Will a track saw ever replace a table saw?

[Tom Bussey]

Will the track saw ever replace the table saw? Or replace the accuracy of the able saw?

[Larry Edgerton]

No. ............

[Holmes Anderson]

Track saws replace job site table saws if you don't need to make long rips. They are more accurate, safer, easier to move, and leave a better edge.

[Ed Gibbons]

Keep it in the shop for at least a week.

[jack duren]

Replace a tables saw no..

[Rod Sheridan]

Will the track saw ever replace the table saw? or will the track saw ever replace the accuracy of the table saw?

Tom, it depends what you’re doing and how accurate your table saw is.

If you have a cabinet saw, then a track saw could be more accurate for sheet goods.

If all you do is solid wood material, the track saw could be less convenient and accurate.

If you have a format saw it could be superior for sheet and solid material.

Regards, Rod

[jack duren]

“ If you have a cabinet saw, then a track saw could be more accurate for sheet goods.”

How would a track saw be more accurate than a cabinet saw?

Does one not know how to use a cabinet saw?


let’s take the internet and forums away and go to 10 cabinet shops in the area. Report back with what they are using to cut sheet goods…

[Andrew Hughes]

My table can cut a 4 inch thick chunk of wood above the table. Maybe a track saw could after spending time setting up a fixture to hold it and a experienced operator with good hand eye coordination.
I say no not nearly as good. Especially solid wood

[Edward Weber]

I thought about this for a good 2 seconds, NO
The ability to cut things like dados, tenons, finger joints, and on and on, are some of the long list of things that make a TS so versatile. Not to mention the endless array of jigs and fixtures that can be used on a TS.
A track saw, for all it's features, can not compete. It is after all, just a guided circular saw.

[Mike Cutler]

No

I have a Festool TS75 with rails, a Milwaukee worm drive that runs on EZ rails, and a Makita circular saw that runs on EZrails. They're nice, convenient, safe, and kind of fun, but they will never replace a table saw for 100% of the use.
It's just too fast to move the fence on a table saw and go to work.
I have many friends in the building trades, and none of them have a track saw as a primary tool. They have large format sliders, panel saws, or they pay someone to process sheet goods for them.

I think that track saws may one day earn the disparaged reputation of biscuit joiners because they're being over marketed. They have a place, but it is not every place.
The biscuit joiner is an amazing tool, for it's designed application. So too are tracksaws.

[lou Brava]

Not a chance.

[Mike Cutler]

My table can cut a 4 inch thick chunk of wood above the table. Maybe a track saw could after spending time setting up a fixture to hold it and a experienced operator with good hand eye coordination.
I say no not nearly as good. Especially solid wood

Andrew
They can be very useful to begin the material process though.
This is 2”+ thick walnut, and my TS 75 can put a very nice straight edge on it. That particular piece may not be 2", but the rest of the material was. That board underneath weighed a ton. After that, once the material is more manageable, the table saw is much more efficient.
The longest straight edge rip I have done was 9’. That was in 1-1/2” padauk. These rips were in the 5’-6’ length.
The TS 75 does an okay job with thick, solid lumber, but I don't really like the Festool Panther, rip, blade. It seems to struggle.

513693

[Bill Dufour]

A table saw can easily cut multiple boards to the exact same width with one setup. Good luck setting a track saw to cut six pieces within. 1/1,000". You do know the human eye can spot a 1/1,000" difference in a joint don't you.
Bill D

[Rich Engelhardt]

Why would it have to?
Why does this have to be an either/or type of question?

My track saw compliments my table saw and vice versa. For what I do, I consider both essential.

[Larry Edgerton]

Why would it have to?
Why does this have to be an either/or type of question?

My track saw compliments my table saw and vice versa. For what I do, I consider both essential.

Agreed. I have a TS75 and it has its uses, but stationary saws are still #1. Small parts for one, not really possible with a track. I am space challenged in my new shop and have the TS out in the storage barn to rip 4x8 sheets lengthwise before they move to the shop. This has been worth the cost in and of itself. I also made a base for a 16" Makita so I have the worlds largest track saw!:D

[Jim Becker]

My opinion...and it's based on actually trying it briefly when I was in the "temporary gara shop" is the answer is "no, and they are complementary tools". I made an effort to work with just the tracksaw, both with rails and with my MFT and it was not a successful experiment. If one only worked with sheet goods, it might work most of the time, but there are too many things that require smaller components or very narrow rips. I ended up grabbing a cut down PCS so I could do the projects I needed to do until I had the new shop building up. I still was using the track saw and uncharacteristically for me, the miter saw also got a lot more work whereas in the new shop it's "parked" and rarely employed. In the new shop building, my cutting gets done with my short stroke slider and the tracksaw is employed when I need longer rips on sheet goods since it's easier for me to get the sheet onto my flattening/cutting table and use the track saw than it is to try and do a conventional rip on the short stroke slider. So again, track saws are very valuable as a complementary tool to the table saw IMHO.

[mike stenson]

You end up having to build a work surface that acts as a jig. Allowing for a fixed position for the track, repeatable positioning of the work, a fence, etc. If you can do that, and you're making simple boxes, yea it can. The problem with all of these hypotheticals is, the answer is always "it depends". After all, I don't even "need" either to make furniture.

[Dave Sabo]

Reading the comments, many of you fellas sound like old, closed minded curmudgeons.

Tom probably should have refined his question a bit more but................

Rod has the correct perspective : "it depends"

For many of you, it cannot replace a tablesaw. But not everone has a bazillion one off jigs for their tablesaw, or gives a hoot about finger joints (which can be done w/ a router) ((which we all know you have multiples of !)), or needs to rip solid timber into little strips.

And some need probability. A contractor saw isn't exactly mover friendly on a regular basis. And I'd love to hear your thoughts on getting your cabinet saw up to the 40th floor penthouse to fit some new side panels for a fridge or bookcase. I personally know a dozen or more cabinet installers who ditched their tablesaws last century in favor of a track saw and have never looked back.

And accuracy has more to do with the tool's user than it does the tool itself.

[Jim Dwight]

I am in the "complement, not compete" camp. I am glad to have both. It is hard to cut small pieces with a track saw. It is hard to cut big pieces of wood, solid or sheet, on a table saw. Especially in a small shop by yourself. It is much easier to use a track saw on big pieces. I processed some 8/4 cherry this morning, for instance. I wanted to rip off a piece a little over 3 inches wide from a 12 foot long piece. I cannot manuver a 12 foot piece through my table saw in my shop. 8 feet is the absolute limit on the infeed side. Managing a board this heavy is an issue too. But it was pretty easy to make the cut with my DeWalt track saw. The board was rough and a little over 2 inches thick so it took a second 1/4 inch deep cut to finish but the tracksaw worked fine 2 inches deep in the cherry with the stock blade. I processed 10 foot cherry boards for the top of my dining room table making glue ready joints with the same track saw. I couldn't do that on a table saw nor on my short jointer.

If you want repeatable cuts with a track saw it takes a jig but it isn't hard to make. Most of us know how to make the jigs we need to do things on our table saws but I think the knowledge base of useful jigs for track saws is much shallower with most of us. But there is no jig I am aware of that makes taking 1/32 off a 2x2 inch piece easy on a track saw. Just like ripping 8/4 12 foot long stock in a small shop isn't easy with a table saw.

[Darrell Bade]

They compliment each other in my opinion, I have both and use both. I do not have any fancy jigs for the track saw, I use it to break down sheet goods oversize and then final size on the tablesaw.

Without a jig you use a measuring instrument, make a pencil mark on the wood, lay the track on the mark and cut. Many say this is an accurate as a table saw. Could be, I'll not argue that point, but I do wonder if these folks also post that something on their table saw is .001 out using a digital measuring instrument and wondering if that is good enough or they should make it better.

[jack duren]

I’ve been setting saws up in shops for almost 30 years and haven’t ever needed a digital guage yet.

They purchased an Oliver jointer at the furniture company. The Forman used digital gauges to set the outfeed table. The operator came and got me as he couldn’t hardly push the lumber because it was catching on the out feed table. I had to adjust the out feed table without gauges to set the out feed correctly.

So much for digital gauges..

[Chris Parks]

I'd love to hear your thoughts on getting your cabinet saw up to the 40th floor penthouse to fit some new side panels for a fridge or bookcase. I personally know a dozen or more cabinet installers who ditched their tablesaws last century in favor of a track saw and have never looked back.

And accuracy has more to do with the tool's user than it does the tool itself.

If Festool were honest I think the original purpose of the track saw was for it to be an onsite saw for trades people and like other items in their range has morphed into the hobby sector. Festool in my experience are first a trade tool supplier and secondly a hobby supplier at least that is the situation in Australia.

[Michael Burnside]

I take the OPs question as a question for ME. So I answered no. Now if the question is for the world, that seems obvious doesn’t it? They both exist and are used extensively depending on purpose. Just watch a few UK YouTubers and you’ll see they can get by. Granted they use a lot of sheet goods and MDF over there, but the point stands. Rob is probably spot on…it depends.

TBH, if I did a lot of 40th floor penthouse work I’d buy the portable Festool tablesaw :)

[Edward Weber]

Well curmudgeon or not, the question was "will a track saw ever replace a table saw".
The answer is no for many reasons.
If you want to delve into why one does this or the other does that, those are entirely different questions.
The answer doesn't needs to be so adversarial

[Rod Sheridan]

“ If you have a cabinet saw, then a track saw could be more accurate for sheet goods.”

How would a track saw be more accurate than a cabinet saw?

Does one not know how to use a cabinet saw?


let’s take the internet and forums away and go to 10 cabinet shops in the area. Report back with what they are using to cut sheet goods…

If I do that in my area the answer is format saws.

Straight lining sheets, and cross cutting sheets on a cabinet saw is extremely difficult.

A track saw can straight line rip, and cross cut sheets.

Yes, I know how to use a cabinet saw, a cabinet saw certainly wouldn’t be my choice for sheet goods.

Regards, Rod

[Andrew Joiner]

Yes. Take the saw out of the track flip it over and screw it to a large flat surface preferably cast iron. Then flip that assembly over and put a fence on it and there you go!:)
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTLVwTV0HsxNcuvjKV9igYBFn3FdGH_Z Klc7g&usqp=CAU

[andrew whicker]

Is this a horror movie script where someone steals my table saw and I still have to complete a set of cabinets with only my track saw by the end of the week or I lose my house?

You're welcome for the run on sentence.

[Joel Gelman]

I once had a Delta Unisaw, and I now have both a slider with pneumatic clamps and a Festool track saw. If you ask me will the track saw replace my table saw ---- NO. However, that is because I have the space for the slider along with the needed allocation for infeed and outfeed. I now also have a separate jointer and planer and shaper and 2 bandsaws. Let's say I had to reduce my shop space. As much as I love my slider, I think maybe just maybe the table saw would go before any of my other machines. I was very impressed seeing video demonstrations of what can be done with a tracks on the larger modern benches with perforated tops and accessories.

I think it comes down to space and how the shop is used. My 0.02.

I

[Jack Frederick]

Where would TweedleDum be without TweedleDee. IMHO, to Tom, No it won’t, but they sure do work well together. In my space it is a safety issue having both. If you are shoehorned into a small space you quickly find handling big/large material is a safety issue. It’s just sensible to break it down on the Track first.

[glenn bradley]

Confess Tom. You only asked this question to see how many responses you get within a specified amount of time, right? :) Can I do a lot of things with a track saw that I can do on the tablesaw? Sure. People also do all sorts of things with routers, drill presses, and Dremels that could be done another way. I do a lot of operations at the tablesaw that I would not immediately picture myself doing with a track saw. Too many variables available to make quick work of your question. But fun to read through the responses.

[Randy Heinemann]

For me, no. A track saw is great for cutting up plywood and crosscutting on a table meant for that, but ripping is still better done on a tablesaw or a bandsaw.

[Clint Baxter]

Agreed. I have a TS75 and it has its uses, but stationary saws are still #1. Small parts for one, not really possible with a track. I am space challenged in my new shop and have the TS out in the storage barn to rip 4x8 sheets lengthwise before they move to the shop. This has been worth the cost in and of itself. I also made a base for a 16" Makita so I have the worlds largest track saw!:D

FWIW, Mafell has a portable saw that uses a 17-11/16” blade and runs on their tracks as well. A serious beast. If you want to upgrade,😏

Clint

[Bryan Hall]

Nope. Maybe for you, for specific tasks, but not overall.

[Derek Kessler]

I'd say no. Track saws are great, but they don't quite replace the good old table saw. It's not really about replacing the other, it's more about having the right tool for the job at hand.

[Kevin Jenness]

“ If you have a cabinet saw, then a track saw could be more accurate for sheet goods.”

How would a track saw be more accurate than a cabinet saw?

Does one not know how to use a cabinet saw?


let’s take the internet and forums away and go to 10 cabinet shops in the area. Report back with what they are using to cut sheet goods…

A track saw can cut an initial straight edge while a cabinet saw can only follow whatever approximation of straight is presented to the rip fence. A track saw can cut a square end on a full sheet which is next to impossible on a cabinet saw. Sure, crosscut sleds can cut most cabinet parts relatively accurately but a sled large enough to cut 30"+ backs is unwieldy. Track saws can be very useful and quite accurate in situations where it is more sensible to take the tool to the material. On the other hand a cabinet saw is quite versatile and most shops will still want a tablesaw or bandsaw for ripping solid wood.

I would say that for cutting out most cabinet parts a track saw used with accurate track indexing could be at least as accurate as a cabinet saw, although slower, and could be less laborious for handling full sheets. I wouldn't think it an effective solution for a commercial shop of any size but it can work. I used to get by with a cabinet saw but it's not easy to accurately dice up full sheets singlehanded.

Around here track saws and cabinet saws are the primary tool for cutting out panels only in the most under-capitalized cabinet shops. If they aren't using a cnc, a beam saw or a vertical panel saw, a sliding tablesaw is the workhorse for sheet goods.

[George Yetka]

513838


I think the table saw is too important. If all you do is break down plywood maybe you could get by without it but would still want a small portable for slim cuts.

[Jon Grider]

Not in my workflow. I do like my track saw however.

[Terence McGee]

Well, it's not quite that simple. A track saw is fantastic slicing through big sheets or getting straight cuts on-site. Table saws, on the other hand, are much more versatile for all sorts of cuts, and they're the best for consistent and precise cuts, especially with smaller stock.

Ideally, it's best to have both in your shop because they each have their own roles and strengths.

[jack duren]

It’s a hobbyist tool. It has been used by professionals , but not for breaking down sheets goods in the shop..

If you work in a cabinet, commercial or furniture shop with cabinet saws , the track saw isn’t used for breaking down sheet goods and the track saw wouldn’t be mentioned..

[mike stenson]

A slider is better at this than a cabinet saw, for that matter.

[Jim Becker]

It’s a hobbyist tool. It has been used by professionals , but not for breaking down sheets goods in the shop..

If you work in a cabinet, commercial or furniture shop with cabinet saws , the track saw isn’t used for breaking down sheet goods and the track saw wouldn’t be mentioned..
I think that's too general of a statement, Jack. It's absolutely true for larger shops, but not necessarily accurate for quite a few one person operations. Wrestling full sheets onto a cabinet saw isn't always someone's cup of tea and that includes a certain segment of the pro world. One shop owner I know (closed down now he encountered a serious medical issue) often worked with his tracksaw even though he had a full slider in the shop...it was just physically easier for him. Cabinet shop owner near my old property did the cabinet saw thing for years with a huge outfeed setup, but started using the track saw more and more when he partnered up with another maker who introduced him to theirs.This is a very subjective thing for sure and there are no absolutes. The whole industry is constantly changing and it's not just track saws...CNC is where many cabinet shops have headed.

[Michael Burnside]

Agreed Jim. Particularly with CNC. My friend is a professional cabinet maker and he uses endmills more than saw blades to make cabinets out of sheet goods LOL.

Notwithstanding, I’d venture to guess a high percentage of us lurking these forums are hobbyists of varying degrees.

[jack duren]

I worked at a commercial shop that I cut all the sheets goods. That a bundle+on a decent job. Owner plus me , except when he hired in help. My one man shop I cut the same, on the saw.

If you are use to using a table saw, there is no way you are going to pull a track saw. One man or the 50 man shop tye table saw is much easier. Funny thing is, it’s just as easy to wrestle a sheet good on the table saw as it would a sheet on 2x’s or horses.. I do understand as a hobby sliding to from the truck to saw horse can be easier, but I’m usually cutting many parts..

“ Wrestling full sheets onto a cabinet saw isn't always someone's cup of tea and that includes a certain segment of the pro world”
If you can’t operate a cabinet saw in the pro world, there is someone in the shop always looking for a pay raise..

[Jim Becker]

I disagree, Jack. And so do the business owners I cited. Relative to the wrestling...with the saw you need to lift and move the sheet through the cut. With the tracksaw, you move the material once, either onto a raised surface or onto the floor and move the tool. But no matter, let's just agree that we disagree. Different strokes... ;)

[Jerome Stanek]

I disagree, Jack. And so do the business owners I cited. Relative to the wrestling...with the saw you need to lift and move the sheet through the cut. With the tracksaw, you move the material once, either onto a raised surface or onto the floor and move the tool. But no matter, let's just agree that we disagree. Different strokes... ;)

Where I used to work a track saw would be a real pain as we would rip a whole sheet of ply into 3 inch wide strips. sometimes we would have to rip 10 sheets for one small job.

[Jim Becker]

No disagreement, Jerome. I'm just suggesting in my previous reply that we cannot generalize that these things are not being used in pro shops and in pro installations. That's where they were initially marketed to. It comes down to what several of us have been saying throughout the thread: these tools compliment other saws, not replace them.

[jack duren]

“ Pro installations” you mean in the field correct?

[mreza Salav]

Short answer: No.
I have both and each has its uses and none replaces the other in all situations.

[Jim Becker]

“ Pro installations” you mean in the field correct?

Yes...final installation.

[Derek Cohen]

I have no doubt that a tracksaw can substitute for a table saw, because it does just so for many, especially those with less space. However, to manage this, many fixture or jigs are needed to make compound cuts. In most cases, an MFT is needed ... which can have the same footprint as a table saw.

In my workshop, I have had an MFT for about a year now, and it has been a most useful adjunct to my Hammer K3 slider. The slider can do almost anything the tracksaw could come up with, but there are a few items the tracksaw does better.

This was yesterday ... sectioning a 3m long (x 250mm wide x 50mm thick) very, very heavy Rock Maple board ....

https://i.postimg.cc/rmRKLkvq/Tools1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Another time ...

https://i.postimg.cc/zvjcPSM1/096D9FF5-5BCE-4A05-B36C-4FB7529B312B.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I have also used the track with a router, although this is more about a MFT than track ...

https://i.postimg.cc/GpZh33rt/48.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Regards from Perth

Derek