Best Track Saw Reviews: Revealing my top-rated picks
A good track saw is one of those power tools that will make your life much easier when doing woodwork. Track saws enable you to make long, straight cuts and cut through material quickly and hassle-free.
It is the perfect tool for slicing and cutting sheet materials accurately, while not having to compromise smooth edges with a high-quality finish. The versatility and strength of a track saw means that almost any type of material can be cut. Finding the right track saw can be tricky, however.
Contents
This track saw review guide, which explores the best features of some of the best track saw brands on the market, will help you to find the perfect track saw for your budget and needs.
Track Saw Reviews 2017
DeWALT DWS520K
Weight11.5 pounds Type6-1/2-Inch Track Saw Kit Dimensions18.06 x 12.38 x 12.13 inches Voltage 120 Volts Best UsePowerful, precise cutting Description
If you are familiar with DEWALT equipment, you will feel right at home with the DeWALT DWS520K. This track saw is accurate, fast to set up and the soft start motor makes it easy to control. The DS520K has a thick magnesium base and sturdy tilt controls that are easy to adjust. It also features a pair of comfortable, rubberised grips and a zero-tolerance track.
The powerful 12A motor can push a maximum of 4000 RPM to the blade. The slower RPM is ideal for quickly cutting more material, rather than less material with more precision. This heavy duty track saw comes with a guide rail of 59 inches, which comes in handy when you want to cut long materials in one go. The DEWALT DWS520K has a 47-degree bevel capacity that can be locked to custom angles.
The DWS520K boasts a unique feature of an anti-kickback catch. Backwards movement is prevented when you release the knob. A small, spring-loaded wheel in the centre groove of the saw’s base thrusts against the track. This feature, however, only works on the DEWALT track.
The DWS520K comes with a 6.5-inch diameter blade, which is the standard size blade that you will find on most models. The only feature that is not so great is the blade-changing system. It is not very user-friendly since it involves an eight-step process where you have to lock and unlock levers.
Weight9.92 pounds TypeTrack Saw Dimensions12.2 x 11.5 x 15.5 inches Voltage 120 Volts Best UseCutting any material accurately and easily Description
The Festool TS 55 REQ is a track saw that takes portability, advanced cutting and excellent results to a new level. The TS 55 REQ is arguably the best Festool track saw on the market. It boasts features of both a compact circular saw and more advanced saws designed for industrial cutting.
This track saw is lightweight and easy to use, while still being a reliable track saw that delivers precise cuts. The TS 55 REQ enables you to make accurate cuts quickly and nearly splinter free. In addition to this, a replaceable splinter-guard allows for smooth cutting on either side of the blade.
The small 11A motor might allow for slightly less performance than other track saws, but it is adequate for most jobs. Despite having a relatively lower rated motor, though, the blades still offer high performance at 5 200 RPM. The speed of the blade can also be adjusted with the variable speed control. The 55-inch guide rail is simple to use and will enable you to produce perfectly straight cuts every time. The guide rail allows you to place and keep the blade on the cutting line in spite of the bevel setting.
The Festool TS 55 REQ can basically cut anything and provides a high-performance solution to ultimately any cutting task. The saw is built with a flat housing. This enables you to make flush cuts against walls or other such surfaces.The dust port of this track saw is also rotatable, so you can direct the position of the port. This can be attached to a dust extractor for better dust collection.
Related products Since the Festool TS 55 REQ is available with only a 55-inch guide rail, additional 55-inch Festool guide rails can be bought to make longer cuts.
Weight11 pounds TypeTrack Saw Dimensions14.5 x 10.14 x 12 inches Best UseBest cheap track saw Description
The Grizzly T10687 is a track saw with an affordable price tag that will still produce enough power for it to be a useful saw almost every time. If you aren’t going to make a living from your track saw and only need to make a few cuts every now and again, this is probably the best track saw for the money that you are going to save.
This saw may not be comparable with other track saws on the market, but it definitely has greater control and accuracy than your typical circular saw setup. However, at about half the price of other track saws, there will definitely be limits to what it can do. Build quality has been compromised with the T10687. The plastic knobs and parts are quite rough and not very ergonomically designed.
This does not affect performance, however. The Grizzly T10687 features a single-speed 9A motor, riving knife to make ripping safer, and it has a very smooth plunge. This track saw also has non-slip backing on the underside of the rail, securing grip on your work piece. The T10687, unfortunately, does not come with a soft start motor and the dust collection is rather average.
Related products The Grizzly T10687 is unfortunately sold as the saw only. It is, therefore, advisable to buy a guide rail such as the Grizzly T24872 Guide Rail. For extra secureness and ease when cutting, you can also buy an additional Grizzly T25094 Accessory Pack, which includes two rail clamps, a rail connector, a limit stop and an anti-tilt bar.
Weight9.7 pounds Type6-1/2-Inch Plunge Circular Saw with Guide Rail Dimensions12 x 16 x 13 inches Voltage120 Volts Best UseA powerful, lightweight, affordable track saw Description
The Makita SP6000J1 is a lightweight and compact track saw that is simultaneously very powerful and precise. This track saw offers a lot of features and great performance for a reasonable price. This high-quality track saw features a powerful 12A soft start motor and 55-inch guide rail, making it adequate for most cutting jobs. This makes the SP6000J1 one of the best track saws out there. To make things even better, a very handy carry case is included with the track saw.
The SP6000J1 features a 3mm scoring setting and -1 to 48-degree bevelling capacity with presets at 22 and 45 degrees. Its bevel shoe is easily adjustable to a maximum of 49 degrees for custom angles.The simple and effective anti-tip lock feature helps to keep the saw from tipping off the track when it is set for bevel cutting.
The Makita SP6000J1 makes for precise and quick cutting but also ensures that it will eat through anything with its powerful 5 200 RPM blades. The variable speed dial allows for the speed to be set anywhere between 2 000 and 5 200 RPM. The small form factor of the SP6000J1 makes it easy to both hold and operate, and the rubber soles make sure that it stays firm on the track. Finally, the efficient dust collection system makes this track saw an all-round efficient tool.
Weight12 pounds Type6-1/2-Inch Plunge Track Saw 1400W Dimensions9.25 x 13.19 x 9.84 inches Voltage 110 Volts Best UseBest value track saw Description
The Triton TTS1400 is a compact, versatile track saw that provides smooth, straight cuts with fairly any chipping on either side. The TTS1400 offers a great variety of features at an affordable price and is likely the best deal on a track saw that you will find. This track saw features a 59-inch guide rail, 3/32 inch deep scoring, and blade changing is made convenient with the easily accessible shaft lock.
The 12A soft start motor offers variable speed control that can be set between 2 000 and 5 300 RPM. The anti-kickback safety feature prevents this track saw from jolting when you perform plunge cuts. The TTS1400 has a smooth plunge, with an easy to reach release above the trigger. The plunging capacity also enables you to start and stop your cutting in the middle of the sheet. The plunge lock additionally offers greater safety.
Although it is a bit on the heavy side, the flat design of the blade housing enabled you to work right up against a wall or any other such obstacle. The guide rail track lock adds to the stability of the track saw when performing bevel cuts. The TTS1400 has the ability to cut bevels up to 48 degrees.
The dust extraction system is fairly efficient. This includes a universal vacuum adaptor with a 360-degree outlet that should fit most dust extractor vacuums.
When making a decision about which track saw to buy, it is important to look at track saw reviews and decide which key features best suit your needs and budget.
If you are looking for a saw that only has to make a few quality cuts every day, the Grizzly T10687 is by far the best budget track saw on the market. At about half the price of other track saws, it might not be as powerful and versatile, but it will definitely get the job done.
When looking at more high-performance track saws, though, the remainder of the reviewed track saws will not disappoint. Powerful motors and long guide rails will enable you to cut more types and thicknesses of materials. The 12A motors of the DeWALT DWS520K, Makita SP6000J1, and Triton TTS1400 will ensure easy heavy duty cutting. While the 59-inch guide rails of the DeWALT DWS520K and Triton TTS1400 will enable you to cut extra-long pieces of material. If you are looking for features such as variable blade speed control, however, the Festool TS 55 REQ and the Triton TTS1400 are the options for you.
Choosing the best track saw system for yourself is not always easy. Keeping in mind your budget and need of certain features, though, can definitely make the process easier. However, no matter which choice you make in the end, all of these five reviewed track saws are high-quality tools that will get the job done.
Features to consider when selecting track saw
Because of its versatility, a track saw is the go-to tool for many people. It is great for re-modellers, flooring contractors, traditional woodworkers and DIY homeowners. To find your ideal track saw, though, there are a few features that you need to keep in mind when deciding which one to buy.
While track saws may look like regular circular saws, their functionality actually goes much further. The main difference is that the blade on a track saw retracts into a shrouded guard, preventing cuts from being made until you are ready. This enables the saw to either plunge into the surface of the material for cutting or be used in a more conventional manner whereby it is fed against the edge of the material. A plunge mechanism’s accuracy is key to getting the most precise cuts. The plunge action of a track saw should be precise and smooth.
The guide rail will ensure that you are always on target and won’t steer away from your cutting line. This is very practical when you want to make a long, straight cut. Take into consideration the length of the pieces of material you are going to be cutting. Track lengths differ with every track saw. However, you can easily buy extra connectors to add to the track and therefore make longer cuts. The dead square ends of the track make locking tracks together very simple.
If materials are prone to splintering or chipping, a score-cut setting will come in handy. This scores the material before you make a full depth cut, creating splinter-free cuts on both sides of the kerf and not only on the side of the track. Being able to make clean and splinter-free cuts save a lot of time as opposed to going back and cleaning up a cut afterwards.
Cutting capacity is important to consider when buying a track saw. A more powerful motor will enable you to work with more heavy duty material. A soft start feature in a track saw will also help eliminate the chances of the saw jumping from start-up torque. A speed dial allows for the speed of the blade to be adjusted. This comes in handy when you are working with different types and thicknesses of materials. By using the speed dial you can adjust the speed to suit your cut.
A track saw is easy to set up and doesn’t need any clamping, making cutting efficient and fast. This is made possible because the tracks that are used along with a track saw have non-slip rubber strips on the base.
A good dust collection system helps to save clean up time. The shroud that encloses the blade also acts as a dust guard, making for a cleaner environment. For even less of a mess, a vacuum hose can be attached to many models of track saws.
