Considering switching from track saws/MFT to a panel saw.

[Mini Me]

As someone who successfully builds cabinets for my own use without a table saw, I hate to disappoint you, because I am not going to try to refute this idea entirely. But I am going to try to soften it a little.

I started with a track saw, wanted to be able to work a little faster so I got a guide rail square. Then my cuts still weren't coming out as square as I wanted, and people here told me what I needed was parallel guides, so I got a pair of 30" ones. And guess what? I am happy now, and don't look at tools anymore. OK, that was a lie, but when it comes to turning a sheet of plywood into a bunch of panels ready for assembly, I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything.

When I first used a track saw there was no aftermarket guides, squares etc so there was no way I was going to pay good money for something that was then fundamentally hard to use and unsuitable for what I wanted to do so I bought a short stroke slider that can crosscut but not rip a full length sheet. It works for me but I stand by my comments above. That the aftermarket stuff now makes it feasible to use a track saw I still doubt my decision would be different. I have a large workshop and I can understand lack of space being a big factor in the decision of making the choice between a slider and a track saw which the OP is asking about. A small slider will replace a mitre saw making it a multi use tool which is something to be considered. If I was cutting panels as often as you and needed to make long cuts and lacked the space for a full panel saw I would build a vertical panel saw.

 

[sarno]

Samo,

What fundamental issue are you trying to address by getting a panel saw?

Honestly, I've come to dread stepping into my garage and trying to cut something to the measurements I want, repeatedly and consistently. It always takes 10 times longer as I mess around with all these accessories I've waste my money on only to be disappointed in the results. Always seems to be something different messing up too.

For example, this week I was messing about building a Paulk-style work bench (no mft holes though). Pretty simple, 1 front and 1 back panel 1800x270, 4 dividers 780x270. Took about half a day and none of them were the same size. I think the most annoying part is all the messing around with clamps and sacrificial boards and just how awkward that gets. Clearly I'm not very skilled at it as others don't have these issues. And sure, I'm not super experienced (especially with the track saw) and I'm sure I'll get better with practice, refining my technique and working smarter. It's just that it's a massive drain at the moment and pretty demotivating. Not crapping in the track saw or anything either, I know this is coming across as quite whiny, !'m just frustrated! I thought I could "buy" my way out of these problems but I'm so far down the rabbit hole I could've bought an insanely good panel saw in hindsight.

For reference, my dad was a cabinet maker his whole life. When he ran his own business I'd frequently help. We only ever cut up sheet goods on the panel saw. Admittedly, it was an enormous Altendorf with the digital fence adjuster and all those bells and whistles. I just miss being able to enter the measurement on the digital control, have the fence move and the saw actually cut to the dimensions I want! I know I won't have that level at home but as close as possible would be great.

 

[Packard]

Honestly, I've come to dread stepping into my garage and trying to cut something to the measurements I want, repeatedly and consistently. It always takes 10 times longer as I mess around with all these accessories I've waste my money on only to be disappointed in the results. Always seems to be something different messing up too.

For example, this week I was messing about building a Paulk-style work bench (no mft holes though). Pretty simple, 1 front and 1 back panel 1800x270, 4 dividers 780x270. Took about half a day and none of them were the same size. I think the most annoying part is all the messing around with clamps and sacrificial boards and just how awkward that gets. Clearly I'm not very skilled at it as others don't have these issues. And sure, I'm not super experienced (especially with the track saw) and I'm sure I'll get better with practice, refining my technique and working smarter. It's just that it's a massive drain at the moment and pretty demotivating. Not crapping in the track saw or anything either, I know this is coming across as quite whiny, !'m just frustrated! I thought I could "buy" my way out of these problems but I'm so far down the rabbit hole I could've bought an insanely good panel saw in hindsight.

For reference, my dad was a cabinet maker his whole life. When he ran his own business I'd frequently help. We only ever cut up sheet goods on the panel saw. Admittedly, it was an enormous Altendorf with the digital fence adjuster and all those bells and whistles. I just miss being able to enter the measurement on the digital control, have the fence move and the saw actually cut to the dimensions I want! I know I won't have that level at home but as close as possible would be great.

If you always use it in your garage, can you fit a table saw there? If I could have done that, I would never had bought a track saw. My issue was carrying full sheets of 4 x 8 down to my basement.

 

[ChuckS]

Woodworking as a hobby should be fun and not demotivating.

I've seen videos using a drill press or even a table saw (with a jig and cordless drill) to do some turning. Their "successes" don't mean those are the right tools for someone who wants to be a woodturner.

Call me a low hanging fruit. I'd forget about trying more gadgets and hacks on what hasn't been working for so much and for so long. I'd just buy myself a proven solution...and start enjoying my shop time. And the sooner, the better.

I always get my sheets rough cut to size at the lumber yard. My cabinetmaking friend who runs a business, on the other hand, never gets sheets precut...he does it in his shop on the table saw -- with the help of someone.

 

[Packard]

I have a Chrysler mini-van with the Stow & Go folding rear seat feature that allows me to lay a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood flat on the floor. But note that this feature is only available with the gas powered van. Batteries occupy the Stow & Go folding space in the hybrid version.

I buy my sheets uncut. I set up a roller stand behind the van and I roll the sheet onto a foam cutting surface sitting on saw horses. I then use the track saw to size the sheets, and then make finish cuts on the table saw.

If Kreg had made their edge guide back when I was shopping for a track saw, it would undoubtedly been sufficient for my purposes. And while I can get sufficient accuracy with the track saw for cabinet work, it is more tedious than making the finish cuts on the table saw.

I would note that I have a table saw with a 50” fence, and a Sears radial arm saw. So I will often rip the sheets and carry 12” boards to the basement. Then trim them on the table saw, and cut to length on the radial arm saw (which is limited to about 16” long cut).

I do have an accurate large square, and I do like to “cut to the line” rather than use a ruler. If my line is drawn in the right spot, I can cut to the right of the line or to the left of the line.

I also have a TSO parallel guide which I like, but for repetitive cuts, it is slower, and due no doubt to user error, less repeatable for repeated cuts. I prefer the table saw for that.

The one deficiency I find with the table saw is cuts over 4’ wide. Space, and my ability to maintain solid contact between the board and the fence become issues.

 

[ChuckS]

The one deficiency I find with the table saw is cuts over 4’ wide. Space, and my ability to maintain solid contact between the board and the fence become issues.

- That's where the JessEM stock guides triumph.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Packard said, “If Kreg had made their edge guide back when I was shopping for a track saw, it would undoubtedly been sufficient for my purposes.”

That might be true but probably not. I’m certain the results would not be equal to what you get from the track saw.
1. Running a saw against a rail does not prevent the saw from moving away from the rail.
2. Very few ordinary circular saws have bases that are actually parts the blade. Even fewer allow adjustment of the base to make it parallel. I know of only one.
3. I watched Kreg’s video and the cut edges are quite ragged, more so on one side than the other, probably due to #2 above.

 

[Packard]

Packard said, “If Kreg had made their edge guide back when I was shopping for a track saw, it would undoubtedly been sufficient for my purposes.”

That might be true but probably not. I’m certain the results would not be equal to what you get from the track saw.
1. Running a saw against a rail does not prevent the saw from moving away from the rail.
2. Very few ordinary circular saws have bases that are actually parts the blade. Even fewer allow adjustment of the base to make it parallel. I know of only one.
3. I watched Kreg’s video and the cut edges are quite ragged, more so on one side than the other, probably due to #2 above.

Before the track saw, I used a home-made circular saw guide with decent results, but tedious measuring setups. I took small slices from both edges of the cut boards on the table saw to make sure that they were parallel. The final cuts were made on all the matching boards at the same time.

In an ideal world, I would have unlimited finances and I would have a ground level shop to easily receive sheet goods. I would also have a sliding table saw to aid in cutting large sheets.

Alas, until I win the Mega Millions lottery (currently at $533 million) compromises will have to be made—but I did buy a lottery ticket.

 

[luvmytoolz]

When the ATF55 tracksaw was released in Oz it was an absolutely ground breaking tool for me as I was doing a lot of door hanging. The time and effort it saved was incalculable. Customers were also impressed with the dust extraction greatly reducing the mess created. I still use it to break down sheets.