Plunge Saw Showdown! Top 10 Best Saws Review

[@JamieVauxnut1]

Love these showdowns, actually back watching this again 3 years later 😂 Would really like to see a portable table saw and vacuum/ dust exstraction showdown

[@metal-adventures-joerg]

The Bosch Saw is based on the Mafell,having the same Motor,but a few parts made of plastic instead of metal like at the Mafell.Greetings from Oberndorf (Home of Mafell)/Germany!!!

[@95Gabe]

Proper reviews made by people who walk the walk. So much better than the fake reviewers who just read the manufacturers specs and instruction sheets. Great job guys,.

[@nicoteen9407]

Superb reviews for a first-timer looking at a plunge saw! Thank you. I plumped for The Erbauer, currently on Screwfix for £180 but no bag or case. I've spoken to a neighbour who has one too, and says its a fine machine for the price but finds the anti-kickback a pain. Also HOLZMANN TAS165 PRO. Manufactured in Austria, according to Kendal Tools website. Looks identical to the Erbauer. Noto sure about anti-kickback knob I can see on the MachineMart pics - will double-check today. Comes with a single 1.5m guide rail. Packaged in a nifty flight case-type box. £65 over the price of the Erbauer. Tempting...

[@johnhewetson4406]

I have used the Bosch, Dewalt and Festool. Value for performance was definitely the DeWalt. All models I used were corded. I don't see the value in a battery powered except for very application specific tasks which I don't do.

[@scottjohnson3226]

I thoroughly enjoyed this series of informative videos! and greatly appreciate your effort in putting them together. I purchased for myself the Mafell MT55cc, here, in the United States, from Timberwolf Tools. I could not be any happier with my purchase. I am glad I invested the extra money on the Mafell plunge saw. The fit, finish, and overall quality of their product is impressive. Money well spent!

[@SkillBuilder]

Thank Scott I am glad you can get it over there. Some Americans are saying they can;t find it.

[@goodall1bay]

one thing forgetting to mention. the Mafell dust extraction and build quality is absolutely impeccable and cannot be compared to ,, well any of the others including Festool on build.

[@thomasmorley4966]

Been running a Mafell MT55 for 6 years now. Solid piece of kit

[@rob5896]

I think I was probably one of the first tradesmen in the UK to own and use a track saw everyone would always ask me "what the heck is that thing" and I bought and still use the Festool TS55, all of the other companies ripped Festool off in my opinion, I still use a TS55 the current one I've had about 8-9 years and my god it's certainly earned its keep! I would say it was primarily designed by Festool for repeat ripping of sheet material and it does that very very well but also I use mine for occasional sink cut outs and hob cut outs and its excellent for that too but like any tool you need a decent quality sharp blade and it will happily cut through thicker material like kitchen worktops with ease and provide a razor sharp cut! Hardwoods like Oak not so much in my experience but I rarely cut through Oak unless I'm using the tool to trim off internal doors and in this case I use a good blade and do two passes, it really doesn't make that much difference in time, I've generally found that when you get machines that are bigger more powerful for regularly doing long rips of thicker harder material they tend to get more bulky and heavy, I like the 55 because it's so lightweight and that is often overlooked... and full time pro's will especially appreciate that point but I think if I were regularly doing "repeated long rips" of something like 3/4 WBP or inch WBP I would buy the Festool TS75 it's a beast and it will always be your reliable partner! I don't rate all Festool stuff but these two saws the 55 and the 75 are all you would ever need IMHO and they will last for years and years, I'm not sure about cordless it sounds convenient but you've still got an extraction hose so I'm not entirely seeing the benefit unless you have no power on site? Plus a cordless tool would be much heavier due to the batteries especially with some having two! I don't use a cordless track saw myself maybe I will in future and I guess the extraction must work via Bluetooth something like that? So would need a Bluetooth type extractor... I personally wouldn't recommend using a track saw without extraction except for maybe a short rip just to trim something as the track will clog up quite quickly and potentially snag the saw, I would certainly consider the Mafell as I always check out the competition when selecting tools but not much can beat the proven track record that I already have had with Festool spanning many many years, I do use other brands of course but only because they never let me down and they live up to my high expectations.

[@SkillBuilder]

Rob What a great review. We would have loved to get you on video. Your comments are priceless.

[@rob5896]

@@SkillBuilder You're very welcome, I tried to provide some honest feedback on my own experience with a track saw in the hope that someone might find it helpful, I've used track saws in various industries from construction to boat building, kitchen fitting, shop fitting, flooring... suffice to say I've put them through their paces and I've been doing this kind of work for about 35 years and using track saws ever since the Festool TS55 first hit the shops I thought that your shall we say "presentation" of the various tools was spot on, we all know that there are good tools and not so good tools but rarely do I find is there one tool thats king of everything that one would encounter, that said we do need to choose something that is as close as possible to meet our needs and in this case for me the Festool gets the job done and it keeps on going, I do have a soft spot for Makita tools and Dewalt and that Mafell looks good too, it's a tough choice!

[@ForeverNeverwhere1]

I use a 25 year old Elu track saw, for 10 years now I have been saying I will replace it with a better one, but it needs to die first. Sadly it is an Elu, it will never die.

[@tapsulinka]

I had Elu tools and never ever had not even one problem but was stolen. Then Black&Decker bought Elu and DeWalt. Elu disapeared from market and DeWalt is far away behind Elu quality

[@kevinchamberlain7928]

I got a and old Elu planer 25 plus years old and going strong!!!

[@Sly_Wolf_1]

I hear what your saying, love Elu, I'm still using a 20+ year old Elu router, just as good as the first day when I bought it, not a single repair or new part except bases. Shane dewalt bought them out.

[@andrewmason4004]

tapsulinka Black & Decker bought DeWalt in 1960 - are you really remembering DeWalt from pre B&D ownership days? They bought Elu in 1984, so it’s far more plausible you remember Elu from before that. At the end DeWalt and Elu were are tools, different branding. It was cheaper to promote just one brand, not two and that was why Elu all but disappeared (I think it was kept on a few tools).

[@benedicttaylor3034]

The makita cordless is an absolute beast it cuts through 12 and 25mm corian like its nothing on an old blade last all day cutting. When I first watched this video I was abit unsure about the power but it blew my mind

[@harrygirgin9093]

I would go for the bosch as it has similar features and great joining tracks as the mafell but at a more affordable price.

[@BischBaschBosch]

The Bosch is a great plunge saw. It's the one I used before trading it in for the Mafell. It never let me down, gave good results working all day long and, like you said, the tracks are great. Still use my Bosch rails with the Mafell saw in fact. Shame Skillbuilder got a duff/bent one. Gonna put people off a really decent saw I imagine. Only went for Mafell as I change blades so often, the Mafell makes it easy - and you can zero in the different blades too.

[@markcroft3619]

it would be great if you could do a similar review on Table Saws. love your approach and delivery keep up the good work. I'd go for the Dewalt if am honest.

[@markcroft3619]

@@SammyInnit thanks for the heads up i will check out some reviews on it.

[@timmargereson332]

I bought the makita MLT100 with the mobile stand and would advise anyone against buying one. Used it once & took it straight back to the merchants but they wouldn't take it back. It's far too heavy, the body is plastic, the fence is awful and the gap around the blade is HUGE !!! Wish I'd have bought a cheap one as a site saw as I'll never use this again and will probably end up giving it away.

[@patricelebrasseur5649]

@@markcroft3619 i have the bosch 4100-09 in canada they are great the best stand on the market imo, if you prefer a rack and pinion rack the top of the line dewalt is great, better than those is a cabinet saw . metabo have 3 phase portable sa that look great but we dont have them on our side of the ocean

[@lawrenceli3659]

I have a 54v dewalt and I don’t recommend it. The nobs hard to turn and will not fit on makita track, I had to cut 3mm of the plate to fit.

[@MsElijah16]

Tim Margereson yeah the Bosch is a dog

[@DrunkenKnight71]

Enjoyable reviews which helped me a great deal to decide so thank you both; finally plumped for the Bosch which will arrive tomorrow

[@benchippy8039]

I don’t know if you watch AVEs tool takedowns but he seems to seriously rate makitas build quality. I’ve got to say that I’ve been buying mostly makita for years and they only die thru operator error, often a labourer or apprentice that don’t care too much. Although makita seem to be behind the others on battery technology at the moment I still keep buying their tools as they just go on and on for years! I’m pretty sure if you had the 6ah batteries in that makita it would be twice as powerful and run longer. Great video guys and well done for the rapid rise in subs, you deserve it as one of the only uk building channels putting out regular and serious content

[@Nanogenium]

Ben Chippy I‘ve used Makita a lot and i don’t like it anymore. The quality isn’t quite the best and their service is shit. I switched to Bosch because of their service an reliability. The tools might be not as powerfull, but they do their work very good and in my case never break down. With the batteries i am not sure if you ever tested a tool with 18650 or 21700 cells. The difference is enormous! The newer and by far better cells deliver so much more power that you think you just bought a new tool. Thats why Makita will loose there for the time they use the old cells. In my opinion.

[@luislucero8263]

I had the festool but I replaced with the mafell and I love it!

[@MariaSanchez-uo8qy]

Thanks for the Video clip! Apologies for chiming in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you ever tried - Schallingora Dexterous Programme Scheme (should be on google have a look)? It is a great one of a kind product for taking a drawing and turning it into wood without the normal expense. Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my close friend Aubrey got astronomical success with it.

[@shanemcdonald3191]

Same here. Mafell is a great saw. Nothing better on fit and finish

[@garywood6259]

From owning a lot of tools over the years, anything for cutting wood I buy only mafell, for sanding I buy mirka or some Festool, drilling/cordless I buy metabo mostly (interchanges with mafell cordless) extraction I buy star mix (no not the sweets) I used to have a lot more earlier Festool but they are nowhere near the quality they used to be, still use their dominos though

[@Golgafrinchamdent]

I have two Mafell saws. The MT55... and their KSS-300 with the roll up track. Great machines, and I'll never be without either one. Well done Mafell. But it's like I'm living in a Twilight Zone episode because... nobody says a word about _every single one of these saws_ being LEFT-HANDED. Designed for left handed use... every one! Even while _hurdle-jumping_ saw horses or _knee-climbing_ up onto the workpiece, or walking _cross-armed_ the entire length of a rip... NOBODY steps back and says _"Hey, wouldn't it be nice if they made a right-handed version???"_

[@boris1cat]

Why do they make them Left Handed ??????? it's MAD

[@Golgafrinchamdent]

@@boris1cat Excellent question. I have no idea but it would be nice if they didn't.

[@johnsmith-wc8gs]

The Mafell is the best. With that said I've been running the Ts75 for over a decade and it works great! I've had zero problems pushing through 12/4 hardwood

[@puiu26]

i fit kitchens since 10 years ago and cut worktop with circular saw and str8 edge with the worktop upside down.for the last 2 years i used the makita cordless circular. never have i thought i need a plunge\track saw

[@harrydurham1]

Great video guys. Just starting following your channel. I’m relatively new to carpentry, just finished my three year apprenticeship and your videos are really helpful. Only thing I would say is for beginners like myself some of the videos can be explained really quickly and get confusing (not this video) but other then that I love the channel and the videos 👍🏻

[@Kosmonooit]

Thanks guys, very informative. I recently got the corded Makita (made in England!)- very happy with it for my uses which is nice cuts on occasional tops/shelves etc and not used everyday. There is always a power point around so not bothered with cordless although I have many Makita 18V tools

[@EdwardT9]

Made in England? 2 years on, but my new sp6000 is made in China.

[@Kosmonooit]

Regarding the batteries & power as discussed in the video: having given the matter some consideration what I can say is that 'larger' batteries offer greater Amp Hours: there are more cells in parallel, so for a given Voltage its capacity to deliver more current is increased. 3Ah means the battery can deliver 3 Amps for an hour then the battery is flat. Or 6 Amps for 30 mins, or 12 amps for 15 mins. The 6 Ah battery doubles the maximum current and if the motor can make use of this increased current it will mean more power delivered. That being said, it hard to find motor power ratings on battery power tools, so if its a small power tool with say a 100w motor ( which draws 5.4 amps at 18.5V Nom.) larger batteries will just mean longer run time once its running at peak power. Power for DC is simple Volts x Current The Lithium Ion cells are limited to how much current they can safely deliver and this is controlled by the inbuilt Battery Management System, if they don't have that it get unsafe in terms of this technology: causing explosions / fire / mayhem. Typically each cell is 3200mAh or 3.2Ah, each cell is 3.75v Nominal so there are 5 in series to get 18V. Exactly how much maximum current each cell can deliver depends on the cell specs and the BMS, but generally and conservatively its limited to 2C (so each 3200mAh will be limited to 6.4A) but its probably higher with power tools and certainly with vaping. It would be simple to do a test, one would just need some sort of adapter / leads / clips to connect the battery outside the tool and then measure the current delivered. With larger batteries larger current will mean more power to the spindle, to the max power rating of the motor and control electronics. I'd volunteer to do this test with my Makita tools, but I only have old crappy 3 Ah batteries so if some lovely new 4 and 6 Ah drop out of the sky I will be happy to give it a whirl.

[@tyrantworm7392]

Old post I know, but check out Torque Test Channel as they have done a fair amount of testing with different batteries on impact wrenches.

[@gibsonmac1981]

I got the mt55cc after seeing all your input on it, and all the people raving about it on FOG, ive never looked back. The mafell is absolutely incredible.

[@Aladinscave]

I have the Festool 240v for 6 years now no drama at all, bought the 36v Mikita 4 weeks ago to go cordless on site and very happy with it. The Festool going in the workshop. Tip for you guys use the 1.5mm thick blade on the Festool and you will not need a more powerful motor the Festool blades are beefy

[@boris1cat]

I'm looking for a track saw and have watched this series with great interest. If there is one area that i think it lacked it is the accuracy of angled cuts produced, how good are they at 90 and 45 ( and any other presets ) degrees on the factory preset stops. It would have been helpful to see thick timber cut and measured with something like a digital protractor. I work as a precision engineer and woodwork is more of a hobby but I would rather pay for a better tool and know that it will always make me smile using it.

[@marie-ramaghurburrun9204]

If you crave absolute accuracy then the Mafell is your choice. It will make you smile continually.

[@y0utube5uxx]

Can someone please explain me benefits of having a cordless track saw if it still needs a vacuum to run clean? IMO a vacuum hose adds much more bulk and inconvenience compared to a power cable. I had a corded DeWalt model and recently switched to Mafell, also corded. The DeWalt system (including rails & adapters) looks like a hand saw compared to the Mafell.

[@LadyBovine]

It's one less thing to get snagged, fed, length-managed etc, but I would guess the main reason to get one would be to use it with a battery powered dust extractor, so you don't need mains power where you're working. Probably not strictly necessary for 90something % of use cases, but still a good option.

[@djvasforever]

Used to use corded Festool for a few months about 7 years ago and then again 3 or 4 years back, must say got used to it and never had an issue with that, but then after not having used a track saw for some years, took a Makita for a couple of days and I didn't like it - it just felt rubbish, didn't sit nice in the hands, prone to kickback, plunge depth was not as easy to use as Festool. I wouldn't buy a Makita even though I have a lot of their tools and a few batteries as well. I would probably go for a corded Festool anyway. Regadring battery powered, I honestly think batteries are not quite there yet, you either have to have a whole lot of them for saws are vacuum cleaners or drill hammers or whatever which weighs a lot and you have to carry it around everywhere or have fewer batteries but a couple of chargers, but that means you have to have an outlet somewhere, therefore, you could've just gone for a corded tool - it's cheaper and in many ways more practical.

[@bartfoster1311]

I have the cordless Makita, really enjoy it. I never had a track saw before this and it has turned out to be extremely useful.

[@alanwilson8014]

Got the festool corded for volume of work, and have the makita cordless as i have the makita system, what a beautiful cut with the fine kerf blade on the makita cordless great for cutting kitchen decor panels

[@emericpopovici3405]

I have a Bosch plunge saw and I’m very happy with !!! Handles really nice !!! Easy to use !!! By the way nice video!!! Good luck !!!

[@nic_the_aged_woodworker]

I love my DeWalt corded tracksaw. One point you missed is that the DeWalt track is double edged.

[@MsElijah16]

Nic Murray why is that a good thing? Can't u just rotate the festool track around?

[@nic_the_aged_woodworker]

Sure you can but for less cost you get twice the life of the cutting edge. Also no need to juggle which way round you want the track, out of the bag, drop on your line and cut. Festool are great pieces of kit just way too expensive.

[@MsElijah16]

Nic Murray I guess if you have a 3 meter track it could be a hassle to rotate the whole track?

[@nic_the_aged_woodworker]

@@MsElijah16 I have 2 1.4m pieces, joining them is simple, a bar where Allen screws. Hadn't really thought of that advantage, I just found that I drop the rail onto the job and cut I don't have to worry about orientation of the rail. Minor issue

[@MsElijah16]

Nic Murray fair enough

[@Badgerworkshop]

The mafell looks a great machine. I hope they let you take a look at the new dowel joiner as im very interested in getting one.

[@krisruchomski9294]

So am I! It would be great to have a Domino vs Duo-doweler video. From what I can see is that the dowels are cheaper and more readily available and you can use specialist dowels that you can disassemble and assemble again (which might be the selling point for made to measure furniture makers). With Domino you get the cord and extraction system that Festool is so well known about.

[@BischBaschBosch]

@@krisruchomski9294 For the record Kris, the Mafell DDF 40 duo doweler has phenominal dust extraction. The drilled dowel holes are left clean as a whistle when you connect the tool to a dust extractor, with next to no dust escaping the tool. Like the Domino though it's quite a large investment. I'd highly recomend getting to a trade show to try both out. I was completely sold on the new (2018) DDF 40 personally. The build quality is fantastic.

[@tymbian]

@ @@BischBaschBosch Dust extraction on the Festool Domino is second to none.. I have the larger 700xl and it's fantastic. It will cut up to a 14mm x 140mm mortice for the respective tenon and if you only have room for 1 mortise the stock will not twist upon fitting like the DD40 will

[@thomasmorley4966]

The Domino is more suited to wood working, where the DD40 is more suited to cabinet making

[@phalimmaguire6069]

What’s the advantage of cordless tracksaw if your using extraction 🤷

[@chrisdavies9899]

One cord is a pain in the arse......... Imagine 2

[@MrDianovici]

We are using 3 Bosch plunge saws and 1 Mafell, they are serious saws, people don't really look after them and after 4 years of abuse they are going very strong. Easy to recommend them, they use same track system.

[@stevemcmillion5201]

Looking to buy Dewalt Track Saw the help was great ... Guys thanks

[@alanlloyd7208]

I own the bosch, it actually arrived on the day your review was posted. Watched it, then ran to the saw to check the base, luckily mine is flat as a mill pond but have seen another with the warp. It’s a fantastic machine, quality of cut is excellent, bags of power. Have used the Mafell and they are very similar, as you correctly say though the mafell is more refined and higher quality. Much like an Audi > Skoda. Love having the 1600mm tracks rather than 1400, and the joining connector is far superior to any of the other brands. Put the two rails together and I know that it is perfectly aligned every time, so haven’t needed to buy the long rail like you mentioned. If you are changing blade constantly then the mafell wins over every other saw hands down just on the blade change alone. Interesting to hear the comments on the Bosch quality control issues across the brand, the vast majority of my gear is Bosch and with the exception of a jigsaw that died within days (replaced instantly with no hassle) I have been very lucky. My tool repair man has noted that the newer Bosch tools are far less reparable than previous generations, many of the components, example drill triggers, are no longer just the component on its own but now are moulded and integrated into the electronics. So no longer is a replacement trigger about £15, you need to replace the entire trigger/circuit combo for 5x that! The other brand I use a lot is metabo and they are absolutely built proof. They are part of the CAS battery alliance so batteries are interchangeable with mafell, starmix and other German brands too.

[@allandewar]

Alan Lloyd nought wrong wi Skoda mate, most reliable car you could ever own .

[@alanlloyd7208]

Allan Dewar absolutely not, they share the same platform/floor pan and much else (same company group) what is different is the level of refinement and spec. That was my point, not to denigrate Skoda.

[@benrichards1]

Went with the makita corded. Purely on the the fact it was the cheapest of the big brands. Decent machine.

[@Captainpippy]

I want to buy the DeWalt but the no positive stop at 45 is a deal breaker. Makita corded it is.

[@Alastair_Freebird]

Captainpippy I just did a test Makita vs festool on a 45degree cut and to my surprise I found the festool performed far better without the angle tilt stop. The fact is that even with the tilt stop on the makita, you need to twist your wrist or press down on the plate to ensure it runs smooth and flat on the track, and I found the cam grips on the makita inferior to the Festool which performed a better cut due to a smoother glide. These were both years old saws and the makita had suffered more wear from being less well designed and built.

[@chrisanderson8578]

I have real need to buy a plunge saw but I watched this video (and many of your others) and enjoyed it. Top video guys.

[@stoatsngroatsuk5012]

I bought the Mafell, following this review, and I’m looking forward to only ever having one plunge saw for the rest of my life. Thanks for this group review.

[@Johnbro8]

Thanks Roger and Robin for sharing your skills & advice👍

[@pipperfect]

I would love to say Mafell, but mine died after just over 3 years of light weekend use. Because it failed a few weeks outside warranty the cost of repair meant I was better off buying another saw, which for something that was supposed to be such good quality felt like a real let down. I now have the Bosch saw, as it runs on the same tracks & my faith in Mafell is very much dented. Maybe I was unlucky, but I would think twice before buying Mafell.

[@dennysmith2291]

Awesome video like the look of the DeWalt.

[@tomsmolik4511]

So we have winner power of dewalt, in festool housing on mafell track ( particular flex one) on enbauer price

[@damianbaugh5530]

I can't go past Festool but would buy Mafell if I can get it here in Australia

[@MsElijah16]

Damian Baugh they don't sell em in NZ either haha

[@samoanSAIYAN]

They do now sell them in Australia.

[@richardballinger517]

Got the Maffel corded. I'm not trade but make a lot myself, kitchen cabinets from ply and oak at the moment and internal doors. I know I'm going to get a good clean cut with it everytime I take it out the box. Love it. Was going to buy the Bosch as I'm a bit of a Bosch fan boy but have strayed to the likes of Fein and Maffel lately and although I get on fine with my Bosch biscuit joiner I would love a Lamelo. Love your video's.

[@peterbrett2065]

Hi Roger and Robin this was a great set of reviews and I agree with you that it comes down to personal taste and battery platforms. I have a corded Bosch and cordless Festool that I use for different things. I love the power of the Bosch and I have cut 50mm thick oak and beech with it. The Festool is great for indoors and for kitchen fitting. Unfortunately, to get speedy cuts you have to invest in several blades. Sometimes to get a finishing cut you have to cut to a rough line then skim a blade thickness off for a fine finish - all of which is time spent. The Dewalt looks great - but did you use the any direction rail? I saw it at a tool show in Bolton last year. What's next?

[@joebrown4564]

Makita 36v plunge saw I se your using 3 amp battery's I would suggest using 5 amp battery on this model

[@JoshTheElectric]

It makes this test screwed up in my mind. The makita is amazing with 5ah batteries.

[@rupertmiller4718]

I found the review really useful and interesting but it didn't stop me making what I consider to be a mistaken purchase. I felt that as a hobby woodworker/DIYer the Erbauer would do. On the face of it it is a big and powerful saw and at £150 is at least £200 cheaper than the equivalent Makita package and £250 less than the Festool. I am now on my second, the first kept cutting out mid cut and Screwfix swapped it without a murmur so all credit to them. The second isn't much better so I can only deduce that although the motor is rated at 1400 watts it actually doesn't have that much grunt. I am only cutting 18mm ply for the most part. The anti kickback cam/knob is truly awful so heed the warning. That said the saw simply kick the wood forward occasionally. I haven't tried a Festool or Makita so I can't compare but I would be pretty hacked off if they were as much of a pain to use as the Erbauer. I definitely wish I had bought either instead and when funds allow and lockdown is over I will see if I can try them and buy one or the other. It does the job but crudely and I suspect if on a budget the Lidl Parkside wouldn't be much worse for a fair bit less money. There has to be a reason why despite their price so many people buy Makita or Festool and I suspect it is because they simp-ly do the job much better and with less hassle.

[@esbo666]

I think the Festool power is well thought out as it fits perfectly on a 10 amp fuse together with Festool MIDI and MINI...

[@eegaugh]

Thanks for this useful review. I would have liked more comment about the dust extraction but no doubt this is covered in the individual reviews. I agree that the TS55 can seem underpowered. Cordless: any sign of the industry producing a standard power tool battery? I think that they would sell more tools if they did.

[@MrTooljunkie]

The Festool TSC55 is an awesome machine - super powerful for a cordless tool and it has the antisplinter on the offcut side, which is nice. Mafell is a dream machine too for sheet goods. Ilike having a riving knife for solid timber, though. I am with Robin on the two choices. Great series and review!

[@johnyboytown]

You get more power from makita 5 and 6 ah batteries, not just runtime. Quite a difference too. Had my impact down the allotment last autumn, but only took one battery that wasn’t charged. (Picked up the wrong one, one from the ‘to be charged’ pile not the charged pile) So i was out of juice fairly quickly. My dad has the allotment across from mine and had his makita with a 1.5ah and 3ah fully charged. Driving 100mm screws into fence posts, the noticeable power difference between my 5ah batteries, and my dad’s b&q noddy batteries was shocking. Ended up driving home to get 2 proper batteries to get the job done. So i reckon that makita cordless on two 5ah or 6ah would have had a very noticeable increase in torque.

[@SkillBuilder]

Jonhnyboytown Funny that because an impact driver doesn't produce torque through the motor. The torque is produced as kinetic energy by a hammer hitting an anvil and knocking it around the clock.

[@johnyboytown]

Skill Builder not really. The hammer doesn’t turn by itself. Try it, you will be surprised.

[@SkillBuilder]

@@johnyboytown I will try it and report back

[@johnyboytown]

Skill Builder how did you get on. I tested my own theory a little with my brushelss gear and dads brushed. Makes bog all difference on the brushed. But wow, the brushless drill on a 5ah vs a1.5ah was very obvious. Makes me want to buy a couple of 6ah.

[@christophergraham1857]

Festool made the track saw 30 year's before any of the others

[@marksmith2412]

Great series. I was looking at getting a Festool myself but you've convinced me to have a look at the Mafell before I commit. Thanks!

[@marksmith5237]

Make you right Mark. feel like I know you somehow.

[@neptunepropertyservice6315]

Literally just read a review on amazon about a bosch planer at the same time you mentioned the plate on the bosch you're reviewing not being flat. Seems to be a problem which for certain bosch tools will be a problem, glad I watched this.

[@SkillBuilder]

Owners of the Bosch tool tell us it will straighten if you undo the screws and let it relax.

[@michaelt2987]

Very enjoyable and informative, thanks for all your hard work guys. Shame Milwaukee don’t do a track saw over here, I would have been interested to see how they compare. End of the day I would agree with Robins choice. Too late in life for me now having just retired from a few different careers in life but I always had a yearning to be a real quality master carpenter like Robin, must be very rewarding.

[@johnconstantine3056]

I dont do a lot so I have an Erbauer and I have removed the kick back which I found to be a pain. Its a great machine for cross cutting plywood splinter free with the one touch lever which allows cutting at veneer scoring depth or full set depth without any adjustment.

[@chillpill7446]

Evolution have brung out a track saw now for only £90 in screwfix and its 1600 watt. Loads of power .i bought one for chipboard flooring and plywood and it works on my old makita tracks a treat .splinter free cut only on one side tho .game changer

[@kir2317]

Thanks so much for the video! But all the same, makita sp6000 or dewalt 320k do you what to choose?

[@daz7795]

i actually bought the Bosch a few days ago and mine had exactly the same issue with the base

[@SkillBuilder]

Apparently you undo the front and back wing nuts on the bevel and it flattens out but it makes you wonder why Mafel who assemble this tool for Bosch let it go out like that. On second thought maybe there is method in their madness. It is a good machine though, nearly as good as the Mafel

[@daz7795]

@@SkillBuilder Cheers i'll give that a go. It hasn't put me off at all, it's still a great tool. I also bought their GCM 12 GDL Dropsaw which is an exceptional workshop saw.

[@cipur11]

Thanks guys, lovely chat 👍👍👍

[@martinkinzett673]

I have the cordless makita, I only have 5ah batteries. The tool has plenty of power with these batteries. Recently made 7 x 620mm long cuts through 38mm beech worktops in one pass with no troubles and still has power left.

[@stephenwhite3343]

I recently bought my first track saw and decided on the Mafell. It is definitely, transferable between the 2 different tracks. I just leave out the black blanking plate. I use the Festool track on my home made mft

[@JimboJet737]

There is a youtube video showing the Bosch tracksaw. It clearly shows the plate is distorted during the setup process and once adjusted in the correct manner there is ZERO warp on the bottom plate. This is true for 90 degree and angled cuts. I'm not saying its ok, but I am suggesting that with this knowledge you will get correct setup and effectively get a Mafell saw for significantly less £ in you go for the Bosch. Besides as the Mafell is the group winner, then it follows that the Bosch with a "flat" plate will also have significant merit. Personally, I have yet to buy a TS, so will most likely go for the Bosch when the time comes given this knowledge. The power and the ease/trueness of rail connection with the price all being the deciding factors.

[@jacecard]

Cheers for pointing this out again JimboJet737, I think Roger and Robin should do a quick follow up video about this issue as nobody seems to be taking much notice. I've had the Bosch saw for nearly 3 years which replaced a Dewalt 240v version for fine / accurate cutting as I don't like the tracks because of the rubber strips that are glued on for the Dewalt and are a real pain to replace, also the track jointing system is brilliant on the Bosch. Basically you can throw the base out by leaning on the handle (the Marfell doesn't have the handle) while tightening up the front angle thumb screw. Yes it's a design issue due to the ability to be able to put the saw to -1 degree but once you know about it is something you check if using the angled cut feature. All the plunge saws have their quirks. With this problem addressed maybe it will go back on somebody's to buy list as it's very similar to the Marfell...hopefully Roger or Robin will read this and update all of the subscribers.

[@Snippiii]

Had the same problem. Had to loosen the whole baseplate tho (4 black screws) then i re tighten it with a measure mate from the flat side of the blade (left and right) to the cnc cut line. Problem solved 🤷‍♂️👌

[@okafka5446]

Mafell all the way. Give it some Roger! @17.46

[@xtc79]

As a subscriber, from quite some time, I demand! that brick wall behind You, be fixed. It's unacceptable for such two respectable builders, to share essential info in so obscene scenery. Those holes hurt in the eyes xD

[@designxyz5007]

great use of PPE there guys!

[@liamboy07]

Would you do a video of track compatible circular saws? Not plunge saws there’s a few on the market but can’t find any videos on them whatsoever! Sure it would get a lot of attention

[@jayvadgama5663]

Brilliant review, much appreciated. May I ask the reason for the variable speed settings. When would one use the low speed and when is the high speed used?

[@SkillBuilder]

If the wood is burning you slow it down. Other than that it is usually full steam ahead for most people.

[@jayvadgama5663]

@@SkillBuilder Many thanks for your prompt reply. I learn something every day. Much Appreciated.

[@stevenmott2421]

Hi, I am a tiler, and constantly get asked to trim the doors to fit after I've tiled a floor. I need to be able to action this now. Can you recommend a plunge saw (with track)for around £150 - £200. And what would be the best type of blade so as not to damage/splinter the door. Much appreciated - Steve

[@SkillBuilder]

Hi Steve You can buy the Erbauer for that kind of money. So long as the track is firmly down you will not get splinters (breakout) with the blade they supply but if it is a hardwood door and you are concerned run it through at 3mm on the first pass just to tickle out the top surface. Be careful not to move the track for the deeper cut. Practice on an old door

[@Steve-dr7rr]

Can I ask you guys what would be a first time buy on a track saw. I’m still trying to start at home in a shed I’m disabled and use a wheelchair but looking at getting one. The tools I have are Worx battery and lumberjack tools mains is there any you could suggest I do like the festool ts 55 req is it a 240 or a 110v as I only have 3 pin sockets no 110 at all not sure if price the same today but any advice would be greatly appreciated cheers steve

[@SkillBuilder]

Hi Steve I don't know your situation and I certainly don't want to put you off but track saws can bite so you need something with a good anti kickback if you are using it from a sitting position. If you can get your shoulder over the saw it is easier to resist any violent movement. The new Festool has an electronic ant kickback which works better than the non -return spring on the rail that many of the others have. The problem with those is that they can be awkward when you are trying to position for the saw for plunge cutting. The key thing is never to move the saw backwards when the blade is turning. If you are confident that you can use it safely then a cheapish saw such as the Erbauer is a good place to start. I would buy a couple of rail clamps just to make sure that everything stays in place.

[@kdmarksuk]

Festool for me mine taken from van . Just buying it all again. My god the track saw has gone up in price had corded machine will go for battery as I’m not a big user anymore great reviews thanks guys brilliant channel

[@SkillBuilder]

Sorry to hear that, these bastards can'rt be stopped

[@kdmarksuk]

@@SkillBuilder thanks guy s . I keep indoors now bit of a faff . Happened nearly year ago nearly replaced everything.

[@dtnjnq]

Great series guys. I’ve got the Makita corded track saw. Works well. Now considering the cordless Makita or the cordless Festool. Which one should I get? Will the Makita cordless work on the Makita track with the same splinter guard or will it need new splinter guard due to thinner blade?. Will the Festool work on the Makita track?

[@BischBaschBosch]

Festool and Makita tracks are the same mate. So are the Triton as it happens. So yeh, you can use Festool on Makita rails and vice versa. The other big brands - Bosch, DeWalt and Mafell - have a slot to work on the Festool/Makita rail too.

[@dtnjnq]

So the Dewalt will work on the Makita track. I’ve got a lot of Dewalt tools so have lots of batteries. Will it use the same splinter guard or will it ruin the splinter guard?

[@SkillBuilder]

SamT very good point.

[@a-carpenter9229]

@@dtnjnq the Dewalt track will not work on the makita track but will work on the festool track. The makita cordless will work on both the makita and festool tracks. There are screws on the bottom of the base plates too for when you want to align different saws to all work at the same splinter guard. Just make sure you adjust the cams on the bases first to take any side to side play out of it and then you can loosen the screws underneath and move the saw to where you want it while the base itself stays put. It's hard to explain. You also want the saw toed in more at the front of the blade more than the back of it, festool recommends the thickness of a business card to space the back of the blade once you have the front set to your splinter guard

[@dtnjnq]

A -Carpenter thanks for the information. Do you know why the Dewalt saw won’t work on the Makita Track.

[@kevinchamberlain7928]

We shuttering boys use old school circliar saws with a ply straightedge screwed into the work piece. RAF but you've been there yourself, admit it! And yes, I did write circliar! 😜

[@reaper060670]

Alri Roge pal.. Would u do a complete comprehensive review on all these MacAllister tools please.. I was doing a decking job recently so just to have a circular saw to cut boards and wood quickly and with no fuss I bought the 210 MAC Compound Circular saw which was dirt cheap. IMHO it's dirt cheap for a reason but I was hoping u would look at the complete range of their power tools. I bought their Jigsaw for 32 euros and I also gave their Router a whirl at 66 euros. The compound Circular Saw cost 67 euros. It's defo the bargain basement type of power tool system but now I see they're selling a track saw for 135 euros..? Is there any chance u would do a run through of the power tools MacAllister offer and let us know which are great value for money....... If any that is pal.. Always enjoy ur videos Roge mate so keep em coming .. Salute to uSir from IRELAND..

[@craigmcewan2762]

I got the dewalt with 3 meter track from my tool shed £699 inc vat cheapest I could find, great saw, only thing I can say is make sure the material you are cutting is well supported as it tends to spring back into place once you finish your cut, still think I bought the best one, Robins eyes looking at it 👀 the whole time lol

[@superspeeder]

Based on my experience with my Makita stuff, you might have gotten a little better power from the newer larger batteries. I say "might" because I don't own the track saw, but I have noticed this on my 5" angle grinder and my rear handle x2 saw. I think the 2500mAh cells in the 5Ah batteries are superior to the 1500mAh cells in the 3Ah batteries.

[@hartsymk1]

The dewalt does have little indends on the side of the saw to tell you where the blade will finish at full depth, its not brilliant but it is there.

[@markjarman7819]

Had my dewalt since they first came out. Great tool and every time I use it pure pleasure. Don’t want cords on a plunge saw.

[@FocusWLN]

Hi Mark, any thoughts on the DeWalt for second fix? Got a birch ply wardrobe to build soon and wondering if it would be a good option

[@jpk2742]

Had the corded festool for 9 years never missed a beat and it’s used most days all day. I want a cordless now but not to sure on the festool cordless.

[@stevetaylor4777]

Was thinking about getting the Erbauer as I would only use it now and again but unfortunatly Screwfix don't stock them anymore

[@widuthirteen4811]

They're renewing the Erbauer line this month with new models Steve, I reckon they'll be back soon enough. "An exciting new generation of corded and cordless Erbauer tools & batteries is arriving in January 2019. The new cordless EXT range features new ‘Keep Cool Technology for a 25% longer run time than existing Erbauer batteries and works in 14 new power tools. The new range won’t work on the current Erbauer range, but you’ll still be able to buy Non-EXT batteries and chargers (8352G, 8483P, 2626J, 4760H)."

[@stevetaylor4777]

Thanks for that @@widuthirteen4811 I'll wait a while and see what the new stuff it like

[@philcrockford5534]

I've used the Titan one that Screwfix sell for about £110, just for doing doors after a house move. It runs on Makita tracks and gives quite a good accurate cut. Excellent value, would never stand up against the Festool, Makita etc but for a DIYer occasional use it is excellent value for money

[@shahnawaz6240]

As you mentioned every name specialise in a particular tool like makita makes good saw what about bosch and dealt iam after impact driver and hammer drill?

[@jamesswinyard530]

I bought the Makita corded track saw and very happy with it. Making some bespoke items for my house, and have also used it in fitting my kitchen. However being a DIYer I don’t have a dust extractor. Does anyone have any recommendations for budget tool dust extraction?

[@SkillBuilder]

I would use Henry or similar for DIY work. You are not looking to comply with any stringent standards as you have to on site so take the obvious option and use a domestic vacuum cleaner or cheap dust extractor from Screwfix or somewhere.

[@ejicon3099]

Great comparison video gentlemen. Thank you.

[@stevestefani221]

I'm a hobbyist woodworker and I have no idea how I worked with out my Mafell. It is worth every penny.

[@howardbecdove9780]

Very entertaining. I can’t give anyone a greater compliment than that. Well done fellas.

[@Catalysis1144]

Great series I have watched all the videos. Am home DIY and mostly interested in the best one for dust collection by looking at those cutting shots I have noticed that Mafell & Bosch are the best with minimal dust escape. Can someone please comment on this based on experience?

[@22illingworth]

Great review Gentlemen. As a Newbie to this, expensive, hobby I have chosen I picked DeWalt for my Table Saw, Router and drills... they are the 18V XR range which seem just perfect for my use. I first used the Router last week and I did notice the 5A 18 V battery went flat quite quickly, so is the 54V backwards compatible with the 18 volt line?

[@S_M.SolutionsLtd]

We change the blades on all our saws with the Freud TCT blades for much better cuts with no splits.

[@installer1571]

A couple of small comments on the DeWalt the battery on the DeWalt is so big it actually interferes with your hand and the other thing and I don't know if it will ever become a problem with the plunge mechanism I always get very nervous when you've got extra linkages so as the machine gets a bit older I worried those connection points may affect the accuracy of the operation of the saw I have a similar thought when it comes to the Bosch drop saw other than that I believe it's a very good saw

[@needaman66]

you use the track alignment to plunge with the dewalt. go a corded on and had it for years it also has anti kickback. i always use one handed and never had a problem in the several years ive had it

[@Sly_Wolf_1]

Hi Roger and Robin, I'm considering a track saw (my first), most likely the makita, what I'm curious to know is....... 🤔 When changing blades from makita to diablo/Freud (as an example) does this affect trim accuracy on the rubber edge on the track? I'm assuming it does depending on blade thickness?

[@henri6595]

Since it's 2022 which model would be the best event considering the new ones that have come out. Milwaukee is said to release a model pretty soon

[@SkillBuilder]

Blimey Milwaukee has been dragging its feet on this one

[@ThePatriotPath]

When making a bevel cut, does the splinter guard get trimmed again? If so, wouldn't this throw off zero clearance/ cut line for straight/90 degree cuts?

[@SkillBuilder]

From our observation the blade moves out slightly so it doesn't cut the rubber. We have tried it on several saws and it seems to be O.K.

[@ThePatriotPath]

@@SkillBuilder That's great to know. I was worried this might be an issue users experience and accept, but never share. Thank you for the useful information!

[@darrenroche9225]

Great video lads

[@johnbarrett4704]

What would you be doing with the other hand pulling your wire or what

[@JACKATTACKED]

18v Planers sometime soon? Dip down into 10-12v (whichever way they market them) tools? 😀👍 Happy New Year.

[@harrygirgin9093]

Thank you for the delightful series.