Track saw kits, possible cordless circular saw, which ones?

[Craig-SM]

The Milwaukee track saw is a great bit of kit and gets plenty of use. Currently using it on the kitchen. Invested in track square, repeat stops and parallel guides to get perfect cuts. It’s not been cheap but wastage is now minimal and materials are certainly more expensive now so saving there along with time too.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

but at 70 and trying to finish of the house restro cheapish by doing the work myself, it don't make sence.

I think any reasonable track saw is better than none...and you can resell it when you're done.

I was in a similar boat, i had to fit a kitchen myself to save money. Having the right tools made a big difference I think.

I considered paying someone to fit the worktop but decided to just have a go myself.

 

[Beanwood]

If you want to buy a track to fit your existing saw, this may help. Peter Millard - tracks.

 

[Agrismith]

I have a parkside track saw. Same as the Macalister that Screwfix sells. At the time it was Peter millards recommendation for a budget option. Whilst it is no festool, it is a thousand times better than a circular saw. Still have a circular saw but the parkside is brilliant value for money for the very little use I give it.

 

[Kayos]

I use a joiner on high end jobs, while he does has plenty of Festool gear he has tools from practically every brand. He used what is right for the job

Last job he was on was an oak staircase and spindles, only used the Festool saws because it's expensive to ruin a custom oak spindle

 

[Smallfry]

No, chainsaws are for cutting pallets plus other stuff and I have 14 of them......

OK so you will be familiar with a circular saw finish then !

I get what you mean about getting the value out of it, but honestly, they are one of the few tools that actually do what it says on the tin. Difference really is night and day, and they are so useful for doing other DIY things with a bit of ingenuity.

You really will be amazed at your new found skill set and the quality of cut, and Mrs zzr will be swooning.

I have mentioned on here that I used to make furniture, and we could never get an ordinary circular saw to make the same quality of cut, even with two of us holding it against a fence.

The trick is that the blade has to be absolutely parallel to the saw baseplate, (which on most saws is not rigid enough) and therefore parallel to any fence, and also the track stops the saw rocking side to side lengthways, if that makes sense.

Wonder if you can hire them ? I have never tried, although I don't imagine anyone will TBH

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

The festool track has a sacrificial edge...you set the saw up on the track and then the first cut trims the edge...from then on that track edge is your cut line.

I think others do the same feature too...very handy indeed.

 

[Agrismith]

The festool track has a sacrificial edge...you set the saw up on the track and then the first cut trims the edge...from then on that track edge is your cut line.

I think others do the same feature too...very handy indeed.

Yes but Peter Millard recommends buying a length of the festool edge and putting it on whichever rail you buy as supposedly it is far superior. And I would be inclined to believe him

 

[Agroshield]

I'd like a 2440 and a 1220 length track.

Small point of correction: you need a length of track that enables you to cut 1220 and 2440. The track itself will be longer than that.

Festool's standard is 1400 for the 1220 and many people complain that it is too short - 1500 is considered better by some.

The challenge with a long track is storing it in a manner such that it will not be damaged as a bent track is useless.

 

[Welderpaul]

The Festool track connectors are way better than the generic ones as they expand sideways to align properly.
With the basic two bits of flat bar which push apart type, it is easy to have a sideways kink at the joint position if you are not careful. I recently bought a set and they are much better.

 

[gaz1]

It's really not.

Look out for Peter Millard on YT, he's a Festool nut, and has done a review of them all. Even the cheapest middle aisle tracksaw does the job, the limitation being getting hold of matching longer tracks for some models bearing in mind the ones they come with are only short - 600 ish I think.

600.00 vs free is one hell of a difference to very little benefit of using them though i would advise having a strong wood case to carry the 6ft and 4ft track into it or it will get damaged

as goes for a straight piece of wood easy enough with a circular saw or even a homemade one

 

[Mark 2]

The trick is that the blade has to be absolutely parallel to the saw baseplate, (which on most saws is not rigid enough) and therefore parallel to any fence, and also the track stops the saw rocking side to side lengthways, if that makes sense.

Thanks for that, I was struggling to see the advantages, after all it's still a circular blade cutting.
Looks like I need one now.

 

[Keith 66]

Festool= Rolls Royce pricing policy....

True their gear is expensive but its seriously good kit. I bought a Ts55 tracksaw about 6 years ago, we needed two large built in custom bookcases making for our living room. We got quotes from two firms who wanted 7k upwards & still wanted to use standard sized units. So i got the Festool tracksaw & a pile of faced mdf, That tracksaw paid for itself in the first week, speed accuracy, clean sharp splinter free cuts, it was a revelation to me.
The other thing is their service, three year guarrantee on everything. I had a Festool detail sander & it conked out, long out of guarrantee they came back with a price to fix it that was reasonable & it came back completely rebuilt.

 

[GRW]

I have the MacAllister Track Saw (I also didn't want to spend big).
Settled on that one as I read that it'd run on Makita Track.... & Googling I was able to pick up some new, on offer Makita Track to increase over the 1200mm (iirc) that the saw came with (& MacAllister don't sell extra track).
I bought it mainly to cut 6mm ply sheets etc while converting my camper (I don't have the skills for furniture-making) - so I can't comment on what it's capable of.

 

[dobbslc]

I have an Erbauer track saw and it's pretty impressive for what it cost me!
It makes very very clean cuts that you have no chance of making with a circular saw. Looks like they're about £120 now.

 

[Smallfry]

Yes but Peter Millard recommends buying a length of the festool edge and putting it on whichever rail you buy as supposedly it is far superior. And I would be inclined to believe him

We had a Mafell at work, I have got a Makita, and have used Festool saws, and I would say the edges are much the same. I don't remember any noticeable difference TBH

 

[skotl]

600.00 vs free is one hell of a difference...

Evolution track kits start at £130

Track Saws | Guide Rail Compatible Circular Saw | Evolution

Evolution Track Saws are designed to let you make accurate, fast, easy, and clean cuts in a variety of sheets materials. Our Multi-Material Saws easily cut wood, plastic, and metal with just one blade. For complete cutting freedom, why not choose a cordless circular saw and give yourself free...

shop.evolutionpowertools.com

 

[Smallfry]

Evolution track kits start at £130

Track Saws | Guide Rail Compatible Circular Saw | Evolution

Evolution Track Saws are designed to let you make accurate, fast, easy, and clean cuts in a variety of sheets materials. Our Multi-Material Saws easily cut wood, plastic, and metal with just one blade. For complete cutting freedom, why not choose a cordless circular saw and give yourself free...

shop.evolutionpowertools.com

I have an Evolution powerfile, and chop/mitre saw, and for the money, these look like a no brainer !

 

[gaz1]

Evolution track kits start at £130

Track Saws | Guide Rail Compatible Circular Saw | Evolution

Evolution Track Saws are designed to let you make accurate, fast, easy, and clean cuts in a variety of sheets materials. Our Multi-Material Saws easily cut wood, plastic, and metal with just one blade. For complete cutting freedom, why not choose a cordless circular saw and give yourself free...

shop.evolutionpowertools.com

they was 60-70.00 not long ago

 

[skotl]

they was 60-70.00 not long ago

No they weren't