I have been considering purchasing a new table saw. My current saw is a 9 inch Delta about 35 years old. I am looking at the SAWSTOP jobsite model.
While at the JLC show in RI, I had the opportunity to view different saws( Skil, Bosch, Sawstop). The Festool exhibit goy my attention. Festool had a large exhibit with many exciting tools. I was very interested in their tracksaws. One of the main reasons for wanting a new saw was to be able to rip sheet goods. According to Festool their tracksaws will easily handle the task.
Keeping my existing T saw, would I be better off having a track saw in my shop (very small)?
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nothing beats a good table saw, but if your planning on using it on site, then the track saw is a good option. the versatility is great.
i would not opt for a track saw over a table saw for a shop tho.
I bought the Makita track saw in 2010 which has the same track as the Festool. I have two of the Makita 55" tracks. At first I had the Makita clamps for the track but switched to the DeWalt as they are one handed.
My only regret, that I waited so long to do this. I use a fair amount of plywood and being able to rough cut pieces in the garage and move them to the basement for finish cutting, if needed, has been wonderful.
I made a plywood cutting platform which improves the handeling of cuts. Before I would have to cut the sheet being cut and catch the cutoff part. Now it is supported and easy for me.
A good tracksaw will change your life. If you have a reasonably good tablesaw now, I'd say keep it and add the Festool or other brand that is equal. I have a very good tablesaw... a euro type slider, MiniMax. This thing will chomp through wood like nobody's business. Still, handling a full sheet is a job for me. So, I break it down using the Festool (TS55). Often the cut with the track saw is the finish cut. I don't bother with the tablesaw.
There are some cuts that can be made with the Festool that I can duplicate with my slider but can't with a conventional tablesaw. For instance, 45º crosscuts on two mating lengths of finish plywood (one piece is at least six feet long) to result in a perfect miter joint. Throw in the complication of expensive veneer on this ply... stuff that I don't want to mess up. I can do this on a slider but to attempt it on a conventional saw, even with a sled, is dicey. But the Festool will lay over to 45º and be dead on. Put the track exactly to the line... and make the cuts. The results have been perfect in at least a dozen projects.
Another common instance: Draw a straight line onto a sheet of ply in any direction, any angle, any degree of bevel within 45º. Try to cut it on a tablesaw. If you can, I'd like to know what you did. I can make the cut in about two minutes with my Festool.
It will change your life. And, I'm not a salesman for the things. Buy any brand you want. I only know the brand I've got. A good friend bought the dewalt a few years ago and he says it's a distant second to my saw. I don't know about any other brand.
These things are expensive but if you do this for a living you ought to have one.
Um, Yeah...
sapwood wrote:These things are expensive but if you do this for a living you ought to have one.
'Advanced amateur' here, currently working thru how I can 'adapt' my 40-something Craftsman 10" table saw to more effectively capture dust, while not creating a Frankensaw that'll kill the TEFC 2 HP motor I mounted to it 15 years ago. Those are expensive too now!
That last line I quoted turned me away from spending $1,400 on one of these Festool package deals (Price Increase April 1st! SAVE $20!!). If I were making money at what I do, it'd be different.
I have an EZ-smart system. Really like having it as an option to use.