Best Track saw
In the world of woodworking and carpentry, achieving seamless and precise cuts is an art that demands the right tools. Among the array of cutting implements available, the track saw has emerged as a game-changer, offering woodworkers unparalleled accuracy and smoothness in their craft. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a DIY enthusiast, the choice of the best track saw can make a significant impact on the quality of your work.
We will guide you through the factors that matter most when selecting the ideal track saw for your needs.
Whether you are building furniture, tackling home improvement projects, or crafting intricate designs, the right track saw can be your trusted companion in the pursuit of perfection.
What is a track saw?
A track saw, often hailed as a woodworking marvel, is a specialized cutting tool designed to deliver precision and accuracy in various woodworking and construction projects. Unlike traditional circular saws, a track saw operates on a guided track, ensuring straight and controlled cuts. The key component of a track saw is its track or guide rail, a straight edge along which the saw glides, providing stability and eliminating the need for freehand cutting.
The primary advantage of a track saw lies in its ability to produce clean and straight cuts across a variety of materials, including wood, plywood, and MDF. Woodworkers, carpenters, and DIY enthusiasts appreciate the track saw for its capacity to deliver smooth and splinter-free results, making it an invaluable tool for tasks ranging from building furniture to installing flooring.
Equipped with a powerful motor, the track saw is capable of handling thick materials with ease. The blade, typically featuring a size around 6 ½ inches, ensures efficient cutting through different depths. Moreover, many track saws come with adjustable speed settings, allowing users to tailor the cutting speed to the specific requirements of the material at hand.
One of the distinguishing features of a track saw is its beveling capability, enabling users to make angled cuts. This versatility enhances the tool’s applicability across a spectrum of projects, adding a layer of finesse to woodworking creations.
Its guided cutting mechanism, power, and adaptability make the track saw an essential tool for those seeking efficiency and excellence in their woodworking endeavors.
What’s the difference between a circular saw and a track saw?
Track saw integrates a circular saw with a guide track to achieve exceptionally straight cuts, particularly on lengthy boards or materials. However, several distinctions set them apart:
- Track saws feature more concealed blades, enhancing safety compared to circular saws.
- Built-in dust collectors are typical for track saws, ensuring a tidier workspace, whereas circular saws tend to scatter sawdust.
- Circular saws offer the versatility of making curved cuts, whereas track saws excel at straight, elongated cuts.
- Track saws typically weigh more than circular saws.
- Circular saws generally come at a lower price point than track saws.
- Circular saws have a greater cutting depth capability compared to track saws.
- Track saws incorporate anti-kickback safety features absent in circular saws.
How to choose the best track saws?
Various factors influence the decision-making process when evaluating a track saw for personal use. Let’s delve into an examination of these characteristics.
Blade dimension
Undoubtedly, the saw blade stands out as the saw’s primary asset, with its dimensions dictating the ease with which it can cut through various materials. Typically, track saws are equipped with 6 ½” blades, proficient in effortlessly slicing through materials up to 2” in thickness. Opting for a track saw boasting a larger blade size extends your capability to cut through even thicker materials with precision and efficiency.
Power Evaluation
Assessing the power rating is a crucial factor demanding your attention. In the realm of corded track saws, options range from 10A to 20A output, allowing for a spectrum of power capabilities. Conversely, for cordless track saws, the emphasis shifts to the battery, where a robust 20V battery ensures ample power to drive the blade with optimal efficiency, ensuring seamless operation during your woodworking tasks.
Speed
The effectiveness of the blade hinges on the rotation speed, a critical element to assess. Many track saw models present speed control features, allowing you to safeguard against blade dullness or avoid excess cutting. A track saw that provides a range of variable speeds, typically spanning from 2000 RPM to 5000 RPM, proves advantageous for addressing diverse cutting requirements with precision and adaptability to various materials.
Corded vs. Cordless
This stands as another pivotal consideration in determining the optimal track saw for your needs. Corded track saws offer enhanced power, whereas cordless counterparts prioritize portability and user-friendly operation. The choice between the two depends on the balance you seek between power and convenience in your woodworking or DIY projects.
The discourse surrounding track saws remains nuanced. Corded variants often offer a sense of greater power and eliminate concerns about battery changes, which can be particularly advantageous during demanding cuts such as thick hardwoods. Interruptions for battery swaps mid-cut can lead to imperfect edges. Conversely, cordless track saws provide freedom from tangled cords, especially beneficial when maneuvering lengthy boards, yet the need to adjust or replace batteries may halt progress and compromise precision. Ultimately, the choice boils down to prioritizing uninterrupted power (where accessible) or the convenience of portability (provided spare batteries are available).
Beveling Capability
The versatility of a track saw extends when it can execute bevel cuts, significantly enriching your woodworking repertoire for a variety of projects. Opting for a track saw with a bevel capacity ranging from 0° to 45° not only broadens your creative possibilities but also ensures practical utility in diverse applications.
Track Length
Different track lengths serve various purposes, with options ranging from 2 to 8 feet. For efficient workshop operations, having 2-, 4-, and 8-foot tracks ensures swift setup and consistent outcomes. Modular tracks offer versatility, particularly suited for job site tasks. They enable users to connect smaller segments, creating longer tracks, which proves invaluable for projects like composite decks where precise cuts are crucial. While a track saw excels at crosscutting wide boards and ripping plywood sheets, using a track that’s either too short or too long can hinder progress and compromise accuracy. Resetting a track midway through a cut introduces potential errors, leading to less precise results. Hence, careful consideration of track length is essential to maintain the precision and efficiency that define the essence of a track saw.
Safety Features
Track saws distinguish themselves from circular saws by more than just their specially crafted bases designed to glide along a track, although they inherit the circular saw’s lineage. They boast variable speed settings, robust motors, superior blades, and are purposefully engineered for precision work. What sets them apart is their inherent safety advantage, especially evident during long cuts. The track furnishes a predetermined path for the blade, affording users the opportunity to anticipate and navigate potential obstacles that could lead to kickback. Some models feature cam locks to prevent the saw from recoiling towards the user or dislodging from the track in case of kickback. While carpenters often employ homemade jigs like “shoot boards” or “shooting boards” to guide circular saws for straight cuts, track saws elevate this concept with added features like anti-chip rubber strips along track edges and adhesive rubber strips underneath to enhance stability. Despite these advancements, supplementary precautions such as clamps to secure the track to the work surface are recommended for demanding cuts. Additionally, accessories like chip guards and premium blades further enhance the performance and safety of track saws, ensuring they meet the rigorous demands of professional tasks.
Best Track Saw
Overview
Best overall track saw – Makita SP6000J 6-1/2-Inch Plunge Circular Saw
Best budget track saw – WEN CT1065 10-Amp 6.5-Inch Plunge Cut Sidewinder Circular Track Saw, Black
Best cordless track saw – Makita DSP600ZJ 18Vx2 (36V) LXT Brushless 6-1/2″ Plunge Cut Saw
Best complete kit – Kreg ACS2000 Adaptive Cutting System Saw + Guide Track Kit
Best overall track saw – Makita SP6000J 6-1/2-Inch Plunge Circular Saw
- 12 AMP motor with variable speed control dial (2,000 – 5,200 RPM) for optimum performance in a variety of materials
- Large cutting capacity (2-3/16″ at 90° and 1-9/16″ at 45°). Power Type- Corded
- Bevel capability (-1 to 48°) with positive stops at 22.5° and 45°
- Makita SP6000J1 6-1/2″ Plunge Circular Saw Kit, with Stackable Tool case and 55″ Guide Rail
- Powerful 12.0 AMP motor for optimum performance in a wide variety of materials
- Precision accurate cutting delivers a splinter-free mirror finish
- Electronic speed control maintains constant speed under load for smooth cutting
- Variable speed control dial (2,000-5,200 RPM) enables user to match the speed to the application
- Large cutting capacity (2-3/16″ at 90° and 1-9/16″ at 45°)
Best budget track saw – WEN CT1065 10-Amp 6.5-Inch Plunge Cut Sidewinder Circular Track Saw
- Ditch the table saw: rip boards up to 2-1/3 inches thick with clean, splinter-free cuts
- Create 45-degree bevel cuts in boards up to 1-5/8 inches thick
- Perfect for ripping boards or for performing internal plunge cuts
- Includes a 6.5-inch 24-tooth carbide-tipped blade (165 mm) with a 20 mm arbor
- Compatible with the WEN CT9502 100-Inch Track and the WEN CT992F Track Saw Clamps
Best cordless track saw – Makita DSP600ZJ 18Vx2 (36V) LXT Brushless 6-1/2″ Plunge Cut Saw
- Brushless DC motor with high power to weight and size ratio
- Brushless DC motor generates less heat buildup and is ideal for prolonged use in manufacturing/production applications
- Automatic torque Drive Technology (ADT) feature adjusts the torque and speed according to the load condition, enabling rapid movement between high speed and high torque applications
- Battery protection system provides over-discharge, temperature and current protection for enhanced performance, battery cycle life and overall battery life
- High performance and lightweight design with magnesium diecast baseplate
Best track saw for heavy-duty – BOSCH Tools Track Saw – GKT13-225L 6-1/2 In. Precision Saw with Plunge Action & Carrying Case
- Track saw with plunge action – provides fast, easy setup for one-step clean finish cuts in wood and wood-based sheet goods such as laminated particle boards and plywood
- Plunge mechanism – allows for precise plunge cuts with accurate depth of cut
- Single bevel pivot point – when sawing using a track (sold separately), the track can be positioned in the same way for bevel cuts or non-bevel cuts
- Constant electronics – helps maintain speed under the load of more-demanding applications
- Overload protection – protect the motor from overheating
- Efficient dust extraction – when connected to suitable vacuum cleaner, supports easier working conditions
- Swiveling hose port – keeps optional vacuum cleaner hose out of the way
Best complete kit – Kreg ACS2000 Adaptive Cutting System Saw + Guide Track Kit
- Plunge saw and saw guide combine into an adaptive cutting tool
- Woodworking Plunge Saw: Left-bladed circular saw has a retracting blade that can start cutting anywhere on materials
- Straight Edge Guide: The aluminum saw guide track ensures precise, straight, and splinter-free cuts
- Secure Workshop Accessories: The anti-slip strips on the track saw guide secure material without clamps
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between a track saw and a plunge saw?
A plunge saw, which is essentially another term for a track saw, offers the advantage of initiating cuts anywhere along the board, rather than strictly from the edge.
Are track saws identical to circular saws?
Track saws originate from sidewinder-style circular saws, but they’re not identical. Circular saws possess smooth bases for gliding along the workpiece, whereas track saws feature grooves that securely fit into a track, facilitating precise straight cuts.
Can I use a track saw without a track?
Yes, it’s possible, but not as convenient as using it with a track. Without the track, maintaining the saw in the plunged position requires additional effort, which can impact accuracy.
What is the maximum cutting depth of track saws?
Most track saws can cut slightly over 2 inches deep; however, larger models can achieve depths of up to 2½ inches.
How do you replace the blade on a track saw?
Track saws typically offer blade-change settings that lock the plunging action. Once in the blade-change mode, users simply loosen the arbor nut securing the blade and then proceed to replace it.
What sets apart a track saw from a plunge saw?
A plunge saw, which is essentially another term for a track saw, offers the advantage of initiating cuts anywhere along the board, rather than strictly from the edge. This flexibility in starting points lends the tool its alternative moniker.
Which track size is optimal for a track saw?
While a 55-inch track is commonly used, the ideal track size varies depending on the project at hand. Hence, it’s beneficial to have a selection of tracks in different lengths or opt for tracks that can be interconnected, allowing for customization of length according to specific needs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the track saw stands as an indispensable ally in the world of woodworking and construction, offering a blend of precision, power, and versatility that sets it apart from conventional cutting tools. Its guided cutting system ensures accuracy and eliminates the guesswork associated with freehand cutting, making it a top choice for professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike.
From its ability to effortlessly glide through various materials, including wood and plywood, to the convenience of adjustable speed settings and beveling capabilities, the track saw caters to a broad spectrum of projects with finesse. The clean, splinter-free cuts it produces speak volumes about its commitment to delivering polished results.
Whether you’re crafting furniture, installing flooring, or engaging in intricate woodworking projects, the track saw emerges as a reliable companion, simplifying tasks and elevating the overall quality of craftsmanship. The choice between corded and cordless options further adds a layer of customization, allowing users to prioritize either power or portability based on their specific needs.
In the realm of precision cutting, the track saw reigns supreme, offering not just a tool but a solution to the challenges posed by traditional cutting methods. As technology continues to evolve, the track saw remains at the forefront of innovation, embodying efficiency, and excellence in every cut. Embrace the guided precision of the track saw and elevate your woodworking experience to new heights.
