Best Track Saw System?

Track saws are one of the most versatile power tools available today which is why they’re so popular among professional and DIY woodworkers. There are several great options on the market but one of the best overall track saw systems is the Festool TS 75 EQ Plunge Cut Track Saw. This powerful, impressive model is perfect for anyone looking for precise cuts, speed, and durability, making it one of the best options for both home and professional use.

While most models on the market offer a 6 ½” cutting blade, the Festool TS 75 features a large 8 ¼” cutting blade. This means a faster, more efficient cut. And with the FastFix blade changing system, swapping out old blades only takes a few seconds. Backed by an impressive 13 amp motor, the TS 75 is capable of a no load speed between 1,350 to 3,550 RPM. And with its soft start feature, it guarantees that every cut will be smooth and precise.

A spring-loaded riving knife keeps the cutting kerf of your workpiece open to prevent binding on the blade while also preventing dangerous kickbacks. And thanks to the plunge cut feature, starting a cut in the middle of any large workpiece is accurate and simple. With a maximum cutting depth of 2 ¼”, this tool allows you to slice through most materials with ease while also allowing you to stack several pieces on top of each other for accurate cuts of multiple workpieces at once.

And with comfortable, ergonomic design and durable construction, this tool weighs just over 13lbs but is comfortable enough to use for hours at a time. The Festool TS 75 is designed to withstand years of heavy use. And since it’s capable of replacing table, panel, miter, and circular saw on many projects, it’s one of the best additions that anyone can make to their tool arsenal.

Which Track Saw is Better—the TS 55 or the TS 75?

Another popular model by Festool is the TS 55. At first glance, most people won’t immediately recognize the differences between these two track saws. But despite their similarities, there are several differences that need to be considered when deciding which is the best model for your needs. The Festool TS 55 features a rather unique plunging action that can allow you to cut through up to 3 different materials in one cut.

And its 55” aluminum guide rail allows you to make precise, straight cuts even across long surfaces. Plus, the blade’s speed can be controlled with a range between 2,000 and 5,200 RPM, allowing you to choose between precision and speed. While similar to the TS 55, the Festool TS 75 EQ does have several advantages. It can still cut through various sheets of materials at once but it can also do edge jointing in hardwood, which is a major benefit for woodworkers.

It can also cut about ¾” deeper than its more affordable sibling which allows you to slice through thicker workpieces and more sheets at once. The drawbacks of the TS 75 are that it is slightly heavier and more expensive than the TS 55. So for the craftsman looking for some useful features and the latest technology, the TS 75 is the best bet. But for anyone looking for a more affordable model with the basic features, the TS 55 is a solid option.

Track Saw vs. Table Saw?

While a track saw can certainly replace a table saw in a variety of projects, they are vastly different tools that each have their own strengths and weaknesses. The main benefit of a table saw is when you are going to be making tons of repetitive cuts through small pieces such as door frames. Setting up each long board on the track can certainly be done, but it will be much quicker to use a table saw. With the table saw, you can adjust the fence and cut each piece to the exact same size with great efficiency.

Where the track saw shines is in its portability. It’s light and you can bring it with you to any job. You also have the luxury of bringing the tool to your material instead of having to lug your workpieces to a stationary table saw. This makes a track saw perfect for cutting through big pieces and sheet material. It also allows you to quickly rip straight lines along long pieces of wood as well as make unusual cuts that would be very difficult to accomplish with a table saw.

Does the DEWALT Track Saw Make Cleaner Cuts than the Makita Track Saw?

One of the major benefits of using a track saw is that these tools are known for producing smooth, clean cuts in wood materials. This means that your workpieces are immediately workable, saving you the time it would take to sand or smooth out the edges. While we’ve covered how impressed we were with Festool’s line of track saws, two other incredibly popular models are offered by Makita and DEWALT.

Both of these brands have earned a reputation for offering high-quality, high-performance power tools but let’s take a look at which of these models make a cleaner cut. The Makita Track Saw makes an impressively clean, precise cut. Their approach is to make your cuts in two passes. The first cut is a 2mm deep scoring cut that is set with a dedicated depth stop button. The second pass goes just below the full width of the workpiece, minimizing tear-out and splintering.

The result is a consistently clean cut with very little tear-out but the drawback is that you’ll be increasing your work time since you’ll be making two cuts on every workpiece. DEWALT, on the other hand, doesn’t use the scoring approach. Each piece is cut to just below full depth on a single pass. This means that every job will be performed faster that it would with the Makita.

Surprisingly, even without scoring your workpiece, the results were impressively clean and had as little tear-out and splintering as the Makita Track Saw achieved. In short, both models produced impressively finished, clean, and precise results. The only difference is that the Makita required scoring your workpiece first while the DEWALT was able to produce these results in one pass.