Railsaws: Makita SP6000 vs Festool TS55

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You know Festool is good, but so is Makita and do you really need to pay more?
There are lots of railsaw choices on the market these days, but for many professional users or very serious DIYers it still often comes down to a close call between these two models as a balance of features and price - The Festool TS 55 vs the Makita SJ6000.
So what are the real differences between them? This video will answer your questions with plenty of up-close shots side by side, as well as clear explanations from an experienced user, and showing the saws in use, ensuring you come away with a detailed knowledge of the pros and cons of both machines.
Not an unboxing video, this video is valuable as a comparison of how these saws have faired after years of heavy usage in a professional workshop and site environment.
For further railsaw comparisons check out Peter Millard’s recent video comparing this Festool saw to the Mafell: • Big Decision: Festool ...
And also John Jones’ more recent review of his Dewalt tracksaws, both corded and cordless: • Jones Interiors - Dewa...

[@TFfan75]

Festool is better, but for the prize, you get what you need in a Makita.

[@robzilla2165]

I work at a custom furniture manufacturer and have used both the Festool and Makita. I've found the TS 75 takes 2 or 3 passes to get thru 2" material where as the Makita will power thru it on 1 pass with a relatively smooth glue ready cut. I've also noticed the splinter guard as more of hindrance then a help. The Festool feels underpowered in comparison but I do like the extra depth of cut with the TS 75. Great video and comparison, thanks for posting.

[@renegutierrez1699]

I have had the makita saw for abut 4 years now, and had been hesitating about getting the festool, until a couple of months ago when a finally got it, in my opinion makita has nothing to envy from festool, actually to me it felt like the festool bogged while cutting 1 3/4 solid doors, which's never happen with my makita, also the blade got dull really fast on the festool. And to be honest the festool seems to be more precise, anyway both of them are great saws, not much different from one another in my opinion, except for the price of course.

[@phinks9998]

In France the festool is around 600€ compare to the makita at 300€...Just double price, hope the festool is better 😉 But I took the makita witch is good, don't get any pb with it so far.

[@Arturas1244]

Makita is far far away, technical data all you needed to show comparing fastfool only 2000 rpm yes it always lowest number is real one, while Makita is far above in rpm and we dont have torq value which in Makita always win, basically even if those fastfool, ryobi etc. brands place rpm above Makita makita still cuts better simply torq is better. actually in new tools rpm is decreased and it cuts 100 times better than those tools with thoise high rpm numbers as they bearly say anything about how really it cuts

[@futurebr87]

Bevel cut comparison wasn’t really fair since your work bench decided to go for a stroll in the sidewalk when you did the cut, meanwhile it barely moved with the festool.

[@anthonymiddlesex6859]

ive owned a Makita sp6000 for about ten years I changed the blade to a freud blade which I do with all tools festool are overpriced and never send them back for repair they replace everything Makita in my view are light in weight and offer good quality

[@Brangustx]

To be fair you should reveal the apples to apples power output comparison. The Makita runs at 12 amps and the Festool runs at 1200 Watts = to 10 Amps. Your claim that the Makita takes "excessive amount of force needed to push the saw through" probably points to the admittedly dull blade. For a fair comparison, please use a new blade on each.

[@johnbutler7542]

I'm using the Festool 75 for probably 15 years, have a few of them. Cutting average 400 boards annually each, have to change brushes and power connector every 2 years otherwise great saws. Using Makita 3m tracks to save costs, works well

[@SW-li7gd]

of course! Festool is more expensive after all.

[@AncoraImparoPiper]

This has been the best comparison so far and I've been watching at least a dozen comparisons to allow me to decide which saw will suit my needs. Not anyone was as detailed as you. I am now definitely leaning towards the Makita. Since I am merely a hobbyist, it will take many years before I wear out my Makita. I will also buy the corded version since they have dropped in price markedly probably because the battery powered saws are now so much more popular. Good time to buy! Thanks for your efforts in making this review. I've subscribed too.

[@thetallcarpenter]

Hi Alastair. Thanks for taking the time to do this video. I find these kind of tool reviews far more honest than your usual, 'tool guy', ones. Showing tools in their intended environments being used by proper tradesmen after many hours of service gives the kind of real information that guys like me who work in carpentry need when considering new tool purchases. Its interesting that I bought the Makita based on an almost identical comparison of the two from a good friend of mine who noted all the same things as you including the worn guide cams on the Makita and how easy they are to replace. I'm not an every day track saw user, so felt that the cheaper Makita would serve my needs perfectly. Cheers.

[@brenttaylor4785]

I found adding a third grip strip beside the splinter strip aided my work , also the DeWalt's rail clamps are a great help. Great vid, thanks

[@RolloZx]

Just come across your videos in the last few days - these are brilliant - I have a 19th century house full of alcoves crying out for built in storage and youve been a massive help in demystifying some of this stuff - thanks for sharing your experience & knowledge, it really is appreciated. On the downside i now have no excuses given the ever growing collection of expensive tools in my basement...!

[@jonnie.sullivan]

Thanks Alistair - great review as was in the market for a track saw and was leaning toward the Makita Cordless and your very detailed and impartial review has definitely helped in making up my mind - so thanks very much buddy!

[@craigpeel5995]

Love my Makita but horses for courses. I don’t use every day but when trimming door edges it’s brilliant

[@djvasforever]

19:00

[@1968rvp]

great review , i just brought the makita after putting my festool in for repairs after 6 hard years on construction sites cutting ply and fibre cement board ! yep i use it to cut 4 to 19mm cement board !

[@aucomint]

Thank you for sharing your experience with both saws. I'm currently hesitating between those two and your video will definitely help me decide.

[@lb3724]

Thank you for this well formatted, informational comparison! We were deciding between festool, Maffel, and Makita and we decided to go w/ makita thanks to your comparison. We won’t be putting nearly as many hours on our tool so I don’t think wear and tear is as much of an issue