TS55 vs bench top bosch table saw

[VHF]

Hi Folks - (new to the board so happy to be re-directed if there's somewhere better for this?).

Having decision paralysis between the TS55 kit and Bosch GTS 10 XC (writing from Scotland, but I believe it is the 4100-09 in N. America?)

Love the idea of the precision, quality and safety of the track saw but am really struggling with the set-up time required for these excellent cuts. If it were a question of a good cabinet saw vs a track saw, for my application, I'd go cabinet saw immediately. But I'm choosing between a decent bench top table saw (best fence reviews I've found) and a track saw. Price is currently similar.

Other info I can provide is that I will be doing some, possibly a lot, of repeat cuts, in thin widths (40-60mm) so will need the parallel guides as well. Have watched vids about the parallel guides (+ extensions) but as good as they look, it looks fiddly and time consuming as well.

On (another) hand, I usually work alone so getting a 18mm 4x8 sheet onto the table saw is at best hard, at worst a risk, and can compromise a decent cut. Currently have space for a good outfeed table but may not in the long term...

And I do need to do quality joinery as well (cabinetry etc) unrelated to the narrow width cuts.

So my question: is the track saw set-up and faff time outweighed by the quality of the cuts? Or would a decent bench top table saw be faster, easier and adequate?

Any thoughts much appreciated.

 

[lwoirhaye]

If you can make a zero clearance throat plate for the table saw you may be able to get cuts of similar quality to what a track saw can produce.  Table saws excel at repeat rips and quick rip dimension changes.  If you have the space for good outfeed support they can cut fairly straight as well.  A Festool track saw will deliver more consistently straight cuts.  For some work straightness isn't very important.  If you don't have a way to establish a reference straight edge to guide your fence against you'll have to rely on things like the factory edge on a piece of plywood or s4s lumber.  While these materials may often be pretty close to straight, they are seldom as straight as you can get establishing an edge yourself with the right equipment.

A benchtop table saw is an awkward way to crosscut 600mm panels for base cabinets. It can be done with a jig, but a track saw can do it easily.

As in all these matters, what you want to build, the type of materials you'll be using and the tolerances you'll be working to are important factors to assess.  Achieving great results without the right tools can be difficult for the person who is not highly skilled already. 

I saw a setup on another forum where a guy had a track saw on a long track set up so it could easily lift from both ends to slide work underneath.  He used the Eurekazone "bridge" hardware and track.  To the right of the track he had mounted a table saw fence.  The L-shaped table it was mounted on took up a lot of room.  Seemed like a sensible approach to me if the power and depth capacity of a circular saw is acceptable for the work.

 

[VHF]

Thanks for the info, Iwoirhay. Should have mentioned: materials are mostly baltic ply and melamine, minimal hardwood. work ranges from basic cabinetry to cutting molds for fine concrete worktops (where errors are literally cast in stone) hence the need for narrow cuts, often.

And forgive my lack of terminology, but "zero clearance throat plate"? That's the plate that sits around the blade? I would have thought all wld be zero clearance, no? wouldn't it catch the work if it wasn't?
Cheers

 

[awil66]

Welcome to the forum. We use that Bosch table saw at work and we also have the dewalt competitor and the Makita. All 10”. In my opinion the dewalt fence is far superior to the other two. It’s geared.
Table saws are excellent for the repeat cuts, especially narrow ones, but the ts 55 is also fantastic and I couldn’t do without mine. You really need both.  Maybe lay off the Irn Bru for a month and you can fit it in the budget.
Just kidding.
It’s going to be a tough decision, but for me, I refuse to break down sheet goods on a table saw.

 

[lwoirhaye]

Special ATB blades for melamine are the best for the job but the material is likely to chip on one side anyway unless you do things like scoring first, which is awkward at best with a table saw, or putting masking tape over every cut line and hoping for the best.  Mafell and Makita track saws have a scoring feature that offsets the blade for the scoring cut by about .2mm, Festools don't.  That doesn't mean you can't score with a saw that doesn't do the offset. Guys do it and say it works.

A zero clearance plate on a table saw is made for 90 degree cuts only (usually) and sometimes only for a specific cutting depth.  It supports the down-side of the material to prevent chipping.  It's the same idea as the rubber edge on a Festool track. 

 

[TealaG]

I have a Makita track saw and the Bosch 4100.  I definitely believe there are some cuts that is very difficult on a track saw, easier/safer on a table saw (ie cuts on pieces of wood smaller than the width of the track).    However, I also think there are cuts that a track saw can do safer than a table saw (particularly those where the piece of wood is wider than the base of the track saw where you don't have support for the wood).

Honestly, I use my track saw more often.  I think this is mostly because I am far more comfortable with using it.  I don't believe that it has lots of setup time.  I use guides similar to these:https://www.senecawoodworking.com/products/parallel-guide-system-for-incra-t-track-plus    If you calibrate it correctly, you can get repeatable cuts at most sizes with ease.    I get the 4x8 sheets of wood cut down at the store because I can't lift a full sheet, nor can I fit it into my car.    So, for the most part, I can get my tracksaw to cut what I don't get done at the store.  However, if I need more room, I can use the tracksaw on the floor with 2x4 underneath.   

If you can only get one right now, I'd get the track saw.  Then, add the table saw later.  But it depends on the types of cuts you want to do.

 

[VHF]

Thanks for all the feedback folks. Still somewhat hamstrung by this, and (having read elsewhere on this site) have added the Makita track saw to my list of possibilities.

A follow on question (if anyone is still reading this?): do track saws REQUIRE a vac or is that just a nice thing? I've seen / read about the dust bag accessories, but does this affect performance?

Cheers

 

[waho6o9]

A track saw and a table saw is a great combo to have as they work in tandem to make production more efficient.

Dust extraction is key for a track saw, at least for me anyways. Not sure about the bag models as I don't have any

of those battery powered ones.

 

[lwoirhaye]

You don't need to extract the dust.  Just like any circular saw they make a mess.  Saws like the Makita and TS55 collect a remarkable amount of dust with a vacuum. It makes them terrific on-site tools for working indoors.  Managing the vacuum hose is a complication as well.  The better solutions seem to involve a boom arm. The ribbed hoses get caught on the track or on material edges easily, hanging up the saw in the cut. 

 

[JFelchlin]

I’m a longtime woodworker hobbyist.
I have the Bosch 4100-09. And the Festool TS75.
Both are hooked to Dust Deputy cyclones and Festool Dust Extractors.
They both get used equally; each for their own purpose.
I wouldn’t be without either of them.
Bought ‘em dollar by dollar as the budget allowed.
I bought the TS75 first. Safer for a newbie; and more versatile.
Used it for everything.

But, I realized that a table saw has its advantages.
Without a lot of room, I opted for the Bosch 4100-09.
Right size. Right tool. Right price. Right solution.

You’ll eventually want both. And figure out a way to buy ‘em.
Get the Festool TS55 first. You won’t regret it.
Joe

 

[pettyconstruction]

A track saw and a table saw is a great combo to have as they work in tandem to make production more efficient.

Dust extraction is key for a track saw, at least for me anyways. Not sure about the bag models as I don't have any

of those battery powered ones.

I have a TS75 , TSC-55 an HKC-55 , and they all work surprisingly well with the dust bag.
The bag needs to be emptied quite often , but they work well.

Having said all that,I use my CT-26 when I need to use them a lot .
BTW , sucking the dust out of the dust bag with a vac works pretty well.
Charlie

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