I'm considering getting a track saw and I've heard that DeWalt's version might not measure up to others on the market. Has anyone here used it? I'm curious if it's worth choosing DeWalt over other brands or if I should look elsewhere.
3 Answers
I don’t understand the negative comments about the DeWalt's parallel plunge feature; I find it really user-friendly. My experience with a Flexvolt extractor has been awesome, and it cuts straight and accurately every time. I do use it with Makita tracks, which requires some modifications, but if I had the chance again, I'd go for the Festool track. A couple of downsides include less precise depth control compared to Festool, and if you're working with damp wood and no extraction, the plunge mechanism can get stuck—though that's more suited for a circular saw scenario anyway.
I picked up the cordless version about a year ago, and it's the only track saw I've used. While I can't compare it to others, I've had a great experience with it. I've ripped a lot of OSB sheets without much fuss, especially when using tape over the side port and a dust extractor—minimal mess! It's definitely a time-saver compared to using a table saw for bigger sheets.
From my understanding, the DeWalt track saw isn't terrible, but it does have some differences compared to its competitors. It's an older model, and I think it was designed carefully to avoid legal issues with Festool. The anti-kickback feature is pretty solid, but those who've used other saws might find the plunge action a bit off. That said, it's powerful enough and I'm planning to use it mainly when my Wen track saw doesn't cut it.