On 7/26/2017 7:44 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I think this is a new product from Kreg. The email says "Now Available"

I've never used a track saw, so I'd be interested in hearing the thoughts about this system
from those that have. Apparently you don't need clamps, it uses non-slip strips. I wonder how
well they work in saw-dusty conditions.

https://www.kregtool.com/store/c48/s.../p425/accu-cut



I would say that the track is probably as good as any of the ones from
the competition. BUT there are a few things to consider.

1. 4' is not long enough to make any track saw useful. IMHO. 4' and
shorter is still pretty easy to do on a TS. BUT 4' will not rip a full
sheet of plywood. Looking at the package there appear to maybe be two,
2' sections and a couple of bars to join the two pieces of track.
Perhaps with another kit you could rip 8'

2. The track grip is not rocket science, there is actually a lot of
rubber tape under the tracks that keep them from slipping. Some sawdust
does not seem to affect the Festool track and I would not think that the
dust would be a problem with this track either. I very commonly cut
$100.00+ sheets of plywood with my track saw and track with out clamps
and those cuts are the finished cuts. But having said that the less
dust the less chance of slipping because of dust. AND with the dust
concern out of the way there is another concern that no track is exempt
from. The wood and panels that we cut are not always perfectly flat.
If the track does not lay completely flat against the surface of the
entire length of the piece you are cutting the track will naturally
loose grip. Clamps in this case would insure that the track does not
move if it does not sit directly on top of the piece the entire length.

3. The cut is only going to be as good as the saw and the blade. For
the most part the typical non track saw circular saw was not designed
for much more than rough carpentry. I have seen some circular saw
blades move in and away along the axis of the arbor when starting up or
spinning down. Track saws do not have this issue, in fact the outer
rubber section that runs along the track and acts as a splinter guard is
also the line you align the track with. You can count on this rubber
strip to tell you exactly where the kerf is going to be. If the common
circular saw has any movement, as I mentioned above, it will distort
that rubber strip. So while the Kreg track may be as good as it gets,
the saw you pair with it may not be up to the same standards.

4. Track saws with their tracks, at least with the Festool track saw
set up, make cuts comparable to well set up cabinet saws with top
quality blades. If your particular circular saw is not built to
exacting standards no track is going to help you make quality cuts.
This is a lot like putting a $200 blade on a TS for the purpose of
making better cuts. If the TS is not set up properly the blade may be a
waste of money.

5. There is a reason that track saws are not typically sold with out
tracks, they are intended to be used such that the track provides a
perfectly straight path. If you used the track saw circular saw free
hand you might end up with a saw that has some of the problems that a
common circular saw have. IMHO if you don't buy a track saw set up, a
mated saw and track, you might as well use a straight piece of plywood
to guide your saw. Cutting a straight line is not a big deal with a
straight edge, cutting a non wavering line along that straight edge is
the obstacle that needs to be over come.