Why does everyone reference this saw as a hobby or diy? I use it professionally everyday with no issues. I have used and owned others... But this has all the features and is much cheaper, putting more money in my pocket. It's a quality saw and I have been very pleased with mine.
@10:10 DeWalt tracksaw works perfectly fine on Festool track. There are more accessories for festool tracks, so I switched over to it. I do miss the bidirectional cutting capability of DeWalt though. And @11:10 My DW tracksaw with festool tracks and squares/parallel guides means that I can cut down plywood at HD parking lot with amazing accuracy. And my wife doesn't yell at me as much for making a mess in the shop (which she calls a garage for some odd reason)
I bought the Kreg a week ago and love it. I only have a small worksite table saw and a old circular saw so getting accurate cuts on full size plywood was painful. Now its quick, easy and doesn't trigger my OCD. When I finish the current project the ACS is next on the list.
One of the biggest selling points for me is that it is the only blade left track saw out there. Blade right tracks saws are awkward for right handed people. I wish the quality was a bit better but I’ve cut over 25 sheets of MDF and a few rough cut boards without any problem. Oh the vac port is an odd size so you will have to find or make an adapter. I also forgot this saw seems to borrow heavily from the cheapo Triton saw which has always kept me a bit suspect. It’s probably made in the same factory.
Great saw especially ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxxnKxcY0vm4xjW8xkPbjaHuKt10gr-wG_ considering how drastically cheaper it is than every other track saw on the market. Only things I would mention is replace the blade immediately, the 24 tooth blade supplied leaves a lot to be desired.
I just got the saw and the ACS table. I’m a weekend warrior…. I think it’s outstanding for my needs. If I was a pro, I might think differently. I’ll confess that I’m a Kreg junkie and I love the creativity and usefulness of their jigs and gadgets. I think their prices are fair too
Great review. I’ve had the Kreg since it first came out a couple years ago. I’ve never used the competition but I can’t imagine a better value for a hobbyist like myself. For me, the main shortcoming is the track compatibility but definitely not a deal killer. Thank you for the great content!
One big advantage the Kreg seems to have is that the blade is on the left. I'm right handed and when running a long cut I'm on the other side of the track from the cut (this is an Erbauer saw here in the UK, but Makita and Festool are the same). It might be nice to be able to use your stong hand when cutting and see what's happening.
I was going to mention that as well. I work at a woodworking store and we sell both the Festool and Kreg track saws. When I mention that specific feature of the blade being on the left, and they see how that would benefit them, many end up purchasing the Kreg for that one simple reason.
That's an EXCELLENT point! Thank you! Also I wonder though if it's not a safety thing to have the blade away from the user? I don't have an opinion on that but I'm wondering if blade placement was not intentional in the other cases.
@@agalligani If you need to cut away less than the width of the track there is simply no way to do that except by having the blade on your side. In real life holding the tool with your better (right) hand and keeping the cutline close to you is always an advantage.
I bought the Kreg track saw about a year ago as well, luckily during the time they were including a second track section for free. I had the same good/bad concerns and conclusions, but have never regretted the decision to purchase. I don't remember where, but there is someone selling the 3D printed squaring guides for the track now. One thing that you didn't mention is that the dust collection is so good on the saw that when you use the bag, it fills up fast (after only a couple of cuts) and starts to clog the saw. - Chris
I have this saw and love it. I use it on every cabinet build project to break down my full plywood sheets before final cutting on the table saw. Highly recommend. Wish these saw types would user a common blade but they require a special sized blade.
Bought the lights you recommended a few months ago, and they have completely changed the look of my shop. I ended up removing some, because they were so bright!
This is probably the best track saw review I've ever seen. Like you said, most people unbox it, do a few cuts and then base their entire opinion on those few seconds they spent with it.
Is this deja vu? I just commented about this Kreg to you the other day, lol. I was getting one anyways, but your approval of it is another nice addition to the opinions about it. ACS 3000, here we go!!
honestly building a whole bunch of cabinets over the years i went middle ground here.. the makita is great and the battery power lets me do some repair jobs with greater precision even without power (repair work on rentals usually with utilities turned off) i usually just clamp a framing square to the work piece and align off of that but might have to get one of those 90 degree jigs might be a time saver (been meaning to just keep procrastinating on researching which to actually buy)
Thanks for this Video Travis!!! I have been looking at getting the Kreg Tack saw and I was really impressed by some of the cool features you showed that I was unaware the saw had. Your video selidified my decsion to get the Kreg. I also like the fact that the blade is on the left.
Small cabinet shop here., and Festool user. Wanted to try out a tracksaw for breaking down sheetgoods for the tablesaw (12 inch Delta). We’ve been using a lot of HDF 18mm full color, similar to Valcromat. It weighs in at 144 lbs a sheet! As an exercise in workflow I got the Kreg saw and 2 rails with connector. The workflow experiment was a success, and I am very impressed with the saw, and the rails. I trimmed the ends of the tracks perfectly square on the Kapex miter, and the connection provides an accurate 110” rail. I’m going to use it until it dies, and decide if I want to invest in a more robust version at that time. I must say, for the home shop, I think it’s a real winner, and produces a cut edge with the very good stock blade, that rivals anything that I cut at the tablesaw with my most pricey of blades. Thanks for the great review!
I started at the bottom and wanted a track saw so so bad I bought the WEN from Amazon and bought the powertek track and accessories and honestly it’s worked great now for over. Year and I love it only thing it don’t have is a riving knife the wen has the on off for anti kickback and all and slits a quarter of the price of even the KREG
I didn't even know Kreg made any power tools let alone a track saw, the only things of theirs I've ever seen in stores are corner-drilling jigs. Glad I found this.
The biggest issue with the Kreg is the handle and track being reversed. It means that if you want to do something like cut a large panel you can't actually hold down the "good" piece with your body weight... you're forced on the "bad" piece, with high possibility of the track shifting. All the other makers have the handle flipped so that you can use your non-dominant hand to hold/steady the track, use your bodyweight to hold your piece, and keep everything perfect. To save cost they made 90% of the thing out of plastic, and it feels like it. The kreg "ACS" is essentially only decent for 4'x4' pieces and smaller... any larger and you can't properly reach over the other side of the track to finish your cut. You literally cannot split a 4x8 panel with the workstation. It's all plastic, has about 1/8"+ of wiggle room in any of the accessories... making it useless. Bought the full workstation kit, re-sold it within 2 weeks (losing about $300), bought the makita plunge saw and its night and day.
I appreciate your insight, sounds like you had a frustrating time with the ACS. I've got to say I've never experienced most of what you did and feel completely comfortable ripping a 48" wide panel on the ACS table.
@@ShopNation you can cut a 4x8 panel in half on the ACS? You are either quite tall or have a long reach as you need to reach literally 4feet across the entire board at hip height
I bought a relatively cheap Erbauer track saw costing £150.00 and, for a DIYer, it works fine. You mentioned dust collection. Looking at your shop I don’t think dust would dare make an appearance 🌞
Nice engaging review! The only thing that was missing to me was that this is the only left side blade track saw on the market to my knowledge. That makes it, like a worm drive framing saw, more comfortable for a right hander like most of us. Do you appreciate that and being able to easily see the cut line or does it not matter in practical usage? Thanks for the entertaining review.
The king of the tracksaw is Mafell, Festool can fight it out with Bosch (A re-branded Mafell with less options also the one I own and had to import years ago before it was available in the United States) for second place. The Mafell makes the Festool look like a bargain!
You can't beat the price of the Kreg, but price is MUCH lower on my list of important factors than is yours. Call me the oddball. I want the best that I can afford. Buy once, cry once. I always watch the videos and appreciate the effort you obviously put into what you do!
After making two versions of Tommy's "One Minute Workbench" circular saw guide I got tired of the sawdust going EVERYWHERE in my shop every time I broke a panel down and bought the Kreg track saw. It was on a sale at the regular price but with an additional piece of track and the joiners included at no extra charge. Your review matches my opinions exactly. I use the same Rockler hose and a Shop Vac with a Dust Deputy and the amount of dust it collects is amazing. The blade that's included does an excellent job. Another nice feature that you didn't mention is the brake. The blade stops spinning very quickly. It should be noted that the blade braking is the noisiest part of the operation and it's loud enough, just for a second or two, that I choose to use hearing protection when using the Kreg track saw. Another nice feature is the soft start so there's no torque felt as the blade and motor spin up. The cord/hose guide is flimsy but again, isn't a real problem. I went through Kreg's recommended setup procedures when I got the saw per the book. Since then, all I've done is use the saw without any further adjusting. Like you, I'm a hobby woodworker. I have a nice table saw but being north of 65 and having some shoulder injuries, handling heavy plywood or MDF panels just isn't much fun any more. I have come to understand the "real woodworkers" who break everything down to close to the needed size and finish up on the table saw, getting rid of factory edges whenever possible.
I didn't think much about the saw not having a battery option until after I got the ACS system, my solution to it was to get a dewalt power bank so I have the ability to break down goods in the parking lot of the hardware store since 4x8 sheets won't fit in my car. For the cost I probably would have been better off getting the festool but I like the idea of the ACS table. Also if you're looking to calibrate your ACS with the track I found that screwing a flat piece of metal to the side of a 123 block and butting it up against the track is more precise than using a tape measure.
I was going back and forth between the Kreg, Makita and Bosch last year. I have a friend that can get me the Bosch track saw for a significant discount. However, reviews of the Bosch track and base plate on the saw itself we not great. I read dozens of reviews saying that they had issues with them being warped/not flat. I ended up going with the Makita and have been very happy with it so far. But I can say, the extra 7" on the Kreg track IS a big deal. When I cut across a 48" piece of plywood, the saw at the beginning isn't on the track enough to not wobble a little side to side. Then on the end of the cut, the front of the saw is off of the track. If you go too far, it gets sketchy. So, I can definitely see the advantage of the Kreg track. But overall, the Makita is a very good option.
Had the Bosch but sold it after problems with the base (had the saw replaced before I sold it) went on to buy the cordless Makita. Haven’t looked back. Only thing the Bosch has on every other track saw is the way the tracks connect by far the best joining application.
Here in Europe you can buy Makita tracks which come in three different sizes, 3m(118inch), 1.5m(59inch) and 1m(39inch). I'm not sure why they'd have different sizes in other places.
I'm just starting out with the hobby and the price point of the Kreg and it's ability to grow into the rest of their ACS stuff is really appealing. I've got this and the Bosch GKT13-225L on my amazon list. Bosch is more powerful and works with other tracks but over 2x the price for that saw and tracks... I don't know about that. I feel like that extra $ would be better spent towards a decent hybrid or table saw if power is the real differentiator.
Great review. Track compatibility and corded-only is not what I wanted to hear. I will look for ACS-type system for the Makita cordless and maybe some other Makita tools to share the batteries with.
Late to the party here but this is a great review I'd been meaning to watch for a while. I've seen another guy's videos (you know the one - hah!) who IS a professional furniture maker who uses the Festool. He uses that saw to make deep cambered (i think that's the term) edge cuts on tables, which I have to say are impressive and clean. You may not do those often but I am wondering about the Kreg's abilities on that type of application. I don't think it was addressed in your video. Otherwise great vid & you were very honest even though Kreg IS a sponsor. Thanks for all your videos BTW - I am still building my Ultimate Work Bench!
great video. I actually have the Festool...went to use it tonight and one of the batteries appears to be bad so a corded option has advantages too. I do consider you a professional btw, I am a hobbyist or even worse just a hack.
Yes, the cord guide does flop around. Also the plastic stop on the extension ruler doesn't hold it correctly so if it gets bumped it has to be calibrated again.
Have the adaptive cutting system. Relatively easy to set up and can do away with clamps and measuring as the guide holds the material in place and the rulers eliminate the need to measure and draw cut lines. Down side is a lot of plastic parts and the saw cuts out on me intermittently. Kreg is offering to replace the saw, however I'm considering to use the table for a base for a Festool cordless system with the Seneca parallel guides. Kreg tech support suggested I may have a power problem with my house so a cordless saw will eliminate this obstacle as upgrading my power would cost $5K or more. Thanks for the review.
I found your video very informative one thing that you could have mentioned is the one thing on the plus side is that saw is designed for a right-handed person very difficult for a left-handed person because it is a blade left design another gripe that I have with Craig is when you want to add another extension rail that they sell the connector separately really if you want to purchase another rail so you can cut the full length of a 4x8 sheet of plywood it only makes good sense to include the connectors so you can use it again nice job
The basic body is striking similar to the Draper saw sold in the UK. It doesn't have as many neat features. That sells for £125 over here. Also Aldi & Lidl sell a similar machine own brand for £80. I suspect the same factory make all three!
I bought the Kreg track saw and table and love this thing over a year ago. I even bought the extra track to do mobile of the kreg table. Same as you did and Love it. How can I get your plans for the base cabinet you built. I need that instead of the Kreg Base legs. Would you make me one of those track squares and ship it to me. Just let me know what I owe you
Thanks for the review, would be nice a comparison between what you can do on the track saw vs table saw. Personally I think the track saw is much safer for the average DIYer and with some creativity the capabilities are the same.
What they are good at: Track Saw - Crosscutting moderate to large boards - Ripping wide boards/'panels - Plunge cutting holes in the middle of panels - cutting narrow grooves (dados) in boards Table Saw - Crosscutting small to moderate sized boards (some table saws handle large boards well, but most contractor sized saws don't crosscut 4x8 plywood well - Ripping nearly any board. Track saws don't handle small boards well at all - Very accurately cutting angles, track saws tend to need more care in the setup when cutting accurate angles, they are just fine for construction work, but cutting something like a picture frame is more difficult, though possible - Wide dados (grooves) - Repeatability. It is very easy to rip or crosscut lots of boards the same size quickly and accurately with a table saw, and while it is possible with a track saw it takes longer and there is greater opportunity for making a mistake. This is not an exhaustive list, and other things to consider are using a table like was shown in the video helps to minimize some of the disadvantages to the track saw. Repeatability and accuracy will be better than just the track saw on its own. Building fixtures for a table saw can actually make it a very safe and accurate method for "plunge" cutting panels. When it comes to safety, even ignoring tech like the saw stop saws have, safety is largely up to the operator following good practices. if you are cutting near the edge of a panel and hold with your left hand while running the saw with your right you can cut into your left hand pretty easily. I know of it happening. I think if someone is using relatively modern equipment and don't disable all the safety equipment they have the saws are equally safe if used properly. I think if you are only going to have one it really depends on what type of woodworking you do. If you are building simple cabinets and bookcases then a track saw may be the only one you need. If you process most of your own wood, or build things that need very accurate cuts repeated between parts (think something like kitchen cabinets or even just making a few identical shelves) then a table saw might be more suited. I only have a table saw right now, but plan to add a track saw in the future for convenience when working with plywood sheets.
There are a lot of joinery operations one can do on a table saw for which a track saw is not applicable. The main overlap between the two is cutting panels, and I’m beginning to get the idea that a track saw is superior to the table saw for breaking down sheet goods. I haven’t yet bought a dedicated track saw. I took the half-measure of buying one of those systems with a track and a plate you attach to the bottom of your regular circ saw. I’m mostly satisfied, but set up is a bit of a pain in the neck. When I started considering purchasing a second circ saw dedicated to using with the track system, I realized that I just need to spend the money on a real plunge saw and track. Fortunately there are saws on the market cheaper than Kreg and much cheaper than Festool. I’m looking at the Wen saws, which are compatible with Makita/Festool track, and all the 3rd party clone tracks. Maybe for Christmas?
Great video Travis! I'm Team Teal and love my Makita track saw (SP6000J). BUT the thing the kreg has which I wish the makita has is 1) riving knife, 2) splinter guard (similar to Festool), and 3) the left-facing blade.
Just purchased one. Stoked to put it to work. One thing you didn't mention that I find interesting is it's the only right handed saw of the the comparisons. ( Blade on the left)
I've owned an array of plunge saws. The Kreg is definitely the sweet spot. I agree with your cons though. The two biggest downsides are that they decided to make it incompatible with ALL other track systems (which literally no other manufacturer does. Festool pattern rail is an industry standard and every other saw uses at least the Festool rail) and that they don't make a cordless version. And unless they license with some other tool line or decide to go full in on a battery platform of their own I don't see how they ever could. Performance wise there's nothing you can really complain about. I can cut 8/4 hard maple with mine no problem and make splinter free cuts in any sheet good. That's enough to impress me.
great review. i had the kreg track saw and had my issues with square cuts. came to find out the base was out of alignment and even trying to align it didn't help. gave up on it for the lack of accessories and sold it in favor of the festool cordless track saw. fast forward later and TSO came up with a couple of accessories for this.
Great review! I have a Festool TS75 (I guess that makes me one of "those people" lol) and and a Kreg Track saw with the ACS. I completely agree with your review for the occasional user. Kreg is a great alternative with little quality of cut difference between the two. I had to go with the TS75 for the extra cut capacity as I do a lot of work with 2 - 2.5 thick slabs. The track square is incredibly useful accessory as well. Would be helpful for those longer cuts that can't be done on the ACS or where its easier to take the tool to the workpiece than the workpiece to the tool.
The most important thing to consider when buying a tracksaw is that your cuts are square. And I'm talking about the actual cut, where the blade goes through the material. The majority of these saws will eventually cut bevels, and its because of the saw base. They are cheap plastic or soft metal. Just like a cheap jigsaw, the base bends, and it'll ruin your cuts. I can't speak for the Kreg, but I can tell you the DeWalt does this. Avoid it at all costs. But the Festool is easily the best saw. I returned the DeWalt after 3 weeks, and spent the extra money on the Festool. Its well worth it. After 10 years my ts55 is still the best saw on the market. And yes, Festool owners are a particular type. They're the type who like accuracy and well designed tools. Nothing wrong with that 👍
I was in the market for a track saw a few years ago. I did the research as you did. Seemed like every option required a trade off of pros and cons. I purchased the Dewalt track saw. The advantage it had over all the others is it has a 110 inch track. I use mine for breaking down plywood, especially along the length of the sheet as I hate trying to do that on the table saw. The other brands tracks could be coupled together for that length but the criticism I read over and over was the joined tracks flex in the middle. What I lost with the Dewalt was the track square and the ability to use an mft-like table. I think the Dewalt is a higher quality saw than Kreg and it has all the same saw features but more parts are metal and it comes with a hard case.
Problem is the Kreg is for right handers- all the rest are for left handers like me (thanks, guys). DeWalt also has anti-kickback, and will fit both its own track and Festool/Makita track. DeWalt allows cutting the closest to a wall- great for trimming block flooring.
I have the Wen track saw and it is priced lower than just about every other saw, and its track is compatible I have used fairly heavily for 2 years now and it still does a good job. I have used the maketa and the dewalt. and if price was no concern I would have purchased the dewalt as it seems to have more power
If I was made of money, I’d cut off my pinky finger and use it to buy a festool. Makita is a close second, because the track and accessories are compatible with festool. The problem with the Kreg system is that it’s not compatible. So until I get the Festool, I’m looking at the Wen plunge saw. It’s compatible with Festool/Makita and a lot cheaper. IMO, the big selling point of Kreg is the table system, but that’s getting into real money. Oh, Festool has a cordless option, too.
Travis, you said the Kreg saw is $389 or there abouts but you neglected to mention that for the ACS system it is more like $900 so very different price point. I'm very happy to hear your review and I thank you for the info. I am in the market for a track saw as well so your comparison of the three different saws helps a lot. And yes, are you going to sell the amazing square??
Milwaukeeeeee!!!! Track saw please. Thanks for the review I wasn't even aware of this saw or the acs! I want cordless but I suppose it isn't that big of a deal if you're using dust collection and tethered with that anyway.
It’s a great value, I’d just recommend adding on a track square. Keep up the great work as the goal is for us to continue to inspire others to build something awesome! 👍🏼
Great review mate, solid detail, the Kreg performs well, as a bespoke cabinet maker I went down the festool road, yes one of those people you refer to! Lol, no regrets, the TS55 is simply stunning and a delight to use in the production and build, festool however could learn a thing or two here, the extra length offered by Kreg would make life better, at 1400mm the Festool rail is just about enough but its tight, the extra mm or inchs would be much, much better, the little plastic deflector that allows the cables to slip easily with kreg is available from Festool but at extra cost, no surprise there, in the end it's the customers choice, I love my 55, yes it's crazy expensive, items that should come are optional and at an extra cost, but I would miss the use of my 55 now and it really has changed fine carpentry for the better, great video mate, keep up the great work, Louie, UK
Great review. I agree the Kreg is the sweet spot. Woodcraft (my buddy is the manager at one) sells the Kreg and Festool so customers have options. I ended up with the cordless Makita. I like it a lot and think its the best short of Festool or Mafell. The only real issue i had, some of the tracks arent very straight. I went through a couple of sets (short, long and jumbo). I chose to pay the green tax, and get Festool rails. What sold me was a great sale price (at big orange, no less), options available in the Makita battery platform (though im mostly big red) and the Festool compatibility. Btw, for someone who claims to be a hobbyist, you have some nice tools. Like computers, I dont buy at the low end, they never last. I loved your 'why didnt i buy a SawStop'.
Wonderful analysis as usual, but I believe there is one glaring positive you have omitted. The blade is on the LH side of the saw. So the R handed user can see the blade as it is plunged and/or used. All others I have seen or RH blade. I know there are LH users out there but predominately they are RH. I feel that is another feature that may improve safety.
I know that feeling of fretting over spending more money for the better tool. I got over that after still spending good money and then for years having to use a tool that was inferior. Just not worth it in the end when a lot of us are buying lifetime tools for household work at least.
Great review. I would add two more 'not so good' considerations (1) only available for 110volts meaning a large part of the globe can't use it (2) associated with one but not available in other regions meaning that shipping doubles the price should you want to risk using a voltage converter. Almost ordered it from New Zealand this year but just could not considering the above 2 points. Will have to just watch other using it
Great video. What I don’t like about Kreg is they design some great products but the build quality leaves a lot to be desired. They need to up their game on this.
Travis, great review once again. You got me interested in the ACS (or MFT). That's my biggest struggle in the shop is the larger cross cuts. Keeps up the great work (pun intended).
The saw looks like a great buy for the weekend warrior. But 600 bucks extra for the table? Geeze... Seems like it should be more like $300. Thanks for the grate video. Really helping me choose the right saw for my use.
I bought the Festool probably near 2 years ago as I was undertaking a large project and simply don't have room for a table saw and this seemed like the next best option for long, accurate cuts breaking down sheets. I knew I'd need a second track to do full length cuts but decided I didn't want the hassle of constantly joining and removing the two tracks so bought a 3m track as well as the included 1.4m. What I didn't think of at the time, and I'm certain this isn't exclusive to just the Festool, is that the tracks are just extrusions and extrusions aren't necessarily 100% perfect. As it turns out my 3m track has a bow of about 3mm meaning cuts aren't perfectly straight. I've figured out how to compensate for it but it's still annoying. I also think this sort of thing will be more obvious and prevalent with longer tracks so I would've been better off with multiple short tracks afterall.
That’s an interesting point/problem. For the price you must have paid for the 3-meter track, didn’t you consider exchanging it until you got a straight (more straight) piece? Sure, there’s always going to be a margin for error, but one would think those margins would be unnoticeable at Festool prices.
@@MarcosElMalo2 Festool didn't seem that interested as it's within acceptable margin and I'd had it for several months at that point (things came up and I didn't use it for a while). I'm sure I could've pushed the issue and had it swapped but I'd already figured out how to compensate for it and can get perfect cuts now plus it was likely they were all going to have some fault so decided not to bother.
Thanks for the info on this saw. I have been looking at this one for a bit and now I think you might have helped me make up my mind, HA! NIce job, Thank you.
Thanks for all the info Travis. I teach among other things woodwork at high school here in Sydney. Your videos are always informative and professionally produced which is great as I know I can have my students refer to your work if i need to prove a point. Keep up the great work. Lloyd
Thanks I am looking into getting this tool as I am only needing a few more tools to complete my startup. Video was helpful but I will investigate further. I will be subscribing.
Everything I have is Makita but I've been debating between Makita and Kreg. Besides your review there are 2 things pushing me toward Kreg. First, Makita doesn't have a riving knife (or didn't when I last checked). Second, Makita doesn't have the splinter guard on the leading edge. Thanks for the review. Bill
i ended up with a Triton. Don't get me wrong, I love the Triton. Except I bought the Triton before Kreg came out with their own. I would love to test both to see the difference.
im not cool enough or trendy enough to buy the Fest tool saw. i use several Kreg products and like them alot. if i owned the ACS i would for sure have bought the Kreg saw but, i dont so i bought the Makita corded track saw. i love it and has excellent dust collection. i do have two tracks for it and i always use clamps at each end under it. for me it was the best choice. \MM/
Finally an independent review! I'm been on the fence for a while. The problem with the Kreg system is the dog holes are 3/4 while a lot of accessories are built for the festool MFT which is 20mm. If it was just the track saw I was thinking that the Makita is a better options because it would allow you to upgrade to Festool down the road. But the key to the system for me is the ACS which I think is superior to the festool MFT (aside from the number of accessories built for 20mm hole). You can get the makita mounted to an ACS but its a bit "hackish" and getting the Kreg system for me would be all about getting up and running with as little hassle as possible. Also festool/makita offer 118 inch track option which would be great for rip cuts.
I think your review aligns a lot with my own. I think the kreg saw is best bang for buck. What kills me, (like you pointed out) is the lack of accessories. You're stuck with all kreg which are not great for accuracy. A true rail square would be nice(sell yours), and a better method of repetitive rip cuts that isn't just two tape measures.
I needed a track saw and crosscut table a while ago and was back and forth between the kreg saw and acs, and festool 55 and mft. I had decided on the kreg, but it was back ordered months, so I went the festool route. I dont have any real world experience with the kreg and acs, but wish it wouldn't have been back ordered. The mft has its limitations and I find the 55 under powered
Update: Finally got the Kreg ACS to go with my existing Kreg tracksaw/track. WOW!! Wish I hadn't waited so long. Accuracy, and just as important repeatability, is way up as a result. Thanks Travis for pushing me along from my prior over-analysis-paralysis!! btw: I did Not consider the Festool MFT, nice as it is, as I similarly need more plywood cutting length, which the longer Kreg track & table provides. Also easier to store and roll the Kreg ACS.
I have been looking into getting a track and have been really considering the Makita but with this review I'm going to take some time and take a more in depth look at the Kreg. Thanks for the review right on time
I've liked the look of this ever since I first clapped eyes upon it. Unfortunately it is still not available in Australia (to the best of my knowledge).
I usually use tool cases and bags for storing junk like dust collection bags and other useless stuff that I can't bring myself to just get rid of because it came with the tool when I bought it.
I like the price of the Kreg. However I'd have to go with the Makita for the simple reason that I can carry the Makita in to a local dealership in my country (Guyana 🇬🇾) for servicing and repairs. There are no such dealerships here for Kreg or Festool. Besides, I can't justify even to myself as a hobbyist purchasing ANY Festool equipment.
Thanks for the video, very timely. I am planning on buying this saw but you showed printing a square for the track. Do you have these for sale? Great video as usual. I really like the way you get to the point without meandering around talking about stuff I could care less about. Bang On.
Why does everyone reference this saw as a hobby or diy? I use it professionally everyday with no issues. I have used and owned others... But this has all the features and is much cheaper, putting more money in my pocket. It's a quality saw and I have been very pleased with mine.
A video on making a track square from plywood would be most welcome. Also a review of angle and bevel cuts with this track saw.
Check out Peter Millard's channel.
@10:10 DeWalt tracksaw works perfectly fine on Festool track. There are more accessories for festool tracks, so I switched over to it. I do miss the bidirectional cutting capability of DeWalt though. And @11:10 My DW tracksaw with festool tracks and squares/parallel guides means that I can cut down plywood at HD parking lot with amazing accuracy. And my wife doesn't yell at me as much for making a mess in the shop (which she calls a garage for some odd reason)
I bought the Kreg a week ago and love it. I only have a small worksite table saw and a old circular saw so getting accurate cuts on full size plywood was painful. Now its quick, easy and doesn't trigger my OCD. When I finish the current project the ACS is next on the list.
One of the biggest selling points for me is that it is the only blade left track saw out there. Blade right tracks saws are awkward for right handed people. I wish the quality was a bit better but I’ve cut over 25 sheets of MDF and a few rough cut boards without any problem. Oh the vac port is an odd size so you will have to find or make an adapter.
I also forgot this saw seems to borrow heavily from the cheapo Triton saw which has always kept me a bit suspect. It’s probably made in the same factory.
Agreed! I NEVER buy right blade circular saws, they feel very awkward and I don't like them at all.
Great saw especially ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxxnKxcY0vm4xjW8xkPbjaHuKt10gr-wG_ considering how drastically cheaper it is than every other track saw on the market. Only things I would mention is replace the blade immediately, the 24 tooth blade supplied leaves a lot to be desired.
I just got the saw and the ACS table. I’m a weekend warrior…. I think it’s outstanding for my needs. If I was a pro, I might think differently. I’ll confess that I’m a Kreg junkie and I love the creativity and usefulness of their jigs and gadgets. I think their prices are fair too
Great owner non sponsored review. Answered a lot of questions for me and like Mr. Leines said, I too would buy a track square from you.
Great review. I’ve had the Kreg since it first came out a couple years ago. I’ve never used the competition but I can’t imagine a better value for a hobbyist like myself. For me, the main shortcoming is the track compatibility but definitely not a deal killer. Thank you for the great content!
One big advantage the Kreg seems to have is that the blade is on the left. I'm right handed and when running a long cut I'm on the other side of the track from the cut (this is an Erbauer saw here in the UK, but Makita and Festool are the same). It might be nice to be able to use your stong hand when cutting and see what's happening.
I was going to mention that as well. I work at a woodworking store and we sell both the Festool and Kreg track saws. When I mention that specific feature of the blade being on the left, and they see how that would benefit them, many end up purchasing the Kreg for that one simple reason.
Another reason why us left handers are discriminated against!! LOL!!
@@brianhleigh Not at all, you're catered to by nearly all the saw manufacturers!
That's an EXCELLENT point! Thank you! Also I wonder though if it's not a safety thing to have the blade away from the user? I don't have an opinion on that but I'm wondering if blade placement was not intentional in the other cases.
@@agalligani If you need to cut away less than the width of the track there is simply no way to do that except by having the blade on your side. In real life holding the tool with your better (right) hand and keeping the cutline close to you is always an advantage.
I bought the Kreg track saw about a year ago as well, luckily during the time they were including a second track section for free. I had the same good/bad concerns and conclusions, but have never regretted the decision to purchase. I don't remember where, but there is someone selling the 3D printed squaring guides for the track now. One thing that you didn't mention is that the dust collection is so good on the saw that when you use the bag, it fills up fast (after only a couple of cuts) and starts to clog the saw. - Chris
I went Makita for track compatibility. Sooo many accessories available. Router guides, etc.And it still works on the Kreg ACS!
You answered my question! I'm leaning towards the Makita and was wondering if my only choice was the MFT.
I have this saw and love it. I use it on every cabinet build project to break down my full plywood sheets before final cutting on the table saw. Highly recommend. Wish these saw types would user a common blade but they require a special sized blade.
Bought the lights you recommended a few months ago, and they have completely changed the look of my shop. I ended up removing some, because they were so bright!
What lights? 👀
This is probably the best track saw review I've ever seen. Like you said, most people unbox it, do a few cuts and then base their entire opinion on those few seconds they spent with it.
Is this deja vu? I just commented about this Kreg to you the other day, lol. I was getting one anyways, but your approval of it is another nice addition to the opinions about it. ACS 3000, here we go!!
honestly building a whole bunch of cabinets over the years i went middle ground here.. the makita is great and the battery power lets me do some repair jobs with greater precision even without power (repair work on rentals usually with utilities turned off) i usually just clamp a framing square to the work piece and align off of that but might have to get one of those 90 degree jigs might be a time saver (been meaning to just keep procrastinating on researching which to actually buy)
Lol I love the “you know the type” comment with woodpeckers squares in the back. Great vid, thanks for helping me make up my mind!
Thanks for this Video Travis!!! I have been looking at getting the Kreg Tack saw and I was really impressed by some of the cool features you showed that I was unaware the saw had. Your video selidified my decsion to get the Kreg. I also like the fact that the blade is on the left.
Or solidified, if speaking English!
Small cabinet shop here., and Festool user. Wanted to try out a tracksaw for breaking down sheetgoods for the tablesaw (12 inch Delta). We’ve been using a lot of HDF 18mm full color, similar to Valcromat. It weighs in at 144 lbs a sheet! As an exercise in workflow I got the Kreg saw and 2 rails with connector. The workflow experiment was a success, and I am very impressed with the saw, and the rails. I trimmed the ends of the tracks perfectly square on the Kapex miter, and the connection provides an accurate 110” rail. I’m going to use it until it dies, and decide if I want to invest in a more robust version at that time. I must say, for the home shop, I think it’s a real winner, and produces a cut edge with the very good stock blade, that rivals anything that I cut at the tablesaw with my most pricey of blades. Thanks for the great review!
I started at the bottom and wanted a track saw so so bad I bought the WEN from Amazon and bought the powertek track and accessories and honestly it’s worked great now for over. Year and I love it only thing it don’t have is a riving knife the wen has the on off for anti kickback and all and slits a quarter of the price of even the KREG
Also good to note that Kreg only has the one saw size, Festool has the 2 and Makita has 3 as of now.
You can improve dust collection slightly by covering the opening on side of guard for changing the blade
thats what i do on my makita and makes dust collection work so much better
I didn't even know Kreg made any power tools let alone a track saw, the only things of theirs I've ever seen in stores are corner-drilling jigs. Glad I found this.
The biggest issue with the Kreg is the handle and track being reversed. It means that if you want to do something like cut a large panel you can't actually hold down the "good" piece with your body weight... you're forced on the "bad" piece, with high possibility of the track shifting. All the other makers have the handle flipped so that you can use your non-dominant hand to hold/steady the track, use your bodyweight to hold your piece, and keep everything perfect.
To save cost they made 90% of the thing out of plastic, and it feels like it.
The kreg "ACS" is essentially only decent for 4'x4' pieces and smaller... any larger and you can't properly reach over the other side of the track to finish your cut. You literally cannot split a 4x8 panel with the workstation. It's all plastic, has about 1/8"+ of wiggle room in any of the accessories... making it useless.
Bought the full workstation kit, re-sold it within 2 weeks (losing about $300), bought the makita plunge saw and its night and day.
I appreciate your insight, sounds like you had a frustrating time with the ACS. I've got to say I've never experienced most of what you did and feel completely comfortable ripping a 48" wide panel on the ACS table.
@@ShopNation you can cut a 4x8 panel in half on the ACS? You are either quite tall or have a long reach as you need to reach literally 4feet across the entire board at hip height
I bought a relatively cheap Erbauer track saw costing £150.00 and, for a DIYer, it works fine. You mentioned dust collection. Looking at your shop I don’t think dust would dare make an appearance 🌞
Nice engaging review! The only thing that was missing to me was that this is the only left side blade track saw on the market to my knowledge. That makes it, like a worm drive framing saw, more comfortable for a right hander like most of us. Do you appreciate that and being able to easily see the cut line or does it not matter in practical usage? Thanks for the entertaining review.
The king of the tracksaw is Mafell, Festool can fight it out with Bosch (A re-branded Mafell with less options also the one I own and had to import years ago before it was available in the United States) for second place.
The Mafell makes the Festool look like a bargain!
You can't beat the price of the Kreg, but price is MUCH lower on my list of important factors than is yours. Call me the oddball. I want the best that I can afford. Buy once, cry once. I always watch the videos and appreciate the effort you obviously put into what you do!
Great review, Travis. And the dry wit is much appreciated! 👍😂
After making two versions of Tommy's "One Minute Workbench" circular saw guide I got tired of the sawdust going EVERYWHERE in my shop every time I broke a panel down and bought the Kreg track saw. It was on a sale at the regular price but with an additional piece of track and the joiners included at no extra charge. Your review matches my opinions exactly. I use the same Rockler hose and a Shop Vac with a Dust Deputy and the amount of dust it collects is amazing. The blade that's included does an excellent job. Another nice feature that you didn't mention is the brake. The blade stops spinning very quickly. It should be noted that the blade braking is the noisiest part of the operation and it's loud enough, just for a second or two, that I choose to use hearing protection when using the Kreg track saw. Another nice feature is the soft start so there's no torque felt as the blade and motor spin up. The cord/hose guide is flimsy but again, isn't a real problem.
I went through Kreg's recommended setup procedures when I got the saw per the book. Since then, all I've done is use the saw without any further adjusting. Like you, I'm a hobby woodworker. I have a nice table saw but being north of 65 and having some shoulder injuries, handling heavy plywood or MDF panels just isn't much fun any more. I have come to understand the "real woodworkers" who break everything down to close to the needed size and finish up on the table saw, getting rid of factory edges whenever possible.
I didn't think much about the saw not having a battery option until after I got the ACS system, my solution to it was to get a dewalt power bank so I have the ability to break down goods in the parking lot of the hardware store since 4x8 sheets won't fit in my car. For the cost I probably would have been better off getting the festool but I like the idea of the ACS table. Also if you're looking to calibrate your ACS with the track I found that screwing a flat piece of metal to the side of a 123 block and butting it up against the track is more precise than using a tape measure.
I don’t listen to any reviews but yours. I think yours are the most honest. Thanks again for sharing.
I have the saw and am really glad I bought it. I am in general agreement with your good review. I am a hobbyist. Thanks.
I was going back and forth between the Kreg, Makita and Bosch last year. I have a friend that can get me the Bosch track saw for a significant discount. However, reviews of the Bosch track and base plate on the saw itself we not great. I read dozens of reviews saying that they had issues with them being warped/not flat. I ended up going with the Makita and have been very happy with it so far. But I can say, the extra 7" on the Kreg track IS a big deal. When I cut across a 48" piece of plywood, the saw at the beginning isn't on the track enough to not wobble a little side to side. Then on the end of the cut, the front of the saw is off of the track. If you go too far, it gets sketchy. So, I can definitely see the advantage of the Kreg track. But overall, the Makita is a very good option.
Had the Bosch but sold it after problems with the base (had the saw replaced before I sold it) went on to buy the cordless Makita. Haven’t looked back. Only thing the Bosch has on every other track saw is the way the tracks connect by far the best joining application.
Here in Europe you can buy Makita tracks which come in three different sizes, 3m(118inch), 1.5m(59inch) and 1m(39inch). I'm not sure why they'd have different sizes in other places.
I'm just starting out with the hobby and the price point of the Kreg and it's ability to grow into the rest of their ACS stuff is really appealing. I've got this and the Bosch GKT13-225L on my amazon list. Bosch is more powerful and works with other tracks but over 2x the price for that saw and tracks... I don't know about that. I feel like that extra $ would be better spent towards a decent hybrid or table saw if power is the real differentiator.
Great review. Track compatibility and corded-only is not what I wanted to hear. I will look for ACS-type system for the Makita cordless and maybe some other Makita tools to share the batteries with.
I've got the same set up and I agree it's great. The floppy bag and flimsy cord thing is it's only real down fall.
Late to the party here but this is a great review I'd been meaning to watch for a while. I've seen another guy's videos (you know the one - hah!) who IS a professional furniture maker who uses the Festool. He uses that saw to make deep cambered (i think that's the term) edge cuts on tables, which I have to say are impressive and clean. You may not do those often but I am wondering about the Kreg's abilities on that type of application. I don't think it was addressed in your video. Otherwise great vid & you were very honest even though Kreg IS a sponsor. Thanks for all your videos BTW - I am still building my Ultimate Work Bench!
great video. I actually have the Festool...went to use it tonight and one of the batteries appears to be bad so a corded option has advantages too. I do consider you a professional btw, I am a hobbyist or even worse just a hack.
Yes, the cord guide does flop around. Also the plastic stop on the extension ruler doesn't hold it correctly so if it gets bumped it has to be calibrated again.
Have the adaptive cutting system. Relatively easy to set up and can do away with clamps and measuring as the guide holds the material in place and the rulers eliminate the need to measure and draw cut lines. Down side is a lot of plastic parts and the saw cuts out on me intermittently. Kreg is offering to replace the saw, however I'm considering to use the table for a base for a Festool cordless system with the Seneca parallel guides. Kreg tech support suggested I may have a power problem with my house so a cordless saw will eliminate this obstacle as upgrading my power would cost $5K or more. Thanks for the review.
I found your video very informative one thing that you could have mentioned is the one thing on the plus side is that saw is designed for a right-handed person very difficult for a left-handed person because it is a blade left design another gripe that I have with Craig is when you want to add another extension rail that they sell the connector separately really if you want to purchase another rail so you can cut the full length of a 4x8 sheet of plywood it only makes good sense to include the connectors so you can use it again nice job
You should release the stl for your track clamp, It looks really good.
Good review…. I’ve been leaning towards the Makita myself, but this is definitely food for thought.
The basic body is striking similar to the Draper saw sold in the UK. It doesn't have as many neat features. That sells for £125 over here. Also Aldi & Lidl sell a similar machine own brand for £80.
I suspect the same factory make all three!
I have been shopping for months. I now know for sure what am going to purchase. Thank you.
I bought the Kreg track saw and table and love this thing over a year ago. I even bought the extra track to do mobile of the kreg table. Same as you did and Love it. How can I get your plans for the base cabinet you built. I need that instead of the Kreg Base legs. Would you make me one of those track squares and ship it to me. Just let me know what I owe you
LOVE my Kreg ACS! Gives me peace-of-mind that my fingers will always be there when I pick up my guitar!
Thanks for the review, would be nice a comparison between what you can do on the track saw vs table saw. Personally I think the track saw is much safer for the average DIYer and with some creativity the capabilities are the same.
What they are good at:
Track Saw - Crosscutting moderate to large boards
- Ripping wide boards/'panels
- Plunge cutting holes in the middle of panels
- cutting narrow grooves (dados) in boards
Table Saw - Crosscutting small to moderate sized boards (some table saws handle large boards well, but most contractor sized saws don't crosscut 4x8 plywood well
- Ripping nearly any board. Track saws don't handle small boards well at all
- Very accurately cutting angles, track saws tend to need more care in the setup when cutting accurate angles, they are just fine for construction work, but cutting something like a picture frame is more difficult, though possible
- Wide dados (grooves)
- Repeatability. It is very easy to rip or crosscut lots of boards the same size quickly and accurately with a table saw, and while it is possible with a track saw it takes longer and there is greater opportunity for making a mistake.
This is not an exhaustive list, and other things to consider are using a table like was shown in the video helps to minimize some of the disadvantages to the track saw. Repeatability and accuracy will be better than just the track saw on its own. Building fixtures for a table saw can actually make it a very safe and accurate method for "plunge" cutting panels.
When it comes to safety, even ignoring tech like the saw stop saws have, safety is largely up to the operator following good practices. if you are cutting near the edge of a panel and hold with your left hand while running the saw with your right you can cut into your left hand pretty easily. I know of it happening. I think if someone is using relatively modern equipment and don't disable all the safety equipment they have the saws are equally safe if used properly.
I think if you are only going to have one it really depends on what type of woodworking you do. If you are building simple cabinets and bookcases then a track saw may be the only one you need. If you process most of your own wood, or build things that need very accurate cuts repeated between parts (think something like kitchen cabinets or even just making a few identical shelves) then a table saw might be more suited. I only have a table saw right now, but plan to add a track saw in the future for convenience when working with plywood sheets.
There are a lot of joinery operations one can do on a table saw for which a track saw is not applicable. The main overlap between the two is cutting panels, and I’m beginning to get the idea that a track saw is superior to the table saw for breaking down sheet goods.
I haven’t yet bought a dedicated track saw. I took the half-measure of buying one of those systems with a track and a plate you attach to the bottom of your regular circ saw. I’m mostly satisfied, but set up is a bit of a pain in the neck. When I started considering purchasing a second circ saw dedicated to using with the track system, I realized that I just need to spend the money on a real plunge saw and track. Fortunately there are saws on the market cheaper than Kreg and much cheaper than Festool. I’m looking at the Wen saws, which are compatible with Makita/Festool track, and all the 3rd party clone tracks. Maybe for Christmas?
Great video Travis! I'm Team Teal and love my Makita track saw (SP6000J). BUT the thing the kreg has which I wish the makita has is 1) riving knife, 2) splinter guard (similar to Festool), and 3) the left-facing blade.
Just purchased one. Stoked to put it to work. One thing you didn't mention that I find interesting is it's the only right handed saw of the the comparisons. ( Blade on the left)
I'm sold , thanks , absolutely will be buying that saw , price is great
I've owned an array of plunge saws. The Kreg is definitely the sweet spot. I agree with your cons though. The two biggest downsides are that they decided to make it incompatible with ALL other track systems (which literally no other manufacturer does. Festool pattern rail is an industry standard and every other saw uses at least the Festool rail) and that they don't make a cordless version. And unless they license with some other tool line or decide to go full in on a battery platform of their own I don't see how they ever could. Performance wise there's nothing you can really complain about. I can cut 8/4 hard maple with mine no problem and make splinter free cuts in any sheet good. That's enough to impress me.
great review. i had the kreg track saw and had my issues with square cuts. came to find out the base was out of alignment and even trying to align it didn't help. gave up on it for the lack of accessories and sold it in favor of the festool cordless track saw. fast forward later and TSO came up with a couple of accessories for this.
Great review! I have a Festool TS75 (I guess that makes me one of "those people" lol) and and a Kreg Track saw with the ACS. I completely agree with your review for the occasional user. Kreg is a great alternative with little quality of cut difference between the two. I had to go with the TS75 for the extra cut capacity as I do a lot of work with 2 - 2.5 thick slabs. The track square is incredibly useful accessory as well. Would be helpful for those longer cuts that can't be done on the ACS or where its easier to take the tool to the workpiece than the workpiece to the tool.
Great insight, thank you!
The most important thing to consider when buying a tracksaw is that your cuts are square.
And I'm talking about the actual cut, where the blade goes through the material.
The majority of these saws will eventually cut bevels, and its because of the saw base.
They are cheap plastic or soft metal.
Just like a cheap jigsaw, the base bends, and it'll ruin your cuts.
I can't speak for the Kreg, but I can tell you the DeWalt does this. Avoid it at all costs.
But the Festool is easily the best saw. I returned the DeWalt after 3 weeks, and spent the extra money on the Festool. Its well worth it. After 10 years my ts55 is still the best saw on the market.
And yes, Festool owners are a particular type. They're the type who like accuracy and well designed tools. Nothing wrong with that 👍
I was in the market for a track saw a few years ago. I did the research as you did. Seemed like every option required a trade off of pros and cons. I purchased the Dewalt track saw. The advantage it had over all the others is it has a 110 inch track. I use mine for breaking down plywood, especially along the length of the sheet as I hate trying to do that on the table saw. The other brands tracks could be coupled together for that length but the criticism I read over and over was the joined tracks flex in the middle. What I lost with the Dewalt was the track square and the ability to use an mft-like table. I think the Dewalt is a higher quality saw than Kreg and it has all the same saw features but more parts are metal and it comes with a hard case.
My went south years ago number 1.5 cut does me now and i've saved a fortune of money on shampoo and blow dries, also no dandruff
Problem is the Kreg is for right handers- all the rest are for left handers like me (thanks, guys). DeWalt also has anti-kickback, and will fit both its own track and Festool/Makita track. DeWalt allows cutting the closest to a wall- great for trimming block flooring.
I have the Wen track saw and it is priced lower than just about every other saw, and its track is compatible I have used fairly heavily for 2 years now and it still does a good job. I have used the maketa and the dewalt. and if price was no concern I would have purchased the dewalt as it seems to have more power
If I was made of money, I’d cut off my pinky finger and use it to buy a festool. Makita is a close second, because the track and accessories are compatible with festool. The problem with the Kreg system is that it’s not compatible. So until I get the Festool, I’m looking at the Wen plunge saw. It’s compatible with Festool/Makita and a lot cheaper.
IMO, the big selling point of Kreg is the table system, but that’s getting into real money.
Oh, Festool has a cordless option, too.
Travis, you said the Kreg saw is $389 or there abouts but you neglected to mention that for the ACS system it is more like $900 so very different price point. I'm very happy to hear your review and I thank you for the info. I am in the market for a track saw as well so your comparison of the three different saws helps a lot.
And yes, are you going to sell the amazing square??
Milwaukeeeeee!!!! Track saw please.
Thanks for the review I wasn't even aware of this saw or the acs!
I want cordless but I suppose it isn't that big of a deal if you're using dust collection and tethered with that anyway.
Exactly!
It’s a great value, I’d just recommend adding on a track square. Keep up the great work as the goal is for us to continue to inspire others to build something awesome! 👍🏼
Great review mate, solid detail, the Kreg performs well, as a bespoke cabinet maker I went down the festool road, yes one of those people you refer to! Lol, no regrets, the TS55 is simply stunning and a delight to use in the production and build, festool however could learn a thing or two here, the extra length offered by Kreg would make life better, at 1400mm the Festool rail is just about enough but its tight, the extra mm or inchs would be much, much better, the little plastic deflector that allows the cables to slip easily with kreg is available from Festool but at extra cost, no surprise there, in the end it's the customers choice, I love my 55, yes it's crazy expensive, items that should come are optional and at an extra cost, but I would miss the use of my 55 now and it really has changed fine carpentry for the better, great video mate, keep up the great work, Louie, UK
Great review. I agree the Kreg is the sweet spot. Woodcraft (my buddy is the manager at one) sells the Kreg and Festool so customers have options. I ended up with the cordless Makita. I like it a lot and think its the best short of Festool or Mafell. The only real issue i had, some of the tracks arent very straight. I went through a couple of sets (short, long and jumbo). I chose to pay the green tax, and get Festool rails.
What sold me was a great sale price (at big orange, no less), options available in the Makita battery platform (though im mostly big red) and the Festool compatibility.
Btw, for someone who claims to be a hobbyist, you have some nice tools. Like computers, I dont buy at the low end, they never last. I loved your 'why didnt i buy a SawStop'.
Wonderful analysis as usual, but I believe there is one glaring positive you have omitted. The blade is on the LH side of the saw. So the R handed user can see the blade as it is plunged and/or used. All others I have seen or RH blade. I know there are LH users out there but predominately they are RH. I feel that is another feature that may improve safety.
I know that feeling of fretting over spending more money for the better tool. I got over that after still spending good money and then for years having to use a tool that was inferior. Just not worth it in the end when a lot of us are buying lifetime tools for household work at least.
Great review. I would add two more 'not so good' considerations (1) only available for 110volts meaning a large part of the globe can't use it (2) associated with one but not available in other regions meaning that shipping doubles the price should you want to risk using a voltage converter. Almost ordered it from New Zealand this year but just could not considering the above 2 points. Will have to just watch other using it
Maybe the extra track length is to accommodate 5'X5' sheets of plywood.
Great video. What I don’t like about Kreg is they design some great products but the build quality leaves a lot to be desired. They need to up their game on this.
Travis, great review once again. You got me interested in the ACS (or MFT). That's my biggest struggle in the shop is the larger cross cuts. Keeps up the great work (pun intended).
The saw looks like a great buy for the weekend warrior.
But 600 bucks extra for the table? Geeze...
Seems like it should be more like $300.
Thanks for the grate video. Really helping me choose the right saw for my use.
Not bad for a DIY saw! For a few bucks more the Makita stands out much better!
I bought the Festool probably near 2 years ago as I was undertaking a large project and simply don't have room for a table saw and this seemed like the next best option for long, accurate cuts breaking down sheets. I knew I'd need a second track to do full length cuts but decided I didn't want the hassle of constantly joining and removing the two tracks so bought a 3m track as well as the included 1.4m. What I didn't think of at the time, and I'm certain this isn't exclusive to just the Festool, is that the tracks are just extrusions and extrusions aren't necessarily 100% perfect. As it turns out my 3m track has a bow of about 3mm meaning cuts aren't perfectly straight. I've figured out how to compensate for it but it's still annoying. I also think this sort of thing will be more obvious and prevalent with longer tracks so I would've been better off with multiple short tracks afterall.
That’s an interesting point/problem. For the price you must have paid for the 3-meter track, didn’t you consider exchanging it until you got a straight (more straight) piece? Sure, there’s always going to be a margin for error, but one would think those margins would be unnoticeable at Festool prices.
@@MarcosElMalo2 Festool didn't seem that interested as it's within acceptable margin and I'd had it for several months at that point (things came up and I didn't use it for a while). I'm sure I could've pushed the issue and had it swapped but I'd already figured out how to compensate for it and can get perfect cuts now plus it was likely they were all going to have some fault so decided not to bother.
Thanks for the info on this saw. I have been looking at this one for a bit and now I think you might have helped me make up my mind, HA! NIce job, Thank you.
Thanks for all the info Travis. I teach among other things woodwork at high school here in Sydney. Your videos are always informative and professionally produced which is great as I know I can have my students refer to your work if i need to prove a point. Keep up the great work. Lloyd
Thanks I am looking into getting this tool as I am only needing a few more tools to complete my startup. Video was helpful but I will investigate further. I will be subscribing.
Everything I have is Makita but I've been debating between Makita and Kreg. Besides your review there are 2 things pushing me toward Kreg. First, Makita doesn't have a riving knife (or didn't when I last checked). Second, Makita doesn't have the splinter guard on the leading edge. Thanks for the review.
Bill
i ended up with a Triton. Don't get me wrong, I love the Triton. Except I bought the Triton before Kreg came out with their own. I would love to test both to see the difference.
im not cool enough or trendy enough to buy the Fest tool saw. i use several Kreg products and like them alot. if i owned the ACS i would for sure have bought the Kreg saw but, i dont so i bought the Makita corded track saw. i love it and has excellent dust collection. i do have two tracks for it and i always use clamps at each end under it. for me it was the best choice. \MM/
Finally an independent review! I'm been on the fence for a while. The problem with the Kreg system is the dog holes are 3/4 while a lot of accessories are built for the festool MFT which is 20mm. If it was just the track saw I was thinking that the Makita is a better options because it would allow you to upgrade to Festool down the road. But the key to the system for me is the ACS which I think is superior to the festool MFT (aside from the number of accessories built for 20mm hole). You can get the makita mounted to an ACS but its a bit "hackish" and getting the Kreg system for me would be all about getting up and running with as little hassle as possible. Also festool/makita offer 118 inch track option which would be great for rip cuts.
I think your review aligns a lot with my own. I think the kreg saw is best bang for buck. What kills me, (like you pointed out) is the lack of accessories. You're stuck with all kreg which are not great for accuracy. A true rail square would be nice(sell yours), and a better method of repetitive rip cuts that isn't just two tape measures.
I needed a track saw and crosscut table a while ago and was back and forth between the kreg saw and acs, and festool 55 and mft. I had decided on the kreg, but it was back ordered months, so I went the festool route. I dont have any real world experience with the kreg and acs, but wish it wouldn't have been back ordered. The mft has its limitations and I find the 55 under powered
You can move this easier than the MFT and you can store it in a smaller space. The Kreg table is better for cutting down larger sheets of plywood.
Update: Finally got the Kreg ACS to go with my existing Kreg tracksaw/track. WOW!! Wish I hadn't waited so long. Accuracy, and just as important repeatability, is way up as a result. Thanks Travis for pushing me along from my prior over-analysis-paralysis!!
btw: I did Not consider the Festool MFT, nice as it is, as I similarly need more plywood cutting length, which the longer Kreg track & table provides. Also easier to store and roll the Kreg ACS.
I have been looking into getting a track and have been really considering the Makita but with this review I'm going to take some time and take a more in depth look at the Kreg. Thanks for the review right on time
only the Kreg can overhang the 60 wide on standard baltic birch sheets (5'x5')
TSO now offers a Kreg compatible track square. Also the Festool does have a kickback lock.
I've liked the look of this ever since I first clapped eyes upon it. Unfortunately it is still not available in Australia (to the best of my knowledge).
I usually use tool cases and bags for storing junk like dust collection bags and other useless stuff that I can't bring myself to just get rid of because it came with the tool when I bought it.
Here's an idea you can shoot towards Kreg. How about they team up with Kobalt and use their blue batteries for a 24v Cordless track saw?
Please sell the 3D-printed Kreg ACS track square on your Etsy and I’ll buy one the day it’s added to your store😊
Great Video! Is the track square going to be available on the Etsy store? Maybe Special Order?
Good review! I'm looking to get a track saw mainly for safety, as a newbie. And I'd definitely take an extra 7 inches.
I like the blade on the left.
Thanks for the great - and humorous - video. Very helpful in filling out my wishlist. Keep up the good work!
I like the price of the Kreg. However I'd have to go with the Makita for the simple reason that I can carry the Makita in to a local dealership in my country (Guyana 🇬🇾) for servicing and repairs. There are no such dealerships here for Kreg or Festool.
Besides, I can't justify even to myself as a hobbyist purchasing ANY Festool equipment.
Thanks for the video, very timely. I am planning on buying this saw but you showed printing a square for the track. Do you have these for sale? Great video as usual. I really like the way you get to the point without meandering around talking about stuff I could care less about. Bang On.