Track Saws - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

WilsonRMDL · 10-19-2008, 06:04 PM

I was looking to purchase the festool plunge circular saw, but now I've seen the dewalt model, and also that makita has come out with one. Has anyone used any other model besides the festool? I think i might wait until everyone comes out with one since they seem to be rushing to catch up with dewalt now.

WarnerConstInc. · 10-19-2008, 06:08 PM

Just buy the Festool, the dewalt and Makita are more and they dont have all of the bells and whistles that one is able to aquire with Festool.

I just wouldn't.

woodworkbykirk · 10-19-2008, 06:37 PM

scary to think other companys are playing catchup with dewalt, with most tools dewalt seems to put theirs out atleast a year after everyone else.

look at how much later they came out with litium ion, makita and milwaukee had it in 04, dewalt not til late 07

neolitic · 10-19-2008, 06:39 PM

Ahah, but at least the UK model DeWalt
runs both battery and AC.
That's impressive.

WarnerConstInc. · 10-19-2008, 08:16 PM

Except the battery one is like 999.00

jiffy · 10-21-2008, 01:38 PM

A breakdown of differences. I could not find much on Dewalt yet. Maybe someone else can help out.

Price Makita is $359.95 and the Festool is $475.

Blade Makita is 6 1/2" saw Festool 6 1/4"

Makita 12 amps Festool 10

Bevel Capacities Makita -1 - 48 Festool 0 - 45

Max cutting:

at 90 Makita 2-3/16" Festool 1-15/16"

at 45 Makita 1-9/16" Festool 1-7/16"

WilsonRMDL · 10-21-2008, 07:08 PM

I was at my tool supplier today and they had a display of the track which the dewalt uses, it seems similar to the festool in appearance anyway. I asked about it and he said its been out in europe for quite some time now and he thought it was higher quality than the festool. Not sure if its better than the festool, but if DeWalt has had it out in europe for a while at least maybe they've done some troubleshooting on it before releasing it here in the states. He said it should be out sometime next month so i'll take a look at it when it comes in and make my decision then. I'm leaning towards the festool just because of their reputation as a quality tool.

WarnerConstInc. · 10-21-2008, 07:49 PM

The only thing neat about the Dewalt is that it can run both ways on the track. There are a ton of tools that are made by manufacturers we are all familiar with that come out a year or two earlier in Europe. It takes quite a while for the 240 volt models to meet UL specs. I would seriously only think of 2 different companies to buy a rail saw from, Festool or Mafell.

You have so many options and accesories when you buy into the Festool System.

Go to a local wood working store that carries Festool and ask to play with it.

There is a good side by side review on Festool owners group as well.

**Double-A** · 10-21-2008, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiffy

Makita 12 amps Festool 10

Jiffy, not to fuss at you, but everyone here should realize, and sparkies, feel free to jump and and correct/explain, that amperes is not a measure of power, but of current draw.

Just because it draws more power, doesn't make it more efficient or "stronger". In fact, it can mean just the opposite. Its just a marketing ploy to put the amp rating on as a graphic that has the public fooled about what is and isn't important about an electric motor.

s. donato · 10-22-2008, 08:02 AM

i just bought my festool a month or so ago and i was trying to wait for the makita(not the dewalt).

the cordless dewalt is kind of a waste if you ask me... your still going to be connected to the vac if your doing "dust free" cutting right? i would love to see a comparison of the 3 side by side but as we all know no company is going to carry all 3 of them when they are all available.

it seems they are trying to get them out just in time for xmas this year... sounds like a great marketing ploy so we all buy one for ourselves and get the tax right off just in time... ;-)

the makita is more interesting then the dewalt to me but thats just my take. when the makita is out i may be selling my festool ;-)

jiffy · 10-24-2008, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double-A

Jiffy, not to fuss at you, but everyone here should realize, and sparkies, feel free to jump and and correct/explain, that amperes is not a measure of power, but of current draw.

Just because it draws more power, doesn't make it more efficient or "stronger". In fact, it can mean just the opposite. Its just a marketing ploy to put the amp rating on as a graphic that has the public fooled about what is and isn't important about an electric motor.

I agree with your statement.

I was just trying to show a side by side comparison. I was not endorsing one tool over the other. I have never used the Makita, and I like the Festool, and wondered if anyone has tried the Dewalt.

neolitic · 10-24-2008, 10:40 PM

There was a thread awhile back
(last summer?) one of our Brit mates
posted that he was testing the
DeWalt rig.

[Found it!]
http://www.contractortalk.com/showth...ghlight=dewalt