Mark J Posted November 8, 2022 Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 The High School is breaking down sheet good on a table saw. While they do have enough people in the room to help, it's still cumbersome. The teacher and I took a look into panel saws and were a little surprised that these were going for like $1800. We do have the floor space to go the track saw (with "pink board") route. But this raises the question of what brand to go with. Back when I got mine (used), Festool was the only game in town, and I'm guessing that most of the regulars here have Festool, as well. But now there are a lot of players in this field. Have you seen any reviews or do you have any first or second hand experience that would lend you to recommend a different brand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyJack Posted November 8, 2022 Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 Is there a budget? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted November 8, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 Well that's the curious thing. They seem to have money to spend, particularly if it is a safety issue. The instructor and I looked at panel saws and were shocked that they were $1800 and up, but we didn't get a firm no on that from anyone. I just want to investigate track saw's as a more cost effective option and one that the students are more likely to have/use later in life. So for the time being let's focus on the good, better and best performing track saw systems (the saw is only as good as the track). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyJack Posted November 9, 2022 Report Share Posted November 9, 2022 We used a Milwaukee panel saw at a cabinet shop. Works pretty good if you have the room.. track saws more portable .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 9, 2022 Report Share Posted November 9, 2022 As long as you have the budget... https://www.timberwolftools.com/mafell-mt55cc-plunge-track-saw Or if you REALLY want to get serious. https://www.timberwolftools.com/mafell-pss-3100se-portable-panel-saw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted November 9, 2022 Report Share Posted November 9, 2022 Looking forward to suggestions as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted November 9, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2022 3 hours ago, wtnhighlander said: As long as you have the budget... https://www.timberwolftools.com/mafell-mt55cc-plunge-track-saw Or if you REALLY want to get serious. https://www.timberwolftools.com/mafell-pss-3100se-portable-panel-saw A bit on the expensive side. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ZombieMonkey Posted November 9, 2022 Popular Post Report Share Posted November 9, 2022 I've had the Makita corded version and now the newer Festool Cordless. Overall I much prefer the Festool. I've experienced a slightly better cut and prefer the adjustments and overall quality over the Makita. I also prefer festoon's splinter guard on their tracks over the Makita. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curlyoak Posted November 9, 2022 Report Share Posted November 9, 2022 On 11/8/2022 at 5:06 PM, Mark J said: The High School is breaking down sheet good on a table saw I solved the problem of crosscuts on 4 x 8's. Incra 5000. Rips are not an issue. The incra is very accurate to square and repeatable. I have crosscut 23.5 wide. If I had an 8' rip to crosscut I would break it down to cut on the incra. And it is the least costly solution. My guess is that it is more accurate than a panel saw. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyJack Posted November 9, 2022 Report Share Posted November 9, 2022 On 11/9/2022 at 6:32 AM, curlyoak said: I solved the problem of crosscuts on 4 x 8's. Incra 5000. Rips are not an issue. The incra is very accurate to square and repeatable. I have crosscut 23.5 wide. If I had an 8' rip to crosscut I would break it down to cut on the incra. And it is the least costly solution. My guess is that it is more accurate than a panel saw. Aren’t you still using the table saw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyJack Posted November 9, 2022 Report Share Posted November 9, 2022 The only track saw I have used is the Festool, but I’ve heard there are others now. personally I would be serous about a panel saw. Very fast.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roughsawn Posted November 11, 2022 Report Share Posted November 11, 2022 After reading a ton of reviews, I went with the cordless Makita. I work with only rough sawn lumber that I cut myself, and take to a sawmill. So, it comes in very handy for straightening crooked edges. And I seem to be using it more and more for misc. cutting. So far, I've had no problems with it, and it has all kinds of power. I like it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legenddc Posted November 11, 2022 Report Share Posted November 11, 2022 I've used the Kreg one without any complaints. You might want to look at the whole table system so you can cut off the ground. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted November 11, 2022 Report Share Posted November 11, 2022 I too have the Festool because at the time that was to option other then the real pricey Mafell. If I was researching now I would look at the Makita and Triton. I have read pretty decent reviews on both. I think one of the areas that the Festool shines is the quality of the finished cut. If you plan is to break down with the track saw and do the final finish cuts with the table saw, I think either one of the others would do you fine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted November 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2022 I appreciate your observations and good suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted November 14, 2022 Report Share Posted November 14, 2022 Depends on if you are using the saw with a VAC or with out. The battery powered festools are good and DC is good despite it just being bag collection. If using cord and vac I really like the festool system for auto on etc. I don't know much about panel saws to saw yay or nay. I'm not sure how well the do with angled cuts? It's nice to bee able to slap the track saw guide down on 2 marks and make a cut and never have to think about what angle it is etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyJack Posted November 14, 2022 Report Share Posted November 14, 2022 On 11/14/2022 at 11:26 AM, Chestnut said: Depends on if you are using the saw with a VAC or with out. The battery powered festools are good and DC is good despite it just being bag collection. If using cord and vac I really like the festool system for auto on etc. I don't know much about panel saws to saw yay or nay. I'm not sure how well the do with angled cuts? It's nice to bee able to slap the track saw guide down on 2 marks and make a cut and never have to think about what angle it is etc. Only thing I see here is breaking down sheet goods. Safer as well with a panel saw.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post legenddc Posted December 20, 2022 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 Saw somewhere that Milescraft is releasing a track saw kit. It's just the rail and guide that you attach whatever circular saw you want to it. $99 seems pretty reasonable if it works well. I'm not saying it's as good as dedicated track saws or that it's built as well as a Festool but for $99 I probably would have purchased it instead of making a circular saw track when I was first starting out. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted December 21, 2022 Report Share Posted December 21, 2022 Hasn't there been a few options out there that do that? I don't know much about the other options and their cost but i swore Kreg had something similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted December 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2022 I've seen at least one other similar product--name escapes me. Still, options are good. As for the highschool, this is something that will have to go through the budget process . But the more I think about it, the best solution might be to add a slider table to one of the SawStops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legenddc Posted December 21, 2022 Report Share Posted December 21, 2022 Oh, Kreg does have one and it's even cheaper right now. https://www.kregtool.com/shop/cutting/circular-saw-cutting/accu-cut/KMA2700.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted December 21, 2022 Report Share Posted December 21, 2022 On 12/21/2022 at 6:16 AM, Mark J said: But the more I think about it, the best solution might be to add a slider table to one of the SawStops. This might be easier to get through the budget process because it would be come part of a tool that has the added safety feature. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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