Cutting 20' of Trex with Track System

[johnmocha]

Hi,
I'm putting on some new fascia boards on the house and my local lumber yard has a great deal on Trex cellular.  It is 20' lengths and is 1x10.  I need 1 x 8s but do need the 20' length.  Has anyone cut this length of "board" using the Festool system.  I have multiple tracks but not 20' worth!  Any thoughts/guidance appreciated!
Thanks,
John

 

[tjbnwi]

Mark multiple locations shift rail as needed.

To set the kerf end of the rail use the fast fix feature on the saw.

OR---

Buy more rail.

OR

Buy edge guide.

Tom

 

[AlexThePalex]

Looks like an awfull lot of work with a track saw. On the other hand, it would be a doddle with a table saw. Can't you have the lumberyard make them the right width? 

 

[Stephen B]

[size=14pt]

I agree with Alex, at the TYard I work at PT we often do this. Most common reason is matching existing old imperial with new metric fascia.

However you should not expect this type of service at a large chain big box/hardware-timber merchant.

 

[ear3]

I second the parallel guide proposal:

for TS55
http://www.festoolusa.com/power-tool-accessories/track-saws/stops-and-accessories/parallel-guide-491469

for TS75
http://www.festoolusa.com/power-tool-accessories/track-saws/stops-and-accessories/parallel-guide-492243

 

[wow]

And I second the table saw vote if you have access to one? This is one time where a table saw trumps the track saw.

 

[tjbnwi]

Spray everything and yourself with Static Guard before cutting.

Tom

 

[Northern Early]

I picked up a long track on my last deck project to set all of my boards long and trim to install the trim board. worked marvelous. not worth the cost of the track but at least 17.5% better.

To do what your talking about i would go to my skill saw with edge guide before my track saw (is there an edge guide for the TS i haven't seen?). This is all well before i would think about pushing and pulling a 20' board through my table saw (even with feather board)(I work alone most of the time).

I assume this isn't a big box store item, but, if it were and they have a panel saw, that sounds like, by far, the best option. It would take a 1/10 of the time to rip a few 20footers through a panel saw with great results than it would any other method. And the guys that have clearance to touch the dangerous saw would usually rather cut stuff than tell people where the picture hangers are.

But my vote is the trusty mag77 with an edge guide on the grass.

On a side note, i didn't bring my table saw on a recent basement stairway door trim out, track saw will take care of it i thought. 1"x79" mixed grain fir door case. Well the stock was bowed and because the track saw cuts straight she ended up at 1 3/8" in the middle. Had to bring the table saw for one cut the next day. So the track is amazing at what it does, in real world application not always the right tool.

P.S. I'm going for the runoff sentence and () king in one post.

 

[GreenGA]

+1  [unsure]

Spray everything and yourself with Static Guard before cutting.

Tom

 

[EdL]

As been said, circ. saw or table saw. Use a throwaway blade, Trex will take the edge off a carbide blade in short order.

No way I would cut the stuff with my ts55.

Ed

 

[Northern Early]

^^ a little off topic but interesting that you say trex to kill a blade faster. I don't disagree but think of other things like pergo type flooring getting a blade change to the worn out  before i think of trex cheap blade swap out.

 

[Dan C]

I just finished my deck and ripped fascia boards to do a triple layer look using the TS55.  I used TimberTech composite decking and cut about 70ft of it.  I marked multiple places along the length and moved the rail to complete the cuts in 2-3 'sections'.  No blade dulling, no issues at all.  If you were doing it all day, everyday then i might look at another option.  No way i would cut on the table saw- use the TS and enjoy.  I even used the rails for trimming the end boards to length and a few other places along the way.  Blades are cheap and you will really appreciate the quality of the cuts.