7 Best Track Saw for DIYs
Track saws are an essential addition to your workshop for many reasons. The best track saw should deliver level power and precision that no other tools, including table and circular saws, can provide. In as much as this tool is essential for DIYers and even professional woodworkers, putting some thoughts and time when making a purchase is also essential.
With the many models available on the market, wading through the various features, prices, specific details, and prices can be challenging. That said, below is a narrowed down review of the best track saw for DIYs that you should consider purchasing.
Festool 575389 Plunge Cut Track Saw
The Festool 575389 Plunge Cut Track Saw is probably the best track saw for DIYs who want to achieve splinter-free and perfectly straight cuts on their woodworking projects.
Construction and Design
The Festool 575389 Plunge Cut Track Saw measures 11.6 x 15.6 x 16.7 inches and weighs 13.6 pounds. The metal construction assures that it can withstand tough abuse and long-lasting use.
Ease of Use
There is no much assembly required to begin using this powerful track saw. It also comes with guide rail precision that makes perfect cuts every time. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Power and Performance
The Festool 575389 Plunge Cut Track Saw is a corded-electric unit that runs on 120V. The motor is powerful enough to provide materials that are 2.75-inches thick with ease. The two available sizes, which include the 9-blade and cordless options, provide an assurance that the 8.25-inch saw blade would handle any cut while providing optimum results.
Attachments
The saw comes with the splinter guard, flag window, vision panel, and a wrench.
Safety System
The Festool 575389 Plunge Cut Track Saw features an integrated spring-triggered riving knife with a slip clutch that reduces the chances of kickback and provides maximum user control.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleaning the unit is easy due to the inclusion of the 27/36mm dust extraction port.
Value for Money
The Festool 575389 Plunge Cut Track Saw costs between $500 and $1000 and comes with a 3-year warranty.
Pros
- Sturdy build
- Powerful motor
- Slip clutch for safety
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Guardrails not included
Festool 201399 TSC Cordless Track Saw
The Festool 201399 TSC Cordless Track Saw is a good track saw of choice for DIYs looking to achieve perfect cuts for all their woodworking tasks.
Construction and Design
The Festool 201399 TSC Cordless Track Saw measures 15.5 x 11.6 x 12.8 inches and weighs 21.9 pounds. It features a sturdy construction that withstands professional DIY tasks.
Ease of Use
The Festool 201399 TSC Cordless Track Saw is battery powered. Therefore, among your assembly prerequisites is fixing the batteries. That aside, using the system is easy.
Power and Performance
The unit runs on two lithium-ion batteries that deliver 18V and 100 watts to the motor. The batteries provide enough power for the saw to rip through approximately 100 meters without necessitating a recharge.
Attachments
The Festool 201399 TSC Cordless Track Saw comes with a dust collection bag, splinter guard, lithium-ion battery, battery charger, and a 48-tooth blade.
Safety System
The riving knife is a sure safety feature that ensures the unit doesn’t cause accidental cuts or injuries. It prevents kickbacks when the saw is engaged.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The inclusion of dust port and dust collection bag makes it easy to clean the Festool 201399 TSC Cordless Track Saw.
Value for Money
The Festool 201399 TSC Cordless Track Saw costs between $700 and $1000 with a 3-year comprehensive warranty.
Pros
- Powerful motor
- Efficient guardrail precision
- Included dust collection bag
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- FS rails not included
- Expensive
Festool Emerald Edition TS Circular Saw
The Festool Emerald Edition TS Circular Saw is another above-average technological saw that provides high-end accuracy and versatility. It is also extremely lightweight for portable use.
Construction and Design
The Festool Emerald Edition TS Circular Saw weighs 9.92lbs with heavy-duty construction that handles even the toughest woodworking tasks.
Ease of Use
Using the Festool Emerald Edition TS Circular Saw is unbelievably easy. You can fix the guide rail on the saw or mount it on the multifunction table, which assures woodworkers of making straight and splinter-free cuts.
Power and Performance
The Festool Emerald Edition TS Circular Saw is a powerful unit with an arbor size of 20mm. It provides up to 500mm cutting depth on guide rails and 55mm without the rail. The motor runs the 6.25-inch saw blade at speeds ranging from 2000 to 5200RPM for efficient sawing.
Attachments
The saw includes a splinter guard, carbide saw blade, plug-it power cord, and limit stop F5/2.
Safety System
The spring-loaded ricing knife prevents chances of kickback by keeping the cut kerf open, which minimizes the wear on the blade and resulting injuries.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The included dust port minimizes the accumulation of dust and provides a clear view of the working piece, which lessens cleanup time.
Value for Money
The Festool Emerald Edition TS Circular Saw costs between $700 and $100 with a three-year warranty.
Pros
- Perfectly straight and splinter-free cuts
- Riving knife for safe use
- Slip clutch
- Fastfix system for quick blade changes
Cons
- Quite expensive
Bosch Tools GKT13225L Track Saw
Bosch is a well-established manufacturer of power tools with many quality products on the market. The Bosch Tools GKT13225L Track Saw is a good choice for those who want to make quality cuts on various sheets.
Construction and Design
The Bosch Tools GKT13225L Track Saw measures 14.4 x 9.5 x 9.4 inches and weighs 10.2 pounds. The saw construction engineering enables it to fit precisely on the track.
Ease of Use
Minimal assembly and adjustments are essential to use the Bosch Tools GKT13225L Track Saw. You will also need to attach it to the power source.
Power and Performance
The Bosch Tools GKT13225L Track Saw uses the 120V power supply to power the motor for deep cuts with its 6.5-inch blade diameter. It has a no-load RPM ranging between 3600 and 6250 with a 20mm arbor size.
Attachments
The saw comes with a blade, blade wrench, vacuum hose adapter, and carrying case.
Safety System
The Bosch Tools GKT13225L Track Saw features a spindle lock and lock-off mechanism that ensure safe operation. It also has overload protection that prevents workplace accidents.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The unit has a dust port that allows for efficient dust extraction when connected to a vacuum cleaner.
Value for Money
The Bosch Tools GKT13225L Track Saw cost less than $700 with a one-year warranty.
Pros
- Plunge mechanism allows for precise cuts
- Overload protection
- Efficient dust extraction
- Quality construction
Cons
- Single bevel pivot point sold separately
Festool 575387 Plunge Cut Track Saw
The Festool 575387 Plunge Cut Track Saw cannot be compared to the standard track saws on the market. They deliver unmatched accuracy and versatility with incredible portability.
Construction and Design
The Festool 575387 Plunge Cut Track Saw measures 39.5 x 29.5 x 32.5 inches and weighs approximately 7.69 pounds. The lightweight nature makes it very portable for versatile use.
Ease of Use
Minimal assembly, such as adjusting the guardrails, is required to get the saw operational. The lightweight nature makes it easy to use the saw for precise cutting tasks.
Power and Performance
The Festool 575387 Plunge Cut Track Saw is a corded-electric unit that runs on 120V. It has a 6.25-inch blade diameter that provides cutting depths of 1 11/16 inches at 45 degrees and an overall cutting depth between 0 to 55mm depending on the cutting angles.
Attachments
The saw comes with a fine-tooth saw blade, hex key, splinter guard, and slight window.
Safety System
As with other quality track saws, the Festool 575387 Plunge Cut Track Saw features a riving knife that reduces the chances of kickback and gives the user full control of the saw.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The integrated dust port makes it easy to clean the unit. Maintaining also requires a routine check on the various parts.
Value for Money
The Festool 575387 Plunge Cut Track Saw costs between $500 and $700 with a 3-year warranty.
Pros
- Powerful motor
- Safety riving knife
- Fastfix system for easy blade changing
Cons
- Rail not included
Dewalt DC520B Cordless Track Saw
Dewalt is a popular brand in the power saw industry. The Dewalt DC520B Cordless Track Saw is a cordless designed track saw that easily powers through various woodworking tasks.
Construction and Design
The Dewalt DC520B Cordless Track Saw measures 12 x 10 x 10 inches and weighs 12.5 pounds. The tough construction assures long-lasting durability.
Ease of Use
Using the saw is straightforward. While it doesn’t require much assembly, you will need to fix the batteries that power the motor.
Power and Performance
The Dewalt DC520B Cordless Track Saw operates under 60V to provide power to the brushless motor, which effortlessly powers through wood with a thickness of up to 2 1/8 inches. It delivers a maximum cutting depth of 2 1/8 inches at 90 degrees and 1 5/8 inches at 45 degrees.
Attachments
The track saw unit comes with one blade and a blade change wrench.
Safety System
The Dewalt DC520B Cordless Track Saw, like other high-end power saws, features an effective anti-kickback mechanism and riving knife that prevents kickbacks when operational.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleaning the Dewalt DC520B Cordless Track Saw is easy, thanks to its low profile guard facilitating up to 90 percent dust extraction.
Value for Money
The unit costs less between $250 and $500 with a 3-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Splinter free and precise cuts
- Continuous anti-kickback mechanism
- Effective dust extraction
- Powerful motor
Cons
- Battery and charger sold separately
Festool 201394 TSC 55 REB Basic Cordless Track Saw
The Festool 201394 TSC 55 REB Basic Cordless Track Saw is a cordless alternative to corded-electric track saws that delivers versatile and precise cutting. The saw enables avid woodworkers to take their cutting tasks anywhere they go.
Construction and Design
The Festool 201394 TSC 55 REB Basic Cordless Track Saw measures 11.6 x 11.6 x 15.6 inches and weighs 10.14lbs. The assorted construction makes it portable enough to be used on the go.
Ease of Use
The Festool 201394 TSC 55 REB Basic Cordless Track Saw is a cordless power saw. Therefore, you should fix the batteries to get it operational. That aside, there are no other major assembly procedures required for the machine to operate.
Power and Performance
The Festool 201394 TSC 55 REB Basic Cordless Track Saw battery provides 18V that enables the saw to make cuts of up to 100 meters at 5200RPM on a single charge. The saw provides cutting depths of 1 15/16 inches straight down.
Attachments
The saw comes with a 48-tooth blade, chip collection bag, a splinter guard, and T-Loc Systainer SYS.
Safety System
The splinter guards fixed on both sides of the blade minimizes stray cuts on the wood while ensuring that you don’t accidentally touch the blade.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The included dust collection bag prevents the accumulation of dust when sawing, which makes it easy to clean the unit after use.
Value for Money
The Festool 201394 TSC 55 REB Basic Cordless Track Saw costs less than $500.
Pros
- Powerful motor for DIY woodworking tasks
- Splinter-free cuts
- Protective splinter guards
- Lightweight and portable
Cons
- Battery, charger, and guardrail not included
- Plastic make
Best Track Saw Buying Guide
With a good idea of the best products available on the market, below are some of the considerations to help you make the right choice.
ü Maximum Speed
The speed of power saws measured as Revolutions per Minute, RPM, helps in determining what the saw can cut through. The bigger the RPM, the easier it can cut through thick materials. Similarly, the smaller the RPM, the harder it becomes to cut through various woodworking materials. That said, you should consider track saws with high RPM for an easier time. Most models have RPMs between 2000 and 5000.
ü Power
Woodworking machines, just like any other machine, require enough power to handle various projects. As such, you should choose a model that provides enough power to handle your intended woodworking tasks. Typically, the best track saw for DIY should have power ratings of 9amps and above.
ü Brand Name
As you might have noticed, there are various brands of power tools. These include both new and established brands with reputable tools on the market. Dewalt, for instance, is an easily recognized name in power tools. Purchasing from established brands come with various benefits. For starters, you will access spare parts with ease at an affordable price. Small brands may not be around for long, meaning that you may lack even the basic replacement parts.
ü Safety
Power tools can cause injuries even to experienced woodworkers. The best way of minimizing these risks is ensuring that you invest in a tool with sophisticated security features. Components such as dust ports, blade guards, and slow start mechanisms are the best way to ensure that you find a safe woodworking tool.
ü Price
Price is an obvious consideration for every DIYer looking to purchase a power tool. You should ensure that you find a good product within your budget. It is worth noting that you don’t have to break the bank to find a good track saw. However, since quality is all you are looking for, you will have to spend more to get such a product.
ü Warranty
You should also consider the warranty provided by the manufacturer. Warranties come in handy for most power tools, especially if they develop complications. Purchasing a unit with a good warranty eliminates the risks of incurring expensive repairs or replacements after purchase.
Conclusion
Finding the best track saw is the key to completing your DIY projects with ease. With the wide array of products available on the market, you should prioritize models with safety features such as dust ports, blade guards, and slow start mechanisms. You should also consider the power and performance of the saw, which should depend on your intended sawing needs, the brand, price, and other accessories.