Got a new commissioned piece that will require a lot of large panel work so I am in the market for a track saw. I'm not seriously considering the festool at this point so I am curious is anyone has any experience with the makita, dewalt, or triton options? Any input will be greatly appreciated.

You can make one as accurate as any commercial model. If you're interested, I can describe how I made mine.

save a ton of money and go w/ your favorite CS, one piece wide body clamp on straight edge and guide plate for the saw/router...

cheaper by hundreds and more versatile...

 

gotta scroll down the page...

https://www.ptreeusa.com/clamp_progrip.htm

https://www.ptreeusa.com/clamp_progrip_accessory.htm

I have an accurate circular saw guide I made but I hate using it because of the dust. Wanted to go the track saw route for the dust collection.

17 minutes ago, Rlbailey3 said:

I have an accurate circular saw guide I made but I hate using it because of the dust. Wanted to go the track saw route for the dust collection.

 

Bosch and Milwaukee CS's have very good DC attachments....

48 minutes ago, Rlbailey3 said:

hate using it because of the dust

Gotta agree, there.

I bought my Festool before the others were widely available. I think if the Dewalt had been available I would have bought it instead. This is not based on hands experience, but i think the Dewalt will work on the Festool track, but the Fessie won't work on the Dewalt track...but a big plus to me if the Dewalt is bidirectional. It gets a little annoying to have to flip the track end for end at times. I have read some comments about the toggle linkage the Dewalt uses not being as precise, but that was mostly Festool fans who want to complain about anything that's not green and black. The Triton is relatively new and I haven't seen any comments posted about it. The Makita doesn't seem to be that popular....lot less info on it as well.

I have a Scheppach track saw. It is the same as the one sold by Grizzly. Actually, I use two 55 inch tracks I bought from the Grizz. The saw leaves a little sawdust on the table, and some folks complain about wobble while on the track. So far, I have managed to get along with it breaking down sheet goods.

 

One of the great uses is to be able to cut a straight edge on a bowed board. Two thumbs up for that!

 

I stumbled upon an add from WOOT! one day. $125 w/$5 shipping. I couldn't pass it up. That was about 3-4 years ago.

11 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I bought my Festool before the others were widely available. I think if the Dewalt had been available I would have bought it instead. This is not based on hands experience, but i think the Dewalt will work on the Festool track, but the Fessie won't work on the Dewalt track...but a big plus to me if the Dewalt is bidirectional. It gets a little annoying to have to flip the track end for end at times. I have read some comments about the toggle linkage the Dewalt uses not being as precise, but that was mostly Festool fans who want to complain about anything that's not green and black. The Triton is relatively new and I haven't seen any comments posted about it. The Makita doesn't seem to be that popular....lot less info on it as well.

I know this isn't the place to switch horses, but on the old wood forums there used to be a tool review feature where you could write up your results and leave your opines for others to check out.   Any chance of doing that here (or have i simply overlooked it?)?

1 hour ago, p_toad said:

I know this isn't the place to switch horses, but on the old wood forums there used to be a tool review feature where you could write up your results and leave your opines for others to check out.   Any chance of doing that here (or have i simply overlooked it?)?

 

very good idea...

Any minute now John will be along to ask you to post that in the "forum upgrades" section...it is a good idea.

Edited August 22, 20178 yr by Fred W. Hargis Jr

12 hours ago, p_toad said:

I know this isn't the place to switch horses, but on the old wood forums there used to be a tool review feature where you could write up your results and leave your opines for others to check out.   Any chance of doing that here (or have i simply overlooked it?)?

This is a great idea, can you please explain how that feature functioned? Thanks!

Re:  tool reviews:  here's how I work it:  press button on keyboard to open internet;   click on Amazon link;    type in name of tool. 

 

The reviews are highly dependent on quantities.  Anything with less than 10 reviews, I don't take seriously because they're too easily manipulated.  Mass response makes for meaningful ratings. 

 

Then, the next most valuable thing about the Amazon page is that alternatives and "similar" are also available.  Plus, repair parts, etc.  They've spent millions on perfecting the consumer utility and appeal.  The totality is a huge consumer tool of superb benefit.   So, you gotta ask:  can you compete with that?  Do you NEED to compete with that?  Maybe the best  service TPW can offer is a link button? 

The only problem with Amazon is that the reviews seem like they are often done by folks who really don't understand whatever it is they are reviewing, compared to reviews on these forums where they are generally done by experienced woodworkers. Here you are probably familiar with the reviewer and evaluate on your own whether this is a person you want to believe. Even so, I do use the Amazon reviews since they aren't edited. the ones on tool vendors sites are often only the ones that have no negative impressions listed (I've had several rejected for that reason).

On 8/20/2017 at 5:15 PM, Stick486 said:

save a ton of money and go w/ your favorite CS, one piece wide body clamp on straight edge and guide plate for the saw/router...

cheaper by hundreds and more versatile...

 

gotta scroll down the page...

https://www.ptreeusa.com/clamp_progrip.htm

https://www.ptreeusa.com/clamp_progrip_accessory.htm

I am with Stick on this one. 

A number of years ago I bought the Peachtree set up at a Woodworking Show with the big 105" rail and a 50" rails for cross cutting. I got the saw base and the router base with it as well. I don't use it often, but when the the job comes up it works great.

A "Review" forum is exactly that. Someone who has purchased and used a tool can write a review of his likes or dislikes based on his personal experience. Others may chime in and share their experience also. I would tend to believe something one of our members posted here before basing my next purchase on an Amazon review.

 

However, when it comes to Amazon, I think they have tried to make the reviews more realistic by posting whether or not the person writing the review has actually purchased the tool from them. Makes for a little more credibility.

 

On another note, a review could be written by someone with very limited experience in the woodworking field and just not know how to read the instructions that come with the tool on it's use, or their lack of experience causes troubles for them.

 

My thinking anyway.

28 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

The only problem with Amazon is that the reviews seem like they are often done by folks who really don't understand whatever it is they are reviewing, compared to reviews on these forums where they are generally done by experienced woodworkers. Here you are probably familiar with the reviewer and evaluate on your own whether this is a person you want to believe. Even so, I do use the Amazon reviews since they aren't edited. the ones on tool vendors sites are often only the ones that have no negative impressions listed (I've had several rejected for that reason).

My criteria is 10-or-more reviews.  Out of that size group, at least one usually gets into the weeds of how/why they like/don't the item.  The best reviewers approach it as "if what you need..."   But this is only half of the story.  You then go to competing devices, read their reviews.  My fav' buying technique (industrial eqt) was to take two sellers, grind them against each other, then "read" the dust fragments.  That's where you find the best info.  The truth is no one on this site operates a half dozen of the same thing, so really hard to compare.  Some of our fellows have owned more than one version of a tool, but maybe decade(s) in the past, so the experience is dated.  We as a group simply don't have enough exposure to create a good data base.  We see here the frequent comment, "I'd never ...[fill in the blank]", but that's typical consumer venting, not professional insight.  Reading reviews develops a talent for reading between (and behind?) the lines.  It takes some time, but it's worth it. 

 

But, my original premise was "don't go head to head with Amazon".  One of the forums here was talking about business practices.  If you have something unique (really unique, as in the benefit to the user), you can beat the Big Guys, with some luck.  "VHS vs Beta" is where you don't want to be as a start-up.  Setting up a review forum here has a certain pride in it, but I think the market is already well-served.

Please direct all commentary regarding the Review Feature at this topic. Thanks folks!