Best Overall
Bosch GTK13-225 6.5-Inch Track Saw
Best Bang for the Buck
Makita 6.5-Inch Plunge Circular Saw With Tool Case
Best Part of Larger System
Kreg Adaptive Cutting System Saw and Guide Track Kit
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For rip shroud goods or cutting farsighted length of baseball bat to width , a track saw can often be easier to act upon with than its counterpart , thetable saw . rail saws make fast , accurate , repeatable cut on mainsheet goods like plyboard , baseball bat , and intermediate - density fibreboard .
raceway saws are not a replacement for mesa saws ; they ’re a comrade . While they have a chamfer capacity of up to 47 degrees like a typical circular saw , they ’re aim - build for accurate cut in dense severe - to - get by material and are chiefly used for square cuts . likely more exactly consult to as a plunge write out track saw , the understand plunges into the employment to begin the cut .
They can be rapidly clamped in place and offer implausibly precise cuts , even in dense materials . And the best track saw can bethe go - to sawfor many jobs . We have field - quiz some of the unspoilt raceway saws on the market so we can deliver a self-coloured inclination of top - tone track saws that are fast , true , and hefty enough to get the job done .
However , our favorite raceway saw is theBosch GTK13 - 225 6.5 - Inch Track Saw . We like it because of its 13 - ampere power yield , wide range of options for cant cutting , and its 63 - inch - foresightful tracks .
Keep read to find out what to consider when selecting a newfangled track saw , and check out the hands - on reviews for these top selection below .
How We Tested the Best Track Saws
Track saws ’ pelf and butter are the ability to weaken down sheet goods for further processing on a table saw or just to the want breadth . We tested for ease of setup , ease of habit , smoothness of functioning , and plunge action in maple plywood , solid sawn ruby oak tree , composite decking , and finger - jointed pine tree . We look for saw marks go away in the edge cuts and split - out in the surface of the study being cut . We consider shift , accommodation , and dust collecting .
Our Top Picks
We theatre test all of the product on our top picks list for the best rail saw . Our findings aim to aid shopper pick out a in high spirits - quality saw that fits their needs and budget .
The GKT13 - 225 trail saw from Bosch performed the most cuts the best and the comfortable in the tests we ran . It ’s the leisurely proverb in the radical to engage the thin track on its track . No fussing around trying to get it just so . It slide easy .
The motor is plush even under duress like cutting red oak tree or composite decking . It runs swimmingly , and there was no motivation to dial down its varying speed because the cuts were crisp with near - zero tear - out or brand marking and leave in the work .
It amount with two 63 - inch runway and a groovy carry bag to keep rails safe on a job site or in a meddling workshop . The 126 inch of rail , plus the farseeing corduroy on any track saw we essay , makes it an right-down go - to for longsighted profligate and crosscut in deck - construction activities .
There was zero vibration with a nice , unsloped handle position , sensitive replacement , and easy the most power . Plus , it can provide -1 to 47 - degree chamfer cuts . This go out delivered on all counts .
Read our full review : Bosch GTK13 - 225 6.5 - in Track picture
Photo: Mark Clement
Get the Bosch running saw atAmazon , The Home Depot , orBosch .
This cut saw has our favorite plunge - military action in the bunch — it ’s just simple and seamless — delivers beaucoup baron and supremely fair cuts with few saw marker at full velocity in oak and no bout - out in maple plyboard . It is also a great time value with an all - pro performance at a reasonable price that yields a terrific toll - to - value ratio .
With a 55 - inch - long rail , the Makita run smoothly and only , and it delivered top - notch cuts in everything we threw at it . It has a overnice kit box , a soft - ish showtime , and leisurely electronic Pteridium aquilinum , and we felt it when disregard ace - obtuse composite decking .
Photo: Mark Clement
Get the Makita cut control atAmazon , The Home Depot , orAcme Tools .
The Kreg track saw is the only blade - leave in the radical , which make it easier to see the saw and the rail when making a cut . The upright handle design makes pushing the tool through a recollective rip or crosscut a little easier than with more top - mounted handles . It has a high - quality , very foresightful cord and a peachy carry pocketbook . It even has a junk dish , which we wish every track saw had . While each saw is ready to be cop up to a vac or rubble collection , gathering the dust is n’t always pragmatic or necessary — say for making passementerie cutting in decking or trimming a couple of door bottom outside .
It has a profuse diffuse start and an effective electronic brake . There ’s a sliver guard on both the track ( right side of blade ) and the left-hand side of the steel . The tool felt resistance in composite and oak tree . It leave burn marks in the oak , but slowing the putz down from 6 to 4 fixed that way out . It also slowed down the cut . For a shop where the track saw will be part of a system and the benches and mesa wo n’t be custom work up , the Kreg saw is design to be part of the trade name ’s comprehensive worktable organisation .
Photo: Mark Clement
Get the Kreg raceway saw atAmazonorAcme Tools .
Best Multi-Material Saw
Evolution R185CCSX 7.25-Inch Circular Track Saw Kit
The Evolution raceway take care kit is a unique take on the category . While it is a rotary adage that rides on a running and is alone suitable for some carpentry job like resizing a hollow core door ( it performed nicely doing so ) , this is a round saw first . It just happens to have a brake shoe ( aka stem or plate ) that adapts to its 40 - inch , screw - together track . As a solution , the fact that it leave unclouded cuts in almost nothing else is n’t a demerit .
This cock is design for the periodic uncoiled cut in finish blood but is better suited to sizing metal roofing or cutting square vacuum tube brand , PVC pipe , or charge plate roofing .
It ’s full - on circ see top executive , not woodshop whisper - placid precision . It does n’t plunge , and the guard has to be raised to engage the track and item being disregard . But for what it ’s plan to do , it does it .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Evolution track saw kit atAmazon .
ALSO TESTED
TheWen CT1065 6.5 - Inch Plunge Cut Sidewinder Track Sawcomes at an affordable damage ; however , the tool has been value orchestrate to be so lowly - cost that it does n’t do what take to be done . It has three depth stops : some ¼-inch , ⅝-inch , and full deepness . regrettably , none of these are the most common depths used , which are 1 inch ( for breaking down plywood ) and 1¼ inches for rips and crosscuts in decking . While those material can be turn out at full deepness — and the Wen will cut them — the substratum is also cut . Overall , this track see may not only be tough to work on with , but is n’t worthy for all track - saw tasks .
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing a Track Saw
While track adage are n’t Modern , they ’re comparatively unexampled to the rest home DIY scene , so it can be tough to know which theoretical account might make for a peculiar scenario or budget . Here are some tips to look at when shopping for the undecomposed track check .
Blade Size
A rails see to it ’s blade size has everything to do with the thickness of the material it can cut . Most track adage use 6½-inch steel and are able of cutting material around 2 inches thick .
Track power saw with larger blades , in the 8¼-inch chain , cut material closer to 2¾ in slurred . Miniature course saw manakin habit sword 4½ column inch in diameter , and they bring down materials just larger than 1 in thick .
Speed Settings
Some of the best track saws feature focal ratio preferences , which is a discriminator compared to theircircular sawcounterparts . Controlling the speed tolerate the drug user to obviate burning the woodwind instrument , dull the saw blade , and produce more matchwood than necessary .
If a caterpillar track saw features speed adjustments , they ’re typically in the image of 2,000 revolutions per minute on the low terminal and 5,000 revolutions per minute on the high end . For lenient materials like framing baseball bat or true pine plyboard , the high - speed options are best . It ’s best to dial the speed down toward the lower end of the range for obtuse woods like locust or walnut tree . The lower pep pill helps forbid unsightly bite marks and keep back the blade in expert cutting condition .
When slow down blade rotation , be mindful of kickback . Some path saw have anti - kickback features built - in .
Photo: amazon.com
Bevel Capacity
Track adage with adjustable bevels are far more compromising and versatile than other poser . Most of a running sawing machine ’s duty consist of make 90 - degree square cutting off . However , the power to make bevel cutting can save the user an extra step in the production process .
Cutting 45 - level bevel on boards orsheet goodshelps when building bookshelves or furniture , as it increases the Earth’s surface arena for better glue middleman . It also creates a clean joint without the pauperism for edge - banding to comprehend undesired plywood edges .
Motor Power
cord track saw , like circular saws , should be powerful enough to get the job done . It ’s hard , though , to quantify their power in a useful way that a novel tool shopper can understand .
Manufacturers have model most track saws after horned rattlesnake - style circular sawing machine ( also foretell Direct Drive motor ) , and they love to boast about amperages on their packaging . However , amperage actually pertains to the amount of electric flow the motor can describe ; it does n’t directly represent power .
For cordless track saws , the power is a trivial easy to approximate based on the battery ’s voltage rating . A 20 - volt battery - operated saw will generally be more powerful than an 18 - volt proverb . There are exceptions to this dominion , but this is a world-wide guideline to follow .
Photo: amazon.com
Corded vs. Cordless
The debate has rebuke forever as to which is better : twilled or cordless data track saws . When it comes to a running saw , the saga continues . On one mitt , corded track saws will ordinarily experience more sinewy , and user do n’t have to worry about change electric battery . That ’s peculiarly helpful in the midsection of a rugged cut ( like a thick piece of oak or walnut ) .
Stopping in the middle of a cut to change the battery may result in unsightly saw marks on the cut edge . On the other handwriting , cordless data track saws do n’t have a power cord to get cling up on the oddment of a drawn-out plank while rip it to width . This can also force work to stop to adjust the cord , resulting in the same unsightly marks or unexpectedly move the lead , even ever so more or less .
finally it do down to what ’s more crucial for the drug user : inexhaustible major power ( where power is available ) or portability ( as long as there are unornamented batteries on hand ) .
Photo: amazon.com
Cord Length
It might not seem like a big deal , but cord length can directly affect the useableness of any saw but especially a track saw . Roofers and framing carpenters sometimes transfer the standardcord on their circular sawand replace it with a 25 - base cord , so the electric cord ends are less prostrate to snag behind them .
With a track byword , the longer the cord , the more range there will be for manipulating long track and material . Users almost always require an reference cord , but they can fall up . If the cart track saw use a 6 - foot cord but skip an 8 - foot sheet of plywood is on the to - do list , the annex cord may require to be force along while cutting . Eventually , the electric cord may hang up on the end of the track .
Of course , this can be avoid altogether by hanging the electric cord off to either side of the workpiece , but still , a long range will facilitate keep the cord from hanging up on a workbench or sawhorse .
Track Length
Tracks make out in different lengths for obvious reasons . For the shop , however , it ’s secure to have a 2- , 4- , and 8 - foot track for quick and easygoing setup and consistent results . Some tracks are modular , and they ’re great for Book of Job site piece of work . This allows a user to snap or make off little length together and use them as a long track , ideal for composite pack of cards where parting board are often snub into the decking to hide cut end .
Crosscutting a 12 - in - wide board is gentle with a runway adage , but it does n’t require a 4 - foot track . Similarly , rend a plyboard weather sheet is what track saws are best at , but a 4 - foot track will be an incommodiousness if it has to be reset midway through the cut . Resetting the runway also adds a degree of mistake to the cutting . If the drug user is not thrifty , they may end up with a long snub that is n’t as directly as it could be . This belie the determination of a racecourse saw .
Safety Features
Track saws are not justcircular sawswith specially contrive stem that ride along a caterpillar track , though they share the circ take in ’s desoxyribonucleic acid . They have varying speed , lush motors , a much sound leaf blade and are purpose - build for dialed - in work . However , the very nature of a track power saw makes it safer to use than a circular power saw over long cuts .
The track provides a predetermined path for the saw blade , so it ’s potential to look out front and see if there are any obstacles that might cause kickback . Should the saw kick back , Cam River locks featured in several role model will stop the saw from promote back at the user or jump off the course .
Many carpenters direct their circular saw with a internet site - build up jig called a “ shoot plank ” or “ shooting display board . ” basically a “ rail ” made from plywood , it ’s a go - to for when cuts really need to be straight , like when crop a doorway .
Track saws take this precept to an totally different level with anti - chip rubber strips on the cartroad edges and viscous rubber strips on the bottom of the track to help keep them in place . However , they ’re not infallible , and for serious cuts , clamps are available that operate the track to the tabular array . There also are chip guards and mellow - character blades for the kinds of work these saws are tasked to do .
Tips for Using a Track Saw
Track saws make big thing small , flawlessly , and accurately , and the same safety ruler put on for rails saw as distinctive round saw . You should wear hearing and eye auspices to forestall injuries , and obviate wearing promiscuous vesture . Also , be certain that the blade is n’t survive to get through anything before cutting .
Be mindful of the electric cord ’s fix before you start cutting longer control board . If possible , position the electric cord so it wo n’t snag on the cartroad or get caught between the workpiece and the board while cutting .
at times , caterpillar tread saws tracks do n’t line up perfectly true . When that ’s the case , you’re able to cut them square with a mitre power saw ( as long as they ’re atomic number 13 ) . Be certain to wear off pinna and center auspices as well asgloveswhile cut to foreclose injuries .
FAQs
That ’s a lot of info about the best track saws , and it may seem a bit overwhelming . Do n’t allow a few nagging questions derail your shopping ; the following segment aim to answer the most frequently asked questions about the best lead adage . Be sure to look below for an answer to your question .
Q. Is a circular saw the same as a track saw?
Track saws are base on Crotalus cerastes - style rotary proverb , but they ’re not the same . Circular saws have smooth bases that glide along the workpiece . rails saws have grooves that break down into a track to allow for straight cuts .
Q. Can I use a track saw without a track?
Yes , you’re able to , but they ’re not as promiscuous to employ without a track . The pressure it takes to carry the saw in the plunged position can affect truth .
Q. How deep can track saws cut?
Most track saws can reduce just over 2 in cryptical ; however , some of the large track power saw can cut up to 2½ inches deep .
Q. How do you change the blade on a track saw?
running saw usually have blade - modification scope that lock the dip action mechanism in place . Once it ’s in the blade - change mode , the user only loosens the bower ballock holding the blade in office and replaces the leaf blade .
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