Track Saw Vs. Portable Table Saw?
kitchenguy
| Posted in Tools for Home Building on
I am trying to decide if I can consolidate with just a track saw system (Festool, EZ Smart, Dewalt track saw, etc.) and do away with my portable table table saw, or if I will still need that old reliable piece of equipment. I know what the literature and websites say, but I need to hear from you folks out there who are using a track system everyday. Thank you very much in advance.
Replies
Personally
I have a small table saw in the van that has a spot out of the way. It's there all the time. So is my circular saw-there and out of the way.
I take my festool system with me as the job dictates. I wouldn't want it riding around every day. The saw doesn't like free hand cutting-it can be done but I wouldn't.
I got a real deal on a cordless DW track saw kit for $300 about six months back and it's a great tool but I still use my Rigid contractor saw WAYYYYYY more.
I believe the table saw will be around and useful even after you buy a track saw; I want one but can't decide on either the Makita, Dewalt or Festool - leaning towards the Makita, based on price and reliability.
Like an impact driver, I know when I do finally get a track saw, I won't believe I waited so long for such a useful tool.
I'm a shop fabricator and use all sorts of mechanized saws including a table saw and Festool track saw. I only do "construction" for myself... am putting the final touches on my new 1200 sq. ft. shop. While working on the shop (being a contractor) I haven't had access to my tablesaw so I've relied on my Festool. I've gotten the job done just fine... it's taken more time to do some things than your clients would be happy about. For instance right now I'm trimming out the windows and doors. I like to make my own casings. Ripping 2 1/2" wide strips of lumber isn't very efficient using a track saw. I very much missed not having the tablesaw for this and similar situations. If I were doing this as my profession, I'd be embarrassed by the inefficiency.
All that said, I heartedly endorse the use of a tracksaw both for clean shopwork and for general framing/construction. We easily and accurately cut sheets of 1/2" plywood for the rake walls. I find the track far faster than a chalk line/sidewinder situation. Don't know about the other brands but the Festool is great.
what you need from a tracksaw is the ability to clamp and cut narrow pieces, repeat cuts and even production sizing of panels to make cabinet boxes.
Look at the Devil and visit the http://www.tracksawforum.com
ask specific questions and you will receive links from youtube videos for all the above.
Narrow cuts, tapered cuts, repeat cuts,squared panel cuts, moldings and even more.
A good tracksaw system outperforms any good tablesaw.
You want the ultimate in sizing? Get the Sizer from eurekazone. The patent was just applied and I think you can preorder the system. Visit the powerbench forum at the tracksawforum.com and look at the ez-one powerbench.
An inverted beam saw but only modular and portable.
If you want to make your own moldings and save money, look at the tunnel routing and the smart router kit.
A thre axis portable routing system witth x-y-z cpabilities and if you like you can install digital readouts.
I work for eurekazone ( non paid bases, just friends and exchange tools for prototype work)
Thie new line of tools is good for machine shop quality cuts with the speed that woodworking demands.
enjoy the forum and ask any questions there,
You will receive specific answers with solutions and only facts.
david.
Yeah, but what about cost?
I greatly appreciate all of the excellent advice on this topic but the final question remains regarding cost. A solid table saw can be purchased for $500, while either the Festool system or the Smart Track system will cost well over $1,000. It also sounds as though many of you recommend having both tools. While the table saw can do everything(?) the track saw can do, it seems the track saw system is a really nice to have, but not a have to have. What does everyone think? Thanks again fellas.
Both are not a necessity.
But, if you use both enough to benefit your work and job costs and profit-then it's a plunge you might want to take.
A shoot board will get you through times of no track saw.
A rip guide on a circular saw will get you through times of no table saw.
At least that worked for me for a long time.
But no more.
There are some cuts that a table saw is not well suited for. Just today I had to trim a door to fit into an existing opening that wasn't square. I couldn't have made that cut on a table saw (not without an 80" fence anyway) and it sure would have been nice to have a track saw. Since I don't, I used an 8' straight edge. I worked, but it took a while to set up and then sand off the circular saw marks.
I'd love to have a track saw and maybe one day I'll get one, but so far I've only really needed one about once every several months and I found an acceptable workaround on those occasions. Hmmm, maybe I'll make myself an 8' shooting board. I'll still have to sand saw marks, but at least set up will be a lot faster.
I won't try to talk you out of a track saw........
But, that 8' shoot board is fine. Power plane those saw marks.
>>>Power plane those saw
>>>Power plane those saw marks.
Zackly.
In fact, when it comes to trimming doors, isn't the power plane the tool to use anyway?
Perhaps it depends on how much you're taking off.
Depends on how much and whether it's a straight line.........
And a myriad bunch of other things.
Yeah, a shoot board's what I used to trim 2" off the top of a door. Worked fine. Can't see investing a lot of $$ in a "system" that would only do marginally better (but then I'd use it very rarely, and it would just be another unused tool to lug around).
I've got no dog in the track saw fight, and I'm not gonna start. But I just want to point out that using one of these things (my only experience is with the Festool) is enlightening. It's like driving a really good German car compared to the '62 Ford Falcon I learned to drive in.
A good friend had been using the Festool 55 for quite a while. I called it his F - - -tool. Well as it happens I did a lot of work for/with him on a custom staircase. We had installed a curved handrail when we found it to need a bit of a trim on one end. Mind you, this thing was very difficult to install, a compound curve, and we were not going to remove it. Even if we had, the needed cut would have been difficult. Well, what to do? After debating a while and rejecting most every possibility, he said he'd simply clamp the saw track to the railing and make the cut with the 55. I was doubtful but since it was his job, after all, I said "go ahead." And so we did... made the cut and it came out perfect. I stopped calling it a F - - - tool then.
In a couple of days, he showed up in my shop toting a new 55, with tracks. In lieu of giving me a check, he said the saw was mine. He knew I'd never go get one for myself. If I wanted the money instead, all I had to do was say so. I took the saw and haven't regretted it ever. A hobbyist or home handyman might not be able to justify the expense of purchase. But anyone in the trade/business owes it to himself and his clients to seriously consider one.
trscksaw vs tablesaw
I have both a dewalt tracksaw, and a bosch portable tablesaw. I am coming to this discussion late, but....
I have the dewalt tracksaw, that was bought for about 600 dollars that included the clamps which are very useful, and both 59 inch and 102 inch tracks, so you can buy a system for less than 1000 dollars which is very functional. I also bought the router adapter which allowed me to use my own router.
The tracksaw is great for cutting sheet goods and straight line cutting applications. The bigger the peices that need to be cut the better, I have also used mine to cut high presssure laminate sheets, mdf, melamine etc.
I would not tend to default to the tracksaw to rip or crosscut small parts, and narrow or small stock. The tablesaw is alot more useful for cutting small parts, in my experience. The tracksaw is a little clumsy when ripping small narrow strips or crosscutting small pieces, however it can be done.
Both have their place, and are useful.