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

On Wed, 26 Jul 2017 17:44:48 -0700 (PDT), 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 wouldn't trust it without clamps. I noticed that it's only 4' long.
Is there a way of connecting them together. IMO, 4' isn't enough to
be useful. Dies it have a sacrificial edge? This is pretty
important.

On Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 10:37:35 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Wed, 26 Jul 2017 17:44:48 -0700 (PDT), 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 wouldn't trust it without clamps. I noticed that it's only 4' long.
Is there a way of connecting them together. IMO, 4' isn't enough to
be useful. Dies it have a sacrificial edge? This is pretty
important.

The video says "for making cuts up to 48" long" so that's a big, big minus.

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.

On 7/26/2017 9:37 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 26 Jul 2017 17:44:48 -0700 (PDT), 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 wouldn't trust it without clamps. I noticed that it's only 4' long.
Is there a way of connecting them together. IMO, 4' isn't enough to
be useful. Dies it have a sacrificial edge? This is pretty
important.



Take a look ay the set of pictures on the site. It appears that this
comes as two short tracks to make up 4'. Also further down the page are
replacement splinter strips, so yes it has the sacrificial edge to set
up the cuts after making the initial pass.

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

The lone Amazon reviewer was not pleased...
https://www.amazon.com/KMA2700-Accu-...dp/B073PGP96S/

On 7/27/2017 7:49 AM, Spalted Walt wrote:
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

The lone Amazon reviewer was not pleased...
https://www.amazon.com/KMA2700-Accu-...dp/B073PGP96S/



To his review I will say this. You must read and follow instructions.
It appears that if he had set the saw up as instructed that he would
probably have no complaint. As it is he has the saw offset too much to
apparently avoid cutting the sacrificial rubber strip. Cutting that
strip is essential to clean and accurate cuts. Not to mention the saw
sitting properly on the base.
I might also add, you probably should not use multiple saws on this
track, different saws will cut at different locations in relation to the
sacrificial cut line.

What he said,

Maybe I could have moved the saw over a bit more, cut into the padding
and create the zero-clearance as suggested. I did not attempt to do it,
but definitely thought about it and perhaps I would get the base plate
to set on 2 of the plastic 'wings'.

On Wed, 26 Jul 2017 23:28:51 -0500, Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet
wrote:

On 7/26/2017 9:37 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 26 Jul 2017 17:44:48 -0700 (PDT), 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 wouldn't trust it without clamps. I noticed that it's only 4' long.
Is there a way of connecting them together. IMO, 4' isn't enough to
be useful. Dies it have a sacrificial edge? This is pretty
important.



Take a look ay the set of pictures on the site. It appears that this
comes as two short tracks to make up 4'. Also further down the page are
replacement splinter strips, so yes it has the sacrificial edge to set
up the cuts after making the initial pass.

I hadn't seen those pictures. After looking at them, I'm not so down
on the idea. It needs more but it's a good start. The price is
certainly right.

If they added 4' and, perhaps, 8' track sections and decent clamps, it
might be useful. I'd have to look at the saw sled closer, though.
It's not clear how well the shoe fits (repeatability).

On Thu, 27 Jul 2017 08:35:58 -0500, Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet
wrote:

On 7/27/2017 7:49 AM, Spalted Walt wrote:
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

The lone Amazon reviewer was not pleased...
https://www.amazon.com/KMA2700-Accu-...dp/B073PGP96S/



To his review I will say this. You must read and follow instructions.
It appears that if he had set the saw up as instructed that he would
probably have no complaint. As it is he has the saw offset too much to
apparently avoid cutting the sacrificial rubber strip. Cutting that
strip is essential to clean and accurate cuts. Not to mention the saw
sitting properly on the base.
I might also add, you probably should not use multiple saws on this
track, different saws will cut at different locations in relation to the
sacrificial cut line.

What he said,

Maybe I could have moved the saw over a bit more, cut into the padding
and create the zero-clearance as suggested. I did not attempt to do it,
but definitely thought about it and perhaps I would get the base plate
to set on 2 of the plastic 'wings'.

He also said there was a lot of slop between the shoe and the track.
That's *not* good, though it's possible he did something else wrong. I
agree that it's folly to try to set this up for more than one saw and
it likely requires a dedicated saw for it to work properly.

On Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 11:26:24 PM UTC-5, Leon wrote:

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'

Looking at their site, they are recommending their long rip guide for rips of any real length. That rip guide might be a good solution for some, but unless you are experienced at holding the guide against the sheet goods while guiding/pushing the saw, it is more difficult that one would think. Out of all the good tools that Kreg makes, that one is probably the dud (IMO) of the group.



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.

Just to amplify that a bit, these track devices aren't going to turn out any better results than your own saw. When all we had were homemade jigs and guides, we discovered that every saw we used with a straight edge gave different results. Even with the same straight edge (often a piece of commercial glass window mullion).

We found that better blades gave better results, but still there was a difference. After experimenting, I found that they problem was with the saw, and the fact that the saw blade and the shoe of the saw were not parallel. So the bad news was that we could never get the blade and show parallel. The worse news was that when buying a new saw, I found that most saws were not perfectly parallel, which gave us a fine, but distinct pattern from the circular saw cut.

I finally found a saw that had parallel surfaces. I think its manufacture was more of a mistake than a plan from the maker, but nonetheless, it is ONLY used for breaking down sheet goods with a guide or for trimming doors, etc., and only by me. All it would take to get the saw out of alignment would be to keep sitting it down in the shoe between uses, or to stumble on it between uses while it sat on the ground.

The saw itself is just as important as any part of one of these operations. If you take that old saw that you have used for a few years for any kind of utility wood cutting that came its way and use a straight edge with it, the desired dimension can be achieved, but the quality of cut will be poor.

Robert