Why I'm NOT Buying the 40v. Makita 40v vs 36v vs Corded.

In this video, I give some initial high-level thoughts on the new Makita 40v XGT track saw and how it compares to the Makita 36v track saw and the Makita corded track saw.

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⏱ TIMESTAMPS ⏱
0:00​ Intro
0:51 How I Got The 40v Saw
1:40 Time Limits and My Perspective
3:00 Cost Comparisons
5:01 What's The Same?
5:47 What's Different?
8:47 Bluetooth Problems and Rant
16:34 Am I Going to Buy the 40v?
18:32 What Do You Think?
19:23 Arbor Snap Cover

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DISCLAIMERS:

This video was not paid for by outside persons or manufacturers.
No gear was supplied to me for this video.

The content of this video and my opinions were not reviewed or paid for by any outside persons.

[williamedley]

Great video!  
For my circumstances,  

I was in the market for a track saw and was not already on the Makita 18v platform. I am pretty heavily invested the Milwaukee 18v/12v lines.  This was certainly one of my biggest considerations, and had I already had as many Makita batteries as I have Milwaukee ones,   I am likely saving a few bucks and getting the 36v.

I was also tired of waiting on the Milwaukee track saw, and was not sure it would be comparable to the Makita offerings plus me buying something else was a sure way for the Milwaukee one to be released. I also didn't want to invest in the Makita 18v platform if 40v was going to be the future. Taking the plunge into the Festool battery platform was not a real consideration either. 

The 40v saw has an anti-kickback feature, a feature without a lot of info on at the moment.  But the biggest difference between the previous Makita offerings and the Festool besides price was the riving knife and safety.  So this was a big add for me in my thought process getting into the track saw game. Best case maybe that anti-kickback feature saves me or my sons an injury and some digits.  Worst case it just provides some additional piece of mind.

I am assuming the reduced RPM is related to extending the battery runtime of the saw,  and unclear whether the reduced rpms will impact perform for the sort of applications I intend to use the track saw.

You covered the big issue of the insanity associated with AWS bluetooth but I also have yet to really address my dust collection with a professional setup.  I have to believe with time we are going to see some better 40v/other options on the market.  Until then I can get by with my keychain remote.

Lastly and fortunately money is a secondary consideration with everything else being equal.

[chrisevans]

My .02 - I use the makita wired tracksaw plugged into a festool vacuum at work. Works great. Plugs into the vacuum, turns on when i start the saw. Love it. In a shop environment, the wire isn't the end of the world. On my own personal jobs/side jobs, I bought the 36V battery version of the saw. Since I dont have a festool vacuum and wasn't interested in the AWS model I went with that. I think if your mainly working in a shop, the wired/festool combo cant be beat for price comparisons. I work outside a lot as well so for me the 36V was a must, if im working indoors I plug it into any old vacuum and turn it off and on.

[brewsnoop]

I have the Makita 36 volt track saw and I love it. I transitioned from the Triton corded track saw and the Makita is a lot lighter, quieter and I love the electronic brake. I am also Team Teal and being able to stick with my 18 volt platform solidified my decision to go with this saw over the 40 volt saw. Paying more for a slower saw didn’t make sense to me either. On a side note, I had invested in several Triton tracks and they also work with the Makita saw (in addition to Festool and Dewalt). I have added one of your custom shroud covers as well…fit great, works great!

[frenchyroastify]

I'm a professional millwork installer and I love the 40V platform. I use the 8 1/4 " cordless mitre saw with the festool vacuum via bluetooth startup unit. I will be buying more XGT tools that are power hungry (uses 2 batteries). Will be retiring my 18 V track saw. Instead of auto on, one could just buy the festool remote which is what I do. By the way, I'm done with Festool as my vac remote broke inside after 4 months and the response was no warranty for accessories! Spread the word and screw them!

[marknasia]

The blade on the 40V cuts better at slower RPM, because you get more torque out of the motor. Also, hard lesson i learned being an owner of multiple 36v twin battery Makita tools. Makita has a safety built in monitor that ensures when one of the 2 (18v batteries over heat or drain to 20%) the tool shuts off, even if there is still plenty of power in the opposite battery, so you become slave to the lesser battery. The Makita 40V battery does more cuts, last so much more longer. The blue tooth is nice if you have a makita vac with AWS. I am not getting rid of my 36V but have 2 x 40V Makita’s now the HS004 and the HS011 and big advantage is both these saws are already guide rail compatible, the only reason i don’t have the SP001 plunge 40V is they are constantly out of stock in my market. Team teal is never cheap, but the buy once cry one applies.

[francocalcagni]

I read many of the comments, but not all of them, so not sure anyone mentioned this. The 36v and 40v are both 36v. The 40v, Makita decided to go with "max" power, like many of the 18v that call their tools 20v max or similar. The 18v vs 20v, or the 36v vs 40v; both are nominal voltage to peak voltage. (same with anything 12v is actually 10.8, and 60v is really 56v)

[michaelruss]

Thank you, thank you. You have helped me make my decision. I am looking for a track saw to break down plywood at the big box store and the 18v will work well.

[jeramibrigdencarpentry]

I stay cordless with every tool purchase I can because I do work on job sites with no power and do not want to run the generator. I was always a Dewalt guy and never had a track saw before. Watching all the reviews I decided to purchase the makita xgt 40volt saw over a dewlat and absolutely love it! For me I wasn't invested in any other battery line yet so it made sense and now there are a few more 40volt tools I'm looking at. Dust collection automation is a big downfall for sure but I can live with turning the vacuum on and off by hand for now.

Great video by the way!

[chancecsmith]

I am also team teal. And very glad that you are calling Makita out on these compatibility issues. I know they’re not the only brand doing this sort of thing, but they are doing a massive disservice to their otherwise loyal customers.

I also recently started buying other brands and just using adaptors to pair with my Makita batteries.
Now I only buy the best value/quality on a tool by tool basis. All other factors being the same, I opt for the Makita.

[kennywilson]

This video was very helpful. I don't have any Makita but I have in the past. I love the brand but am mostly a DeWalt guy. I have made a living with Makita in the past but at some point it just became harder to find at a price point I'm comfortable with. I am now making my living a different way and am a hobbyist so the DeWalt fits me better.
Of course the Makita track saw has become the gold standard (better value than Festool) and I have been trying to decide which one to go with. I was actually minutes away from pulling the trigger on the 40v largely because of the Bluetooth. The information you provided here has actually saved me a ton of money. I will be getting the corded version. I too work mostly in my shop/garage and have power available. Even outside the shop, I have not seen a hoseless vacuum so the addition of a power cord is not even an issue as I will run the cord along the vacuum hose. I will either get a dust collector that turns on with my saw or I can spend 40 or 50 bucks to get a remote start unit. This way I can buy more wood, or that 3M sander I have been eyeballing. Of course I will also order your dust port thingy.
I have also subscribed, shared, commented on and saved your video.
Thanks

[VincheroKarpintero]

Great video. I went with the Makita 36v saw (luckily they had the bluetooth version over here) even after the 40v came out and BEFORE owning any other Makita 18v tool for 2 reasons:
1. Price - the 40v line is really pricey, and more importantly,
2. Range - the 18v line remains to have the wider line of tools. The 40v has a lot of catching up to do.

[georgegall]

I have the double 18v cordless, have done a lot of projects and I'm really happy with it. One thing I really like is having the double 18v charger that came with my track saw, this lets me use the same batteries singly to power my other Makita tools! (only had to buy the "bare tools") Great review, and very honest! Thank you

[rui]

36v and 40v are both the same voltage; the are just marketed as nominal and max voltage respectively -- most likely to avoid confusion. I would go with the 40v as I would rather use a single battery than using two batteries.

[Aethalops]

Super helpful review. I'm considering my first track saw, to augment or replace an old but reliable corded circular saw (and home-made guide). I'm heavily invested in Makita 18V tools and batteries already, so came here to decide between a new 36v vs. a new 40v saw. However, after watching this I'm inclined to say neither. Maybe later, I'll grab a 36v when they go on deep discount. Your complaints are spot on, and the times I'd need battery power for such operations aren't all that many. Maybe I'll just get a track to use with the trim router.

[ryansimmons]

Love your channel, man. I have a very big feeling that you’re going to be a very popular channel in the years to come.
Keep it up!

[cobuck]

As one already who already has the 18v saw, the only meaningful benefit of the 40v to me is that it is narrower. When using the 18v with an MFT table, the lower battery cannot clear tall benchdogs if you are using them as a backstop for your track.

[fugixi]

Great video!
This is precisely why I love having both Festool dust extractor and track saw. Just works and in the end actually not more expensive than the Makita combo.

[wildtwindad]

Depends on how you go at it.
As a carpenter my tools work to pay for their replacements. Just a reality. That being said my makita sp6000 paid for itself in 2 jobs and then bought its festool hkc cousin and its makita 36v upgrade. These make my life easier, and make me money by making me more efficient.
My back thanks me every time I do not have to manhandle a ¾" sheet of mdf onto a table saw to break things down. Also making factory finish edges every cut, thats dead nuts straight is an epic bonus.

[longhuang]

Nice video！These three saws are similar in cutting quality. Most of my friends use 18Vx2 models, because most of their tools are makita 18v series, and few of them use 40v series, so they are unwilling to re adapt batteries and chargers for 40v track saw alone.

[MaxTSanches]

I have just purchased a corded Makita tracksaw with the 54" track, and I picked up a second 54" track and connector set. I decided to go corded as I will be using it in the shop. I will have a hose to the dust collector (shop vac), so i'm connected to that and I have put an auto-switch onto the shop vac. My next step is to tie-wrap the cord to the hose.