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makita-cordless-track-saw-kit-ultra We then ripped our first sacrificial cut on the guide rail to trim the plastic edge perfectly to the blade. Your email address will not be published. That was roughly half the cost of Festool's cordless TSC saw and comparable supporting gear. A very nice ergonomic touch. Variable speed button, battery gauges, a temperature warning. Makita cordless track saw kit ultra up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

They feel that if they can accomplish their task with one battery the will. When the task requires high-power, more speed and or more run-time, then they design their tool with two batteries.

The MAKITA cordless track saw has a brushless motor and variable speed control dial with five settings that ranges from 2, — 6, rpms and allowing users to match the saw speed to the application. To set the saw to -1 degree you need loosen the regular bevel screws and then press in two levers located on the saws base plate. Once depressed you can then tilt the saw to -1 degree before tightening the bevel knobs. To set the tool to 48 degrees you loosen the same bevel screws and then flip a black colored, lever, near the bevel knob, toward the direction of the degree arrow.

This allows you to tilt the saw base to 48 degrees before tightening up the bevel knobs. The saw has a knob next to the front bevel knob that allows a positive stop at We found this useful for setting this bevel quickly and positively. Line of sight comes into play when using the saw off its track. The front edge of the saw has a detent for 90 degree and degree cutting, when on the track the best part of using a track is speed and precision.

The plastic edge shows you precisely where the blade will cut. No test cuts, no double checking, no guesswork. Automatic speed change technology adjusts cutting speed and torque during the cut for consistent cutting performance under load. There is a mode indicator light next to battery 2 fuel gauge. This light will show solid green when in high torque mode.

If the tool is overloaded it will blink green. This feature allows you to achieve clean and splinter-free cutting in expensive materials.

At first glance you may wonder what that slide lever on the saw base is for. This lever, when activated will prevent the saw from tipping over and out of the track when bevel cutting. Two adjusting screws on the saws base allow you to adjust the slide function Makita Cordless Track Saw Kit Pro to avoid slop and clatter.

Dust collection is a trend that is NOT going away. Unfortunately, this saw does not come with a dust bag, you have to purchase that. Makita is launching a new line of blades, seven in total, designed to fit this cordless saw and to work with multiple materials.

We tested the Makita saw for runtime. I wanted to simulate a real carpentry application for our run time testing. I set the saw blade set just below the bottom edge, and used two new 5. I followed this sequence until the tool could not finish a continuous cut:.

The reason for resting the tool was to avoid heat buildup in the battery or brushless motor. I also wanted to simulate a real life carpentry application. This was already a lot of cutting for a track saw, and I cant think of a job site situation where I would attempt to rip hundreds of board feet with a track saw. The saw blade and base plate were square out of the box, no adjustment was needed at 45 or degrees.

In the shop, I used the Makita cordless track saw to size down expensive and cumbersome sheet goods, for a book case project. In the past, I would rough-cut plywood with a circular saw, then make finish cuts on a table saw. With a track saw, you can skip the second cut. If you use this saw correctly, you will see that it cuts on par with cabinet table saw.

The Makita saw performed exceptionally well in our testing. Some track saws also come complete with grippy guide rails that let you make a cut without clamping down the guide. This is great for quickly taking some material off a board or door, without having to waste time clamping and unclamping.

Cutting a lot of timber? Be sure to check out our range of dust extractors and vacuums before taking on your next project. Subscribe to receive special offers and deals. Filter Products. Makita Tool Type.

Cordless 6 Electric 7. The other difference we found during testing is that the narrow part of the opening on the T slot of the Makita track is narrower than that of a Festool track, making some clamps incompatible with the Makita track. On both the Festool and Makita the replaceable anti-splinter and grip strips are glued onto the track. The disadvantage of this is that the end of the anti-splinter strips are prone to coming loose over time and will eventually make saw setup more difficult.

Both Festool and Makita tracks require two track-connectors for good alignment. The DEWALT track is unique in that it has anti-splinter strips on both sides of the track allowing the saw to cut in either direction. This potentially can allow the user to prioritize rough cuts to one side of the track and fine finish cuts to the other side. The biggest problem we had with the DEWALT track was that the single centrally located T-slot would not allow a solid, well-aligned connection between two tracks.

We would strongly recommend anyone purchasing this saw consider using a full-length single track for longer cuts whenever possible. Bosch and Mafell tied on this category with a single piece connector that does a superior job at aligning the tracks. This connector is solid and is secured in place with a slotted screwdriver or a coin. Clamps have an unobstructed run along the underside of the tracks, unlike the other types. Festool has a nicely machined single piece connector with two set screws in each track.

Both Festool and Makita allow the use of two-track connectors for better track alignment. DEWALT tracks were difficult to align due to the single connector and play between the extrusion and connector. Slight variations in extrusions and machining combined with normal wear and tear mean that the interface between the saw and guide rail needs to be adjustable.

This is typically done with cams or slides that effectively widen or narrow the channel on the bottom of the saw. These adjustments allow the saw to glide easily but without and side to side movement, [slop] while cutting. This adjustment is critical for maintaining cut quality and ease of use.

The better track saws offer a tool-free adjustment that is stiff enough to stay put. Mafell has a very nice, easy to use dial adjuster with detents at regular increments and was the best of the lot in this feature.

The Makita followed in second place with its large easy to turn knobs, with a good stiff adjustment. The Festool has slightly harder to reach cam-knobs which push on a replaceable plastic bar that rides against the track.

This adjustment knob has a good stiff feel that holds its position. However, once this adjustment is made, it says put. The Bosch has a slide switch that is WAY too easy to move and can be easily knocked out of adjustment.

Mafell does not have a variable speed and relies on internal electronics to monitor the brushless motor. The team liked that it can be adjusted without taking hands off the tool.

However, its location and design make it prone to accidental dial changes. But it is inset into the body of the tool and unlikely to get changed by mistake. Variable speed button, battery gauges, a temperature warning. In order to adjust the variable speed the user pushed an easily accessible button, the team consensus is that this user interface is sweet! Mafell has a single button control that locks the arbor and opens the blade guard door [photo above — hinged on bottom] It is a well-engineered and thought-out allowing the blade to be changed with the saw sitting flat on a table, without plunging the saw.

The wrench is conveniently located at the rear of the saw for blade changing. Lifting up on the lever and plunging the saw down is all that is needed. The arbor locks automatically when the tool is plunged down. Super easy to do. The wrench is also easy to access and is located under the Fast-Fix lever. Bosch is similar to the Festool blade changing process except that it requires you to hold the arbor lock button down while changing the blade.

The wrench is located on the saw base. The wrench location is easily accessible and more secure than the Makita wrench storage. Makita requires you to rotate a depth lock knob, then plunge the saw which locks the blade down. It too requires the user to hold down the arbor lock to change the blade. The wrench is on the bottom rear of the saw housing. It requires the user to push down the spindle lock lever, and then plunge the saw.

The spindle lock is then rotated to lock down the plunge. The spindle lock is then pushed and held down, while the blade is spun to a locking position. We also did some testing of dust collection to see if there were any significant differences between the saws.

Our testing showed that with a good dust extractor attached there was negligible difference between the saws. Except when cutting at a degrees. Mafell does not have a cutout at the blade arbor due to its unique blade changing system.

Not having this cut out no doubt increases vacuum suction efficiency. Mafell also has a rubber gasket along the dust sealing the blade cover and saw housing along the dust travel path. Festool and Mafell both have clear plastic chip windows, which increased suction where the saw teeth exit the wood, resulting in more efficient dust collection.

All of the saws have swivel dust ports the Mafell and the Bosch have positive stops. Both Mafell and Festool kits come with a dust bag which does a nice job collecting dust when a dust extractor is not available. The AWS-equipped tool is enabled with a small wireless transmitter inserted into a port on the tool.

The transmitter can communicate with a Makita dust extractor also equipped with an AWS-transmitter. For this ergonomic section, we considered the following factors, rating them 1 thru 5. Saws without riving knives have a nicer feel to the plunge mechanism but lack the safety that a riving knife offers. The Mafell track saw has an electronic riving knife, offering safety without the additional resistance and rough feel of a riving knife.

Festool, Mafell, and Makita all have robust, linear compression-plunge springs and are all on par with ease of plunging. The Bosch has a lower strength axial-plunge spring and is NOT as strong as the others. The DEWALT has a parallel linkage plunge mechanism that requires the user to push the saw carriage forward slightly on the base before plunging it down at an angle. It feels a bit awkward because the other saws pivot down into their bases with one wrist motion. It took us a bit to get used to this movement, but we eventually got used to it.

Overall, the team was not a fan of this plunge mechanism. The Mafell was the standout in this category. With a single bevel adjustment knob, single-button blade change, and super intuitive setup and adjustment. And it also features a surface on the front corner of the base plate opposite the blade where the user can put pressure on the baseplate and prevent saw tipping during bevel cuts. A very nice ergonomic touch. With only a little use this saw becomes exceedingly easy to use and adjust and only requires an onboard Allen key for blade changes.

The arbor lock is just like their circular saws. Most of the adjustments are easily figured out by where they are and how they interface with the saw, basically, you look at it and you can see what it does and how it does it. However, the tolerances feel a little looser than the Mafell and Festool. The Bosch has a nicely engineered interface. The push-button speed adjustment is a nice touch that gives the user instant and high visibility information on adjustments.

The single button bevel stop override button for -1 degree and over degree cuts is a unique feature. Similar to Mafell, the Bosch has a ribbed grip on the baseplate specifically designed for the user to put pressure on the front Makita Cordless Track Saw Kit Mini corner of the saw to prevent tipping while beveling. It is definitely easy to use and intuitive tool. There is no -1 degree bevel and no stop at 45 degrees. The adjustment knobs are universally small and slippery.

The plunge and bevel adjustments are obvious but the track slop, blade change, and anti-kickback are NOT intuitive and needlessly fussy. To set up this test we chose accessories needed in order to rip an 8-foot sheet of plywood. This as-tested set up included enough track to rip 8-feet, track connectors, and the saw kit.

A typical kit will not supply you with enough track to do this. The team was unanimous in choosing Makita as the best value saw. The Makita offers a great price, decent features, a solid track, and has the power and runtime to make it a serious contender on any job site.

It was a top performer in this head-to-head test and will no doubt give you years of service. It took first place in features, ergonomics and cut quality, and second in performance testing. It is an expensive saw, but the overall performance and quality are commensurate with the price.

The team loved its s ingle motion blade change which drops the blade housing and automatically locks the saw blade and locks out the start trigger. They also loved that ALL a ngle settings are fixed at two locations at the front and rear of the carriage with a single point of adjustment at the front of the saw. Second place went to the Makita track saw which scored first in our performance testing, came in second in cost, third in both features, ergonomics and cut quality.

It is a solid, no-nonsense saw that performed extremely well in our testing. Third place went to the Festool track saw which had a solid showing in the quality of cut, features, and ergonomics categories. The Festool track saw is a solid, well-engineered saw. Its score dropped significantly in our performance testing where it came in the middle of the road in our speed cut test and dead last in runtime.

Ultimately everyone needs to choose a track saw based on their specific needs, uses, and budget. Also, the more we do these test the more some folks comment about how they would weigh different categories differently.

Our ALL Pro contractor team put some serious time and effort into our Head-to-Head evaluation to bring you the most comprehensive information available. However, we feel comfortable that all the track saws in this Head-to-Head are good saws and our testing helps bring to light pros and cons for each saw.

Robert Robillard is a remodeler, general contractor, and principal of a carpentry and renovation business located in Concord, Massachusetts, and serves as the Editor of Tool Box Buzz and founding editor of A Concord Carpenter. Rob is in charge of our Tool and Product Review - Tool and Product Review - Video Channel, , where we post all of our tool reviews and video tutorials. Rob enjoys using his knowledge and experience to help and educate building professionals as well as DIYers on best practices in the remodeling industry.

The Concord Carpenter's motto: "Well done is better than well said! All posts by Robert ». I had a Butfering panel saw in the shop so when Festool first came out with a track saw I had to have one for installation purposes.

Back then though it was the only one available and was a plug-in saw if you can remember those. I always thought it was highly overpriced but it was so accurate especially by power tool standard back then. Very good article, I enjoyed reading it. I saw Mafell has a scoring blade, are any of the saws capable of making chip free cuts in Melamine?

Thanks for your comments! I think any of them are capable with the right blade and technique. The major difference here is the the Mafell will also slightly offset the score cut vs.

With a little time and setup any saw in this test can do a scoring cut by setting the depth stop to only cut the veneer of the material. Sadly Mafell is so scarcely available in North America, with only one dealer the price is insanely high. Thanks for the great review. It makes our research easier and helps us to invest in tools that make most sense to us. There is just one major thing that seems to be wrongly reported. Thus, dust collection requires a wired connection. Mafell is also part of the Cordless Alliance System batteries are compatible with metabo and many other euro companies.

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