Track Saw or Table Saw

M

madlee

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Apr 19, 2013
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Okay, I'm new to the forum and to woodworking. I've been doing a remodel on my house and quickly learned that doing things right takes the proper tools and my collection is lacking.  I've been going back and forth over where to start to build out my arsenal and while it would be nice to say that money is no object, it isn't true. I've want to do more woodworking beyond base and crown and start building some cabinets and furniture. My old man says I've got to have a table saw (a Delta, Powermatic, or Jet) and that a track saw would limit me. The guys at Woodcraft say the same thing. I thought I'd put it to the owners group and see if a few of you were willing to give your honest opinion. Could I do as well with a track saw and a miter saw as I would with a cabinet saw?

I do have a little Hitachi contractor saw and to be honest, the thing scares the hell out of me.  It's unstable and the cuts usually burn the wood because it's rocking when feeding material through it and the table and fence are just awful.  For a little saw, it's actually quite cumbersome to use.  Between that and my only other experience with another table saw (a little delta cheapo from the depot) I'm not fond of table saws.  I find them a bit intimidating and maybe it would be different on a high quality cabinet saw but I'm not sure I want to spend three grand to find out. 

Anyway, if you have some time, I'd appreciate anyone who has the experience to share.  Maybe I'm on the wrong track, but it seems to me that a track saw, a good miter saw, and a router would cost about the same as a cabinet saw and allow for a larger variety of projects. 

What are your thoughts?
 
[welcome]

I'll be the first odd man out and say that track saws are nice for many things, but I wouldn't be without a tablesaw. Speed, repeatability, dado's. I'll stick with a tablesaw.

Mike- proud owner of 7,... make that 8, tablesaws.
 
Hi madlee,

Welcome to the FOG!  [smile]

Here is a recent thread  that may be helpful to you. http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/ts-5575-or-ts/ One of the posts in that thread has links to several others.

If you go with the track saw one thing that makes it possible to do many operations more easily is to have a large cutting table to do the cutting on. That makes it easy to position and lay out set ups to handle narrow rip cuts, and others that will be needed to do  a full range of woodworking.  A frequently suggested combination is a track saw and a small table saw.  But I can  you tell from personal experience that just about any cut can be done with the track saw and the right set up. However there are also many cuts that are faster and easier on a table saw. I depends on how you want to work, what you are comfortable with, and if you want to  figure out some ways to make  certain cuts with the track saw. I think that just saying that one is more limited than the other is  over simplifying the choice.

Seth

 
As far as speed goes, a table saw is just hard to beat in certain situations. But a cabinet saw isn't portable, the track saw is.  If I were you I'd look at the dewalt rack and pinion table saw.  It's not as powerful as a cabinet saw, but it's portable and powerful enough to get the job done.  For cutting down sheet goods in a confined space you can't beat the tack saw.  But if you are ripping a lot of 1x8's or 1x4s, you really want a table saw.  I love using my track saw when I need to rip something like a 1x4 and I need to make an angled cut along the board.  Doing this freehand on a tablesaw with precision is almost impossible.

I think you should just get both, because both accel in their own ways, and you will figure out which one best fits which need.  I know this may not be the answer you are looking for, but it sure makes things easier to just have both.
 
As a non-pro, having both is ideal.  I wouldn't want to begin feeding sheets of plywood through my table saw and I'm not clever enough to do repeatable rip cuts with my track saw.  Something like this might serve you well for rip cuts and dados without breaking the bank. 
 
I do manage quite well with just a track saw, a jig saw, and some non-powered  hand saws when working on-site.  I feel that there is really nothing that I can not do with those saws (with the exception of re-sawing, but for that you should use a bandsaw). 

But, I really like the cabinet table saw that is located in my woodworking shed and would never give it up.
 
You guys are awesome.  Tons useful tips and advice already in the first replies.  I really appreciate it.  I can definitely see the benefit of a table saw for fast repeatable cuts.  I think that I would probably find lots of uses for both.  My guess is as soon as I move away from using S4S lumber from the depot I'll need a table saw, probably a planer and jointer too.  

I can see where the track saw would make light work out of sheet goods.  That's probably one of the most intimidating cuts for me; even after ripping a piece of plywood down to a half of sheet or smaller with a circular saw, I dread having to put it through the table saw.  That and the cut that Jaybolishes describes with cutting an angel down a 1x4.  Tried to do that with a table saw this weekend and neither the table saw or myself enjoyed it. I'm sure a lot of it is rookie mistakes and I'll learn or lose a finger trying.  
 
madlee said:
You guys are awesome.  Tons useful tips and advice already in the first replies.  I really appreciate it.  I can definitely see the benefit of a table saw for fast repeatable cuts.  I think that I would probably find lots of uses for both.  My guess is as soon as I move away from using S4S lumber from the depot I'll need a table saw, probably a planer and jointer too.  

I can see where the track saw would make light work out of sheet goods.  That's probably one of the most intimidating cuts for me; even after ripping a piece of plywood down to a half of sheet or smaller with a circular saw, I dread having to put it through the table saw.  That and the cut that Jaybolishes describes with cutting an angel down a 1x4.  Tried to do that with a table saw this weekend and neither the table saw or myself enjoyed it. I'm sure a lot of it is rookie mistakes and I'll learn or lose a finger trying.  
Click to expand...

Well, lets try to avoid that  [eek]

Seth
 
What it comes down to is just the projects you will build and the space you have in your shop.

My suggestion is that when space is limited, find room for a portable 4x8' cutting work surface and use it to break down sheet material with a track saw. Then buy a smaller table saw for other kinds of parts. A table saw only soaks up space when you must allow enough room to saw 4x8' sheets in both the rip and cross cut mode.

To rip a 4x8; sheet on a table saw you need 8' in and out feed, plus room to stand or 20' minimum. To cross cut a 4x8' sheet you need a bit over 4' to the right side of the blade and 8+' on the left side. Unless you have a helper, you will need some roller stands to support the sheet when cross cutting. To do those tasks with a cutting table and a track saw all you need is a 4x8' space with room to walk around the table.

There is nothing sadder than to have more expensive and marvelous fixed machines crammed into far too little space to use them effectively.
 
A tip on keeping your fingers - Use the bladeguard on your table saw.  Others may tell you that they're a PITA or somehow make things more dangerous but your fingers will thank you at the end of the day.  Get Kelly Mehler's table saw book and learn about safe techniques and helpful jigs.
 
As others have said go for both if you can.
For 20 years odd I have had a small table saw and really struggled with cutting full sheets.After a lot of deliberation I recently got a TS55 to go with my track guide,what a revelation,it is probably the best £300 I have spent on tools in a long time almost to the point where initial sheet cuts have become a pleasure rather than a complete pain.But I would never give up my table saw (just need the Incra fence now for accurate repeatable cuts).
 
My favorite tool is the TS55... that said, I would not trade my table saw (Bosch 4109). A table saw that can do what the TS55 is way more expensive than the Festool. Until I was able to afford the TS55, I made a jig with 1/4" ply that allowed me to place it on the line and cut with a circular saw. It worked well enough, but the cuts were not as clean, and made the mess you can expect from a circular saw.

My suggestion is to have both.
 
I have both, but there are lots of things the TS55 or TS75 can do, that cannot be done, or are very difficult to do safely on a table saw, especially if working alone.  I use my Festool TS saw for almost everything, save repetitive cuts on the table saw with a sled.  My 5hp Jet cabinet saw sits idle more often than not since I started using the track saw several years ago.  There is no way to do long rips on a table saw without a long outfeed table or talented help.

The CMS router table can do lots of things like dadoes that the table saw can do.  I think it is much safer with the sliding table on the CMS than with a miter gauge on the table saw.  Now if Festool would just release the TS75 module for the CMS, I would seriously consider dumping the table saw.  If I were to buy a new table saw, it would either be a Hammer with a sliding table or a Sawstop cabinet saw.  Neither of these are portable.
 
If one were to go for a small table saw to complement the Festool TS55 and MFT1080, what would you go for?
 
It's just my opinion, but a small table saw is a total waste of money. You don't get the flexibility of a track saw and you don't get the accuracy of a solid table saw.

The Sawstop Professional is a great tool and the Industrial model is incredible. Sawstop not only provides the instant stop, no cut feature, but also provides awesome quality.  The more I use my Industrial Sawstop, the more I'm impressed with its features and quality. If Festool made a full size table saw, it would look like a Sawstop.
 
Track saw for breaking down sheet goods and Table saw for ripping down dimensional lumber.  [wink]
 
GPowers said:
Track saw for breaking down sheet goods and Table saw for ripping down dimensional lumber.  [wink]
Click to expand...

I agree, this question keeps coming up in different forums but it's as simple as GPowers says [smile]
 
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