do you really need to break the budget?
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- čas přidán 17. 08. 2023
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you should show what blade you used. without it, the test is hopeless
@@cocowhite5017 I showed every blade and also linked them in description
@@cocowhite5017you’re hopeless. He was very clear. Also, do your own effin research if you want to know specific things.
@@wittworks
Don’t mean to be “that guy” but if you’ve got one of the crappy track saws taking up space in your garage I’ll pay shipping for it 😂
Just moved out of an apartment and ready to start collecting tools. I’ve meddled with wood projects but desire to get more into it.
I got the WEN cause I'm on a budget. It's been an amazing addition to my shop for mostly plywood. I'd never want to go through 2" maple unless I made multiple passes.
Thank you! I think most track saws are fine on plywood
Yeah, I'm with him. If I were making 150k a year, I might consider the difference worth the price, but I'm not. So I'll go with the Wen and make two passes. 😀
The Wen cuts just fine in 3/4” plywood. I got an oshlun 42 tooth blade and it cuts super clean edges
@@nickbrutanna9973tbh I have an upper level track saw and I think you are missing out. I do a lot of heavy cuts and I wouldn’t like a low power saw. Woodworking should be enjoyable
My TS75 can't even go through 2 inches without really bogging down
Ridgid does the free shipping. And it's a lifetime warranty. Festool is for people people who have been building custom cabinets for 15 years and do high end trim carpentry. Wen is for hobbyists or pros who won't use it that often. Makita, Dewalt, Ridgid is for people who do this for a living and the extra $300 is worth having one battery platform
I have the WEN. It's fine. Step 1, take the stock blade, and throw it away. Step 2 get another thin kerf rip blade. That alone helped a ton. Also, DON'T PLUNGE! If you do, I noticed the saw will just grab and drop QUICK. What I do is come out from the outside in, and make sure your stop clears the back edge of the track. Some other things are using a machinist square on the shoe to the blade and then on the blade to the track and the material. A little bit of setup will allow for repeatable cuts. It's 100$ + some track, which I think I was at 160$. I've ripped 8/4 walnut with no issues, cross cuts. The only thing I WOULD NOT DO is any chamfer, or 45s because it's flimsy.
For the money, Wen is worth it. I use mine weekly and it's been great. A daily driver? Well, if you use it daily, and are making money then I suggest ponying up for a better saw because time is money at that point and you'll make it back.
For sure
I have the first version of the Wen that uses a 160mm blade. I put a Diablo thin kerf rip blade on it, set it at 45 degrees, and ripped 200' of pine down to make some faux beams. I was surprised by how consistent the cuts were as I fully expected to bring the material back to my shop and use the table saw. In the end, they glued up into some nice beams for a client. Pine is not much of a test for any saw, but at 45 degrees, it does increase the difficulty factor.
"Don't Plunge" Very big limitation on a track saw. I cut out the subfloor around some toilets by plunging the track saw. I used my Festool.
@@SynergyAVE 45? I feel like that saw just flexes and not in a good way lol. Seriously though, if you get your stance right, even pressure, I have to kind of go on side and pull it a bit and be consistent it's fine. If you know what you have and how to work it, then you win, and you did. Go WEN!
@@russellseaton2014 The Wen will just straight pull down and stop. Festool, I'd expect it to do that well since it's so pricey.
Hard to evaluate when you didn’t use same/comparable blades on both saws.
Quick proposal; since you have become the mecca of applied wooodoworking testing , and have a million track saws there one addition test that would be cheap (I assume). If you remove the outer housing of the saw and attack a piece of tape and measure the revs per minute with one of those laser guns, it would depict loss of blade speed in all these saws. I wish I was an engineer or project farm so I could give you the name of the gun… sorry. Maybe a follow up video idea. I see project farm do it every Sunday.
That’s a great idea. I’ve thought about reaching out to the torque test channel. They have a machine they made to hook up to the arbor and test the true power and limits
@@wittworks I love that channel for its tests, I am almost certain that the laser is for engine timing/retarding the ignition. An engineer of any kind would know or have one (“torque” from that channel is a mechanical engineer if I’m not mistaken)
I own the 7 1/4 wen track saw and have made a thousand cuts with it . The depth gauge sucks the power is lacking but it's got me through 2 in slabs of walnut, hickory, and white oak. It's worth every penny.
Another informative, fun, logical, calm (no screaming at the camera-thank you) video. I built my own guide coupled with my 6-1/2" saw and only use it to break down sheet goods. It works fine for that. However, I am toying with a track/saw combination. How is the rust repair coming along? I live near La Grange, Texas and feel your pain with the heat. My shop does not have A/C and I am done around noon. My pool water is 95 degrees !! Haha. Thanks.
Perhaps the most interesting thing is that as soon as you go to a slightly higher price you get a saw that is probably at least 95% as good as the Festool option, but for far less money.
A slightly higher price on what saw?
@@GeekRedux The Makita when it's on sale is what they're referring to. its like 350ish when on a good sale and almost as good as the Festool
I believe this is the most informative and helpful track saw video I have seen.
That’s very kind. Thank you
I have the corded WEN and it works really well for what I use it for, ripping sheet goods. I couldn't see spending 3 or 4 times as much when the WEN does exactly what I need it to do. Great comparison video Drew. Really well done. 👊🏻
Agreed. Thank you. And if you need to rip something heavy, there’s a $19 blade for that!
@@wittworks I took note of that and will likely order one.
Well Done! I really apprecciate the thoughts and work (and of course the money) you invested, to compare all these saws in a fair competition without producing a useless, oversized bunch of data. I also like the conclusion with 3 different categories. Thank you!👍
Thanks! I was kinda worried people would want way more data. 2” maple is good enough for me 🤪
I have the Wen CT1272 and I got it for the reason you said... The track is the standard track that will allow me to upgrade in the future. I actually had to do a warranty claim on it, and Wen sent me the newer CT1274 and that fixes the kickback cam annoyance that so many people talk about. I haven't had the chance to put the new one through it's paces yet, but I'm glad they fixed that annoyance. I didn't even think of swapping out the blade for the thin kerf CMT blade. I will be doing that. Oh, and your dust cover for the CT1272... fits perfectly on the CT1274, so you may want to update your listing
Good to know! Thank you. 🙏 I hate that kickback cam…
Very useful review! Thank you! I'm sure I will use your input to guide my upcoming purchase. I particularly appreciate that you tested so many brands and models.
Thank you 🙏 that’s the goal
Glad to see you back in action! Sorry to hear about the water issues.
Thanks! Limping along…
I own the corded WEN track saw and have been using it a couple of years , i mainly use it to break down Sheet goods and it has been great in that regard , for accurate ripping of thick hard woods i always use my table saw , though when i comes time to upgrade if i start doing slab tables i will go to a Makita
Thank you for the comprehensive overview and willingness to go from cheap to the top of the pile without skipping the middleman. I suspect you’ll get some Festool hate mail, but many fail to recognize the R&D and no-nonsense warranty.
Great comparison video, I can’t believe Wen has that cordless option for so cheap I am truly impressed by that.
Thank you
I'm a serious but occasional hobbyist. I got the chorded wen with the powertec guide and a Freud LU79R007: 7-1/4" Thin Kerf Ultimate Plywood & Melamine Blade. I use it to break down plywood a few times a month at most and I don't make a penny on my work. The whole solution totaled out around $225 out the door. It's an easy, affordable, option that makes that task accurate, dependable and very enjoyable.
If I were a pro, I would definitely go with the festool.
MOST IMPORTANTLY... I ordered the orange insert from Wittworks. It came quickly, fit perfectly, and the brand color was good. Also, it did improve on the already good dust collection while using a shop vac. WELL DONE Witworks!
I stumbled on a screaming deal for a Makita 18x2V track saw, with charger and two batteries the case, charger, 55” & 34” with bag, for $450 free shipping and they gave you extra two free 6ah batteries.
For someone who already had a Makita drill driver and impact (the impact is amazing, I have yet to find a handheld drill that doesn’t annoy me) it was a no brainer.
If not for that, I’d go Wen no question. I have their wet dry sharpener and a bench top drill press. From my experience and what I’ve heard from people with larger machines of theirs, as long as you’re willing to put anywhere from 2-30 hours of work into getting their tools dialed in? They’re totally cromulent.
If you have an extra two Sundays but not an extra $600, I’d imagine the Wen is the best overall choice. But buy a good rip blade if you’re going to be cutting 2” maple slabs .
That was a very well done video and contained the info that I was looking for help make my decision on what to buy. Thank you.
Wear some eye pro when using any saw brother. You can get by if you lose a finger, but God only gives you 2 eyes...so protect them!
True. Thank you.
Excellent and fair comparison. As a casual woodworker who does not use a track saw on a frequent basis, I bought the Wen corded saw 2 years ago. I discovered, as you did, that the 2.2 blade just didn’t have good cut quality. I changed to Wen’s 1.5mm kerf blade and get really nice cuts. I also bought the Powertec rails rather than the Wen. For my use, this is a good saw. If I ever need more saw, I can upgrade to the Makita and all my accessories will work with it.
100% agree. Obviously. 🤪
How is it fair. He mostly showed the difference between stock blades, not between the saws. Change the blades and then you can have a fair comparison.
yeah put a freud on that wen and itll cut like butter
@@mattjahn1741
He cannot - he's CMT-boy sort of 😉
In regards to the 75 I backed it up a couple times. Besides that clip it looks like you were farther on the wood and when you were plunging the Irving knife had nothing to go into. I have the Wen and for what I do I love it
I got the WEN cordless track saw and i really like it. I picked up the Makita's 197213-3 Interlocking Case X-Large to hold the saw and the batteries and that's worked out very well. Another great video!!
Cool! Thank you
Great job on the testing! Super thorough and practical. Great job on the testing! Super thorough and practical.
Such a lot of work and money invested to make this vid. Super useful and everytime I was about to be curious about something, you addressed it! Great job mate.
Great vid and thanks for circling back to take a fresh look at this, Drew. I own all three versions of the WEN and was surprised to see how much more I like the cordless version. For me, from 1-3 would be 1.) the 6.5" cordless, 2.) the 6.5" corded, 3.) the 7 1/4" corded. Nice work. Scott
That’s great! I was surprised too by the cordless. Much better.
What about the original 160mm?
Nice work. I got the Makita Cordless a couple of years ago because Milwaukee was taking too long and I wont pay for Festool. I was well into team red after team teal. I dont mind having two platforms because i can always find a well rated tool in either or both. I have small hands and used Dewalt when i was in the trades, but they didnt really fit me.
I went with the Makita., happy with it so far. I actually like Makita, used there tools in woodshop in the 80s and 90s, so I will be migrating from Milwaukee and the dredded Rigid stuff to Makita as I buy/replace tools.
I haven't used it yet but I picked up the wen track saw a few months ago because I was so impressed with the few other wen items I purchased. This makes me feel a little better about that purchase until I can upgrade.
Really good, balanced, comprehensive review of stuff that's important to me. Thanks--I appreciate what you do on the channel.
Whew what an amazing video! I was just about to comment asking for a middle of the road option as I thought the video was basically done around the 17 minute mark but you delivered in the last minute of the video! - BTW your comments on picking a saw that uses a standard track re-enforced my reservations on the new Ridgid saw that I was looking at - since it doesn't use a standard track.
Hahah. Thank you. I don’t get why brands feel like they need to reinvent the track…for the price of that ridgid, it would be cheaper to get a makita, and there are millions of those out in the wild and have a good reputation.
Amazing humor, amazing tests and comparisons. Hope you get the shop restored soon.
I own the Wen track saw and it's great for what I use it for, ripping and cross cutting 4x8 sheet goods to make them more manageable. If I need to rip 2" thick stock that's what the table saw is used for.
Great run down of all (most) of the options. Thank you!
Thank you
Corded Makita all the way. Bought it right after you did for around the same price. Plus I have two tracks with the connector so I can rip a full sheet of plywood down the middle. I don't use it often, but when I need it, it's a huge time saver which would deter me from the Wen. If it is a frustrating tool to use then I'd rather spend a little more or stick with a decent circular saw and a straight edge until I could upgrade.
Totally
Nice comparison! I have the Wen, and it's perfect for my garage shop since for my workflow, a track saw is a two trick pony: breaking down sheet goods and sizing panel glue ups. I switched immediately to the thin kerf blade and can't say anything bad about the setup. It might be a bit slower than other saws, but the cut quality is there and the 7x price difference would be hard to justify for a tool with two uses (for me). One note, Wen has an updated 2x55" track much better suited to full sheets of ply. I never tried the v1 50" track, but the 55" track might have improved the rubber backing to slip less, and I prefer how the Wen tracks hook together with the screws biting into steel rather than soft aluminium. Thanks again for the vid!
I didn’t know about the new tracks! I’ll check it out. Never understood the 50”….
@@wittworks Perhaps 50" makes sense with metric dimension plywood in Asia? 1.25 meters on a side is just over 49".
I appreciate the Makita track saw test! I have a Makita as my main saw and recently cleaned the blade and still getting some burning occasionally. Looks like I might need to get a new blade for it.
i have a TS 75 yep i've had kick back. i also have an original Shop Fox i replaced the factory blade with a high end blade and it works great.
Nice informative and honest video! I have the Makita 36v cordless tracksaw with the powertec track, and it works good!
Solid combo
I've only used the festool ts-55 (cordless model), but goodness, I love it. I mostly use it to edge boards. It is EXCELLENT at that.... One of the reasons I got a track saw (particuarly a cordless) is because I drive a Tesla Model 3. I can get lots of 8 foot 2x4's, but anything longer than that, or wider than 3 feet is no good. SO, I got it to cut down "oversized" lumber in the parking lot. The cordless WEN might be decent for that (something cheap that doesn't need to do a perfect cut). I 100% agree, starting out, the WEN is probably the one I'd go with. In general, for my first tool, I go with Ryobi (good price, decent quality), and then, once I see that it's a tool I acutally use, later, I upgrade (currently, to festool). It seems that WEN is starting to replace Ryobi is the budget/entry option.
The cut was butter smooth (for Festool) but the segue to the sponsor was butterier! :) I've been meaning to order the wall accessory for my tracksaw accessory so thanks for the reminder!
Hahaha. Thank you. The butter in that food was good too.
Good video, very informative and honest (for u-tube), Yes S.A. gets a bit warm, but it's still home.
CZcamsrs would NEVER lie
I got a Wen last year. My purpose is to cut down 3/4" plywood only and it does the job well. I would never consider cutting 2" maple with the Wen.
I absolutely love my corded Makita! After I got the go ahead from wife, I waited a few days for the saw to go back on sale. So, be patient if you can to get a good price!
That’s great
I have the bigger version that takes 8 1/4 in blades, This put it in line with the TS75. I can can get (and I have bought) diablo rip and cross cut blades.I do have the powertec rails and their clamps as well.
I haven't had a chance to use it yet but I'm pretty certain it will do the job.
I did started with a Wen and It did a good job but it was a lot of work to set angles which I cut frequently. I upgraded to a Kreg and It was a huge difference, well worth the difference in money. I would recommend, if you can swing it up grade to the Kreg which I think is the closest price wise to the Wen.
I just looked through some old footage I have. I ripped a 6' long 1.5" thick piece of Walnut in 1:20 so pretty close to your test. But, the extra time isn't really worth the cost difference for me at this point. I was able to use the saw with two pieces clamped together to get a perfect jointed surface, so the quality of cut is good in my book.
That’s great. I didn’t mention it much but dust collection was the main reason I bought my first track saw
Your timing is as always impeccable. Last time you put up a video about dust extractors as I was researching them, today you post this 30 minutes after I finally broke and hit order on the Makita 36v track saw. I got the powertec rail though, half the price of the Makita rail. Any known issues with them?
Wow! I use the powertec more than makita rail. No issues with me. 36v is a great one!
Just a fantastic video. Thanks so much for your efforts!
Thanks for sharing. Useful information, to see if I can run to a more expensive saw and if it would be worth it. In all honesty it’s worth the cost. Thanks again 👍😁
Yes, I got that kickback back in 2015 when building a deck. I never knew why until now and it was with the TS 75.
Yikes! Well there you go! Did you contribute to the swear jar?
No. It did gouge up my deck. Seven years later I replaced the deck as it had largely rotted out. This was a pergola that was constantly wet down from sprinklers. When I rebuilt it, I took metal flashing and cut it into stris about two inches wide. I put one of these strips over each 2 x 8 floor joist and caulked them down. Then the deck boards went over that. By the way, this is a decorative pergola deck mere inches above the ground and only about 5 x 7 feet. No one actually sits/stands on it.@@wittworks
Great video. Was contemplating the Wen but now I think I’m just going to wait and get a Makita. Sorry to hear about getting flooded, that’s a big bummer.
Hopefully they do a thanksgiving/Christmas sale again. 🙏
The 1st job I did with my wen was a hard maple table top out of 8/4. I used the stock blade. I didn't feel like I had any problems getting through it but I don't have anything else to compare it to.
So many things to consider with a track saw, just wish that makita had a riving knife like some of the others but the trade off is the reliability for the price. Thanks for the in depth info!
Thank you. I wish they had a knife too. Not sure why they don’t. But, I cut mostly plywood and feel that plywood is stable enough
WOW! You weren't kidding when you said you were doing a huge comparison! The thumbnail made it seem like wen v festool, but WOW. Everybody loves more cowbell ❤😂🎉
I like to under promise and over deliver.
If I’m cutting anything thicker than 3/4 “, I’m using my table saw.. I bought the wen for breaking down sheet material.. and it’s perfect for that task..
Great video! Thank you for the In depth review. Just an FYI though, I have the Masterforce saw and use it on the Festool tracks. The saw works, for my needs but the tracks that came with it are horrible. Sidenote, do you make the arbor cover for the Masterforce saw? I saw you had one on in your video. Again, thank you for the video!!
Festool is something to take into a nice home and work confidently and cleanly on finishings and installations where a mistake can be costly. Opening that expensive kitchen counter for a larger range top or cutting in a new floor vent in that maple floor perhaps.
I don't have a track saw yet, but I'm very happy with all my Wen products (scroll saw, drill press, jointer, planer and rolling stands). The disc/belt sander is on my list and, now the track saw. Thanks for another great video!
Do you work for Wen?
@@joeking433 do you work at all?
@@boejiden1065 Nope. Retired. You?
The Grizzly track saw is literally a rebadged version of the last gen Wen corded track saw. (Wen 36055) There are a lot of Grizzly tools that are made out of the same factory as Wen.
I have the last gen Wen and I got what I paid for. I had the same track slipping issues until I used track clamps. (Grizzly brand since Wen didn't have any at the time.) I have since upgraded to the 36V Makita when it went on sale.
Wow. Thank you for that. Not surprising. It’s total garbage. I was shocked.
I do own a Ts75 its pretty old and I don't think its as powerful as near ones however I have had a few nasty kickbacks but i don't have any injuries. I don't like is how big it is and I rarely ever come anywhere close to the full cut capacity and blades are costly. I did find a metal cutting blade on amazon for it and I used it to cut steel roofing panels thing worked like an absolute champ.
Excellent video and very informative for both new and existing tracksaw users, well done. 🙂
My saw is the festool TS 55 FEQ (the corded one that came out march of 2022 that uses the thin kerf blades); I've used it a bunch and love it. The right blade makes a huge difference. I mostly use the 28 tooth blade, but if I were ripping a lot of thick hardwoods, I'd get the 12 tooth panther blade.
It's served me well, so I don't see the need to upgrade to the TS 60. Looks like a fine saw though, and probably the one I'd go for if shopping today. Or the M18, but only because I'm already in the milwaukee ecosystem.
Thank you. I haven’t tried your saw yet. I’ve heard that thin kerf is a game changer over the previous model.
@@wittworks The thin kerf blades are really the only difference between the 55 FEQ and the older 55 REQ. It does make a huge difference though. As does using the right blade for the task at hand.
Definitely have had the same kickback on my TS75 and it is indeed frightening enough to question one's life choices.
Glad I’m not alone. I’m not afraid to admit that I’m scared of that saw. It’s a beast.
My first track saw was the Makita and I love it I have got the Milwaukee now after watching your review on it so thanks but I do love the Makita more than the Milwaukee.It’s just a great saw.
Thank you. It’s a work horse for sure.
1. This video is underrated
2. The title of this video deserves to be changed because current title way too much understates the value of of this content for DIY homeowners
This is not the primary video to watch when trying to decide which track saw to buy but it still is absolutely essential among others.
And what video is essential to watch?
@@wittworks there are many. When I was deciding what track saw to buy the following was important to me:
1. the design of the track. How compatible it is with different brands, and is it the "universal" type of strictly locked into one brand.
2. Does the track saw has enough power. For example, the other Wen track saw model should be avoided.
3. Can I manage with a corded one or do I need to sell my kidney and buy a cordless one because otherwise everyone will laugh at me.
4. How good are the tolerance. Will the saw actually going to be able to make a straight cut?
5. Noise, chip extraction, build quality, durability, adjustments.
You didn't cover all of it in this video, but there was no need to do it because you managed to answer most of the other outstanding questions on this subject that I had. So, thank you once again!
Got lucky and snagged a corded Makita from Amazon Warehouse for $260, couldn't press the buy button hard enough. I really do wish one of the higher end brands would make a left blade version though, that'll nag me forever but hard to justify spending $40 more on a Kreg as much as I'd love to have that feature.
Wow that is deal of a lifetime. The kreg is so much worse. Makita all the way. I do wish it faced the other way tho.
Great video! Thank you for making this comparison! What are your thoughts on the new Ridgid and do you think you'll be testing it when its out?
I’ll buy it when it’s available
Greeting from Del Rio, I agree with you on the Festool, it does seem to be supreme, however, I have a WEN and have not had to use it on anything larger than 3/4" Ply. for plywood, I would say it is the best bang for the buck. If I had to continually rip down 8/4...I would bite the bullet and buy the Festtool.
Great video, great humor, well done. You earned a sub.
Thank you. Agreed. For plywood, it’s fine. Also. Why is it soooo hot?!?!
I think it's better to save a little longer and buy a higher quality tool. I always regretted buying cheap with the thought being "I'll buy a better one later." Save another $100 or whatever you need to get a tool you can use for years
I agree with you on the Wen cordless mainly because of the accessories and upgrades you can add. If you're just using it to break down plywood then maybe it's good enough. I prefer the cordless Makita however. I wouldn't buy the Kreg unless your getting the entire system with the table but again it's pretty limited to sheet goods. TSO has some accessories for the Kreg now so that's a plus.
I also agree with you on getting a saw that uses standard Makita/Festool style tracks. I have both tracks and my only small issue is the anti-tipping feature built into the Makita track isn't present on the Festool track. Not a big deal however.
Another awesome and informative video! Thank you!
Thanks bro!
After decades of working wood, I can say with certainty that "you get what you pay for". Buying cheap has cost me a lot of money.
I left a comment when you asked for opinions on how to present this topic. I hoped for a comparison the really showcased the cheap option without specifically pitting it against the obviously superior tool. It wasn’t an option I thought would necessarily be popular, but I feel like this video, whether intentional or not, did just that. Very well balanced and informative.
Thank you. I included the other cheap ones for you I think.
@@wittworks I appreciate it. I think I might make a track for my circular saw and hold out for a good deal on the Makita.
Great vid, “As usual”.
Bents woodworking has a pretty video covering all of Festools saws. I LOVE MY MAKITA TRACK SAW!
Thank you. Jason Bent. Who’s that again? 🤪
Each new track saw i got more and more sucked in. This was AWESOME. This is what i would dream of doing if i was a youtuber, do it ALL
Great job on the testing! Super thorough and practical
Thank you
Blades can make all the difference just like thin vs. full kerf blades on table saws. A quality thin kerf blade can do wonders. As with my table saw, I keep two sets of blades... one for "junk" cuts & general use and the second for high quality cuts (finish cuts).
I went mid-range with a Makita 2x18V (XPS01PTJ). The WEN had too much base plate flex, as demonstrated by so many users, and the Festool is way too expensive & out of my budget. The WEN is still a good saw for many people. I needed accurate cuts to breakdown sheet goods for my table saw, so as to not need to recut the same side... yes, my Makita cuts that good. It cuts like butter through 5/4 oak and 3/4 hardwood plywood, my main uses.
I love all the cow bell! Keep up the great work 👍
So, if I upgrade to the M18 saw, the WEN tracks will be compatible?
Thanks 🙂
Best track saw review I've seen to date. I've been looking to get one as a DIY guy and not going to spend the money for the top of the line no more then I will use it. The Wen and Nikita was the ones I was looking at. I think the Wen would work fine for me but just don't know how it would hold up over time. May just wait to see if I can fine the Nikita on sale. New sub here also. PS: As my dad use to say God rest his soul, that kick back would make your butt pucker> LOL
I’m just starting in woodworking and Wen has been a very approachable brand in getting started. I’m very glad to see you did this.
Then I saw you said your in SA like me-yes it’s HOT!!!! Where have you found is a good place in town to buy hardwood for a non-pro hobbyist? Alamo hardwoods is EXPENSIVE.
We call that place 1800 ALAMO RIP OFF
Go to Roddis Lumber on the east side for plywood. Their cheapest plywood is 5x better than the most expensive at HD or Lowe’s
For hardwoods, go to Dakota. They are the best and cheapest.
Thank you!
Thanks for one of the most detailed reviews I have ever experienced.
Great video and wood humor! Mainstay a Festool, did the Milwaukee fade away? I had Festool and moved to Milwaukee.
Good, quality comparison video. Personally, when looking for my saw it came down to festool or kreg. Not entirely due to the saw itself, but accessories. I wanted the table too. Ended up with a festool and an MFT. I can tell you from personal experience that festool is second to none for customer service. My MFT arrived damaged. The retailer blew me off, so I called festool. They overnighted replacement parts even though it wasn't their fault.
With service like that, I'm happy to drink the green koolaid.
Awesome. Not surprised. That level of service is what you’re paying for.
Great video! have been wanting to investing in a track saw for a while now and was almost sold on the Kreg........Till now!
Thank you. I was really disappointed with the kreg. I forgot to mention it, but I know many that have loose arbors and there’s lots of slop in the body. Very hard to get 90 cuts on plywood. You can get a makita for less at the right sale.
Damn... Was really wanting to see the test results on the Milwaukee but other than that.. 💯 % TOP NOTCH sir! Loved the video & phenomenally great work for sure 👍🏼
Looks like I paid about $380 for my Makita in 2021, for just the saw and case. I've picked up a couple Powertec tracks that seem to work well enough though I do need to replace and re-cut one of the splinter guards that is off by 1mm or so on one end (I mostly only use the track saw for rough cuts, but that angle compound if I'm making a lot of cuts measured against that side of the track). It's a great saw for home use, except until you started showing off these videos and I realized that the other brands include riving knives. My only other complaint is that the depth gauge doesn't account for the track thickness so I always have to remember to add 5mm (or whatever) to the number.
Nice! I wish they had a riving knife, but truthfully, with plywood, I don’t think I ever really need it.
@@wittworks Yeah, and that's mostly what I use it for. Every once in awhile I'll have a slab or rough-cut board that I need to trim an edge off of but any rips after that go through the table saw.
I've been using the battery Makita at work. It's a very cool tool (Tracksaws). I'm personally super interested in festool for its tracksaws. I want the cleanest cuts and want to make great stuff at home! It's entry is hefty though!
Ultimately though I'll probably need to jump in elsewhere because it is rather pricey!
Honestly, my makita with a fresh rubber splinter guard and the right thin blade is as good of a cut as anything
@@wittworksThanks. I'll maybe jump in on that. the tracks have been great. We do cabinets etc, and its been a real gem when you need it there! I suppose a lot of a track saws ability lies in your ability to measure as well... I've got a dewalt battery ecosystem started, and I loath the idea of jumping in again. I want to stick with dewalt batteries and for corded... whatever is best!
Personally like the idea of trying to create higher end furniture.
I've been wondering if the Wen is worth the risk vs buying a name brand other than Festool. Thanks for showing all the saws cut speeds, that really put into perspective that the Wen isn't really worse than average, the Festool is just very powerful. I'm just a DIYer who wants to build my own furniture and do renovations/repairs so Festool will never happen. They make sense for pros but for me it makes as much sense as buying a Ferrari to drive to my 9-5. I might still wait for a Makita on sale but it's good to know the Wen is probably fine too. I'd definitely do corded though, cordless doesn't do much good when you've got a much larger vacuum hose connected anyway, and I'm not willing to gamble on their batteries.
Nothing against Festool but I don't find the arguments about quality compelling. You could say the same about a Ferrari, and you'd be right, but I still can't afford it. And it's made to do things I wouldn't do. Just as a Ferrari belongs on a race track, a Festool belongs in a professional shop. I'm not the target market.
Wen with a good blade and track is fine for what you want to do. Spend the extra on parallel guides to speed up your process and you’ll fly through your cuts instead of spending that on a pros saw.
Love the videos and your approach. Would love to see a Bluetooth headphone comparison by you. I watched the shopnation team up and know your experience would give a great perspective.
Came for the track saws, stayed for the muscle
Hilarious. Sorry to disappoint 🤪
I think an interesting test will be the Milwaukee track saw with their new FORGE batteries they are coming out with. Would be nice to see if there is a significant performance difference between standard, high output and the FORGE
You’re killing my wallet. I will look into those batteries. I must be living under a tracksaw covered rock. Didn’t know about them.
@@wittworks don’t worry they’re not being released until September so you’ve got a little bit of time😂
They don't really increase the power that much it's basically the same output as one of the 12Ah high output battery's buts it's smaller then the 8 Ah high output
@@aaronoconnor606 Amp hour increases performance not just runtime. When they say the new forged battery is smaller than a 6.0, and puts out the power of a 12.0 They are not referring to the run time a 12 amp hour battery is 212 W hours. The forge is 106 W hours so it is a legitimate 6.0 battery. But because it is lithium pouch, cell technology there’s less resistance or chokepoints for the energy to flow. In terms of performance It’s like going from an 18 650 cell to a 21, 700 cell battery. DeWalt and Flex both have pouch Cell, Technology Batteries, and they have both already proven to have increased performance over 18, 650 and 21, 700 Cell batteries.
The Kreg track saw is... fine... when used on its own. It's fine.
The Kreg track saw becomes magical when you pair it with the ACS (in part because of the cut direction and the 62" track).
IMPRESSIVE and bloody comprehensive. You just probably sold a lot more makitas than anything else...
Thank you. Probably! And still they pretend I don’t exist. I’m fine. I’m fine. Not bitter. At ALL.
I have a TS 75 and I can run the test later this month when I get back to my shop.
Curious if you ever performed this test-thanks!
@@joelaw not yet. I started my woodworking channel, and been buried with videos. Hopefully I can clear my backlog this year.
@@joelaw This is the channel I created.
What are your thoughts on the triton track saw? I don't use a track saw very often, but it was on sale at rockler so I grabbed it. Have actually been very pleased with it. I normally only use it cross cut table tops to final length... havent done a ton of ripping with it.
I want more cowbell!!!!! Loved the reference so you got the comment!
I've been using the 60v dewalt, no reason other than that I got it slightly used for $300 including the flexvolt battery and powertec tracks. You do make me wonder if I can find a makita for $300 if It would be an upgrade. I have not found the limits of the dewalt yet. I generally find the 60V tools to outperform all other battery platforms as well as corded in terms of power, but only power....What do I gain switching over to a makita (ok the obvious is the add-ons to standard tracks)
Will the wen take a regular circular saw blade? I feel with a decent blade and with standard usages which is basically anything besides solid maple it would probably perform much better? I'm more so looking for a track. Saw to do finish ply and cut it straight line and that's about it. Where are you guys thoughts and experiences?
To add to thin kerf blades. I tend to stay away from them unless the saw has a lot of power because thin kerf blades deflect and can ruin an important cut
I don't get your testing methodology. That'd be like testing mid-size sedan engines by seeing how well they can pull a dump trailer filled with a yard of gravel. Can it be done? Sure. If that sedan can do it, can it handle anything less? Absolutely. Does that mean if it can't pull a yard of gravel you can conclude it will suck at driving you to the grocery store? Absolutely not. I hope I'm not too harsh here, but I think there aren't any good conclusions that can be garnered from this test.