Any reason to buy a circular saw if you own a track saw?

[Keith Upton]

I know they are basically the same thing, but was wondering if any of you have and still use both? I own the Makita track saw, but also have the opportunity to pickup their circular saw (XSR01Z) in in the box for about $75.

I could see leaving my track saw as my "shop" saw and using the circular saw out on our property for mending fences and such. Just not sure if that is a personal justification for buying a new tool, or if I'd get other uses out of it as well.

[Josh Kocher]

I don't think you should be without a circular saw.

[Keith Upton]

I don't think you should be without a circular saw.

I've got an old Dewalt corded circular saw, but now that I have the track saw (which is really just a nice plunge circular saw from Makita), I'm just not sure if it is necessary.

[Jim Becker]

Most track saws are not really designed for heavier "construction" type work, so having a "regular" circular saw available for those activities is not a horrible idea. I still use my late 1970s/early 1980s orange B&D circular saw for that and keep the track saw for what track saws do best.

[Brandon Speaks]

It does not seem essential to have both but certainly handy. I would think you would keep a ply blade in the track saw and a lumber blade in the circular.

[Rick Peek]

Most track saws are not really designed for heavier "construction" type work, so having a "regular" circular saw available for those activities is not a horrible idea. I still use my late 1970s/early 1980s orange B&D circular saw for that and keep the track saw for what track saws do best.

Lol, I have that same saw. First saw I ever bought. Can’t kill it.

[Jim Becker]

Lol, I have that same saw. First saw I ever bought. Can’t kill it.

Yea, I know. Of course, I haven't used it a whole lot over the years, either, compared to some folks, but I'm happy that it works great when I do pull it out for some task! Not exactly quiet, however. LOL It has that "classic" circular saw sound...

[Prashun Patel]

a cordless circular saw or a cheap miter saw are imho better alternatives for $75.

[Mike Kees]

I own about eight circular saws,give or take. I do not see them the same at all. A track saw is precision guided cutting where a circ saw can be precision in the right very skilled hands but really excels as a carpenters tool for framing lumber. As Jim said good tool for construction type jobs. I do use it occasionally to break lumber down to rough lengths, Mike.

[Keith Upton]

Thanks for your thoughts guys.

a cordless circular saw or a cheap miter saw are imho better alternatives for $75.

The one I found for $75 is a cordless circular saw.

[Patrick Kane]

I have a TS75, but picked up a green ryobi CL special for $10. Theres a lot of garbage quick cuts that i would never want to use the festool on. Breaking down rough lumber thats 12"+ wide is easier and faster with the ryobi. Cutting dirty wood with the festool and its $$$ blade would make me cringe. I make the same cut with the ryobi and then carelessly put it on the ground. Its the same mentality of why you didnt see me out in my yard with the $200 woodpecker framing square when i was building my fence. Construction/Rough work is best done with a different tool set than what most of us would consider fine woodworking.

[johnny means]

Recently, I was on a high rise install. Being an older building the stairs and elevator were rather right and anything over a certain length just wasn't getting in. Long story short, thankfully the building manager had a cheapo cordless circular saw because my fancy Festool wasn't going to help me size 2x4s put in the van.

[Simon MacGowen]

I know they are basically the same thing, but was wondering if any of you have and still use both? I own the Makita track saw, but also have the opportunity to pickup their circular saw (XSR01Z) in in the box for about $75.

I could see leaving my track saw as my "shop" saw and using the circular saw out on our property for mending fences and such. Just not sure if that is a personal justification for buying a new tool, or if I'd get other uses out of it as well.

Of course, anyone can have a track saw and a circular saw, or even two of each!

But none of the responses so far show why function-wise we need a circular saw if you already have a track saw. That is what a circular saw can do but a track saw can't.

So you don't need a circular saw, but you can have one if you want one.

Simon

[Mike Cutler]

Of course, anyone can have a track saw and a circular saw, or even two of each!

But none of the responses so far show why function-wise we need a circular saw if you already have a track saw. That is what a circular saw can do but a track saw can't.

So you don't need a circular saw, but you can have one if you want one.

Simon

They're both basically the same tool. One is just possibly considered a little more refined.
I have a TS75 and older Makita circular saw. The Makita doesn't see much use, but if I'm doing something where the saw might get dropped, I use the Makita. I rebuilt our fence, after the neighbors tree fell through it, recently and used the Makita just because it's much lighter and smaller than the Festool TS75. If I'm going to drop a saw in the dirt and mud, I'd rather it not be the Festool.

[Cary Falk]

I have a tracksaw and 3 circular saws. The plunge mechinism on the track saw makes it hard to use without the track. Plus you would to have to change blades to cut something else.