Track Saw on a Budget

[Petey83]

So i know this sort of subject is often discussed and i myself in richer times have asked advice on buying a track saw but now with times changed i am asking from a different view point.

So before i say anything i will say i have had a Festool TS55 which i loved but i sold it The reason for selling it was simple - i am an amateur without a covered workspace and on a small back yard to work in that cannot even be directly accessed from the flat. Due to this i spent a lot more time making smaller items with hand tools. It was an amazing saw but i could not justify keeping it given its occasional use.

Now with the sun shining a fair bit in the last few month or so i have been back outside making a few larger items. My trusty old Makita 5704 (never did sell it when i had the festool) has been ok and with a bit of time and the use of guide rails and home made jigs it has produced decent results same as it did before but i have found both solutions more time consuming and less accurate when making repeated cuts (granted this could be a skills issue on my part)

So i have started looking at track saws again and decided it will have to be on a tight budget of £200 max. This gives me 2 main options if i buy knew - the Triton and the Scheppach. I have done my own research already and not seem much on the triton but a fair amount does exist on the Scheppach (and its bagged brothers) and it looks like a decent saw with a bit of tweaking and a new blade fitted.

Another option i have found is the Metabo KS55 which appears to work with metabo track but lacks plunge action (not a major issue for me) however there is not much material on this saw in terms of use with track and the track seems to be hardish to find although not impossible.

I guess a 4 option would be looking about for a second hand Makita track saw but not even sure thats possible in my budget and has the added complications of having to get somewhere to collect etc etc.

so i guess what i am after is peoples experience and views on the 3 possible options.....

thanks in advance and sorry for the long winded post!!

 

[rdesign]

u just missed the lidl version for 55 pound a month or so ago. but it was the sheppach rebranded.... not much help

 

[woodenstx]

When I was looking (and eventually caved in to get the TS55 for hobby use lol) at track saws I saw several youtube videos on making home made guide rails for a "track saw", ie a zero clearance jig etc.
If you have a decent circular saw, then maybe you could consider the homebrew option as opposed to the super cheap option that might not be "perfect"

 

[Petey83]

When I was looking (and eventually caved in to get the TS55 for hobby use lol) at track saws I saw several youtube videos on making home made guide rails for a "track saw", ie a zero clearance jig etc.
If you have a decent circular saw, then maybe you could consider the homebrew option as opposed to the super cheap option that might not be "perfect"

i have been doing this but they are not perfect so decided to move back up to a track saw.....

anyway i have ended up selling off a few collectables i've been meaning to for a while and have stumped up for another TS55 with midi dust extractor 8)

 

[Eric The Viking]

... have stumped up for another TS55 with midi dust extractor 8)

I don't think you'll regret it. I swallowed hard when I got the Makita equivalent, but it's one of those real essentials now I wouldn't be without.

I found out, incidentally, that Makita do a 3m rail, and it's very, very much less expensive than the Festool one. Given you don't really need Festool accessories such as distance stops on a 3m rail (I'd guess), and that the two brands are otherwise almost interchangeable (the clamps fit both, for example), it's worth bbearing in mind if you ever need a long rail.

I bought the Makita protractor ("angle guide"), which is again almost identical to the Festool one. It's a complete waste of time & money - almost impossible to set accurately - so don't bother!

E.

 

[Petey83]

... have stumped up for another TS55 with midi dust extractor 8)

I don't think you'll regret it. I swallowed hard when I got the Makita equivalent, but it's one of those real essentials now I wouldn't be without.

I found out, incidentally, that Makita do a 3m rail, and it's very, very much less expensive than the Festool one. Given you don't really need Festool accessories such as distance stops on a 3m rail (I'd guess), and that the two brands are otherwise almost interchangeable (the clamps fit both, for example), it's worth bbearing in mind if you ever need a long rail.

I bought the Makita protractor ("angle guide"), which is again almost identical to the Festool one. It's a complete waste of time & money - almost impossible to set accurately - so don't bother!

E.

i know i wont regret it - i had the TS55 before but sold it due to the notion i could get by ok without it...... now i have been getting buy but everything has been x10 the hassle and a LOT more dust in the air!!

 

[Rich.ca]

Maybe a little late, but I have a Worx Pro track saw. Cheaper than the big brands and does the job perfectly. Its also compatible with the Makita and Festool tracks. I think I paid £80 for the saw and £25 for a 1500mm track. For occasional use I can't fault it.