Why are track saws so expensive?
Personally, I think it’s simply because they are more complexly built compared to ordinary circular saws.
The new Milwaukee M18 cordless track saw just started to ship, and there are already numerous discussions floating around the internet and social media where tool users are complaining about the price.
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Similar conversations follow nearly every every new track saw launch or announcement.
Some tool users will always bring up how franken-saws – circular saws with bolt-on parts or guide plate attachments – are so much less expensive.
It seems immutable. Track saw? $$$$$
There are a couple of lower-priced models by value tool brands, but they still cost more than standard circular saws.
Many brands also ship track saws in pricey modular tool boxes, usually with customized inserts. This surely contributes a bit to the premium pricing.
Track saws are absolutely worth it – IF you understand and weigh the benefits and can justify the price.
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Although some models are considerably less expensive, just one glance at their largely plastic construction tells the whole story.
Competition should have brought pricing down, but it hasn’t, which leads me to believe their premium pricing is tied to the greater number of parts and need for high precision.
The fact of the matter is that track saws carry a steep premium compared to like-powered circular saws. It’s just the nature of such tools.
I think that, rather than asking why track saws are so expensive, it might be interesting to ask why this question comes up so often.
When stepping up from a circular saw to a worm-drive (or rear handle) saw, the latter’s higher pricing is almost always attributed to a more powerful motor and beefier gearing, and sometimes the changeover to magnesium components (such as the guard or shoe).
When comparing a circular to a track saw, the physical differences are obvious but don’t seem proportional to the pricing increase.
What are you getting for the extra money? Plunge-action cutting, better dust control or collection, a flush-cutting design, adjustable guide rail slots, clear markings, precision cutting, a premium blade (usually), and a custom tool box. Did I miss anything?
There’s overlap between what circular saws and plunge-cutting track saws can do, but they’re are very different tools.
Speaking about the new Milwaukee M18 cordless track saw in particular, it’s $399 for the tool-only, or $639 for the kit with an XC HO battery, rapid charger, and Packout tool box.
Makita’s XGT 40V Max model is $429 for the tool-only, and their 18V X2 model is $389 for tool-only. (Both are still eligible for ongoing holiday season battery bonus offers.)
Bosch’s 18V cordless track saw is $519 for just the tool and a tool box, or $649 for the 1-battery kit.
Festool’s similarly sized corded track saw is $599, or $549 for the tool-only cordless model.
Dewalt’s FlexVolt cordless track saw is $490 for the tool-only with a track, or $619 for the kit and a 59″ track.
Ryobi’s is $289 for the tool with a track, or $399 for the kit.
Mafell’s is $860 for tool-only, or $1360 for the 2-battery kit.
If you want a track saw but your budget is tight, look at corded models. I still use my corded saw on occasion when doing repetitive cuts on smaller panels. Personally, I strongly prefer cordless, as I almost always bring my saw to my work, and it’s easier to do so without having to worry about plugging in and taming a power cord.
See Also: Is Festool’s Track Saw Now Obsolete? Corded vs. Cordless in 2020
But if you go cordless, brushless motors, high capacity and high output batteries, and fast chargers add significantly to the price.
I wish that good track saws didn’t cost so much, but they do. If it was possible for tool brands to cut costs without compromises or sacrifices to track saws’ precision or performance, wouldn’t they?
fred
Some critics will always say that manufacturers set prices high just because they can. And – while everything you say about what the added features, add-ons and complexity do for pushing the price up – there is probably also a question of sales volume. Brining a tool like a track saw to market has costs that need to be spread out over the expected volume of sales. If your expected track-saw sales volume is more modest than for plain-Jane circular saws – and your competition is pricey too – then there is less incentive to try to cut prices to the bone. Better to recoup your upfront costs early then see what sales incentives may be needed to move product as the track-saw market matures.
For me I don’t regret my early adopter purchase of a Festool corded – but would probably be looking at a cordless Makita and their less expensive rails if I were buying today- even though Fastool’s newer anti-kickback innovation sounds interesting.
Bonnie
I think volume is definitely a large portion of it. Circular saws are ubiquitous commodity tools. Every trade and every DIYer probably has *at least* one. They’re the next most common bundled tool after drills and drivers.
Tracksaws by comparison are a speciality tool. Specialty tools always cost more, even if they might share some parts with the commodity tool.
Franco
I agree with Fred and Bonnie.
I remember early 80’s hearing a contractor talking about the “fortune” it cost him to buy his Hitachi 10″ sliding compound miter saw; if I recall, he said it cost him $700. Today, a top of the line 12″ would cost less.
And an SCMS is more of a daily every team has one, compared to a track saw. So I am sure once the market starts filling with track saw sales, the price should come down a bit.
And I think in this case in particular, it is a chicken/egg situation. If the price came down a lot, just about everyone will get one. If the price comes down just a bit, then it will remain a saw for contractors, woodworkers, and a few others, but not something Joe everyone will buy.
Personally, I have the Makita 2x18v cordless and love it. I never was able to swallow the fact that with a straight line and careful attention, making a cut with a regular circular saw looked OK till I put a straight edge to it. Setting something up with a straightedge or similar was a pain.
Track saws definitely solved this for me. The ease and simplicity is worth the price.
Picasso
Almost sounds like Econ 101, Supply, demand, curve shift
Mike McFalls
I think you hit on something important in the sales volumes. They expect fewer sales due to the ‘specialty’ of the tool – combined with the R&D budget being higher due to the slate of features (more parts also equal additional cost) and complexity. So in the short term, they have to price accordingly.
Then when a model is sold long enough, say the Festool, they don’t have to lower the price as the competitor’s products are in the same price range. They use the higher profit margin – combined with the existing R&D costs and apply both to the next generation, offsetting some (but not all of) the new feature set, material costs, etc. (this concept also supports them in developing other tools that might not be reaching their sales targets and associated costs – essentially subsidizing other tools/models)
Just an idea and opinion.
Randy
Fancy custom carpenters are will pay more than framers. Simple as that.
Kingsley
Yes, I think this us the main reason. Precision commands a much higher price.
In the UK “Fancy custom carpenter” =
“Joiner” vs a “carpenter”.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joiner
Juraj
Not even remotely true, especially here in Europe. Mafell is the industry standard for framers and all their offerings make Festool equivalents look like budget toys.
Chris
I would really like to see someone make a really dummed-down tracksaw. Here are some ideas for my ideal track saw
-I don’t need the plunge function
-riving knife is almost unnecessary for plywood
-no variable speed
Basically I want a standard circular saw that will fit on a track. I want something a little more convenient than clamping a straight edge to a board. I know kreg offers a kit to convert a circular saw into a track saw, but I’d like to see manufacturers come out with their own solution.
Track saws are really cool but can be overkill for many situations. I like the idea of lining the track up to your cut line and making the cut without any clamps or additional measuring to offset your saw. Something ideal for just making really straight cuts in plywood.
Harrison
You’ll be excited to learn Makita sells at least 5 or 6 saws that fit your exact description in 7 1/4, 9 1/4 and 10 1/4” blade sizes, in both 18v x2 and 40V max.
Bosch also sells at least one 18v 7 1/4” saw with a guide rail base plate.
The above are all standard circular saws without a plunge mechanism that fit onto standard Festool style tracks. (Even the Bosch, which primarily uses the Mafell style.) However, if you’re looking for a bargain, you won’t find it- these are all flagship level tools. Still, not outrageous, and the 7 1/4” models are cheaper than some of the track saws mentioned in the article.
Big Richard
They are also more common abroad. For example DeWalt offers a rail compatible circular saw abroad, but not in the NA market – https://www.dewalt.co.uk/product/dcs572n-xj/18v-xr-brushless-184mm-rail-compatible-circular-saw-bare-unit
Chris
That would be perfect!
Big Richard
fyi the Kreg you mention is on sale at Menards for $69 – https://www.menards.com/main/p-1492755572845-c-1537277164163.htm
Rob
My Mafells do all of that. Festool, Metabo, Bosch, and Makita all have track compatible sidewinders in various sizes.
Robert van der star
The problem is not the cost of the saw , it is the absurd price of the track. Aluminium extrusions are by their nature straight, it is no great feat of engineering to make them. FWIW my Holz-Her 250mm plunge saw cost 760$ thirty years ago. It has been great except for the power cord that rotted out.
Bonnie
Have you looked at the price of aluminum? The tracks aren’t that much more expensive than raw plate.
An unfinished 1/10” 12″x48″ plate costs $65 – https://onlinemetalsupply.com/5052-h32-aluminum-sheet-0-100-x-12-x-48-protective-pvc/
Compare this Powertec 55″ track (which I just checked with calipers and is 1/10” at the thinnest point) at $75 – https://www.amazon.com/POWERTEC-71153-Repeatable-Aluminium-Compatible/dp/B07NC8746Y
A 39″ Makita track is the same price, which is to be expected vs the budget brand.
MtnRanch
Also consider what it costs to package and ship an extra-long track and keep it straight despite the best efforts of UPS/FedEx/USPS.
dave
I’ve been using a bolt on circular saw (the bigger makita and defunct ez smart) for more than a few years. Much safer / better to break down plywood. I could never figure out why they went smaller and smaller motor for the new ones.
Harrison
Four things that definitely explain the $150 $200 price jump above a standard circular saw:
1. Niche tools. Not as many sales to spread the R&D and tooling costs over = More expensive.
2. Variable speed- Most circular saws don’t have an adjustable speed dial, this is standard on a track saw.
3. Plunge mechanism. You’ve got a pivot, springs, as well as extra linkage mechanism to lock and unlock the plunge. This adds material and assembly cost.
4. Extra magnesium castings. The full coverage blade housing to capture all the dust, plus the more elaborate base plate use more Mg. These are expensive parts to cast cleanly and precisely. This could account for the price difference single handedly, but everything adds up together.
All in, I think the price is totally worth it for the functionality, and justified for the cost of manufacturing. That said, a standard circular saw with a guide rail base is probably a totally adequate and potentially smarter alternative for those who can’t justify the dedicated track saw.
Juraj
I have the mafell plunge, battery crosscut 40mm and the large 85mm saws. Looking at the K85 and the MT55, the circ saw seems to be significantly more complex and intricate than the MT.
Though I guess you can’t really call Mafell circ saws just that as they all have a plunge feature and can be used with tracks as well. Prices reflect that as they only differ by less than €50 between the two for the equivalent size/power machines.
The lack of a riving knife, pretty much perfect dust collection and the fact that you can just set it down on to the track at any point without having to manually lift it and retract the guard makes the dedicated plunge saw far more practical for use on plywood sheets. On the other hand using the track saw without a track can be a daunting experience
Munklepunk
More moving parts, more precise, equals more expensive.
Fyrfytr998
I’m fine with track saw prices since they can pretty much replace table saws when set up with the right bench.
Dave
Mafell cuts as clean and precise as my $3k cabinet saw. To do that the tracks, motor baseplate, etc all need to be very high quality and well made. If they aren’t you might as well use a circ saw and a straight edge.
John E
Agreed. The tolerances and machining on Mafell saws is head and shoulders above every other portable saw. For most users it’s overkill, but you definitely get what you pay for with Mafell
Mateo
This is what makes a tracksaw invaluable to me. It’s more manageable solo with sheetgoods than a tablesaw, and I feel significantly safer if the operator is on the less skilled side. And obviously more likely to provide good cuts than winging it with a normal circ saw and a line.
John
True if you are a basic user of a table saw. Table saws with simple jigs will out do any track in accuracy and speed and variety of cuts. I own most any common tool in a woodshop, track saws are great for sheet goods but not replacements for table saws.
John Blair
Let’s just look at two simple cases:
M18 Fuel Saw ($199 Bare) vs M18 Track Saw ($399 bare). In this case you are literally paying double. They will get it, early adopters often pay full price.
M18 Fuel Kit ($449) vs M18 Track Saw ($639). In this case you are paying 40% more but you also get a Packout case.
But as these units get older the sales will pick up on the slower moving units. I picked up my Dewalt Flexvolt Model with 2 Batteries for the cost of two batteries alone. I’ve seen M18 7 1/4″ Fuel Saw Kits go for $199. If you don’t need one today, wait a while, they will go on sale as there are so many options now. The only reason these sales aren’t worse is because batteries aren’t easily interchangeable between platforms.
Dave P
Menard’s Masterforce is $199 and after their frequent 11% off, that comes to $177. Throw away the crappy blade and buy an inexpensive Diablo and they work great…
Dave P
And I don’t want a tool that I use a bit less frequently, or that I want to last me “forever”, to be cordless, as I don’t want a paperweight once its battery platform changes.
Cordless is GREAT for things that I’ll wear out anyway, like drills, impacts, recip saws, circ saws, etc. But NOT for things that I expect to be using decades from now.
Why pay MUCH more for planned obsolescence?
Christian Reed (REEKON)
From a manufacturer’s perspective, making track saws are certainly more expensive than making a circular saw.
However, since Festool established the market for pricing on these items, it’s easy for other manufacturers to fall in to the industry trends leverage the established pricing. Power tools already command the lowest margins for retailers (with power tool accessories subsidizing much of the profit made in the category).
Of course, there is a premium level of quality they must meet to hit this but the relative difference in Bill of Materials (BOM) to MSRP is much higher proportionally than it is for other standard power tools.
Robert
I bought a good quality circ saw because that’s what you buy, right? But once I had my track saw, I never use the circ saw. The precision with the dedicated tracks and special track clamps is so much better.
MM
I agree, there is no doubt that it costs more to build a Track Saw compared to a circular saw, the extra parts required and the precision required for the plunge functionality clearly cost more. However, I don’t believe for an instant that is the only explanation. In my opinion the price of Track Saws is disproportionatley higher than the additional complexity alone would suggest.
Track saws are “premium” tools and are priced as such.
I feel that the margin on different power tools must vary a lot depending on if it’s as common tool or something more specialty. Something like a standard drill-driver, circular saw, jigsaw–a common tool which is constantly in a price war with other brands–likely has a very low margin. Take something a bit more niche and you can see those selling for much higher prices relative to their complexity.
For example, there are several cordless Dewalt drills on the market for $100 or under. Dewalt cordless heat gun? That’s more like $150. But the heat gun’s BOM is a lot simpler and cheaper than that of a drill. Same thing with many lights: it’s just a plastic housing with LEDs inside yet they will sell for the same or more as a tool which contains expensive parts like motors, gears, ball bearings.
MM
Whoops, I meant to reply to Christian Reed (REEKON)
Blocky
I don’t think they are expensive.
Not for a mobile variable-rail sliding compound miter saw.
The mistake is comparing it to a circular saw because of the approximate form factor.
dandLyons
I bought the DeWalt FlexVolt in part because I bought into DeWalt T-Stack & FlexVolt. I paired it with the DeWalt TStack HEPA vacuum.
I wanted a second track, and that is where the real problems came in. I order tracks repeatedly during deals/sales only to have it arrive damaged/bowed. After 3 years of either receiving damaged goods or not finding stock anywhere, I bought the Ryobi. It’s tracks are sectional and shorter at 27.5″ (IIRC).
I only just acquired the Ryobi so can’t report on how they compare but I like the sectional small tracks of the Ryobi for transportability.
I can’t help but wonder if part of the higher cost isn’t due to the high damage rate when shipping larger tracks.
fred
My experience with Festool tracks was that beyond the first one (1400mm – 55inch) that came bundled with the saw – I looked to buy others at a local vendor. Early on I was frustrated by the really poor connectors that Festool sells – and trying to connect two tracks together and maintaining alignment was fussy and frustrating. I ended up purchasing a 2700mm (106 inch) rail in 2014 for $320 with tax and shipping. My local dealer did not stock it – so after reading horror stories about shipping damage – I took a chance with Amazon because of their good return policies. Mine came in its cardboard box cradled in a custom-made wood crate. It was shipped via a small forwarding company and arrived in perfect condition. At today’s price of $465 plus tax I’d be even more cautious about the potential for shipping damage.
More recently I’ve tried some better aftermarket rail connectors from TSO Products that work much better than the original ones from Festool. I also have head good things about the rail connector made by Betterley.
https://www.burnstools.com/grc-12-s-a-guide-rail-connectors-61-415a?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI99_4n8TZ_AIVD9iWCh1ZxAz0EAAYAiAAEgIC3fD_BwE
https://www.toolnut.com/betterley-slc23-straightline-connector-for-festool-guide-rails.html
DC
Just market demand. Plain and simple economics.
Mac
WEN has a mostly plastic one just under $100 (no track included). 100 inches of track for another 60-70. I haven’t tried it, but used a number of their other products with no real complaints. Functional in design, but noticably cheaply produced. I’ve no love for Ryobi, so WENs offerings have been budget options when I don’t even want to spring for the Ridgid/Husky price range.
Bonnie
I have one (using Powertec tracks). It’s remarkably good for what it is, but don’t expect a lot of power and don’t abuse it. It cuts perfectly straight, but the depth stop has some slop so I wouldn’t try and cut a dado or groove with it.
xu lu
The question posed isnt the correct one. The correct one is does a track saw provide sufficient value to offset the price differential vs a normal circular saw? The answer is a resounding yes. The value in use of a track saw is off the charts. Just not subtracting 1 5/8″ from every measurement to set a straightedge makes it worth every single penny.
fred
Even though the homemade straight edge that I used for years eliminated the need to do any subtraction, because the saw had been used to cut the sub-base – it still was nowhere near as good as the Festool track saw that replaced it.
Robert Walker
I bought the Festool TS75 years ago because I had to miter 1 1/2” butcherblock countertops for a waterfall edge, and all practice attempts with a straight edge and my regular circular saw were failures.
I didn’t count on how much I would rely on that saw after that project. It is one of my most used tools.
1day@atime
As others have said, it’s market demand that sets the price. But they aren’t worth the price imo. They can’t do anything that any other circular saw can’t do. I cut sheet goods quite often whether it be osb, plywood, backer board for tile, 4×8 hardi sheets, etc. Oak, pine, birch, fiberboard, etc. I’ve been doing it for a long time. I’ve never needed a track to guide my saw for me to cut a straight line. I’ve always made my own straight edge to run my sheet cuts on. One by four or a strip of plywood work exceptionally well for cutting straight lines on any 4×8 material. Measure. Mark. Space your cutting mark to the straight edge based on the width of your saw shoe and clamp it. Adjust the depth and run the shoe along the board. Make sure its well supported. It’s pretty easy. That’s how it was done prior to track saws. It takes less time to set up than a track saw. Best part is that you can set up any degree angle you want to cut from any point on the sheet. Track saws can’t do that. They’re only good for 90° cuts. That’s a lot money for a one trick pony.
Franco
1day@atime…I have a buddy who is not a woodworker per se, but definitely makes stuff in his spare time. He showed me his kitchen he finished making, not great, but magnificent custom job. He made the interiors and doors from scratch. He then showed me a couple of bookshelves and a large furniture piece for his TV and other stuff, all quality work.
What was really incredible and shocking was that he has one stationary tool, if you can call it that. A benchtop table saw, and a cheaper in house brand with a fence that you need to triple check before cutting.
He is plain and simple, very talented (and patient).
I can’t speak about what you do because I have never seen your work but know many people that say “that’s a perfect straight cut” but when I check it, it isn’t.
My point being, just because he can do without a fancy cabinet saw and other fancier tools most woodworkers have, and you can cut a straight line without a track saw, this doesn’t mean everyone can, or cares to do without more refined and easier to use equipment, even if there is a cost to it.
The laws of the jungle, survival of the fittest, is the same with commodity markets. A track saw was put on the market and it sold well enough for about a dozen competitors to make their own and put it on the market.
(Field of Dreams…”If you build it, he will come.”…that was a movie. Reality is, if you build, it will sell…only if their is a need)
fred
My woodworking training came by way of high school shop class, then by trying-practicing in a home shop and finally by sometimes watching employees who practiced the trade to make their living. Over the years I’ve settled on making reproduction furniture and have made quite a number of pieces form my homes and as gifts for many relatives. I am happy that may of my gift recipients (especially early on) were not too critical of my work and practiced lots of forbearance as I visited mi gifts to tweak this or plane that. While some of what I’ve made over the years might (generously) be said to be in the style of such craftsman as Ducan Phyfe. In 1792 when Phyfe started his career there were few (if any) powered tools (other than those associated with water wheels) and cabinetmakers learned their craft by apprenticeship. Many of the tools used by these craftsmen were hand made by them on their journey from apprenticeship to journeyman. I will never have the talent or skills exhibited by a master like Phyfe but some of my more recent cherry desks are said to be nice looking and functional enough to have taken up pride-of-place spots in their homes. I probably could not have made them without the machine tools that occupy my home shop. Or, if it were only handsaws, hand planes, chisels, mallets, augers etc. in my tool collection – I might have never progressed beyond my first few pieces.
Franco
When you think back to what the craftsman of yesteryear made by hand, to today, and then think in 2-3 generations…another lost art.
Like my wife, she sews arts and crafts (20-30 hours a week) and also does minor seamstress work. When I was a kid in the 60’s, most women knew how to use a sewing machine or sew to a certain degree. Today my wife and a few others do it, but no where like back in the day.
When I go with my wife to craft shows she does and she tells people it is all handmade, the 30 year and less crowd are totally amazed! The 50 year and older women say “I know, it shows”.
In 2-3 generations, anything handmade will be in the history books. Everything will be made by a computerized machine, or 3D printed, or something fancier we have yet to see. (I was going to say Star Trek replicators but 3D printers or the beginnings of just that)
Way off topic of the price of track saws, but in this day, I love and appreciate my track saw, despite the price.
Daniel L
“I wish that good track saws didn’t cost so much, but they do. If it was possible for tool brands to cut costs without compromises or sacrifices to track saws’ precision or performance, wouldn’t they?”
I mean, sure…but I get the impression that anybody who needs the precision a track saw affords is in *maybe* 5 percent of the total number of folks interested in buying a circular saw.
Just take a look at pro-press tools and the like: it seems to me that there’s a real tendency towards smaller community of potential buyers = more profit per unit sold required to justify the design and engineering costs.
Some of related to added complexity, some is just…well…they get ya in to their drill impact kit priced neat cost, so our expectations are already a little skewed.
Marketing is weird.
Jon vondette
So Mafell, Metabo (German) and Festool make what they call a crosscut saw . It’s basically a circular saw that can mount to a short piece of track and they have like a return cord that attaches to the saw so when you finish the cut the saw returns back to the start of the track. I hope that some other brands start making their own version of these cause they look awesome but all 3 brands mentioned above are just stupid expensive. Personally I’d love to get a Mafell but it’s pretty much unaffordable
Albert
I also like the flexible track that can be coiled up for transport and storage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-boOCRYfxas&t=21s
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gGBY6VEEvig
Franco
Let’s go one step further than are track saws worth it.
This is one of TSO Products for track saws.
https://tsoproducts.com/tso-parallel-guide-system/tpg-parallel-guide-system/
They make a variety of tools that many wood workers find a step up from Festool and are definitely not cheap. So if say only 1 in 10 that would buy a circular saw, would buy a track saw (rough estimate, I have no stats to back this up), of all those that did buy a track saw 1 in 10 or probably even less wood buy these parallels tracks, or many of the other track saw accessories they make. (You could make so many jigs or other methods, instead of buying these)
But these items exist and from what I know, this company does very well making these finely tuned accessories. If you check YT for TSO products, you will see many videos on how to use them, hence a definite demand despite their prices.
Build it, and they will buy it…if the need is there.
fred
I have bought a few items from TSO. Their tight-fitting track saw guide rail connectors – that I paid $44.95 (for a pair) were worth every penny – compared to what Festool bundled with their saw – but also sell for $48 and are frustratingly sloppy.
TSO is a bit like Woodpeckers and Seneca Woodworking that provide USA-made machined aftermarket accessories – some focused-on use with Festool products. I have many Seneca items that work with my Domino-XL machine that extend its range and make it easier to work with. I also bought Seneca’s parallel guide for my Festool track saw rather than ones from TSO or Woodpeckers. Looking at some online comments I see that other seem to like the TSO and/or Woodpeckers squares for tracksaws.
When I was in business – the basement of our cabinet shop was filled with probably ever shop made jig that had been built in the shop over 50 years. Most were unused. They collected dust until an inspection by our insurance underwriters – convinced us that they were better discarded. You can often build your own jig for less than what someone like TSO will get for theirs. Sometimes what you build might even be better because it is customized for your workflow or style. But at home or in business the tradeoff may surround what your time is worth. I am reminded that when we acquired our cabinet/woodworking shop it was fitted with Vidmar tool and storage cabinets. That was probably not because the prior owners did not have the skills needed to build their own – but likely because they did some calculation that it was more efficient to buy than make.
Franco
Funny you mention the connectors, I just ordered a set 2 days ago!
I had been debating getting the Makita 118′ track or a second shorter track to connect with my current one for either cutting doors or 4×8 plywood sheets. The 118″ is nice but also cumbersome, for me. I sometimes work outside but also often inside; getting this 10ft rail through rooms and all is a pain.
My only concern were the connectors, having heard the Makita and even the Festool have some play, which negates the purpose of having the track saw if your rail isn’t straight. After asking around I heard high praises about how accurate the TSO are, automatically self adjust perfectly every time is what user that have them said. Also, they do not leave indentation marks where the seat on the rails, which can get progressively worse over time if they do indent on the rails, which equals even less accuracy.
Actually, the TSO Products catalog is not very big but generally rave reviews across the board for what they have.
I was going to do this Oct/Nov, then put it off. Then early Dec I found a sweet deal on the 75″ rail ($115CDN/$87USD) and got it. The only issue I have is that the connectors went up $12!!! since Oct. Anyway, $12 is nothing compared to the prices of everything else…just frustrating!
Koko The Talking Ape
“What are you getting for the extra money? …precision cutting…”
That’s what I’ve heard, but do we know that for a fact? Has anybody compared run-out, for example, on tracks saws vs circular saws? Maybe comparing with brand to keep it apples-to-apples?
MM
I doubt there is any difference in the runout of the spindle on a track saw vs. a circular saw, at least within the same brand. Where the precision comes from is how the saw is guided. Using a track saw is the same general idea as clamping a board, piece of angle iron, etc, to your workpiece and then sliding the saw along it. The difference between the track and a 2×4 (or whatever else) is that the track is presumably straighter, and is smoother so the saw slides along with less friction and isn’t affected by a rough surface on the board you’re cutting or the one used as a guide.
There are a few other details as well. Most track saws have the cut line right next to the edge of the track. That makes it very easy to align the track with your marks compared to using a traditional circular saw where you have to account for the offset of the blade from the shoe. This also means that the edge of the track helps to prevent splintering, like a zero-clearance insert on a table saw. The plunge mechanism is also nice. You can, of course, plunge-cut with a normal circular saw by placing the edge of the shoe against the work and then slowly lowering the blade but it’s not all that safe or precise. The track saw’s plunge mechanism holds everything securely so you can plunge-cut much safer and without worrying about getting the angle wrong. They also usually have a riving knife so that is a safety improvement as well.
The extra precision doesn’t always make sense, if you’re cutting up plywood for building shipping crates or putting up OSB in a garage nobody cares if the cutline wavers a bit or isn’t perfectly smooth. If you’re doing cabinet work that’s a different story. Let’s say we have a piece of cabinet grade plywood we need to cut a large rectangular hole in. It’s for finish work so it needs to look nice. Without a track saw I’d do something like use a jigsaw or circ saw freehand to cut out the opening undersize, then come back with a router, straightedge, and a bearing bit to make the edges nice and straight, leaving only the corners to finish with hand tools. With the track saw it would be possible to cut the opening to the finished dimension straight away, leaving only a tiny bit of cleanup in the corners.
Koko The Talking Ape
Thanks, MM.
I know precision bearings, mounts, etc. cost the manufacturer money. But if track saws don’t have higher precision, what justifies the higher cost relative to circular saws? The features you and Stuart mention are nice, but I don’t see why they should cost the manufacturer so much more than circular saws.
So I have to conclude that the higher cost is based on a smaller market, higher demand within that market, less competition, and all the other reasons people have mentioned, that have nothing to do with manufacturer’s costs.
Re Stuart’s question–if they could sell one for cheaper, wouldn’t they do that?–they might not, if people are buying them even at the higher cost, and there are only four or five manufacturers to compete against.
So I think they’re a poor value. I thought so too when I asked about this a few years ago. So I’m going with a decent circular saw and a nice track (Bora NGX.)
MM
The point I was trying to make was that track saws DO have higher precision than a circular saw, but that higher precision is located in the shoe, rail, and plunge mechanism, not the spindle.
Now I totally agree that the added cost of those features does not alone explain their premium over a basic circular saw, like I wrote earlier in the topic. In my opinion track saws are more expensive than circular saws because they are a premium niche product whereas circular saws are generally a commodity item with loads of competition in the market.
Whether or not they are good value is hard to generalize on, I think there are places for everything from using a board as a guide to 3rd party adapters to dedicated track saws; which option makes sense depends on the specific circumstances.
KokoTheTalkingApe
Ah, I gotcha.
A track saw’s shoe might mate well with its rail, but I don’t see why a circular saw couldn’t mate just as well with a rail, perhaps by switching its shoe.
(Sadly, Bora’s auxillary shoe for circular saws gets some poor reviews. I might have to make one.)
And I would think the plunge mechanism could make the saw LESS precise, because it requires a bearing that will inevitably have some slop (though practically speaking it might amount to nothing.) I can see how it would be useful, of course.
I think your take on the price is correct (because it’s my take too!) But even if they were a good value, they’re too expensive for me in absolute terms. I just can’t afford one.
MM
@Koko
Compare the plunge mechanism on a track saw with the depth adjustment of a typical circular saw and I think you’ll see the former has a lot more thought put into its design, and a lot less slop.
Franco
I read through most of the posts, I am not sure it was mentioned but before track saws, serious wood workers that work looking for repeatability and ease of straight cut lines, had few options.
First and inexpensive but required fiddling around, measuring, and lacked the ease and quickness of a track saw was some kind of straightedge and a circular saw…good but not great,
The more serious options were a panel saw (like what HD uses) or a sliding table for their cabinet saw; both very expensive and both lacking portability. But both great at what they do.
So the price of the track saw is what it is, for many of the reasons cited in previous posts. Then it could also be said that compared to either a panel saw or sliding table addition, a track saw is both a bargain and very portable.
I do not know if this falls into the pricing equation MFR’s use but it could be another reason.
Pete
“If it was possible for tool brands to cut costs without compromises or sacrifices to track saws’ precision or performance, wouldn’t they?”
I don’t believe this statement Stuart. No company will cut their profits to benefit the consumer. Just wait a few years for the market to be saturated and the competition to stiffen and then the companies will be forced to re-evaluated their pricing of a track saw.
Stuart
I didn’t say this would be to consumers’ benefits.
The track saw market has plenty of competition. If a new brand could undercut competitors, they often will.