Track Saw Question

[Hemsby]

Thinking of buying a track saw. After looking at many video clips it seems like it could not be simpler to mark a couple of lines on the material to be cut and positioning the track against these lines and off you go. However this is where I seem to struggle a little.

If the track has a sacrificial strip on its edge is it that strip that lines up with your marks, if so what happens if the strip wears, (which I assume is inevitable) is it possible the strip edge would no longer be parallel to the track :?: .

I know the strip is replicable.

Clearly these saws have been around for a number of years, but using a flexible edge for positioning purposes seems alien to me. Have I missed something or am I thinking too far ahead #-o .

 

[SteveF]

there is minimal wear to the strip, if any
the strip is not "soft" as such
the strip starts off oversize and the blade cuts it to size
it in my opinion very accurate and we are as woodworkers not working to thousandths
i could cut every strip off an mdf sheet to a "feel" \ "touch" perfection with just pencil lines

Steve

this is with the festool. i cant speak for other brands

 

[MattRoberts]

Same for the scheppach - it's a stiff rubber strip that provides zero clearance, and once its cut its not going to cut / wear any further.

The only issue is if you change the blade, but I believe you can buy new rubber strips to re-cut as zero clearance

 

[skipdiver]

I have had a Makita for a few years and the rubber strip has definitely reduced in size during that time. It has had a lot of use though. In fact i was using it today and thinking that maybe it is time to get some new strips for it. Even with the worn one, it is easy to just allow for it as you go along and i now put the strip edge about a mm back from the pencil mark to get accuracy.

 

[petermillard]

I use mine a lot, so I replace the rail strips more-or-less annually, though some rails are used more than others, of course. I generally buy Makita 3 metre rail strips (about £7-odd) as these cover a variety of rail sizes, and I prefer the black strip to Festool's translucent. If you prefer to stick to Festool's, then the 5-metre strip is about £17.

Or if you're feeling thrifty, you can peel the worn rail strip off and reposition it to get a bit more life out of it; warming it up a bit helps soften the double-sided tape.

 

[SteveF]

I use mine a lot, so I replace the rail strips more-or-less annually, though some rails are used more than others, of course. I generally buy Makita 3 metre rail strips (about £7-odd) as these cover a variety of rail sizes, and I prefer the black strip to Festool's translucent. If you prefer to stick to Festool's, then the 5-metre strip is about £17.

Or if you're feeling thrifty, you can peel the worn rail strip off and reposition it to get a bit more life out of it; warming it up a bit helps soften the double-sided tape.

that sounds interesting
are they the same thickness\quality?

Steve

 

[transatlantic]

It's an etremely quick and easy way to cut sheet goods, and combined with a "mft type top" (see ebay, they're around £50) allows you to make square cuts on smaller pieces with ease (see Peter Parfits videos on youtube)

It's one of those ... why didn't they think of this yeeeeears ago type things. I mean, we've have circular saws and straight edges for a while. Why did no one think to attach the saw to the edge rather than just follow it! .... or maybe they did. I'm going to assume these jigs have existed well before festool made it popular. It's just only recently become a commerical thing

 

[Wizard9999]

I have the Makita. I was using it yesterday to cut 2.4m long chipboard flooring (at home but my workshop too small to use my table saw for that) and did think I need to replace the strips as I am also making a very small allowance when positioning. Glad to hear they are only £7

I would mention one thing though. When I bought my Makita one thing I did not realise is that there is one it does not have that the Festool does that may have ended up being a factor in my decision, the Makita has no riving knife, where as I believe the Festool does. Almost be definition most of my cuts are on lengths over 2m that are too big for the table saw in my workshop, while I have never had a cut close up to the extent the saw kicks back (is that still the right term) a riving knife would give peace of mind. But like everything Festool of course it comes at a cost. Bit off topic, but thought I would mention it.

Terry.

PS how is that WarCo sander performing? Still umming and erring about one. You did well buying when you did as they have gone up in price since then.

 

[petermillard]

I use mine a lot, so I replace the rail strips more-or-less annually, though some rails are used more than others, of course. I generally buy Makita 3 metre rail strips (about £7-odd) as these cover a variety of rail sizes, and I prefer the black strip to Festool's translucent. If you prefer to stick to Festool's, then the 5-metre strip is about £17.

Or if you're feeling thrifty, you can peel the worn rail strip off and reposition it to get a bit more life out of it; warming it up a bit helps soften the double-sided tape.

that sounds interesting
are they the same thickness\quality?

Steve

The Makita's a bit more 'rubbery' the Festool more 'plasticky'; haven't put a micrometer on either, so if there's a difference in thickness it hasn't make any difference to the quality of cut I'm getting.

Re. riving knives and potential for the blade to get pinched, if it looks like this might be an issue then a kerf-sized packer or wedge inserted at the start of the cut should help prevent this.

HTH Pete

 

[Hemsby]

Thank's for the replies. All is now clear

 

[chippy1970]

I replaced all my festool rail strips with the Makita stuff too. Works perfectly.

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[Steve Maskery]

The advantage of the clear stuff over black is that it easier to see the pencil mark. A black pencil mark against a black edge is pretty darned invisible.

Personally I don't rely on a pencil mark at all, I use a setting gauge to reference off the back edge of the track. It means that I can cut to any width, accurately and as repeatable as a tablesaw would do. Saves faffing about with a tape measure.

 

[petermillard]

The advantage of the clear stuff over black is that it easier to see the pencil mark. A black pencil mark against a black edge is pretty darned invisible.

Well, that's exactly the opposite for me, so we'll have to agree to disagree there, Steve; I chose the black Makita strip specifically because I find it easier to see than the translucent Festool strip...

Cheers, Pete

 

[Steve Maskery]

LOL!, as the I believe the down-with-the-hepcats say. Chacun as son gout, eh?

 

[chippy1970]

The advantage of the clear stuff over black is that it easier to see the pencil mark. A black pencil mark against a black edge is pretty darned invisible.

Well, that's exactly the opposite for me, so we'll have to agree to disagree there, Steve; I chose the black Makita strip specifically because I find it easier to see than the translucent Festool strip...

Cheers, Pete

Me too I found it harder to line up with the clear. They peel off too easy too

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[slate1234]

I cant believe you only change the strip once a year on your makita rail, I change mine every two months but I use it every day for work, I have also brought the guide rail adaptor for both my routers (makita) and battery saw (makita) it works great with the routers I haven't tried the battery saw yet but I will be tomorrow.

 

[DiscoStu]

Personally I don't rely on a pencil mark at all, I use a setting gauge to reference off the back edge of the track. It means that I can cut to any width, accurately and as repeatable as a tablesaw would do. Saves faffing about with a tape measure.[/quote


Steve, please can you explain a little more what you mean? Sounds interesting / useful!



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[Wizard9999]

Personally I don't rely on a pencil mark at all, I use a setting gauge to reference off the back edge of the track. It means that I can cut to any width, accurately and as repeatable as a tablesaw would do. Saves faffing about with a tape measure.

Steve, please can you explain a little more what you mean? Sounds interesting / useful!



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Stu

See Steve's post on 21st June at 16:46?
1-steve-s-workshop-the-build-t79315-225.html

Terry.

 

[petermillard]

I cant believe you only change the strip once a year on your makita rail, I change mine every two months but I use it every day for work, I have also brought the guide rail adaptor for both my routers (makita) and battery saw (makita) it works great with the routers I haven't tried the battery saw yet but I will be tomorrow.

Well, like I said, some rails are used more than others, and the 'repositioning' trick extends their, life if needed. I do feel the Makita strips seem to wear faster than the translucent Festool ones - but maybe that's because I can see them more clearly

Cheers, Pete