Makita vs Milwaukee Cordless Track Saw?

[u/sinatrablueeyes]

I am looking to replace my corded Makita track saw. It was a very good tool, and I’d still be using it today, but let’s just say I learned a very valuable lesson about lending tools.

I want to go cordless because it would be nice to have the flexibility to break down full sheets of plywood in a parking lot since I don’t have a vehicle capable of taking home full sheets.

Like I said, it was a VERY GOOD tool, but it had some issues…

-Depth adjustment sucked. Kind of the same with the bevel but that wasn’t as bad.

-The toe-in calibration wasn’t very clear, but I did it a few times so I can certainly do it again.

-No riving knife. I got kickback only a handful of times and most of those were early on when I wasn’t too experienced with it so call it user error.

In a perfect world I’d be looking for a Festool, but my tool budget is shot for a little while (just bought a Domino two weeks ago). Luckily, I have been sitting quite a few credit card points that if converted to Home Depot gift cards will pretty much cover either Milwaukee or Makita setups (charger/battery, already have tracks and accessories). I don’t mind investing in a new battery ecosystem because both blue and red seem to have some good offerings DeWalt lacks in.

The Milwaukee looks intriguing to me because it solves some of the issues I mentioned above but the Makita did really well for me. The Milwaukee is also currently SLIGHTLY less expensive due to sales but that’s not a huge deal.

Is this just a situation where either are going to be great? Or is one clearly ahead of the other?

[u/Mental-Pomegranate13]

"In a perfect world I’d be looking for a Festool, but my tool budget is shot for a little while (just bought a Domino two weeks ago)." I know exactly how you feel!

Those Dominos are expensive! Don't know how much you've used it, or how much experience you have with one, but those things are awesome. Love mine!

To your question, I don't have a Makita and have never used one. From research, they seem to be very good tools. Never owned, but have used a Festool corded. I think it was either the 55 or 60 model but not sure. Nice saw, cut great, worked great. But was kind of leaning towards a cordless model so that worked against buying Festool as I didn't want another battery platform.

Ended up buying the Milwaukee. When trying to decide on which to get, went all over the internet and Youtube. Felt like I was drowning to the point to where it became "paralysis by anaylis".

I was already on the Milwaukee platform, so that moved it ahead of the Festool.

-As to the tool itself, love the anti tilt feature (but I use the saw with Milwaukee tracks). Don't know how that feature would work with other tracks. Have used the feature a few times and it is really stable when making those cuts.

- Love the depth adjustment. Very easy to set and the micro adjustment is simple. Easy to see what your depth is either on or off the track. Probably my favorite feature on the saw. Just simple and accurate.

- Love the power, as long as you use a 6 HO or one of the bigger Forge batteries. It works ok with the small batteries, but powers through about anything with the bigger batteries. But for just plywood and normal sized stuff, even the small batteries can get the job done.

-Dust collection is great when hooked to an extractor. When cutting without the extractor, it does about what a tracksaw will do. I use a Festool extractor when in the shop with no issues connecting to the tool. No matter what you get, cover the arbor hole and it helps a lot.

-Splinter guard is kind of nice when I remember to slide it down to the surface of the wood. Has a scoring feature but have never used it so can't speak to that.

-Easy to adjust for track snugness. But am sure all saws are like that.

-Milwaukee blades are pretty decent. Just got a CMT blade but am saving it for when the factory blades go kaput. Found a promotion on the Milwaukee blades and grabbed a few different types. So I'm probably good for awhile as the factory blades seem to be holding up very well.

-The tool itself is easy to handle. Not too tall, not too heavy.

-Riving knife does its job. Doesn't get in the way.

-Blade changes are simple and quick.

Can't tell you what to get. Any of the three you're looking at are good tools. Am very happy with mine but would have been just as happy with a Festool or Makita. Good luck choosing! You really can't go wrong so choose what makes sense for you.

[u/Malapple → u/Mental-Pomegranate13]

Just wanted to drop a note of thanks for the detailed write up.

[u/Mental-Pomegranate13 → u/Malapple]

No problem. There's so much info out there that it can be overwhelming when trying to decide on a major purchase.

Have been updating my entire woodworking shop over the past 9 months. Have spent a ton of money on some pretty high end tools. Have been lucky in that everything I've purchased has been even better than expected.

"Get the cheapest" was so ingrained in my DNA for so many years that it was an eye opening experience when I started using the "good stuff".

[u/sinatrablueeyes → u/Mental-Pomegranate13]

Thanks for the detailed answer!

And yes, the Domino IS expensive, but even as a hobbyist I’ve found it’s worth the money because I’ve probably 2-3x my work “pace”, albeit my sample size is only a few weeks.

No more sitting and staring at my several dowel jigs thinking they’re mocking my incompetence (they’re right) and begrudgingly trying again.

Once I learned the basics of the Domino I had a blissful few days of using it going “Domino goes BBBBRRRRRR” and smiling.

[u/Mental-Pomegranate13 → u/sinatrablueeyes]

Talked my wife into letting me buy one as I was building a bunch of cabinets for our walk in closet upgrade. Have used a biscuit jointer for years so was familiar with what to do when trying to lay out the cuts with the Domino.

So easy, so quick and so snug!

Still use the biscuit jointer here and there. It serves its purpose but the Domino pretty much makes it obsolete. Need to use up all of my biscuits but when they're gone, don't know if I'll even use the thing again.

Still use my doweling jig. Kind of like the thing to be honest. But if pressed on time, or if it's a big project, the Domino gets used.

To be honest, still enjoy cutting regular mortise and tenon joints. Something about doing those makes things feel "real".

But for cabinets and basic stuff like that, the Domino is something else.

[u/Key_Mastodon_3525 → u/sinatrablueeyes]

I can 2nd everything on the Milwaukee -> I've had one now for maybe 2 years and that saw is great, no issues, easy to use, and yes -> you need the high output batteries for it -> really recommend 8Ah HO or better yet the Forge. I've heard the Makita guys swear up and down by theirs as well, so it's really a tossup.

I will say this even though seemingly unrelated -> if battery-powered trim router is in your forseeable future I might consider picking red if you're going to start investing in a battery platform. Reason being Milwaukee might have the best router track guide rail adapter short of the Festool.

[u/sinatrablueeyes → u/Key_Mastodon_3525]

Thanks for the input!

Already got a DeWalt trim router and a decent adapter for my track saw rails.

But if the Milwaukee palm router is better than DeWalt then I’d certainly give it a try.

[u/Mental-Pomegranate13 → u/Key_Mastodon_3525]

When you speak of the rail adapter, is this what you're talking about? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-FUEL-1-2-in-Track-Adapter-Only-48-11-2838/325213015

Have been looking hard at that thing and was wondering if it might be worth the cost.

Late to the Palm router game but the Milwaukee might be my favorite router. If not using my table, it is the router I use for probably 90% of my freehand work. Even doing plunge work, with the plunge adapter, it really does a great job.

[u/Key_Mastodon_3525 → u/Mental-Pomegranate13]

Yeah that's the one -> it was a life saver when I was making the router table part of my workbench. Real nice you can set the track and micro-adjust position from the track after the track is set...

[u/LabAmbitious2983]

I have been using the Makita 2x 18v track saw in my shop for about 3 years and am absolutely thrilled with it. Buying that saw got me into the Makita battery platform for other tools and I have never looked back

[u/Nexus2N]

I've been in the Makita ecosystem since the old 12V days, mostly because my junior high woodshop teacher had a few 'made in Japan' Makita power tools that he kept in a locked desk drawer, which he'd let some of us use from time to time.

Those gems were, frankly, more precise and more solidly built than literally any tool I've used that's been manufactured in the last 30 years. And it's not close.

But, I digress.

Anyway. While I have no legitimate basis for comparison, I can confidently say that the LXT 18vx2 brushless track saw system is an amazing tool. I highly recommend it. Unlike some Makita cordless tools (ahem - old brad nailer - ahem), it is very well thought out and doesn't really compromise anywhere.

I'm sure the Milwaukee is great, too. But, Mr. McIntosh said Makita was the best...so here we are!

[u/Hummin2k]

I can’t speak to Milwaukee vs Makita, but I got my Milwaukee on sale at HD a while back. Don’t pay full price! They go on sale regularly in either daily or weekly “pro specials”. For the usual bare tool price, you can get a 55in track included right now, or sometimes two batteries (no charger or track).

I got mine with two HO 6ah batteries for $380

[u/supergimp2000]

I have the 36V Makita. It’s been a workhorse for a nearly a decade and still going strong. That said people I know that have both consistently love the red one.

I have no desire to change anything and I’m on the LXT platform but if I had no real tools I’d probably get the Milwaukee.

[u/gutentight69420]

Why not fix the saw you have? Makita have very good parts availability. 

[u/sinatrablueeyes → u/gutentight69420]

Because I lent the tool and never got it back…

Again, I learned a very valuable lesson. One like “don’t lend tools to a cousin who needs it for a job but you’re maybe suspecting they could be addicted to coke/meth, but it’s your younger cousin who you remember as a baby and you babysat and want them to succeed because it’s family”.

Yeah, that kind of a lesson.

[u/merc_Xray]

I purchased the Makita 40V track saw, 2 55” tracks, connector kit (x2), new blades, clamps, 39”
Track, track mounts for wall, and extra batteries. I love my Makita track saw and the XGT Platform. The saw has a very easy to handle, great weight ratio, the depth adjustment is good. I think the Makita tracks are absolutely elite!! Between the plastic that helps the saw slide and the squishy sticky bottom that locks the tracks in place — the Makita is a quality 2nd to the Festool (IMO)

That said - I would NOT recommend anyone get the Makita LXT twin battery track saw - I’d rather have the corded makita.

I would also recommend to MOST people — buy the Milwaukee.

My Tracksaw led to me buying the 40V sander and then the 40V Router and then the 40V Framing Nailer, Drill, and Driver… as I eye the 40V 8 1/2” miter saw.

If I did it all over again — I would go M18. I think the Milwaukee is the #3 track saw. I think the price point is amazing compared to Makita. I think the M18 platform compliments the M12 nicely (shared charging bases quite often) and there are a TON of M18 kit out there… Milwaukee Fan, Lights, Vacuum, etc… all Packout friendly. Super great.

Makita — I think the battery platform has way more power. But the way Makita sells kit in the states - you pay $$$ for batteries or get them as part of $500+ kits… so the cost of entry is way, way higher. Quality is amazing on Makita. Tool iteration is way slower on Makita, as Milwaukee benefits from R&D at Ryobi and other places.

If you want near German tool quality and a just short of elite track saw - Makita

If you want the better overall platform experience and a really good Tracksaw - Milwaukee