Looking for Track Saw input

[tryingtokeepmyfingers]

Wondering if any one had any updates of the Dewalt or Festool tracksaw

i just do not like my guide and circular saw combo any more

I am going to be breaking down alot of melimine and need it chip free

the dewalt seems to cut thicker stock then the festool ts 55 but the festool look like it is built better but will cost more then the dewalt

just mainly wondered from dewalt owners how it is holding up with use and if they would make the purchase again or wish they would have bought the festool

thanks for any help

 

[Asheville Hardware]

I personally have the TS55 and haven't had a single issue with it. Easily one of the best tool purchases I've made. But, it did have one drawback: I'm now addicted to Festool Green!
FWIW, I bought mine years before I started working here at Asheville Hardware and helping to sell them.

It's very hard to beat the Festool for chip free cuts.

Scott

 

[drw]

I personally have the TS55 and haven't had a single issue with it. Easily one of the best tool purchases I've made. But, it did have one drawback: I'm now addicted to Festool Green!

Scott

+ 1
Donn

 

[Tarhead]

I do all my crosscutting with my Festool TS-55 on an MFT and break down sheetgoods on my pickup tailgate and a sawhorse. It's had 6 years of regular use and like Scott and Don it's one of the best purchase I've made for woodworking. Check the Festool Owner's Group for a recent thread on cutting Melamine and which blade works best. http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php

 

[Phil S]

+ 1
Donn

Another +1 for the Festool

 

[jamie]

another +1 for the festool...

 

[tryingtokeepmyfingers]

Thanks for all the input.... Lots of festool support here... I went and put my hands of it at woodcraft today.... looks like the festool will run me about $100 more then the dewalt...

any dewalt tracksaw users ?

 

[merrill77]

I'm not a blade engineer and I didn't sleep at a Holiday Inn last night, but...

Chipout will be reduced by using a blade designed for cutting melamine and a zero-clearance insert. Add those to things to your existing saw and you should see noticeable improvement. As long as the motor shaft is straight, then what is driving the blade will have little impact on the cut quality. Use a Festool with your current blade and no zero-clearance insert - I'll bet you get exactly the same quality of cut.

 

[Ben325e]

For the ~$100 difference, I'd go with the Festool 10 times out of 9. The available accessories plus the amount of stuff I see in the classifieds here and at Sawmill creek, etc, tips the scales for me. Make your own FMT and go to town

 

[Semmons23]

There is a comparison video on www.thewoodwhisperer.com

 

[tryingtokeepmyfingers]

There is a comparison video on www.thewoodwhisperer.com

Yea I watched that today thanks

 

[scsmith42]

Another +1 for the Festool

Another +1 for the Festool - it provides tablesaw quality cuts.

 

[tryingtokeepmyfingers]

Thank you for all the advise... I put down all of the advise in the pro column for the festool...

I might regret my conclusion and if I do everyone can tell me I told you so and laugh at me but I pulled the trigger and ordered the Dewalt.

I got the kit with the 100+" track and the 59" track the plug in saw and the clamps and the miter gauge adapter for $588 shipped

thanks for all the advice..... I considered it... one thing that is missleading is in the thewood whisperers video he was using the bigger festool to compare to the dewalt that has a bigger blade size

anyway thanks I will know in a week probably if I regret it or not when I go to cut up 4 sheets of melamine to make cabinets for the shop

 

[woodlaker2]

I think it would be good if you could report how you feel about your choice after having the opportunity to use it in the shop. Thanks to all for the input as well.

 

[tryingtokeepmyfingers]

I think it would be good if you could report how you feel about your choice after having the opportunity to use it in the shop. Thanks to all for the input as well.

yea I will be sure to do that win it comes in as I use it... It shipped out today so hopefully I can be using it by the end of the week.

This is the most expensive woodworking tool I have purchased at this point since other big things I have been able to buy used or at a really good deal. So I hope I do not regret this but will let you know

 

[tryingtokeepmyfingers]

the good news is I got the saw in today and had my weekend planned out

the bad news is UPS killed the 59" track and it will only be good to cut circles

so dealing with the seller to get a new one sent to me and UPS to take this one back

they are out of stock now since it has happened to 3 other people just this week the lady said

but since it Friday I will not get a update till Monday I guess

 

[Skymaster]

INSIST on Fedex ground!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UPS has gotten horrible for damaged packages. I quit UPS years ago, anything I need to send goes Fedex period.
Jack

 

[tryingtokeepmyfingers]

INSIST on Fedex ground!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UPS has gotten horrible for damaged packages. I quit UPS years ago, anything I need to send goes Fedex period.
Jack

yea I will do that when they figure out if they are just going to replace the track or have to take back the whole thing

 

[Phil S]

Maybe this is a blessing. It seems that you might have a chance to send it back and order the Festool

Do you remember the Ford Granada. They advertised it next to a Mercedes and claimed that since the two looked alike than they most be the same -- not. That Ford model had a short life.

 

[tryingtokeepmyfingers]

Maybe this is a blessing. It seems that you might have a chance to send it back and order the Festool

Do you remember the Ford Granada. They advertised it next to a Mercedes and claimed that since the two looked alike than they most be the same -- not. That Ford model had a short life.

ok I will take that into consideration till monday when I call the place I bought it from again to find out what is up... I wanted to used it today to breakdown panels using the long track that was not damaged but I held off until I know I do not have to ship all 3 boxes back.

I did open the saw and played with it... it has a blade that says made in the USA... The build quality to me seems as good as the festool I held at woodcraft. The only thing the festool stops at 45 degrees and the dewalt goes to 47 and so that is the only real downfall I see at this point. I figure I can make a jig to make the 45 set up quick and I do not think I will be doing that much anyway

I do like that the dewalt scales are in inches and the long track seems built good enough also

basically it came down to the festool costing $270 more dollars then what I ordered to bad UPS tore it up...