A little advice for a new guy

[packratpop]

"My main needs are being able to cut a variety of materials for use in my artwork, such as 1/4" birch, aluminum, Dibond, plexiglass, etc. Pretty much aything I can think can be used as a base or substrate for the art I do. So, it seems a track saw is perfect. But bloody expensive. So I looked at others online, including Dewalt, Makita and the new one from Triton. I'm still confused."

With limited space for a table saw I agree a track saw is a good choice especially for sheet goods. I chose festool because of the dust collection! Do some research into how nasty the stuff is for your health and how good Festools are at protecting you and the cost will be in perspective!

Buy a good hepa vac like a ct!!!!!!

As your skill evolves and projects require different techniques invest in the next tool. Remember to think dust collection! Routers are an excellent choice and really expand your options.
So is a jigsaw.
Depends on the project.

My best advicer is think about your health first! Think about which tool(s) give the best dust collection and accomplish the next technique and your choices will get easier. Its hard to understand how good these tools are unless you have spent time struggling with cheap/ inefficient tools.
Good luck!

 

[Kev]

So a track saw isn't good for furniture? Maybe I should rethink the Eureka stuff? Now im confused again, lol.

Welcome to the opinion fracture.

... you need a sawmill too ...

 

[jplemons]

So a track saw isn't good for furniture? Maybe I should rethink the Eureka stuff? Now im confused again, lol.

Welcome to the opinion fracture.

... you need a sawmill too ...

Good one! I'm going to stand by the track saw decision over a table saw. I think it will be perfect for what I do. If I really get into it and want more out of it I can always sell and get a table saw. And if I go with Festool the resale value is quite high. Thanks for the help all, including the PMs.

 

[semenza]

    It really sounds like the track saw is right for the work you do. Though it is not ideal for some cuts involved with furniture , it can be done.  As far as narrow pieces, edging material,  face frame parts, and straight lining lumber ........  those are no real problem with the track saw.  A table saw needs at least double the space to cut down sheet goods as a track saw.

Seth

 

[Birdhunter]

This is a fun forum as you will get opinions from very experienced, very helpful, and very opinionated people. I've found that, over time, I have developed methods and selected tools that work for me. Other people have their own preferences, not better, not worse, just different.

I have the largest Sawstop table saw, the Industrial, and I find it invaluable for the high precision work I do. I have 6-7 jigs that I depend on for precise and safe cuts. I can't think of a way to do the same thing with a track saw, but there are probably people on this forum that could. The Sawstop is on a mobile base and I can move it out of the way when I need the space.

I use the TS55 track saw (with the rails) for sheet goods and find it is invaluable. I just don't like wrestling big sheets of plywood onto a table saw. I don't feel safe doing so.

For me, the combination of the track saw and the table saw is synergistic.

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

Birdhunter +1

 

[jacko9]

Birdhunter + 2

 

[UncleJoe]

My advice comes from a guy that does this as a hobby. I am nearing retirement and will be doing this for the rest of my life. I have messed around with wood working over the years but a couple of years ago I bought my first festool an everything changed. Better tools helped me achieve a level of work I had not thought possible.

My advice is that it is far less expensive to buy the right tool once than buy less expensive tools only to find they fall short and you end up buying Festool in the end. Save yourself time and a lot of money by purchaing festool at the beginning.

After using Festools for a while now every other tool I have is lacking. I am now in the process of putting together a large yard sale to get rid of all my inferior tools. I will take a loss on those tools and it would have been better to have purchased all Festool to start. If money is a concern then just make a list of what you want and begin to purchase them a little at a time. Most people build their tool collection over time, my suggestion is that you do the same but build your collection with high quality tools that will last as long as you do. There are folks on this board that use their festools daily in a commercial setting and put more wear and tear on a tool in a year than I will in 5 years and their fetools are running just fine.

These tools are an investment in your hobby. Invest wisely.

 

[sancho57]

Where is Calif do you live? If its in So Cal, I highly recommend Austin hardware ad Hardwoods in Santa Ana Calif. Wood Craft OC , LA Anderson Ply. If you are in No Cal a trip to see or see Aldo at In Touch in Palm Springs in your near SF see K119 .

there are plenty of places near you IM sure with knowledgeable people to help you

 

[jplemons]

Where is Calif do you live? If its in So Cal, I highly recommend Austin hardware ad Hardwoods in Santa Ana Calif. Wood Craft OC , LA Anderson Ply. If you are in No Cal a trip to see or see Aldo at In Touch in Palm Springs in your near SF see K119 .

there are plenty of places near you IM sure with knowledgeable people to help you

I'm in Fresno, home of big box stores and fast food chains, lol. However, we're often in San Jose, so the next time I'm there I'll track down a dealer so I can put hands on the tools.

Some are saying that the plunge saws aren't safe at all, especially if they're used without the track, which is an option I'd like to have. Is this correct, or marketing hype?

Either way, I need to sell more art to finance this, lol.

 

[peter halle]

The people who are saying that track saws are not safe are either ignorant of the facts or just anti-track saw people.  I offer these points:

1.  If a guide rail is used the cut is smooth and accurate without the ability of the user to go off course and cause binding or worse.
2.  If there is an instance of kickback - caused by plunging into material without the supplied part to prevent this in combination with the guiderail - the saw will leave the track and the blade will retract on its own.  The blade might get a nick in the process, but that is better than a hand or a thigh.  All because the user has to apply downward force to extend the blade, if there is nothing but air there there isn't anything to press down onto.  I actually watched Larry of Festool last year demonstrate a kickback at JLC Live and enjoyed the looks on peoples' faces at the results and his willingness to prove a point.

You can use a track saw without a guiderail or next to guiderail but the guiderail is really what makes it a game changer.  You will have to apply force to keep the blade out and cutting into the work.  Much easier to do with a 2 x 12 than a 2 x 4.

Peter

 

[sancho57]

You'd need a track.

 

[Kev]

Some are saying that the plunge saws aren't safe at all, especially if they're used without the track, which is an option I'd like to have. Is this correct, or marketing hype?

Probably the same people that use a table saw with no blade guard and rubbish, cables and hoses all over the floor!

I'm sure a dedicated nark could find an unsafe way to use a stuffed teddy bear, but the Festool track saws are extremely safe to use by anyone with a modest amount of common sense and a desire for self preservation.

 

[semenza]

I'm in Fresno, home of big box stores and fast food chains, lol. However, we're often in San Jose, so the next time I'm there I'll track down a dealer so I can put hands on the tools.

Some are saying that the plunge saws aren't safe at all, especially if they're used without the track, which is an option I'd like to have. Is this correct, or marketing hype?

Either way, I need to sell more art to finance this, lol.

[blink]    ???    :

Seth

 

[Stephen B]

[size=11pt]

All power tools should be treated with respect, but in my humble opinion, the TR 55 REBQ is the 'safest', power saw I own.

The following link may add weight to the points made by Peter, Seth, Kev and others.



And I was operating an IPAD at the same time?    [wink]

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

I consider the track saw to be one of the safest tools in my shop. You need the track.  That's why they call it a track saw.  Would you call it a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and leave off the peanut butter?  [huh]

 

[mahaha]

Hi,
I know a bit of time has past since you started this thread. I'm wondering how your decision went? Did you get the track saw?

I'm in a similar boat, but I'm providing the services for artists. So i'm looking at the track saw to cut dibond and/or other mounting substrates for Client's artwork. Possibly a router for finishing face mounted plexi pieces.

Did you end up getting the track saw? Have you cut dibond with it and if so, how well did it do? Any regrets?

 

[jacko9]

One last piece of advise - you need a table saw unless your main job is breaking down full sheets of plywood.  If your going to be making furniture you "need a table saw".  A track saw is great for breaking down full sheets of plywood and I use mine every so often but, I use my table saw every day!  Furniture maker for 35+ years.

Jack

 

[mahaha]

Hi Jack,
That makes sense for those situations. Dibond is an aluminum composite material with a polyethylene core. I have heard some framers loving the festool because of it's accuracy, the ability to control the speed, the dust collection... The original poster referred to cutting not only dibond, but aluminum, plexiglass and wood.

I read through the thread and there seemed to be a lot of great advice given and now that it is over a year later, I was wondering how he liked his decision, if he had any regrets and if the track saw was a good choice for what he was using it for as I'm in the same boat making the same decision.

Cheers!

 

[sancho57]

Since your in Calif, You could go to a local Jr College and take some woodworking classes there. They have good instructors and equipment and are inexpensive to take.  Orange Coast College has a good Program and Cerritos has one of the best programs in the country, hard to get in the beginners classes but very good.

I highly suggest you get sometime in under the eye of a instructor, especially for safety and health. Woodworking can be very rewarding but also a slight mistake can cause you to lose a finger or worse.