Makita VS. Festool - Comprehensive Comparison & Review - Toolsday Track Saw Review

On this Toolsday Track Saw review, we’re taking a look at the Makita VS Festool 36v Cordless Saws. We do a complete overview of pricing, features, differences, similarities (there are a lot) and I make my high level recommendation at the end. As always, I have never and will never take money for paid reviews. These are tools I have purchased and used extensively. Let me know what you’d like to see next. Thanks for watching! Please like, comment and subscribe. Cheers!
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*K-M Dovetail Jigs are on sale. USE CODE INLAY10 for an extra 10% off in my store*
*Festool requires their vendors to have the same prices and doesn’t allow discounts but you can also find them at the link above for the Makita*
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[katzmosestools]

*K-M Dovetail Jigs are on sale. USE CODE INLAY10 for an extra 10% off in my store*
*Festool requires their vendors to have the same prices and doesn’t allow discounts but you can also find them at the link above for the Makita*

[whiskeywoodworx]

In a world with no integrity, there is Katz. I applaud you for not selling out. We need a place we can go for honest reviews we can trust. It’s the only reason I watch your content. You are not afraid to admit your mistakes and I learn so much for your experience. Just like when you injured your finger on the jointer. Please please please DO NOT EVER SELL OUT!

[bret]

When I bought the Makita at ACME tools, it was $499 with 4 batteries, 2 55” one 36” track and of course the cases. The Festool at the time was $1200 similarly equipped.

[TheGlobalMind]

I have the corded Makita, bought it about 2 years ago and love it. For the money, I find it to be an awesome addition to the shop and for my small space, it's been incredibly valuable. I certainly looked at the Festool but couldn't justify the extra cost. So far I haven't regretted my decision. I've recently added a hose for dust collection, which without any modification otherwise sucks up nearly everything. The bag was ok, the hose is even better.

[CrimpKeeper]

Possibly the most honest, and true display of integrity I’ve ever encountered in a YouTube video. Subscribed.

[SpyridakisSpearfishing]

Extremely in-depth and honest review. The festool's bluetooth is for connecting it to a vac with bluetooth technology. Meaning that when it turns on the vac will kick on as well

[reverandbigshow]

The first Tracksaw I ever used was a workmates Festool, I was sold on it but couldn't afford it at the time but Makita came out with their affordable version shortly afterwards, So I purchased it. I have never been let down by my Makita and have always been able to produce work at the same quality that Festool saws deliver without any feeling of being held back by some small inconvenience in the way the mechanisms work. In fact, My Makita has always powered through cuts that I've seen Festools stall and ruin a cut due to its inability to push on.
Value for money? Makita by a long Margin!

[edwardwilson]

The distance from the Festool splinter guide and the blade is adjustable to you can set it up to run several different saws on the same tracks. Also the Festool bevel feature is designed so that when it's used, it cuts on the same line and doesn't re-cut the splinter guide. The pivot point was designed specifically to address that issue.

[crill]

You forgot to talk about how makita track saw has a scoring option which comes in handy. A lot of people don’t know about that.

[vlmiele]

You don’t have to install a new splinter guard on the Festool when cutting a 45 degree bevel. It’s engineered to line up perfectly with the existing 90deg cut.

[martinruszkowski]

Thanks for the honest take on this matter...bought the corded Festool but then realized I like the "freedom" of cordless...going with the Makita as it is significantly less expensive and certainly offers an accessible and versatile cordless tool platform.

[michielvandorsser]

The Bluetooth is for when you want to use a cordless tool with a shop vaccuum. The tool can be linked to the vaccuum using bluetooth which then automaticly switches on when you start cutting.

[jamesrichards]

Hi, the little plastic tab that you didn't use on the Festool prevents tear out. The Bluetooth batteries sync to the Festool dust extractors and turn them on and off when operating . Too bad you didn't show a cut with the anti tear out feature on the Festool.

[jonathanwiggill]

Respect your commitment to objective reviews. Thank you Jonathan.

[NitFlickwick]

One feature you missed (among the many you taught me) on the Makita is the scoring setting. There is a little knob you can push in that limits the cut to just a millimeter or two for scoring, and, with that cut done first, you can get absolutely perfect cuts. On particularly brittle material, you could use that and pull the saws backwards to climb cut, similar to a scoring blade on an industrial table saw. An advantage to not having a riving knife? I’d still rather have one.

[capti]

I applaud your professional integrity for refusing sponsorship and maintaining your independence. Bravo! That is why I have and enjoy a set of your dovetail guides and apron (so far)! ... Plus, they really are great products.

[TheBstadz]

Hey man love your stuff but there was one thing that was not accurate about this. You were comparing the cut quality of the off cut, not the keep piece, and if you are worried about a nice clean cut on the offcut, then that little green piece that you weren't sure what it was for, is for exactly that. It's a zero clearance for the offcut side. Just my 2 cents. Overall great stuff :)

[JustTony]

Jonathan great video as always. Few things to add, because I'm a festool nut. The Bluetooth is to connect to festool Vac, wireless Auto start stop. Makita also have a similar system but both systems only work with their own brand vac. The tracks aren't 100% interchangeable. The Makita T slot is a fraction smaller which means a festool saw dialled in for a festool rail will have slop on the Makita rail. Peter Millard did a really long comparison for this and I've also tested it on mine. Having said that, The slop is usually acceptable for most applications. The piece at the front is cut though. So the first time you install the little green zero clearance you should run it on some scrap to score it can create the zero clearance. Not sure on the Makita but the festool has a blade offset adjustment which let's you line two saw up to use the same rail. This means that if you have established a zero clearance with one saw, Makita, Bosch or another festool, you can match that zero clearance with a new saw. Dialling in multiple saws for one track. And finally if I'm not mistaken both saw are design to pivot around the track when making beveled cuts. By that I mean cutting at 0 and 45 back to back will not change the zero clearance on the track.

[gidgemo]

Mad respect. Top 5 favorite YouTube channels. When I’m able to start my woodworking journey, you’ll be my inspiration. Thank you!!!

[stevenbalaz]

I don’t normally comment on YouTube videos, but to stumble upon your channel & have such a clear & to the point review makes it incredibly convincing as someone invested in the makita lineup. But most importantly it’s the integrity that’s got me hooked & for that I have to subscribe