I got a DVD in the mail, showing the new Dewalt Tracksaw. I liked what I saw, so I went online and purchased one from Woodworker’s Supply! They threw in a track extension, and I added a pair of clamps to the order.
http://www.dewalt.com/us/tracksaw/
View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles Greene
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
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How much? And what are those two goofy blade guards for (on the left side of the picture)?
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
$500, and $50 for the two clamps. I think those are router attachments, not sure. I'll probably get some eventually, but for now I've just ordered the saw, two tracks which connect to over 8' in length, and the clamps for anchoring the track.
edited to add: Now I remember - those are so you can align the track relative to the edge of the material.
View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Edited 11/20/2008 7:53 am by Huck
Looks like they are "squares" that mount underneath, one with a protractor head.PaulB
http://www.makeabettertomorrow.com
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Huck,
Why not purchase the Festool for the same price? Playing devils advocate here, I'd rather have the festool since it's been around a while, about the same price, and their system is pretty slick...
If not the festool, why not the EZ from Dino? Both have good track records."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I'd have to play with the tool before I dropped that kind of coin on a circ saw, that's mainly why I went with the festool... well that and the rest of the system and dust collection.... Funny thing is I still haven't bought the vac.
I was at one my local yards today and they had the DeWalt out on display so I fiddled around with it for awhile. Impressions as compared to my Festool:The plunge mechanism seems a little awkward. Doesn't seem to plunge one-handed very well. It has a kind of parallelogram hinging mechanaism and there seemed to be some initial resistance to starting the plunge. This may have been because the ruber strip hadn't been cut back yet, and the blade was hanging up on it a little bit, I would like to hear from anyone else who has used it a little.The base is nice; cast aluminum and seems fairly well milled.The two-sided track (rubber on both edges) could be a plus. Seems a bit bulky and high center of gravity compared to the Festool.Tilts to 47 degrees. That's nice.That's it for 5 minutes of playing around with itSteve
Edited 11/20/2008 4:02 pm by mmoogie
Here's some more info on how the DW model works. Not sure if you can see the photos without registering, though.http://www.talkfestool.com/vb/non-festool-power-tools/928-makita-dewalt-plunge-saws.html'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
View Image
From the link you provided:>>With the first cut last night, I discovered that I could not plunge the saw down with a single hand. To get the plunge action past the top of its motion, I had to use the auxiliary handle, or get it started with my thumb (I was standing to the right of the saw, and that is why I was using one hand.)
Update: The plunging is easier when you are positioned above the saw, and can be done with one hand. My cut last night was rather delicate and I didn't want to move the saw accidentally by pressing down too hard on the plunge.
On a positive note, the parallelogram link is very robust, and the two bearing points are pretty far apart for greater stability.
The plunge spring is a little too stiff for my liking.<<That jives with my impression from playing with it in the store today. I suspect you would get used to it, but it's a very different motion than the Festo plunge. It feels like you have to push through some initial resistance, which would make me nervous about hitting the material too hard when it finally starts to plunge.Steve
Why not purchase the Festool?
It was an impulse buy. And I like Dewalt - they sent me - ME! - a DVD, Festool never did that, sorry. I'm a sucker for a little personalized advertising.
View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Edited 11/21/2008 1:07 am by Huck
I got the DVD today. Now if they'd only send a DVD player with it, I could watch it. But, they have a video on their website that I'm sure is pretty much the same movie.
So anyway, I scurried on over here to BT to see if anyone got their hands on it yet. Of course, a quick search landed me here in this thread.
I have to invest in a new table saw, since my li'l Delta Shopmaster started throwing sparks out of the motor (that was awesome!), but now I'm torn between this tracksaw thingy and a decent table saw.
I don't have any questions, answers or feedback - just like to type.
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simple solution... buy both...
secondly, how old is your computer? If not that old it probably has a DVD player built in.
old
=]See my work at TedsCarpentry.comBuy Cheap Tools! BuildersTools.net
I have been using the Festool for 3 years. It would not replace my table saw, but I love being able to break down large panel stock in place with finish cuts. Nothing like it!! I think Dewalt has an uphill battle, as anyone willing to put that sort of money into their tools has already looked hard and long at Festool. I'm not sure why I would consider the Dewalt except for brand loyalty!!
“At its most basic level, capitalism offers people the freedom to choose where they work and what they do … the dignity that comes with profiting from their talent and hard work. … The free-market system also provides the incentives that lead to prosperity -- the incentive to work, to innovate, to save and invest wisely, and to create jobs for others.†-President George W. Bush
In other words, free-market capitalism is the best path to prosperity.
I'm guessing they'll get a lot of business from those who don't know festool, or don't do a lot of research. There's a lot of home craftsmen who never wander beyond the big-box stores and, thus, festool isn't part of their vocabulary.See my work at TedsCarpentry.comBuy Cheap Tools! BuildersTools.net
If you haven't already done so, please update your profile. Since many issues are dependant on the region in which you work, we often look at your profile to see where you are writing from.
>>those who don't know festool<<More than just home craftsmen. I was in my local non-big-box yard the other day and they had the DW track-saw on display. I started talking to one of the owners, and he had never heard of Festo. Yet one of their competitors is a festo distributor. Talk about not researching your competition. They also don't know what flex-wrap is.Steve
Okay, wuts flex-wrap? :[See my work at TedsCarpentry.comBuy Cheap Tools! BuildersTools.net
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http://www2.dupont.com/Tyvek_Weatherization/en_US/products/residential/resi_flexwrapnf.htmlFor flashing the bottom corners of window rough openings.Steve
Hey, that stuff is cool. ;)See my work at TedsCarpentry.comBuy Cheap Tools! BuildersTools.net
If you haven't already done so, please update your profile. Since many issues are dependant on the region in which you work, we often look at your profile to see where you are writing from.
I agree. I just figured if someone was going to lay out that much, they would have checked out the market already. Guess I was wrong, huh?“At its most basic level, capitalism offers people the freedom to choose where they work and what they do … the dignity that comes with profiting from their talent and hard work. … The free-market system also provides the incentives that lead to prosperity -- the incentive to work, to innovate, to save and invest wisely, and to create jobs for others.†-President George W. Bush
In other words, free-market capitalism is the best path to prosperity.