Finally gave in and tried a track saw after years of improvising...

I always thought track saws were overkill, you know? I figured a circular saw with a straightedge clamped down was good enough. Been doing it that way for like 15 years on job sites around Portland. But last month I had to cut down a bunch of melamine shelving for a closet build, and every single cut with my old method had chipping along the edge. My buddy who does kitchens kept telling me to just borrow his Festool for a day, so I finally did. Man, the difference was night and day... no chipping at all, cuts were dead straight right off the bat, and I didn't have to mess with clamping every three feet. I'm still not sure I need to drop $500 on my own setup, but I get the hype now. Has anyone else found a cheaper track saw that works decent, or should I just bite the bullet on a nicer one?

2 comments

2 Comments

sandragonzalez20h ago

Right there with you, man. Felt the exact same way about track saws.

ryanj6018h ago

Track saws are one of those tools that feel like a game changer until you realize how many blades you burn through. The dust collection on mine leaves something to be desired too, especially on long cuts. Your mileage may vary, but I've found keeping the track clean helps more than you'd think.