We were talking about potentially outfitting Ben with a Makita plunge-cutting saw, and so I took a look at how much it would cost.
$499 for a starter kit. Okay, not bad. That would be for the Makita 18V X2 brushless track saw, a dual-port charger, (2) 5.0Ah battery packs, and (2) tool boxes to keep it all in.
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But wait, there’s more.
Acme Tools is holding a promo right now, where you can get a free 55″ guide rail track, with purchase of the kit. AND there’s a separate promo where you can get a free extra (2) pack of 5.0Ah battery packs. Both promos expire 2/28/18.
Okay, so it’s $499 for the track saw, 2-port charger, (4) 5.0Ah battery packs, the tool boxes, and a 55″ track?
If you don’t want sawdust jetting out the side, you’ll need to buy a dust bag or pair the saw with a vacuum. But that’s pretty standard.
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This is a fantastic deal, so much so that I’m struggling to find a way to calmly describe it. Quite frankly, I cannot believe they’re pricing this kit bundle so low. I just don’t know how they can do it. They can certainly charge more for it. But $499 for a complete starter package, and then some?
It’s an amazing price. If I didn’t already have a test sample that I was working on for review, I would strongly consider ordering one.
This saw is shaking things up for me. I had my mind made up about what I liked about track saws, and now I don’t know what to think. I have some work ahead of me this month and next, to try to determine how this saw compares with Dewalt’s FlexVolt track saw, not to mention Festool’s options.
Right now, though, this bundle looks to offer the best value for Makita users especially, but it should also be highly appealing to anyone looking for a cordless track saw on any platform. I suppose that’s why it’s so aggressively priced. A tool like this would probably lure me over to Makita’s 18V platform.
7 years ago, I bought my Festool track saw for $525. The newest version is currently $660 via Amazon. While corded tools conveniently plug into portable dust collectors to activate their auto-on/off functionality, I don’t know what choice I would make today. I suppose that will have to be a discussion for another day.
Price: $499
Buy Now(via Acme Tool)
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Amazon’s bundle price is a bit higher – currently $563.
Lastly, I wanted to add that Makita’s 55″ guide rail track ships in an extremely sturdy multi-layered box. I was pleased to find it perfectly damage-free.
The promo items should be added to your cart and discounted automatically.
Julian
Every tool website has had this deal live since November. In fact, many sites offered it up at $475-489. It is a great deal to be sure.
Makita has been offering pretty much all of their x2 36v tools with an extra two pack of 5.0 batteries thrown in for free.
I bought into the blower, rear handle saw and 10” mitersaw with that promotion.
Jt
Stuart
I remember the free X2 battery promo from the holiday season.
But the batteries and the guide rail and the pricing on this kit dropped my jaw when I first looked at it with potential purchasing intent.
Lack
What Julian said.
Here’s a SD thread back from Nov.
https://slickdeals.net/f/10707100-makita-18v-lxt-li-ion-brushless-hammer-drill-impact-driver-kit-399-more-free-s-h
There was a bunch of tool deal with the extra batterias or other crap thrown in. The blower deal was also mentioned here on TG.
bj
Julian, the deal you are referring to since November is the extra two pack of 5.0 batteries promotion… the deal at ACME includes this promotion plus an additional pack of 5.0 batteries for a total of 4 FREE batteries. Including the base kit, that a total of 6 batteries.
I purchased the HD version but I didn’t open it yet because I’m debating whether to return it and wait for the AWS version; however, I would be all over this ACME deal if they would ship to Hawaii. Bummers. I wonder if HD would match 🙂
Stuart
I only see 2 kit batteries plus 2 free batteries, for 4 total.
bj
Oh shoot, you guys are both right. Sorry. I was confused with the way the items were listed, and was also jaded by a thread in slickdeals that Tyler Tool was offering – I thought and assumed that ACME was stepping up to match the Tyler Tool promotion which may have been an error. The thread starter here claims to have gotten 4 free batteries for a total of 6 batteries including the kit and guide rail: https://slickdeals.net/f/11248279-makita-track-saw-with-6-batteries-and-guide-rail-499?page=2#commentsBox
Again, I apologize for the confusion.
JMG
Looks like they extended the promo by a month… I believe it originally was set to expire on 18 Jan.. I bought one of these kits a couple of weeks ago, and it really is a great value compared to the other offerings out there. Also, the rail packaging is much improved over what it used to be…
Now, if only it had the AWS option…
Todd
I got this same kit and “deal” from HD during their Christmas/New Years bonanza or whatever its called. I suspect companies are still blowing these kits out as Makita decided to release this saw, then announce they are releasing the same saw with Bluetooth connectivity within a year. Part of me (the part that loves new and techy things) was slightly irritated that they did this, but I will never buy a cordless dust extractor so it doesn’t really matter to me personally. If you want full cordless, I would wait for the AWS saw if manually turning the extractor on and off is a major PITA (it is).
What I did to trigger the vacuum, was buy a remote control outlet switch (marketed for christmas lights, but its just a remote switch) and velcro’d it to the top handle of track saw or Milwaukee cordless miter saw depending on which I was using. Works great and was about $15.
The Makita x2 track saw is great. NOT having a cord on a track saw is a huge deal if you are using it out in the field, I have yet the have the power cord snag on anything. I have the corded Makita track saw as well, and the cordless has more power. If you are looking into this saw and don’t have a bunch of Makita 4.0-5.0 batteries you definitely will want this kit as this thing really drains batteries quick (gets a LOT of work done, its not that the saw is not efficient)
Another huge selling point that I am surprised Makita doesn’t market, is you can take the blade washers off a standard 6.5″ Makita cordless circular saw, put them on this saw, and use $15 6.5″ 5/8 arbor saw blades. I have not tried this yet, but read it on another forum from a reputable poster. I’m going to try it today and will update as to whether it works or not.
mikedt
This would be nice for breaking down 4×8 sheets of plywood in the homedepot parking lot so that they could be loaded into an CUV.
Todd
Absolutely, this is one of primary reasons I like this saw so much. With a dust bag attached it doesn’t leave a huge mess behind, either. Be courteous and bring a broom and dustpan and you’re g2g.
Gordon
I haven’t been to a HD that won’t do that for you.
Stuart
Yes, but sometimes you have to wait a while, and most of the time their saw creates a ton of tearout.
JupiterJesus
Yep. I’ve been looking at this saw ever since I last went to HD and had to wait 1.5 hours to get my ply cut down. They ended up taking 50% off my ply, and the cut accurate and had no tearout, but I’d pay $500 for this saw to avoid having to deal with that again. Track saws are great for woodworking, too.
Also, the only option at the local hardwood dealer is to cut it out in the parking lot, so I can’t buy the “good” ply until I get a cordless saw of some kind.
ktash
Tearout, and not very accurate even when you draw a cutline.
Paul K
A cutline would probably make them even less accurate, they’d just go through the center of the line.
I have acquired a ton of 4×8 mdf at HD and brought it home in my Honda Civic. Accuracy depends on the knowledge of the person you find to cut the wood, if you’re a real perfectionist you could get all up the dude’s business and explain blade width and measuring and all that. But mostly, I just need the 4×8 sheet to fit in my car, so if I need 13″ strips, I tell them to cut to 13.5 or 14 and then true it up when I get home. If you need super accurate cuts, always best to do it in the peace and quiet of your own garage…anything I’d do in a HD parking lot would likely be about as precise as the random HD EE and their bandsaw.
Andrew Q
I’ve never used a track saw. How different is it than using a home-made guide from plywood with a circ-saw?
Todd
It is essentially the same for just ripping material, but being a “plunge saw” it allows you to make stopped cuts much safer. Another benefit, and perhaps the most important to a lot of people, is the blade is completely shrouded so when paired with a vacuum or dust extractor there is very, very little dust that escapes. When you use a solid backing material such as foam insulation sheets or a lightweight MDF you can capture almost all dust.
Stuart
It’s quicker, easier, and most plunge-cutting saws have features to help reduce tearout.
As Todd mentioned, it’s also easier for making plunge cuts in the middle of a board.
Paul K
What feature is there to reduce tearout in a “plunge-cutting” saw? Saw just spins the blade, yes? Can’t spin it in a special way to reduce tearout when entering the middle of a board. Some blades might reduce tearout, but I find it hard to believe any saw could.
Rrich1
The benefit of a track saw is the track itself. They have a zero clearance piece that you cut on your very first cut with the saw.thibk of it like putting painters tape down on your miter or rip cut of plywood. It greatly reduced tear out with the tape vs. not. Home made tracks tend to bend and not lay flat like a track does. Laying flat helps with tear out.
Todd
The sacrificial strip on the guide rail sits exactly on the keep-side of whatever you are cutting pretty much eliminating tear out on the side you are using. Another feature most, if not all – but I am not positive, track saws have is a scoring-cut function that stops the blade at about 1/16″ depth when on the rail which greatly reduces tear out on the piece of material the rail is not on top of.
I think the underlying question is “what can a track saw do that a diy rail can’t?” When simply breaking sheet goods down with 90 deg. cuts they both do more or less the same thing. I forgot to mention, and another major benefit of track saws, is when mitering one or more sides, is the saw cuts exactly where the splinter guard is no matter what angle the saw is set at. I find the track saw makes cleaner more consistent mitered edges than I can on my jobsite table saw even with an outfeed table.
Ryan
Yeah, this is nothing new. I picked up this exact kit months ago at HD. Killer deal, no doubt, but this post should’ve come out in November!
Ryan
Yeah, this is nothing new. I picked up this exact kit months ago at HD. Killer deal, no doubt, but this post should’ve come out in November! Better late than never though.
Renato
The AWS version is now available XPS02ZU as is the ten inch miter saw XSL04ZU.
The AWS vac is XCV08Z Acme Tools has it for $459.00
Nathan
so I have to ask though – how much is extra makita track. I’d want another 55 inch or so stick to make this work for all my needs. (basically I want to be able to make an atleast 108 inch cut when I need to).
I find it’s getting that extra track that costs the small fortune. It is a good deal though.
fred
The Makita guide rails seem to be less than half the price of their Festool cousins.
I see 194367-7 (118 inch) rail selling for $200 compared to my FS 2700 (106 inch) Festool that sells for$340 and the FS 3000 (118 inch) that sells for $366
Julian Tracy
FYI, just made the rounds of toolsites, looks like pretty much everyone is at $499, but Toolnut will additional take $50 off other Makita tools when purchased with the saw combo.
Did that deal to get the multi-base mini router kit at $183 instead of $233.
Already own the 2-base kit in cordless, but did this deal to get the other bases and guides as well as the case. Will sell off the basic router plus 2-bases.
Also FYI – the Makita rail case is VERY nice. Much better than the Festool case I had previously. Only $44 or so to boot.
Looks like they sell a case for the 118″ rail, but it’s only available in Canada. Sucks, because it’s only about $65-75.
JT
pete
Lets talk about the real news-
Ryobi’s new 3 gallon vac, drywall gun, bolt cutters, project light, work light, and of course their pool stuff.
pete
and their 18×2 chainsaw.
pete
and now they claim to have the LARGEST 18v line in the WORLD.
Bolt
Where have you seen an 18×2 chainsaw? All I’ve seen is the new 12 inch single 18v one.
Pete
Its in their outdoor section of the website.
Pete
Never mind i must have read that as 2 18v chainsaw instead of 12” 18v chainsaw.
Stuart
Bolt cutter?
Bolt
It’s in their new catalog https://www.ryobitools.com/offerings/powertools?p-1
fred
I think that if I were to buy today, this might be the saw. I find that I use my TS55REQ mostly to break down and trim sheet goods. IMO its not powerful enough for trimming things like oak doors on a regular basis (I tried and it was really slow going). So my take is that the TS55 might well be replaced by a cordless – gaining the added convenience. Then if you use the saw for more than sheet goods – you might but a Festool 75 or maybe a Mafell.
I wonder how well Makita tracks connect together and align. The Festool connector system is a sorry excuse – very finicky and for what it costs I think that they should be ashamed. Having a big project at one of the kid’s houses – I ended up buying an obscenely expensive FS 2700 (2700mm = 106 inch) rail – having given up on connecting 2 55’s (FS 1400) together and keeping them in alignment.
Bolt
I’ve heard good things about the Mikita connectors.
Also the saw is supposed to be comparable with the Festool tracks.
Scar
Yeah, I bought this saw about 6 weeks before Makita put this promo out. I was sick when I saw the free batteries and track deal. It was just a couple weeks past the return date for Acme Tools, and I tried to reason with them, but no luck.
bj
One last comment. Why is Makita giving these 5.0 batteries away like water? I’m kind of torn on whether this is a good or bad thing. On one hand, I feel like they are devaluing the batteries, and on the other hand, it’s great for us (the end consumers).
Also, I haven’t used the 5.0 or 6.0s yet, but I question the longevity and charge cycles of these higher capacity batteries. As they say, the flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long. I’m a weekend DIYer, and I have some 3.0 batteries that are 9 years old and they still charge for my lights and radio.
Julian
FYI, regarding track compatibility, the festool saw works on the Makita tracks without issue.
The 118” track is all over the price rainbow online, but I picked one up from Toolnut for about $175 shipped.
Bolt
You’d think the budget track saws would make theirs comparable with the nice tracks but nope. They’d probably sell a decent amount if you could use the grizzly without having to worry about being stuck with a lower quality tracks
TZi
I had an order placed at ACME back in September for the exact same price with the 4 batteries and track. So it has been this price for a while.
On a side note, ACME shipped each piece (the saw kit, free batteries, and free track) separately, with different ship dates. I think it took like 3 weeks till I actually got everything.
MFD
If I were Makita, and my goal was to increase market share and adoption, I wouldn’t let batteries be the deal breaker. If I were personally in the market, I’d buy this and jump all in this line.
Julian
Previous poster is right though about the effect on the 5.0 batteries prices. After buying into four of those deals, I’m sitting on 3-4 two packs of 5.0 batts I don’t need and they’re moving slow on CL at $125-130 per 2-pack. Whereas before this promotion, they would easily sell for $75-80 a pop.
Between offing the batteries even at $50 each, and offing the dual charger at $55-70 each, these x2 deals can easily result in bare tool pricing of under $75…
My Fortress Construction, LLC
I mentioned this to you guys in December, to see your take on this verse DeWalt. In the end I bought the DeWalt because I already have their line of tools and because the Makita track was ridiculously expensive. So the DeWalt with case, charger and 6 ah, plus a free 9ah battery was $499 (no tax), then I purchased the 59″ track and clamps, plus a box of finishing nails for $76.01 (no tax) and the 102″ track for $113.60 (incl. Tax). So, for the saw, two batteries, short track, long track and clamps. It was $688.61. Makita’s long track at the time was $250 at the cheapest place I could find. Now it’s dropped down but then it wasn’t available anywhere cheap, not even eBay. So, yes the Makita is a good deal, but I’m glad I bought the DeWalt. So, think about the add-on accessories because you’ll need the long track too.
fred
Actually its nice to have a track that is 108 inches or longer to cover the hypotenuse of a 4 x 8 sheet.
With the Festool – that would be the 3000mm (118 inch) track.
I also find that the 1900mm (75 inch) guide rail works better than the standard 1400mm (55 inch) rail when using their parallel guide.
Stuart
Sorry, I still haven’t compared the two, but that is something that I plan to do soon.
I don’t think you could go wrong with either, though.
GSinMT
I’m thoroughly invested in Makita batteries, and had considered this saw, but I’m sticking with the Festool TS75 for depth of cut.
Someday…
Chip
FYI this deal lasts till 4/28 @H.D
Chip
Also at H.D wormdrive and 4 batteries for $349
Tool Stalker
The newer bluetooth version of this saw (with AWS) is also available. Decent deal on that at cpooutlets currently, but the original post here is arguably the better deal with the extra two batteries and 55″ track saw.
John S
Any chance this deal will come back around? Sorry to have missed it!
Mike S
AcmeTools – is still running this basic promo, but without the track included.
Is this saw really that much better than say, getting the XSH03Z and Track Adapter?
Saw
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-18-Volt-LXT-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Cordless-6-1-2-in-Circular-Saw-with-Electric-Brake-and-24T-Carbide-Blade-Tool-Only-XSH03Z/205875583
Track Adapter
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-Guide-Rail-Adapter-for-XSH03-196953-0/303351460
and finding the dust attachment on eBay for under $20?
Are the 4x batteries included with the plunge saw, worth the deal?
And, if I was really hoping to keep my costs down, and spend more money on track than battery – would the XSH03 w/ adapter be a better way to go – it saves $100, and it only requires one battery to run, instead of 2…