Track Saws

[marcros]

I have a couple of jobs coming up that could make use of a track saw- they are both cutting of sheet material, and are jobs for myself, so non chargeable. The other task that O would use it for is trimming the waney edge off sawn timber from time to time.

I would need 2 guide rails.

Festool will set me back £400 or so. If I was a pro, it would be a no brainer, but I am not. No viable secondhand options.
Scheppach will set me back about £220. This is with 2 tracks @ 1400mm and some clamps. I dont know how different the cut quality is, but I could replace the blade if the difference is largely due to that. The clamps look usable, but are not as good as the festool.

Any thoughts? Any alternatives? I need it in the next month, so the cheap lidl special isnt an option unless somebody is selling one.

 

[Wuffles]

If you don't think you'll use it again, can't you borrow one? Alternatively, buy the Festool, the resale value will make it about the price of a rental.

 

[marcros]

i think that i will use it, but it wont be all day, every day.

I have the garage roof to re-do which needs ply to be cut to size, and I really need to get it covered in a day. I also have a shoe rack to make to fit a gap. I think that there will be a saving of £100 for make vs buy, so the scheppach or triton is justified on those two tasks. It will get used for more, after that and I would likely get an mft top and a kennel full of parf doggies in due course.

I guess the question is whether anybody is going to say dont touch either of those two, you would be better to buy nothing than to buy either. It is more difficult when I am not dependent on the tools to earn my living- if I was then a whole range of premium features would come into the decision- aftersales support, loan machines, system compatibility etc, and there would be a payback period to consider.

 

[Petey83]

The TS55 is an absolute diamond of a tool if you can take the hit on the price and as mentioned you would likely get a very good resale price for it.

Only other one i used was a Makita one and that was ok but not great - the dewalt one looks decent but never used it.

The Scherpth one looks to come from the same far east factory as a number of other entry level / value priced track saws

 

[Wuffles]

The Festool will most likely cost you £100 or less over a period of 3 years. I don't think the same can be said of the others (speaking as a Mafell owner).

 

[mikefab]

I'm no pro but love my TS55! It's been used for a load of kitchen carcasses and now working on some fitted bedroom furniture.

You don't need the clamps, the track stays put even on slippy stuff like MFC. You could make do with one rail and slide it along mid cut. I tend to cut some bits of scrap to the intended width of cut less 185mm (the width of the rail) and butt them up between the rail and the edge of the board. This results in super consistent rip cuts for carcasses etc. I've just splashed out on a couple of veritas ruler stops to save cutting the scraps so will see how that goes with a couple of steel rules instead.

I can't see the point of MFT and parf dogs for cross cutting. I usually work on a sacrificial mdf board and screw a fence to it along with some bits of wood to hold the rail at 90 to the fence. Screw some temporary stops to the board for repeat cross cuts.

Not sure this answers your question but maybe food for thought.

Mike

 

[AJB Temple]

Face facts. You want a Festool. You are seeking justification for the extra by doing a rough economic analysis of cheaper tools. The justification is that you will regret it if you don't buy the Festool. Stop deliberating - go to shops!

(Disclaimer: I don't have any Festool gear so I am an outcast here ;-) My tracksaw is Mafell bought by my FIL in a sale in Germany. Brilliant tool. Came with three blades as well. But very expensive over here. )

 

[adidat]

You wont go wrong with a ts55. You know it make sense!

Adidat

 

[marcros]

looks like i will have to re-do the sums. the consensus is clear!

 

[pcb1962]

You wont go wrong with a ts55. You know it make sense!

Adidat

+1

 

[MattRoberts]

Isn't the festool overkill for such light use? Why not make your own track and use a circular saw?

 

[paulrockliffe]

I have the Scheppach PL75, great but of kit and no complaints at all. I swapped the blade for a 40t Freud blade and it cuts dead accurately with no tear out.

 

[siggy_7]

I have the Makita and rate it as a tool (my father in law has a TS55 and to use there's not much to separate them in my view). I like the scoring depth stop when cutting laminate, which the Festool doesn't have. You can buy the saw in a hard case with 2 guide rails in a carry bag for £329 at D&M - I don't know the other saws but I suspect it's a step up from the cheaper options whilst not setting you back as much as the TS55.

 

[No skills]

Ts55 no doubt, good back up and accessories, good resale price if you really need too. Once you have the rails you can look into using your routers with them if that floats your boat.
Like the domino the price is a short term sting, but the useage is great.

 

[mbartlett99]

There's a TS55 with rails on fleabay right now £82 with 2 days to go. I can't speak for the other models but the dust collection on the Festool is very good and quality of cut is great.

 

[beech1948]

marcos,

You are about to be taken for a ride by the tool porn addicts. I would look at the results you want, the infrequent use and choose another method and leave the Festool, Makita, De walt track saws in their boxes and keep the money.

Until recently I broke down my sheets of ply/mdf/chipboard/OSB with a wooden guide rail made from workshop leftovers. I have wooden guides 600mm long, 1.2 and 1.6m long and 3m long. I even have one for a saw on one side and a router on the other. I use the router side for groove/dado cuts in cabinet sides.

Every cut I make is as accureate and as clean as a Festool etc.

Look on youtube at the following:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIeIZdrbz-Y

Thats one of many hundreds of videos showing this old trick. Go have a look.

If your use is infrequent then this is the way to go and save the money for other tools.

Al

 

[Setch]

I have the makita. My dad has the Titan from screwfix which cost £99 Inc 2 x 700mm rails. For the money it is staggeringly good!

 

[pollys13]

For garage roof don't know if this is any help but B&Q Wickes do a free cutting service on their plywood and MDF. Might be first three cuts are free rest cost but not loads I think.

 

[Eric The Viking]

I like my Makita (he said, quietly).

I recently bought a 3m rail for it, and that turns out to be surprisingly handy.

The Makita and Festool angle guides (protractor-thingies) seem to be pretty much identical. I have one. I wouldn't buy it again.

I too really like the scoring-blade function - simple and jolly useful, also the ability to hook it onto the track for bevelling (the Festool doesn't have this).

I got a 110V version, which might improve the s/h value, but again, might not (I'm not a trade/on-site user).

Official blade diameter is 165mm rather than the Festool 160mm. It will take either size (and Makita sell both). I have no idea why Makita chose to do this - if you do fit a smaller blade it throws off the depth scale!

That said, depth cutting is stunningly accurate: I have even broken down 8x4 sheets on the hall carpet!*

The dust extraction when breaking down sheet materials is first rate. If you're trimming 2mm off the edge of something, sawdust still goes everywhere. My Parkside (Parkway, Parkhouse, Park-and-ride, whatever: L-I-D-L!) vacuum hose fits straight on without need of an adaptor. If I had a 240V saw, the DX would also be auto-magic.

E.

*OK, it is an old carpet, but even so...

 

[mbartlett99]

I like my Makita (he said, quietly).

I recently bought a 3m rail for it, and that turns out to be surprisingly handy.

The Makita and Festool angle guides (protractor-thingies) seem to be pretty much identical. I have one. I wouldn't buy it again.

I too really like the scoring-blade function - simple and jolly useful, also the ability to hook it onto the track for bevelling (the Festool doesn't have this).

I got a 110V version, which might improve the s/h value, but again, might not (I'm not a trade/on-site user).

Official blade diameter is 165mm rather than the Festool 160mm. It will take either size (and Makita sell both). I have no idea why Makita chose to do this - if you do fit a smaller blade it throws off the depth scale! that said, depth cutting is stunningly accurate: I have broken down 8x4 sheets on the hall carpet!*

The dust extraction when breaking down sheet materials is first rate. If you're trimming 2mm of the edge of something sawdust still goes everywhere. My Parkside (Parkway, Parkhouse, Park-and-ride, whatever: L-I-D-L!) vacuum hose fits straight on without need of ana adaptor. If I had a 240V saw, the DX would also be auto-magic.

E.

OK, it is an old carpet, but even so...

You sir, have balls of steel! Thats a shooting at dawn offence at Stalag Bartlett.

On another note I was going to get a protractor - I find cutting a reliable angle a bit of a pain, one knock and the track is off without noticing. Are they no good?