Wow, do i feel wise! I purchased this Milescraft track saw setup about 2 weeks ago. This is the 1st time I've picked out a cool tool before Stumpy shows it. I'm using a 6-1/2" Makita battery saw and it gives me a cut depth of about 1-3/8". That's plenty for any sheet goods I use, and I love it. No more rough cuts, then making a finish cut on thd table saw. I use a 60 tooth blade and my 1st cut IS the finish cut. Very satisfied!
@@scottyee707 It doesn't seem that a Makita track & adapter can be purchased for the same money as the Milescraft. ..50% more at Amazon. And it looks to me as if the Milescraft saw plate adapter is the clear winner in stability and ease of use...but thanks.
@@Willkiser1 well if you ever wanted to upgrade to a real track saw one day, you'd have the tracks for it unlike with the milescraft but I get it, and neither are great without the plunge function
After watching Izzy Swan review the Wood Owl bits, I bought a 3/4" to drill dog holes in my new bench. I drilled 40 to 50 holes and the last hole was as clean as the first hole. I don't know what geometric wizardry is going on, but it works well. I now have several sizes and they are my go to drill for exposed holes. Thx.
Tip for your viewers from Europe - The German brand KWB (Einhell) has Accu-TOP 3S Japan drills in its range. They are identical to the ones you present, and they are also produced by WoodOwl for KWB. The drills are really phenomenal, and I bought all versions of the diameters. One more piece of advice...since you've featured Fisch forstner drills a few times already. Fisch also makes their forged Black Shark drills (their top series) for the German KWB called the "KWB Speed Forstner"...they are even a tad cheaper compared to the Fisch ones...and of course I bought those too from 15mm to 60mm diameter. I love watching your videos - keep it up... greetings from Slovenia.😃👍
James, long time viewer, I have used many of your tips in my amature woodworking shop and you never steered me wrong….I watched this video, bought it the same day and just used it to trim a door bottom 3/32. Worked like butter. This quality tool for such a great price, thanks for the tip
I'm not a woodworker. At best I occasionally tinker building simple but useful things out of wood. But this edition of Cool Tools has even me appreciating every item shown. And the tools are reasonably priced.
I love that your Cool Tools videos include high quality, inexpensive tools that guys like me can afford. I also enjoy seeing the tools that I'll never be able to afford. I don't understand why so many woodworkers get their jealous little panties in a wad when they see a RU-vidr using a tool that is beyond their budget. Some of that stuff is just really cool. I enjoy seeing them, even if I'll never own them. I think most of your viewers probably agree with me. It's just that the haters are always the most vocal.
I have the Milescraft track saw kit and like it very much. I found that trying to get the saw in exactly the same place was a challenge. Solved it with putting a plastic spacer on the base plate to get the saw mounted with the correct offset and absolutely parallel to the cut line.
That’s a really nice tracksaw setup. I’m still happy I got a tracksaw (Makita) and find it’s been the most revolutionary purchase I’ve made. The dust collection alone makes me so much happier to use it in my small, indoor workspace.
I feel for him. It has to be incredibly frustrating dealing with the stoopid comments. "This is a no VOC finish. You don't need a respirator to use it." "OMG! Stumpy said to guzzle it! We're all going to die!"
@@null6634 I don't even recall now if he said that, however though epoxies are possibly not volatile organic compounds in a strict sense (I'm not a chemist), they probably aren't super healthy to breathe. But that should be obvious to most people, without stating it explicitly every time.
I was considering the MilesCraft tracksaw conversion kit but your review almost glossed over the one (big in my mind) disadvantage: beveled cuts. Thanks for pointing that out.
Yes to the $100 track saw gadget for a circular saw. I'm one of those people who have railed against super expensive track saws, and now, this is available. Kudos to Milescraft.
It still won't be the same. No where near the dust extraction of a track saw. Best bang for buck one of probably the Makita. Bosch is great too but a little more money
In Europe you can get Makita tracks €40 for 1 m/ 3 ft , €50 for 1, 5m/ 5ft , the others are 1, 4 m (round €90) , 1, 9m/ 6ft , 3m/10ft (€200 and above) priced way too high.
@@pete_lind here in Canada it's often on sale cordless one two batteries and two 6ft tracks for $600. Pretty good deal compared to the $1200 a festool will be Never looked at individual track prices. Besides I have the Bosch
I bought a bottle of the Clean Armor matte finish and one of the overhead UV lights and can attest that it works very well. I put 3 coats on the maple pieces and plywood bottom of a custom, hidden kitchen drawer I made for a neighbor. It works exactly like they claim. That said, it is quite finicky to get a perfectly smooth finish as it doesn’t self-level very well. Once the light hits it, you’re getting whatever brush strokes, roller marks, and other imperfections you made in the final finish. I had the best results doing extremely thin coats and wiping it on with the Scott shop towels. Hence the 3 coats on the drawer parts. I did a little experimenting with thinning it, but that didn’t go so well. More testing is required, but I’m happy with it for my needs. Side note that the matte is still pretty shiny for anybody wondering.
@@dthorne4602 I tried several different methods out of interest and because the company recommends them. I have applied a lot of different finishes in the past, and multiple, thin coats is always the way to go regardless of how they're being applied. My point was that the Clean Armor basically does no self leveling (at least none straight from the bottle at roughly 75 degrees F). So, it's definitely tougher to get a perfectly smooth finish than other, non-UV options. I haven't yet tried any other UV options.
@@wingsdiehard4135 I don’t remember the exact details, but I believe they said the working temperature range was similar but a little colder and hotter than other products in one of their videos.
I've used the Wood Owl Auger's and the first time I used it blew my mind. It ate through the wood like it was Styrofoam. I've used it a decent amount and it hasn't dulled.
I do resin printing which uses UV light to cure the prints, and I've investigated the UV light and any associated dangers heavily. The wavelengths of light used are not harmful to humans and the intensity is low, as you said. You can buy UV that to sanitize, but those are much shorter wavelengths and higher intensity. Anyone who has stood under black lights knows that UV light can be perfectly save. The lights can be bright, and I wanted to be extra cautions with my eyes, so I did buy protective goggles that filter it out, but you're right, those lights are very safe. It reminds me of when I worked at the grocery story as a cashier, I would have people who just KNEW the scanners would irradiate their food and give us all cancer.
Holy Moly! Second video today I've seen on the Milescraft track system. I've been looking for a cheaper alternative to get into a system. My home made straight edge is getting older. I saw Phil over at woodsmith cover this this morning. Thanks for what you do.
I bought a cheap WEN track saw. Been really happy with it other than it uses a odd sized arbor so I have to order the blades online. It has a setting to just skim the surface for the first cut that eliminates tear out on veneered plywood.
Seriously tempted by the Milescraft Track Saw setup. I spent money on a similar jig by Kreg about 4 years ago and... wow what a disappointment it was. Loads of slop in the sled which had to be fixed with a shim, not enough adjustment so my saw ended up skimming the aluminum rail on its first setup cut, and the "grippy" underside did not grip at all - I had to make clamps out of T bolts to hold it securely. After all that, there was still just a hint of movement in the sled and long story short, a straight-edge guide gave me just as much accuracy.
James, long time viewer and slowly becoming a better wood worker thanks to you and your great videos! Started with your workbench plans many years ago and keep refining my skills. The track saw setup is heading to my shop very soon! Thank you for all your hard work and great information.
I am really impressed with this track saw for the price! As a beginner, I was looking for a quality tool that wouldn't break the bank, and this saw fits the bill perfectly. The features are easy to use and the video instructions are clear.
If you are worried about the UV lights being used, then consider that they are the same lights that are used all day long in Nail Salons, being used directly over skin, with the salon workers getting the most exposure.Yet, they are still OSHA compliant.
The website says you can alternatively use the sun! And I am here in sunny southern CA, I think I can get by without the UV light. Will definitely check that stuff out.
@@alexanderdgrayI always laugh when I see handheld battery-powered UV LEDs recommended for curing acrylics. Yes, it would be nice to have a reliable backup for midnight projects and rainy days... But I've never actually had a problem getting full cure in sunlight.
Could not agree more with all the safety points. We all have been guilty of not being as safe as we should at times. But you are absolutely correct when it comes to the safety in the shop and thiose in it.
I've seen a demo by the company and I was really intrigued but the cost scared me off. I'm glad that you posted and independent evaluation and explanation. I'm a lot more comfortable with the price and I could really use a solution without the VOC danger, smell and long curing time. Your comment about having to move stuff off your regular workspace to do finishing is my situation exactly. Thanks for the sane logical approach you have taken all these years.
Totally get why a track saw is superior. I think this is really a solution for home gamers who will probably break down a sheet a handful times a year. Even just buying a Ryobi track saw just for that is hard to justify unless you are doing a few projects and then selling it. Even then, this solution is less hassle than selling one after you are done with it.
@@yayinternets A track saw can be used for so much more than just ripping sheets! It's also much more compact than a table saw - you don't need a dedicated space for it, you can bring it wherever you need it. It's also much safer than a circular saw (no exposed blade when not cutting) so even better for people who will use it occasionally. You can get a cheap track saw with a track included for a comparable amount of money (or even less! Here you can buy one for less than £100) you'd need for a circular saw and this track and it would be perfectly good enough for occasional use.
@@YaaLFHGood to know! I mostly see people using it to break down sheets: I don’t own one obviously. 🙂 Looks like you can use one for large miters as well.
@@yayinternets You can actually use it for a lot of things you'd use a table saw and some things you can't really do with a table saw - and since you bring the tool to your material, not material to the tool, you don't need as much space. If you'd like to see more, check out 10 Minute Workshop.
I had purchased the ‘crème de le creme’ Milwaukee track saw along with the 55” rail and it came with two clamps. Then I ordered an extra 55” rail from a good company. I returned all and ordered the Milescraft. I am not a professional woodworker but I do need to cut down sheet good occasionally. I have a fantastic corded saw that will be ideal for the Milescraft system. Only drawback is the lack of dust removal. Small price to pay. I’ll wear a mask. I won’t have the riving knife but I think I will be fine cutting sheet goods. The money I’m saving will be used to purchase the Bow Extender Fence System! I love having cool tools but I didn’t need to have a tool I was overly proud of when I can function perfectly well with a scaled down system. Milescraft products are available at Home Depot. Thank you sir for being an excellent helper.
@@YaaLFH you typically won’t have issues with sheet-goods. The problem with kickbacks is more common with dimensional lumber and I will use my table saw with that media. I I still think my plan is a good one. Best use of my resources.
@@8pilgrim It's not just about kickback. Plunge saw only exposes the blade when cutting. It also has *much* better dust collection than a circular saw. You can do bevel and plunge cuts with it. Also judging by comments in shops the Milescraft track is not very high quality - the clamps break, the connectors wear out resulting in the short tracks going out of alignment, the grip strips are not very grippy (you shouldn't need to use clamps for most applications!), the proprietary pattern means you won't be able to use many accessories designed for common tracks, ... so it might not be the best use of your resources. BTW you can do much more than rip sheets with a track saw, have a loot at 10 Minute Workshop to learn more.
@@YaaLFH you certainly are opinionated. The only thing I’m really sacrificing (IMHO) is dust collection. I’ve been cutting sheet goods on my table saw and this is a great improvement. I did a lot of research and love saving money. Were I to be doing lots and lots and lots of long cuts there would be justification for a $600+ tool. But the Milescraft system will be fine. Please don’t spend my money for me.
We got the Milescraft Track Saw with the expansion attachment for my school workshop a few months ago and it’s been terrific. Great for ripping down large panels. Those drill bits look fantastic - I’ll be looking for some of those in Australia.
My Kregg track saw changed everything. The ability to quickly square up sheet goods while producing very clean cut makes it a pleasure every time I use it. Price pained me yet it did as advertised perfectly and easily. Seeing this cheaper version is great and I will consider it should mine eventually quit. 👍
I have an embarrasment of circular saws at the moment so i think i will give that track saw conversion kit a try. Currently "sheet ripping day" is a whole process in my shop and I've been wishing for a more modular solution.
Love it. Keyboard warriors shouting before they listen properly about the finish and do like you suggest. Common sense is the key and what a lot of these people lack. Great vids keep on keeping on sir
I have both tracks for my Bosch circular saw and a plunge saw. Big difference that makes the plunge saw much much better to use is the pivot point in front or behind the saw blade.
stumpy...thank you for all the awesome information you put out! This is amazing! Don't let the haters get to you, just keep putting out awesome videos!
I have a festool track saw already but if I didn't, I'd be all over that Milescraft version! That's a very reasonable price, given what highly machined parts and fancy extrusions cost these days. That's actually a steal!.
I really like that modular budget track saw. Your final point that it would be really great for 'breaking down plywood sheets with table saw like precision.' Absolutely. More than 25 years ago I made a big L Square guide and used it to cut out drawer parts from stacks of Baltic birch plywood sheets that I'd squared up, then sanded and finished before cutting out the dozens and dozens of parts. (All of which I still use today.) It clamps onto a sheet of plywood to make a perfect straight cut, but it's just a straight edge. Works great, except I didn't make it 8 feet long. And if I had it would've been difficult to use for 4' and 5' cuts. So modules that I could add on to? Perfect. (I also spent most of my effort making my L guide adjustable so if got out of square I could dial it back in. Turned out that once I got it right, it never moved.) So this is a terrific option. I just could never see throwing that much money at Festtool.
Great video. It would be helpful to know whether or not the UV-cured finish can be applied over an existing finish like Polyurethane. That is, for example, refinishing cabinets, where intricate molding makes it nearly impossible to sand or scrape down to the original oak or whatever. If you can simply apply this over scarified existing finish in the molding at the same time as a sanded finish on the flats in order to make the finish uniform, that's a winner. Also - is it available in satin, or only the gloss you demonstrated? I know that looking it up will probably answer these questions, but it's handy to have the information right here where you debut it. Thanks again for all your hard work and clear presentation.
That Milescraft track saw guide had another big benefit for me. Due to my own fault, I got stuck with a defective DeWalt circular saw - the blade is not square with the saw base and renders the saw almost unusable. The Milescraft gives me a new base where I can anchor the saw so that the blade is square with their guide - problem solved! Saved this saw from the trash.
I'm tempted by the Milescraft track guide, but I don't know if I want to go with that and an extra track or just spend another $30 and get a dedicated track saw setup wit ha WEN track saw and a Powertec 110" track. There are also a lot of videos on making a custom track with MDF, but it would be tough to make one long enough to cut a full 8' length. I've been using the Kreg rip cut jig, and it gets the job done, but you have to be very careful controlling it or the cut can go bad really fast and ruin a expensive sheet of plywood.
Spend the $30 more, very much worth it to get a proper plunge saw - better dust collection, safer, can do plunge and bevel cuts. Also consider the new Evolution tracks, very good value for money.
0:37 The sole on my Bosch GKS 18V-Li cordless cirkular saw works with the old Festool-style tracks (FSN 70, FSN 140) right out of the box (L-Boxx ;) ), that's the reason why I bought that model in the first place. And the Festool ratchet clamps fit the tracks nicely. :)
Hi, I bought the track saw guide, not because of this video, but I had seen you recommend Milescraft elsewhere, I already had they drill guide and when I saw the track saw, it seemed quite legit :) It is a very good product for an affordable price, but I have a few remarks. - the track saw guide needs adaptation when used with circular saw Maktec MT-583 (cheap brand from Makita, common in Thailand), there is interference with the butterfly nuts used to adjust the saw angle, I had to replace them with normal nuts. - the saw could not be pushed back all the way against the end stop, I had to add a 20mm spacer (a bit of 20mm plywood). - one of the rail connector had bad casting, there was a bit of aluminium sticking out, I had to file it back. - the translation of the user manual in French is terrible, I am using the English version. I am not sure if you are in any sort of relationship with them, this video is linked from Milescraft web site, but maybe you can follow these remarks to them.
Hey, thanks for this. Having seen the clean armor video before, I did want to ask about one thing - workspace temperature. I live in a place where the temperature can fluctuate pretty wildly from one room to the next. So I'm curious how that finishing agent would handle that?
My Makita saw like that has a track attachment and its pretty good, but no plunge actually makes a huge difference and the accuracy could be better, I still plan on getting a dedicated track saw
As someone who does a bit of 3D printing (both FMD and UV Resin) I can tell you that you can cure in [even] indirect sunlight. You might even consider buying clear 3D printer resin to use as finish. I like the ABS-like (sometimes called "tough") resin which sells for about $30 per 1kg.
Thank you so much for making this video. I have been looking for something like this Milescraft track saw guide system for a long time now but everything else that I found was so expensive and would only work with that companies own track saw. I have several circular saws and I didn’t want to invest that much money into something that I would only use every once in a while so this is perfect for my budget and needs.
@@YaaLFH if you would like to purchase a proper plunge saw for me I would love to have one. Unfortunately my home burned down a few months ago and I can’t really afford one myself and that’s why I thanked him for his video and his recommendation of the product.
One major problem with the MilesCraft is that it's not actually a plunge saw. Other than that, I'm happy with it. I did buy a dedicated saw for mine and adding up that purchase to the cost of the MilesCraft, I would have been better off waiting for a sale and picking up a true track saw.
Lidl's Parkside Tracksaw is less €100, and it's a proper track/plunge saw, with two rails included. It's also compatible with Makita and Bosch tracks. For that price, it's excellent quality. I own two of them.
I've had the Wood Owl bits for a couple years now and the only downside I have seen is the 1/4" quick connect isn't the same size as most others and they will fit but they can be difficult to get out of your drill.
As always a great and useful video... to a point! Trying to find the tools you show in the UK is virtually impossible. If any viewers out there can put me right, please do.
Regarding the finish you featured: is sanding needed between coats? What about at the end? Or does it just need some buffing with, say, a piece of brown paper bag, like lacquer?
Sanding between coats - yes, use 320 grit Sanding at the end - no, there is no need to buff at all I highly recommend this product. It is the best VOC friendly finish that mimics varnish.
Just tried to set up this system/baseplate with my Makita 6 1/2” cordless saw and could not secure the longer clamps to the base. Also I wasn’t comfortable with half of the saw baseplate hanging off unsupported. Also, although the included rubber bumpers were great, adjusting for one section still left to much play in the other connected section.
Also, if you don't want to buy the smaller wavelength specific, lower power light you could just take your project out side to setup. The sun does a bang-up job setting up UV resin. For that you would definitely want to use sunscreen though.
Sorry you had to deal with the "But it's not as safe as water" people... They are the reason we have 10 pages of warnings in an 11-page manual, and why silica packets have to have that "Do not eat" warning on them. I love your work, and as a blue-collar worker with a woodworking hobby and a whole house to renovate I really appreciate your cool/affordable tool series.
UV finshes do require extra care when spraying, as the overspray will remain liquid until exposed to UV light. So anything that gets on your clothes or skin will stay there and harden afterwards when exposed to sunlight - which is slower than a UV light in curing the product, but will eventually do that. Texas Toast Guitars has an excellent youtube video on UV finishes explaining the details. For wipe-on application, there is absolutely no issues as shown in this video, just use gloves as visible in the clip. And use common sense for the rest, couldn't agree more. Nice work!
I'm a fan of most Milescraft tools, but what do you think comparing their track saw guide to Kreg's KMA2685 rip cut circular saw guide? I know their designs are different yet similar, but what do you think comparing quality, value, and price? IMHO, the Milescraft system seems a lot more stable (i.e. better quality) but is the Keg guide just as good?
Wanted to recommend a test for the clean armor. I do 3D Printing, including with clear resin which is very similar. UV cured Resins trend to yellow with time when exposed to sun light. Curious if this has been tested on their product?
Aaaand it's gone, thanks so much for playing. I save these parts for later, in about a month or so when I can just buy them readily. Such a good salesman, even if by accident.
All great products. Mostly well priced too. As you pointed out the UV finish is a bit pricey especially the UV light which is required. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂
I bought Kreg's version of this, but I like this one a little better. Mostly because of the quick way the saw mounts to the sled. Also, I noticed that your cordless saw has the blade on the left side, which seems easier for right-handed users. I could never understand why most circular saws have the blade on the far side.
Thanks for the great information James . Great looking products and instructions for use. Keep up the great videos and don't worry about the " Think they got you this time folks" . Stay safe and keep up the great information videos. Fred.
