Track Saws

I haven't stacked up the price of this vs Festool, so I'm not sure how it compares.

Originally Posted by Midnight Man

Sure!

You get this extractor: CT 15l HEPA Class Dust Extractor which cost you $599.01. Give you the extractor and a hose that's compatible with a TS55 and many other tools. Also gives you a bonus of the basic cleaning set so you can vacuum up other stuff in your shop.

Then get the TS55R track saw set including the 1400mm rail: TS 55R 160mm Plunge Cut Circular Saw in Systainer with 1400mm Rail which cost you $1149.01.

You just spent $1748.02 and you can drink beer for the change on the $1800 budget proposed in the original post.

None of this is on sale, these are regular prices (I checked the promo brochure to be sure).

And if you need social support provided we social distance and the beers on you seeing you'll have change I'll glad come for the hang.

15 litres pretty small not knocking it. That's a good price I'll admit. But that'll fill after cutting one sheet worth. I'd go bigger if you can in regards to vacuum size. Better yet install a dust deputy cyclone into a bigger bucket or drum. Just a suggest.

Can the TSO parallel guide be got in Australia?

Originally Posted by snafuspyramid

Can the TSO parallel guide be got in Australia?

Carbatec springvale hand them last time I was there.

Originally Posted by slickmick77

Carbatec springvale hand them last time I was there.

Nope Srry I believe there was a patent dispute with festools similar product so those were taken of their shelves. There are the festool ones there if I'm not wrong.

Now that you have a Makita Vacuum and do mainly hand woodwork, a useful addition for hand sanding is the Mirka hand sanding block used with the Mirka vacuum hose that attaches to the Makita vacuum, along with the Abranet abrasive sheets that fit the sanding block.
No more dust inside when you handsand the fitted cabinets.
See this link: Mirka Sanding Blocks with Extraction | Axminster Tools International

Precision Dogs makes one for about A$240 posted, plus I'd need to buy some Incra T-Track so the total will be around the $300 mark. Any thoughts?

EDIT: I bought this one because none of the other contenders were still in stock (in metric).

Originally Posted by slickmick77

15 litres pretty small not knocking it. That's a good price I'll admit. But that'll fill after cutting one sheet worth. I'd go bigger if you can in regards to vacuum size. Better yet install a dust deputy cyclone into a bigger bucket or drum. Just a suggest.

I have a CT Midi and find I change the bag about every six months. That could be because I am not cutting every day, but find that it does not fill quickly unless I am using the plane.

My thoughts when I first had my Festool plunge saw, guide rail and dust extractor.

Getting used to the plunge action took me a few cuts.
Set up time was reduced. Accuracy increased. Chipping in melamine decreased and when cutting ply no further work was required to the neat edges.
All of a sudden my work space was cleaner and I was not wadding through sawdust.

I have used it inside a bead shop with confidence not to fill the bead containers with dust.
With the plunge action, I have been able to neatly and quickly cut openings in panels as required (or at least part cut them when they are small).

Yes additional parts might be expensive but they are readily available, as easy as looking at the Festool web site.
As for the cost, sorry I have forgotten that part, but still enjoy using the tools.