Your thoughts on Track Saw plans?

[dfndr]

Thinking of getting a track saw setup for the fairly limited space in my garage workshop. Looking at Dewalt and Kreg(as they are throwing in extra track length and joints on current special) or maybe even the Wen, which is much less expensive. Instead of getting the very expensive Kreg work table, I was thinking of just hooking two Worx Pegasus portables together—light, easy to handle and store and they have a clamps included(less than $200 for the pair currently).
So, I know you are going to ask what kind of wood working I do. The answer is that I’m kinda just now moving from mechanical work to wood working—so I don’t know what I end up liking to do. I don’t have a table saw nor do I have room for one.
Can you give me your thoughts and advice on these potential purchases please.

 

[NKlamerus]

What's your budget?

We run 2 cordless Makita track saws and Festool tracks. In all honesty no guide will be as easy to use as a dedicated track. Biggest downside to the Makita is it's 36v, your only as strong as your weakest battery. A single stronger battery would be much better

No fancy table needed, we built a portable sawhorse setup, with a sheet of pinkboard foam insulation. We replace it when it no longer holds a workpiece

 

[tarbellb]

IMO, either go cheap as possible or step up to a proven performer. Compromising is just that.

Wen with a 4x8 sheet of foam insulation and the floor is the cheapest way to enter the track saw game.

Or

Makita and a proper work table is your most tried and true setup.

The Kreg system looks intriguing, no personal experience but it seems like a decent attempt at a Festool operation.


Oh, btw, Makita SP6000J corded track saw is super cheap right now @ $288
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CHN6LCE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

buy the track separately (couple of knock-off brands out there now)....that would be my choice. Its a great saw. Pair it with a Bora Centipede expanding workstation and plywood.

 

[pdubss]

I have a Makita SP6000J. It is pretty great. I work in my garage so other than drills where a cord is a pita, I stick to corded tools for the power and cost factors.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[lardy1]

Track saws are very good at what they do. But they can't and won't replace the versatility of a table saw.

I get the space thing. I wish you well as a woodworker.

 

[signcrafter]

Track saws are very good at what they do. But they can't and won't replace the versatility of a table saw.

I get the space thing. I wish you well as a woodworker.

In my opinion track saws and table saws are two very different tools that happen to have a few things they both can do. A track saw is for cutting up sheet goods and making straight cuts on items already in place like countertops where a table saw won't work. A table saw is for making cuts on smaller pieces and doing more specialty cuts like rabbits and dados and that kind of stuff. I used to run bigger sheets through the table saw and it wasn't fun. Now I just lay a track down on some marks and run the saw down the track.

I have the makita track saw and love it. It was tough to spend that much money at one time on something with fairly limited use so I held off for years but once I finally pulled the trigger I wondered how I ever did without it and why I didn't buy one much much sooner. If Milwaukee comes out with a M18 saw I will buy that right away, even if I have to buy new tracks but hopefully they will design it to work with the makita/festool tracks.

 

[RKA]

There are tons of threads on this, but if you work with sheet goods, a track saw will always have a home in your shop. You can lay the sheet down on the floor on top of 2” pink foam insulation, throw the track down and make your cut. The trick is getting cuts that are consistent in width all the way up and down and 90 degree cross cuts. That’s where a tracksaw can be fussy, but it can be done. The table saw gives you better consistency using the fence. But the table saw also requires infeed and outfeed support and space plus the fun of juggling 80lb sheets of plywood on it.

Once you get down to smaller parts like ripping 2.5” face frame material, the tracksaw requires a way to index the placement of the wood you’re cutting under the rail and filler material to keep the rail from tipping and some way to clamp the rail and material securely. With the table saw, set the fence and rip.

At the end of the day, both is the better answer, but if you want to get by with the tracksaw and are opposed to getting a table saw it can be done. I started with a tracksaw and eventually caved and got the table saw, but I still use the tracksaw when I can because I have better dust collection with it. Consider getting a makita. It’s less than the Festool, but most of the aftermarket accessories for the Festool rails should work on the Makita rails and will improve your tracksaw all in one experience. And it’s a solid saw.

 

[tarbellb]

For a weekend woodworker with limited space I would recommend a

track saw and router table. Would cover 90% of typical projects.

 

[cherrybomb]

For a week end woodworker,or one just starting out,or budget concerns,their are numerous videos on You Tube where you can build what suits your style.Some are remarkably simple,others can do a lot more.Depends alot how much you would use it,or what you are building.

 

[tclark]

I'd take a look at the Dewalt as well, it's a pretty nice setup.
As others have stated, it certainly doesn't replace a table saw but for sheet goods it's awful hard to beat.

 

[ChrisLS8]

What's the real benefit of tracksaws, anytime I need to cut a sheet I snap a line with a chalk box and run the cordless circular down it and it's pretty damn straight

 

[signcrafter]

What's the real benefit of tracksaws, anytime I need to cut a sheet I snap a line with a chalk box and run the cordless circular down it and it's pretty damn straight

I've made tens of thousands of cuts with circular saws and I would say I'm pretty good at following a line. If I'm sheathing a roof or wall or something like that then ya a circular saw is good enough. Now if I'm building a custom bar top where two sheets of expensive faced plywood have to **** up to each other then track saw without a doubt. If I'm wrapping a column with ply or wide trim boards and need to make an 8 foot long angle cut so all the boards line up and wrap around a post then track saw for sure. Also nice to be able to make two marks and throw a track on the sheet and run the saw down the track. Lots of times I'll do it without even paying attention to the line because you know it's going to be dead on every single time.

 

[manwithtools]

What's the real benefit of tracksaws, anytime I need to cut a sheet I snap a line with a chalk box and run the cordless circular down it and it's pretty damn straight

When you ask this question in this manner, it's clear you are not a finish carpenter and the chalk line may be all you need. Do some research here and elsewhere to understand the benefit of a track saw or table saw over a hand held circular saw.

 

[ChrisLS8]

When you ask this question in this manner, it's clear you are not a finish carpenter and the chalk line may be all you need. Do some research here and elsewhere to understand the benefit of a track saw or table saw over a hand held circular saw.

Nope I am not, I don't build cabinets or whatnot the extent of my woodworking usually includes 2x4s and 4x8 sheet lol. Genuine question as I've only used one a few times to cut rips off a sheet

 

[RKA]

The prime use case is cabinet work, but I also use it on other finish cuts, like trimming doors or jointing a board for panel glue ups. Dead straight cuts, rip cuts are usually less than 1/32” out from end to end, dead 90 crosscuts with an appropriate jig, zero clearance inserts on both sides of the blade means almost no waste, excellent dust collection, handles melamine and other delicate surfaces well (scoring cut followed by through cut).

 

[manwithtools]

I'll add to what RKA said - they provide accurate plunge cutting (saws are on a hinged base). This is a feature often overlooked on track saws. They have a riving knife and other anti-kickback features as well. Most are variable speed and have more precise bearings than typical circular saws - meaning less runout (wobble) on the blade. Excellent dust collection as mentioned. Zero clearance inserts means minimal (almost no) splintering of your $120 cabinet grade plywood.

They can be very helpful in repairing hardwood flooring or building cabinets on-site where a table saw can be a pain. Much easier to cut plywood to size than a table saw, with a little care in measuring and use, they can do better than the cheap table saws typically seen used on-site building a house.

 

[tarbellb]

Start cutting $120 sheets of veneer or $200 blocks of hardwood and all of a sudden chalk lines and "pretty damn straight" dont work out so well.



Its a precision tool for a precision process, plus lots of bonus features like dust collection, plunge, splintering, etc....

 

[jgromada]

I bought this and use it with a dedicated circular saw.
Bought it from LeeValley it is from Veritas. https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/sho...uides/41707-veritas-100-inch-power-tool-guide

I like it a lot. I was originally thinking that i needed a track saw but this works almost as well. My saw doesn't feature as good dust collection as one the dedicated track saws do, but most of the time I drag my saw horses/ Cutting top (rigid pink insulation) outside to do cuts anyway

 

[ScottsGT]

I bought this and use it with a dedicated circular saw.
Bought it from LeeValley it is from Veritas. https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/sho...uides/41707-veritas-100-inch-power-tool-guide

I like it a lot. I was originally thinking that i needed a track saw but this works almost as well. My saw doesn't feature as good dust collection as one the dedicated track saws do, but most of the time I drag my saw horses/ Cutting top (rigid pink insulation) outside to do cuts anyway

I tried a similar rig and gave up due to splintering. Track saw is sooooo much better when precision and quality of finish is necessary.

 

[acer66]

Just do not fall for the cheap festool ****, mafell is the only way to go.

 

[dfndr]

I am the OP. Thank you all for the very helpful information and the education on this major purchase. To let you know, I ended up purchasing the KREG saw and track for $399 on a special that gave me an additional track and joinder brackets for the 399, a savings of $139 at a Woodcraft store. What a great find—like Bass Pro Shop for wood workers! I then purchased 2 WORX portable workbenches on sale at Home Depot for $98. By joining the portable workbenches together I should have a pretty nice work surface and there are some clamps and bench dogs that come with those benches. Thanks again for the help. Any suggestions on additional clamps?

 

[anndel]

I understand your situation. I have a tiny garage shop and have the Dewalt 745 table saw. It's my go to saw but it can't rip anything wider than 20 inches. Either I go with a bigger saw like the DWE 7491 or SkilSaw SPT-99-12 but for now, I got the corded Makita SP6000J1 which came with a 55 in track, perfect for cutting 4' x 8' sheets.

 

[tarbellb]

I bought this and use it with a dedicated circular saw.
Bought it from LeeValley it is from Veritas. https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/sho...uides/41707-veritas-100-inch-power-tool-guide

I like it a lot. I was originally thinking that i needed a track saw but this works almost as well. My saw doesn't feature as good dust collection as one the dedicated track saws do, but most of the time I drag my saw horses/ Cutting top (rigid pink insulation) outside to do cuts anyway

Sorry, but they are vastly different imo.

I have a wood/metal custom fab shop, for years I also used a straight edge and std circ saw. Netted great results, its been a proven combo for decades.

The true advantages of a track saw come with the FAST, ACCURATE, EASY setup for each and every cut.

I dont care who you are, adding or subtracting to find your final cut line is one more step to add errors. That single feature is worth the cost alone.

Add up all the other features, dust collection, plunging base (adds safety and easier drop-in cuts), positive lock miter cuts, superior splinter reduction, variable speed, etc... it really is a different tool than a circ saw and straight edge.

 

[tclark]

What's the real benefit of tracksaws, anytime I need to cut a sheet I snap a line with a chalk box and run the cordless circular down it and it's pretty damn straight

Track saw takes it from "pretty damn straight" to "damn near perfect" while also being quicker and easier.

 

[mike_aa]

Track saw takes it from "pretty damn straight" to "damn near perfect" while also being quicker and easier.

I totally agree with that statement! An added plus is most track saws are capable of collecting most of the dust.