Low price: Makita 118 inch guide rail

[Roger Bull]

I was getting ready to post a semi gloat that I received my Makita 118" guide rail for $202 shipped when I saw it on Tool Nut for $199 shipped!

For some reason they have come down in price and the crazy high shipping is gone.

Mine arrived today well packed in a wooden box for protection.

Just an FYI in case anyone was waiting for a reasonable price (like I was).

[Bryan Lisowski]

If you just got it from ToolNut, call them and get your $3 bucks back.

[Roger Bull]

I got mine from a different dealer. I was surprised to suddenly see multiple dealers with the low shipped price.

[Vijay Kumar]

Does this work with the Festool track saws?

[Roger Bull]

I have a Makita 55" that works perfectly with my Festool TS 75. It seems essentially identical to my Festool track. I do like the Makita rubber edge better. The black is easier for me to see against the wood. I have not opened the crate yet on the 118" track but I can't image it would be any different.

[Greg R Bradley]

Yes, it works with a Festool tracksaw.

[Victor Robinson]

Just a note that this will probably be even cheaper once the usual Makita 20/25 off 100 promo kicks in, probably in the next few weeks leading up to Father's Day. I picked it up from ToolNut for around 170 something on the last one about six months ago. I think the price came down because Makita drop-ships it now - mine came directly via freight from Makita's distribution center in SoCal.

And yes, works with Festool saws.

[Roger Bull]

Mine also came from Makita in southern California. I un-packed it tonight and it was in perfect condition (very well packed).

A while back I tried to find a good price but the ~$200 shipping was a deal killer. I suspect Victor is right and the lower price is likely due to Makita drop shipping them.

[Peter Kelly]

The black splinter guard replacement strips from Makita also work with Festool rails. The 118" one is 1/3 the (rip-off) price that Festool charges.

https://www.toolnut.com/makita-194419-4-118-splinter-guard-replacement-strip.html

[Rick Potter]

I was feeling really good about getting the $199 deal from tool nut until Victor just ruined my day.

Curses, foiled again.

PS: I got my first, DeWalt, track saw a few years back when fellow Creekies posted about an Amazon special deal on them. It included the saw, and the short and long tracks for a super package price. I am thinking it was about $350-400.

Does anyone remember what that price was? Just curious. I plan to sell the DeWalt, now that I have the Makita.

[Victor Robinson]

I was feeling really good about getting the $199 deal from tool nut until Victor just ruined my day.

Curses, foiled again.

PS: I got my first, DeWalt, track saw a few years back when fellow Creekies posted about an Amazon special deal on them. It included the saw, and the short and long tracks for a super package price. I am thinking it was about $350-400.

Does anyone remember what that price was? Just curious. I plan to sell the DeWalt, now that I have the Makita.

LOL. I'm sorry Rick. I owe you a day now.

[Mike Manning]

What is the need for a track saw? What do most of you track saw owners use them for? Cutting plywood sheets down? I'm just curious. Thanks!

[John M Wilson]

I got my first, DeWalt, track saw a few years back when fellow Creekies posted about an Amazon special deal on them. It included the saw, and the short and long tracks for a super package price. I am thinking it was about $350-400.

Does anyone remember what that price was? Just curious.

I got in on that deal... it was through Amazon Supply, which was replaced by Amazon Business in 2015.

The price was $368.53, and included the saw, the 59" track and the 102" track.

I'm glad I got it, and I use it all the time for breaking down sheet goods, and occasionally for other things (awkward dados with the router guide, etc.)

It was a heck of a deal, but it's a good reminder that reading these deal threads can be hazardous to your wallet. :D

[Michael Moscicki]

What is the need for a track saw? What do most of you track saw owners use them for? Cutting plywood sheets down? I'm just curious. Thanks!

Cutting sheets of plywood. Crosscutting large panels. Getting a straight edge on rough lumber. You can also use the plunge feature to make cuts in the middle of a sheet such as making a cutout in plywood for a sink.

[Edwin Santos]

What is the need for a track saw? What do most of you track saw owners use them for? Cutting plywood sheets down? I'm just curious. Thanks!


Cutting sheets of plywood. Crosscutting large panels. Getting a straight edge on rough lumber. You can also use the plunge feature to make cuts in the middle of a sheet such as making a cutout in plywood for a sink.

Hi,
Add the word "accurately" to all of Michael's examples. Also for me a big feature is the dust collection capability. The other day I was breaking down six sheet of melamine in a garage. The track saw made quick work of it. When I emptied my vac I was amazed at how much sawdust came out of that one session. Without the dust collection of the track saw it would have been everywhere. For years I used a skilsaw with a good old sawboard and the track is a big upgrade.
Edwin

[Mike Hollingsworth]

The black splinter guard replacement strips from Makita also work with Festool rails. The 118" one is 1/3 the (rip-off) price that Festool charges.

https://www.toolnut.com/makita-194419-4-118-splinter-guard-replacement-strip.html

and it actually sticks!!

[Rick Potter]

Thanks John,

I knew it was a great deal, but couldn't remember the exact price. I would not be surprised if I can't sell the DeWalt for what I paid.

Mike,

I will give you two examples of my (hobbiest) track saw use. First and foremost, because of age and injuries, there is no way I can lift a sheet of ply onto my TS by myself. I can however, bring home the plywood, and slide it off my pickup one sheet at a time, onto a couple sawhorses and slice it in half with the track saw for storage, or to whatever rough size needed for a project.

In many cases, making simple shelve units, I can actually cut to final width cleanly right there. Actually, when I made white melamine shelving units for our pantry, I cut all the pieces to final width with the track saw. That would be five 8' High cabinets with shelves, plus four smaller ones, all with the track saw. The edges were clean enough to edge band with oak trim.

Second example, of something smaller....I cut three sets of tiny, 5 sided shelves out of solid wood. These were in a special wrap around cabinet. Each set of four shelves was slightly different, with sides that were about 8"X2"X7"X3"X2". Not being an engineer, I made three templates of cardboard, and traced the lines on the wood, trying to keep the grain in the best direction. I then set a scrap of 1/4" ply on my workbench and set the saw to cut deep enough to cut the oak, but not the bench. Then I laid the short rail on the line and cut each of the five sides for each of the 12 shelves individually. Yes, I cut several 2 inch cuts with the track saw.

The shelves then got edge routed in the appropriate places, and fit perfectly. All done with the track saw.

Edit: Bonus example. On the above mentioned wrap around cabinet, one side was cabinets wrapped around the outside of a bayed kitchen counter. To build the top of the counter on the kitchen side had strange angles also. Simple measuring of the long and short sides of the angles allowed me to simply lay the track saw on the measured marks and cut the weird angles correctly the first try.

[Roger Bull]

What is the need for a track saw? What do most of you track saw owners use them for? Cutting plywood sheets down? I'm just curious. Thanks!

Long perfectly straight cuts. I never knew what I was missing until I got mine. I use it all the time now.

[Victor Robinson]

Makita's doing 20 off 100 now...

[Rich Konopka]

I just bought one today on Toolnut for $179 and free shipping. This is a great Deal considering the Festool is $355.

[Patrick Curry]

I have read multiple times that the makita tracks work with Festool...but I own a makita and haven’t tested this. Check the Festool owners group.

[Roger Bull]

My Festool TS 75 works perfectly with Makita tracks. I have both track brands and can even join them when needed.

[Jack Lemley]

Anyone here who has Festool saw and other Festool tracks get the Makita track and can tell me if the saw friction knobs have to be adjusted when you switch between Festool and Makita guide rails?

Thanks
Jack

[Roger Bull]

Anyone here who has Festool saw and other Festool tracks get the Makita track and can tell me if the saw friction knobs have to be adjusted when you switch between Festool and Makita guide rails?

Thanks
Jack

Mine have to be adjusted very slightly between tracks to get the exact same tightness. However that is the same as between my same brand tracks (Festool to Festool and Makita to Makita).

The difference is so minor that I usually don't bother other than testing how it feels before the cut.