Track saw questions

[juddspaintballs]

I just moved out of my house and into an RV for what will likely be a year or so. I have most of my tools in a sea container that I'll use as a shop in the mean time. I sold my (somewhat) portable Craftsman table saw that I was never in love with and didn't use too often.


I would like to replace most of what I used a table saw for with a track saw. I know they don't do the same thing, but for most of my use, a track saw would replace the table saw almost entirely.

I *would* like the ability to rip a full sheet of plywood without taking up a ton of space.

I would like a battery powered track saw. I have a bunch of M12 and M18 Milwaukee tools already. I know Milwaukee doesn't make a track saw. I don't own a Milwaukee circular saw yet, but I would certainly buy one because it would be more useful to me than my corded Craftsman circular saw.

The Kreg Accu-Cut looks promising, though I've seen some less-than-stellar reviews. I have their pocket hole kit and it's been fantastic, so I don't know if the Accu-Cut is really that bad or the review are just people that are too finicky. They do have enough track length options to rip a full sheet of plywood lengthwise.


IF the Accu-Cut *****, what track saw kit (including saw) should I buy? It doesn't have to be cordless, though that would be ideal.


Edit: I guess there are probably other brands of track I could attach a M18 circular saw to as well. I'm open to those as a suggestion if they're pretty decent. I'm not after high accuracy cuts here, but I'd like to be close to at least +/- 1/8".

 

[juddspaintballs]

The TrueTrac sounds promising. Any thoughts on that?

https://www.truetracsaw.com/products/truetrac-8-combo-kit

 

[phred]

I’ve had good luck with the Bora guide and saw adapter. It’s not expensive about 150 bucks. I’m refitting a shop and didn’t have access or room for a table saw and need to rip about 125 sheets of plywood to various widths and lengths. I’d say for the money this worked well and with proper technique I think you could get to +\- 1/8”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[loganb]

If you want cordless I think right now your real options are Makita or Festool. I don't believe the Bosch has been officially released in the US(making assumption on your location) though someone here did order from one from Europe. Also don't recall Dewalt having a cordless one yet, just the corded.

I have the corded Makita and love it, that and the Festool seem to be the most common ones with users here

Sent from The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[catron44]

Dewalt has a flex volt option:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/302022311


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[rrich1]

The dewalt doesn't fit the other tracks.

I have the makita and it is fantastic. The makita, festool, and triton all use the same style if tracks. So if you go the festool route the makita tracks are a cheaper option.

The track to cut a ful sheet of plywood is $200+ from toolnut.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Trapps]

I recently got into the track saw game and I am kicking myself for taking so long. I did a couple of write-ups on GJ, here. May not apply to you directly but it might give you some things to consider as you look at other options.

Some track discussion here.

A fair number posts with lots of positive info, opinions and use to find here in GJ.

Good luck, you will not regret it!

 

[propmaker]

Any of the "guides" do not compare to a true track saw. I've used dewalts, Makita and Festool track saws. Dont waist your time with the dewalt. The Makita is nice, but I prefer the festool. I originally owned the corded TS55 and eventually sold it to buy the TSC55. The cordless is a newer saw than the corded and makes more power and is a little more refined IMO.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I started with a dewalt corded, bought a dewalt flexvolt, sold the corded & have the 102" & 59". One side of each track is set for 90deg & the other side is set for 45deg. I have a lot of flex volt tools & batteries so it was a no brainer. Cut quality is excellent & having no cord is just so convenient, I'm sure the other saws are all good but I like that the saw can cut on both sides of the track.

 

[CloseEnough]

I have the Makita cordless and I'm obsessed with it.

 

[csp]

As has been said, a circular saw following a guide or some other adapter is nowhere near what even a cheaper track saw can do in terms of cut quality. The main reason is tearout prevention with the track saw.

I have a cheapie Wen, which is the same thing as the Grizzly and Shop Fox, and I'm thrilled with it every time I use it. The dust collection isn't as good as Makita/DeWalt/Festool. The plunge isn't as smooth as those three either, and the depth markings on the saw aren't even close to accurate. With an upgraded blade it cuts beautifully though and that's the result I was looking for in my far from frequent use.

Granted, mine isn't cordless, but wanted to share my perspective on track saw vs any other portable method short of a table saw.

 

[metaleltr]

The dewalt doesn't fit the other tracks.

I have the makita and it is fantastic. The makita, festool, and triton all use the same style if tracks. So if you go the festool route the makita tracks are a cheaper option.

The track to cut a ful sheet of plywood is $200+ from toolnut.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

When I was researching Dewalt it seemed that it was compatible with festool tracks.

 

[acer66]

If you want cordless I think right now your real options are Makita or Festool. I don't believe the Bosch has been officially released in the US(making assumption on your location) though someone here did order from one from Europe. Also don't recall Dewalt having a cordless one yet, just the corded.

I have the corded Makita and love it, that and the Festool seem to be the most common ones with users here

Sent from The Garage Journal mobile app

Bosch seems to be available.
https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/boschtools-ocs/track-plunge-saws-gkt18v-20gcl-202771-p/

Not sure about cordless unless the tool travels and even then.
Main reason I drank the green cool aid was because of the dust collection and the necessary vacuum hose for that made cordless useless imho.

festool and makita and maybe bosch are compatible.
Having said that, constantly adjusting the saw when switching between the makita and festool tracks can be tiresome.
If I had know that before hand I would have stuck with one brand of tracks.

Come to think about it bosch should compatible because I am using a bosch track router base on my festool/makita tracks.

 

[pault28]

When I was researching Dewalt it seemed that it was compatible with festool tracks.

It is compatible. The dewalt saw will work with festool and makita tracks. I personally own the dewalt corded saw and also a festool MFT and use the dewalt on it all the time. The dewalt will work on festool and makita tracks, however the makita and festool will not work on dewalt tracks.

 

[RKA]

I’m a big fan of track saws, but I’m not seeing a good reason the OP needs one yet. I’m usually using it for finish quality cuts that are tighter than 1/32” tolerances from piece to piece. The OP said he would like 1/8” accuracy from whatever solution he ends up with. To me that’s like a mile. This doesn’t outwardly seem to call for a track saw. But maybe he needs a splinter free cut in plywood? Usually not the case if you’re willing to live with 1/8” error.

The OP can clarify. Otherwise if my interpretation is correct, why not just get a straight edge and use a circular saw with a good blade and call it a day? And if you needed a zero clearance, you could build a zero clearance sled for your saw (but you would need someone to rip a clean straight edge on a piece of ply to use in your sled).

 

[juddspaintballs]

OK, I could get a cheaper corded track saw for the times I do need it. I like the Wen/Shop Fox idea. I just bought a M18 Fuel 7-1/4" circular saw because I needed a cordless circular saw as well. This thread has made me consider that I really shouldn't try to make one tool do two jobs like that.


I can postpone buying a cheaper corded track saw. For my purposes, that Kreg guide might be good enough for not a lot of money. I will ponder this for a while. I am excited to use my new cordless circular saw, however.

 

[Voi]

OK, I could get a cheaper corded track saw for the times I do need it. I like the Wen/Shop Fox idea. I just bought a M18 Fuel 7-1/4" circular saw because I needed a cordless circular saw as well. This thread has made me consider that I really shouldn't try to make one tool do two jobs like that.


I can postpone buying a cheaper corded track saw. For my purposes, that Kreg guide might be good enough for not a lot of money. I will ponder this for a while. I am excited to use my new cordless circular saw, however.

Go ahead and make a DIY shooting board for your cordless saw. It can be done inexpensively.

The main disadvantage compared to a track saw is dust collection. There is also the issue of tear-out on the edges but that can be minimized with certain shooting board designs.

And actually I think the term shooting board isn't probably the best thing to search anymore. DIY circular saw guide, DIY track saw and similar searches are probably more in line with what they're called today.

As I always say, don't go crazy with trying to include every detail of every edge guide you see on YouTube. Build a simple one first and see how you use it. Re-design and re-build as you go.

 

[juddspaintballs]

Man, that seems simple enough.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/tools/reviews/a3602/4283497/


Could I use a piece of angle iron as the guide part and screw that down to some 1/2" MDF or quality plywood? Simple and effective and much cheaper than a whole track saw. That would likely be good enough for my needs for now. I don't need much dust collection since I'll be doing cuts outdoors most of the time.

 

[kmaher]

If you want to pick your saw, and use a track. Check out
eurekazone add .com

can't link yet sorry, lurking for too long.

I have been using their system for over a decade now and love the "dead wood" concept the original inventor used. You can add routers, to the system and completely replace the table saw.

 

[Voi]

Man, that seems simple enough.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/tools/reviews/a3602/4283497/


Could I use a piece of angle iron as the guide part and screw that down to some 1/2" MDF or quality plywood? Simple and effective and much cheaper than a whole track saw. That would likely be good enough for my needs for now. I don't need much dust collection since I'll be doing cuts outdoors most of the time.

I have used aluminum angle on a few woodworking jigs, so yes.

My only concern would be motor clearance. I can go into this in more detail. But first, you got the blade-right 7 & 1/4" saw, correct?

I like the bottom of such jigs to be ~3/16 hardboard. The thinner edge is easier to line up with your cut line, IMO.

But use what you have first.

 

[Voi]

OP never mind. I see you got the 7&1/4" saw & read your link.

I think that's exactly what you should build. Simple, cheap & you can learn what you like/dislike as you go.

If you look at those pictures you can see how angle iron might limit your depth of cut. Up to you if it will work.

I used jigs similar to that for years. Have a track saw now but I did good work with those jigs for a long time.

 

[juddspaintballs]

I have used aluminum angle on a few woodworking jigs, so yes.

My only concern would be motor clearance. I can go into this in more detail. But first, you got the blade-right 7 & 1/4" saw, correct?

I like the bottom of such jigs to be ~3/16 hardboard. The thinner edge is easier to line up with your cut line, IMO.

But use what you have first.

I don't have much on hand right now. I just moved out of my house and into an RV. My "shop" is a cluttered up sea container right now. I'll organize it soon and make things better inside, but I didn't bring many scraps of wood with me because it's a pain when moving. Whatever I build, I'll need to buy.

Yes, I got a right blade saw. I've used right blades forever so they don't bother me. I understand what you mean by motor clearance. I'll figure something out even if I have to use wood for the guide portion.

 

[metaleltr]

Any of the "guides" do not compare to a true track saw. I've used dewalts, Makita and Festool track saws. Dont waist your time with the dewalt. The Makita is nice, but I prefer the festool. I originally owned the corded TS55 and eventually sold it to buy the TSC55. The cordless is a newer saw than the corded and makes more power and is a little more refined IMO.

Care to elaborate on the issues with the DEWALT track saw? My research has ranked theirs above Makita. The biggest con for Makita in my research was complaints of tracks that were not perfectly straight-obviously defeats the purpose of a track saw.

 

[GrantCee]

Care to elaborate on the issues with the DEWALT track saw? My research has ranked theirs above Makita. The biggest con for Makita in my research was complaints of tracks that were not perfectly straight-obviously defeats the purpose of a track saw.

I have a Makita with the 33, 55, and 118-inch rails. All are perfectly straight.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I have no complaints with dewalt, plus the tracks are reversible, like any tool their is a learning curve. Most comparisons rate them close both good saws, though the dewalt has a riving knife, whats interesting is they compare a makita corded to flexvolt.

 

[RKA]

If you can find someone to rip the pieces the saw shoe will ride along, make two or three. One for ripping 8 ft sheets, one for cross cutting 4 ft. Make sure you allow enough overhang for lead in and run off at each end of the cut. That will give you a better finish cut if it matters. The third one can be even shorter to handle 1 ft cross cuts.

 

[bdbecker]

OK, I could get a cheaper corded track saw for the times I do need it. I like the Wen/Shop Fox idea...

If you go this route, take a look at Evolution as well.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T26R82N/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Supply chain issues means tracking down that particular model is a little difficult right now, but from reviews I've seen, that is the preferred model to get. The other model that comes with the three piece track kit is available, but is missing some features, and the three piece track is supposedly difficult to use and you'll want to get a good track to go with it. Evolution saws are compatible with Festool, Makita, etc. tracks.

 

[juddspaintballs]

I appreciate all of the help and ideas. I will try making a guide board to use with my new M18 Fuel circular saw first and see if that does enough for me. If I need more, I'll certainly consider that Wen or Evolution saw. I don't think I'll be using it a whole lot, so cheaper will probably be good enough for me. I'm not making quality cabinets or anything, just primarily replacing my cheap table saw that I really only used to rip boards anyways.