Hey everyone! I'm just getting started in furniture making and I'm looking into getting a plunge/track saw. I've heard great things about Milwaukee and noticed they're on sale at Home Depot right now. However, I'm completely new to this brand and to woodworking. There are so many options – different combos of saws, batteries, and tracks. I don't plan to move it around much outside my garage, so I think the Packout kits might not be worth it for me. I've heard that WEN tracks work well too if I want to save some cash. I'm considering two main packages: one with the saw, a charger, and a single 8.0A battery for about $459, or another with the saw and two 6.0A batteries but without a charger. Since the charger costs around $50 separately, maybe the 2-battery option is better? I'd love to hear thoughts from those more experienced – am I making the right choice or should I go a different direction? Thanks!
3 Answers
Great point about the 6.0 batteries being more reliable – I’ve heard the 8.0 batteries have more issues. Milwaukee’s got the best lineup for woodworking and more, so if you choose this brand, you’ll likely find all the tools you need down the line. Just keep in mind to look around for chargers on Facebook Marketplace; you can usually pick them up for about $25!
Honestly, I’d go for two 6Ah batteries with a separate charger instead of the package deal with one 8Ah battery. Check out local marketplaces; people often sell chargers for cheap. Plus, skip the Packout and rails if you won’t be transporting the saw. I got a cheaper track that works just fine for my Makita saw, and you could likely find similar deals for Milwaukee stuff too. One battery should be enough for casual use unless you're working long hours continuously.
If you're going for the Milwaukee track saw, consider wrapping it into the BMSM deal. You can mix and match – for instance, get the track saw, a pair of 6Ah batteries, and maybe a couple of other tools to bring the overall cost down to around $413. Just keep in mind that it might feel like a big spend up front, but you can return tools you don't need later to save some cash. By the way, tons of folks have spare M18/M12 chargers lying around, so you might find one for free even!
Haha, I've got more chargers than batteries myself!