DeWalt recently entered a market long dominated by Festool with the introduction of its new track-guided circular saws.

DeWalt’s TrackSaw has all the features I love on the Festool: variable-speed soft-start motor, riving knife, excellent dust collection, good cut quality, and great ergonomics. But the saw also surprised me with a few new features. First, DeWalt’s guide track has antisplinter strips on both edges; no more spinning the track around when I’m cutting sheet goods to size. The track also accepts a T-square attachment (about $30), which reduces setup time for crosscuts and rip cuts. The saw features an antikickback mechanism that keeps the tool from jumping back as it’s plunged into wood or if it hits a knot. The depth-of-cut scale is in inches, but the 6 1⁄2-in. blades have a 20-mm arbor, not a stock hardware-store item.

I think the TrackSaw is a workhorse and will not disappoint, but in terms of overall quality and engineering, it’s not quite as refined as the Festool. I’m concerned about the longevity of the plastic knobs and scales. Also, when joining multiple tracks end to end, there is a tendency for a slight misalignment in height, which can cause the saw to catch.

A 28v Li-ion TrackSaw is also available and works well, but to me, the benefits of going cordless don’t outweigh the higher price ($900). Saws can be ordered with a 59-in. or 102-in. track, or with both tracks.