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+-- Thread: track saw (/showthread.php?tid=7345857)
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RE: track saw - Stwood_ - 01-22-2019
Whatever has happened to the EZ Smart Guide co.
Peachtree was selling them for a while, some years back.
They were available on Ebay also.
Hmmm, still in business. https://www.eurekazone.com/
I've always been happy with mine. Where you save coin on this system, is that you can use your present skilsaw.
RE: track saw - rschissler - 01-22-2019
(01-22-2019, 02:33 AM)Stwood_ Wrote: Whatever has happened to the EZ Smart Guide co.
Peachtree was selling them for a while, some years back.
They were available on Ebay also.
Hmmm, still in business. https://www.eurekazone.com/
I've always been happy with mine. Where you save coin on this system, is that you can use your present skilsaw.
They are still in business, as I recently bought a few new edges for the tracks. I'm still happy with mine, using a Makita 5007MGA with it.
RE: track saw - joe1086 - 01-22-2019
The OP's profile doesn't show where he lives. There are Festool track saws out there on CraigsList, not a ton but I saw a few. Might be worth a look....I use SearchTempest.com to search multiple Craigslist's regions.
RE: track saw - Handplanesandmore - 01-22-2019
(01-22-2019, 02:33 AM)Stwood_ Wrote: Whatever has happened to the EZ Smart Guide co.
Peachtree was selling them for a while, some years back.
They were available on Ebay also.
Hmmm, still in business. https://www.eurekazone.com/
I've always been happy with mine. Where you save coin on this system, is that you can use your present skilsaw.
This kind of guide works for those who only uses it occasionally. It is a system of yesterday, one that followers of the Festool, Dewalt and Makita won't touch because they want dust collection, sawing on the fly without clamping, plunge cut capability, precision, and for some, more power. If one is willing to spend $150 or so on a square guide (eg TSO ro Woodpeckers), the modern track system can cut dead square panels, something older systems would struggle.
If clamping is used, a more economical solution has long existed for years before these tracks were invented: https://proxy.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FnJ79e-WyhTE%2Fhqdefault.jpg&f=1
Simon
RE: track saw - Stwood_ - 01-22-2019
(01-22-2019, 12:24 PM)Handplanesandmore Wrote: This kind of guide works for those who only uses it occasionally. It is a system of yesterday, one that followers of the Festool, Dewalt and Makita won't touch because they want dust collection, sawing on the fly without clamping, plunge cut capability, precision, and for some, more power. If one is willing to spend $150 or so on a square guide (eg TSO ro Woodpeckers), the modern track system can cut dead square panels, something older systems would struggle.
If clamping is used, a more economical solution has long existed for years before these tracks were invented: https://proxy.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FnJ79e-WyhTE%2Fhqdefault.jpg&f=1
Simon
Mine is dust collection capable. Depends on which saw you use. I don't normally hook it up for 1 quick cut. Thats what I have mine for, for those oddball cuts that are not tablesaw friendly on sheet goods.
RE: track saw - stav - 01-22-2019
(01-22-2019, 12:24 PM)Handplanesandmore Wrote: This kind of guide works for those who only uses it occasionally. It is a system of yesterday, one that followers of the Festool, Dewalt and Makita won't touch because they want dust collection, sawing on the fly without clamping, plunge cut capability, precision, and for some, more power. If one is willing to spend $150 or so on a square guide (eg TSO ro Woodpeckers), the modern track system can cut dead square panels, something older systems would struggle.
If clamping is used, a more economical solution has long existed for years before these tracks were invented: https://proxy.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FnJ79e-WyhTE%2Fhqdefault.jpg&f=1
Simon
I use a guide like the one in your link and I often don't find the need to clamp it.
RE: track saw - ajkoontz - 01-22-2019
I own the Makita track saw and love it. Mine came with a long rail (10'?), and I bought the shorter Shop Fox rail and it works fine with the Makita saw. I also have some DeWalt accessories (right angle gauge, miter gauge, etc.) that work with the system as well. I'm thinking this tool is under the 'nice to have, but I have other ways to get the job done' category, correct? If so, my advice is to always get the best tool you can afford for these types of tools. Given the ones you are considering, the Makita is the winner IMO.
RE: track saw - Handplanesandmore - 01-22-2019
(01-22-2019, 01:44 PM)stav Wrote: I use a guide like the one in your link and I often don't find the need to clamp it.
I still have one of those shop made ripping jigs 8' long for 4x8 sheets. Without clamping it on a 4x8, I can't be sure the jig won't move as I work from one end to the other even though I knee on the jig. Since we push the saw forward and sideway at the same time, not clamping the jig down is risky. It is a matter of tolerance, of course; for precision edge cuts, I always clamp down the jig.
Simon
RE: track saw - rschissler - 01-23-2019
(01-22-2019, 12:24 PM)Handplanesandmore Wrote: This (Eurekazone) kind of guide works for those who only uses it occasionally. It is a system of yesterday, one that followers of the Festool, Dewalt and Makita won't touch because they want dust collection, sawing on the fly without clamping, plunge cut capability, precision, and for some, more power. If one is willing to spend $150 or so on a square guide (eg TSO ro Woodpeckers), the modern track system can cut dead square panels, something older systems would struggle.
If clamping is used, a more economical solution has long existed for years before these tracks were invented: https://proxy.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FnJ79e-WyhTE%2Fhqdefault.jpg&f=1
Simon
While I can agree in regards to dust collection, "sawing on the fly without clamping, plunge cut capability, precision, and for some, more power", this not at all.
RE: track saw - Handplanesandmore - 01-23-2019
(01-23-2019, 11:35 AM)rschissler Wrote: While I can agree in regards to dust collection, "sawing on the fly without clamping, plunge cut capability, precision, and for some, more power", this not at all.
Care to explain why not?
The new track system has non-slip strips on the track; most old ones rely on clamps.
Festool has the anti-kick back limit stop for plunge cuts, many old ones don't have such feature.
When used with accessories like the square guides or parallel guides, the new track (Festool, e/g/) can cut dead square panels, etc. (youtube has videos about such precision results).
Most Skilsaw, Craftsman, etc. circular saws are good for cutting 2.5" deep or less; Mafell, Festool T75 almost 3".
I have used the old guide & shop-made "track" (jig) with circular saws, and the Festool TS55 & 75 with the track / MFT table for small pieces as well as large ones. Angled cuts on the Festool as well as with the circular saws (lousy results, needless to say). I've used the TS55 to make plunge cuts, dead-on results; I don't want to try that with a circular saw even on a scrap ply!
Simon