Using a Track Saw Instead of a Table Saw
A track saw and a table saw are both ripping tools, but they are not interchangeable – they excel at different tasks. A track saw rips full sheets of plywood safely and accurately without a helper. A table saw excels at repeated identical cuts on solid lumber. In a small shop where floor space is critical, a track saw eliminates the need for a table saw for most work, costs a third as much, stores on a wall hook, and is safe to use in a 10×10 space. This guide covers when and how to use a track saw as your primary ripping tool.
What a Track Saw Does Better Than a Table Saw
Sheet goods are where the track saw dominates completely. Cutting a 4×8 sheet of plywood on a table saw requires substantial infeed and outfeed space and usually a helper. The same cut with a track saw requires only the sheet on sawhorses and a 10-foot guide rail. The cut is straight, clean, and splinter-free because the track-mounted saw cuts against an adhesive strip that supports the veneer fibers exactly at the cut line.
What a Table Saw Does Better
Repeated identical rips of solid lumber – ripping a pile of boards to the same width – are faster on a table saw because you set the fence once and run every board through. The track saw requires re-positioning and clamping the track for each setup. Raised panel doors, grooves along the length of a board, and tapering operations are all table saw tasks where the fence system provides repeatable accuracy that the track saw cannot match efficiently.
Setting Up Track Saw Cuts
Place the material on a sacrificial foam backer board or on a sacrificial plywood base. Mark the cut line. Align the track’s edge to the cut mark – the kerf runs exactly along the track’s edge. Clamp both ends of the track to the workpiece or use the anti-slip adhesive strips many tracks include. The saw slides along the track in a single smooth stroke.
Accessories That Expand Capability
A parallel guide attachment slides along the board edge at a set distance, eliminating the need to measure and mark for rips. A square-cut guide clamps to the track at exactly 90 degrees for crosscuts. An angle guide sets the track at any miter angle. Together, these accessories bring the track saw’s versatility close to a table saw for most operations.
FAQ
Can I rip narrow strips with a track saw? Yes – the parallel guide handles strips as narrow as 2 inches reliably. Below 2 inches, the guide has less material to run against and accuracy suffers. For very narrow strips, a table saw fence is the better tool.
What brands are worth buying? Festool, Makita, and Mafell make the highest-quality track saws. Milwaukee, Bosch, and DeWalt make mid-range options that perform well for most shop use. The quality of the track matters as much as the saw – proprietary tracks from quality brands maintain straightness better than third-party alternatives.