Hey everyone! I'm currently building new cabinet fronts and a big cabinet for my kitchen. My setup includes a Dewalt table saw, but I'm a bit worried about getting perfectly straight cuts with the long plywood sheets I'm using. I've been thinking about investing in a track saw but I'm unsure about what to look for in different brands. I came across a Kreg track saw on Facebook for $250 that includes two long rails and clamps, but I'm not sure if that would be a good start. My goal isn't to make fine furniture, but I definitely want the cuts to be straight enough so the cabinets fit together nicely. I've also seen a used Makita on Amazon (since I already have Makita batteries) and a used corded Festool on Facebook, although that one doesn't come with a track. Do you have any suggestions or experiences with these brands?
4 Answers
From my experience, track saws kind of fall into three categories:
1. Mafell & Festool - They have great accuracy and dust collection but are on the pricey side.
2. Makita - Offers about 85-90% of what those top brands have but at a lower price.
3. The rest - Some brands might excel in certain areas, but they don't really compare to the accuracy of Makita, Mafell, or Festool overall.
If you're planning to use it often, I recommend going for one of the top two!
I’ve got a Grizzly track saw, and it works well for me. They’re around $250 new, which is comparable to what you found. Sure, the Makita and Dewalt saws might have some extra features, but they can also cost double! If you're just getting started, a Grizzly would be a solid choice.
You could definitely make a table saw work if you set it up right. Just make sure you have plenty of in-feed and out-feed support and that your fence is straight. It might cost you about $40 in lumber to build those supports, but it can save you some cash compared to a track saw.
I’d steer clear of the Kreg if possible. A cordless Makita is fantastic quality, but that leads to higher prices too. If your dust collector isn’t cordless, you might as well save some money and go with a corded model. Also, Makita and Festool share similar track designs, so look for something in that ecosystem instead of going with Dewalt where you’ll be limited on compatible tracks.
I tried doing that, but when I worked with 10' 8/4 oak, I really struggled. Switching to a track saw made my life a lot easier!