Choosing between a track saw and a circular saw can be a tough decision. Both of these saws have their unique strengths, and it all depends on the type of work you need to tackle.
Let me simplify things for you. The key distinction between a track saw and a circular saw is the precision of their cuts. With a guiding track, the track saw delivers super-accurate and clean cuts. In contrast, the circular saw offers more freedom of movement but may sacrifice a bit of precision without the guiding track.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the key similarities and differences between a track saw vs circular saw, helping you in making the perfect choice for your projects. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which tool aligns best with your needs, making it easier to select the ideal saw for your workshop.
RELATED:
Table of Contents
- What is the Difference Between a Track Saw and a Circular Saw?
- What is a Track Saw?
- Key Features and Benefits of a Track Saw
- Pros and Cons of a Track Saw
- What is a Track Saw Used For?
- What is a Circular Saw?
- Key Features and Benefits of a Circular Saw
- Pros and Cons of a Circular Saw
- What is a Circular Saw Used For?
- What to Consider When Buying a Track Saw or a Circular Saw?
- Wrap-Up: Track Saw vs Circular Saw
- FAQ
What is the Difference Between a Track Saw and a Circular Saw?
In this section, I’ll explain the key differences and benefits of each saw in detail, helping you make an informed decision for your woodworking shop. Let’s compare the track saw and circular saw to see which one suits your woodworking needs best:
Track Saw
- Essentially a circular saw running along a track with added features like scoring, full blade cover, dust collection, and a riving knife.
- Ideal for cutting large plywood sheets with clean edges for easy assembly.
- Safer, concealing the blade within the machinery.
- Provides accurate straight cuts without veering off the path.
- Equipped with built-in dust collectors for a cleaner workspace.
Circular Saw
- More budget-friendly compared to track saws.
- Can be modified and used similarly to track saws with the right jigs.
- Offers more freedom of movement without a track, allowing cutting around obstacles.
- Lighter and more portable, suitable for tight spaces and challenging access points.
What is a Track Saw?
A track saw, also known as a plunge saw, is a game-changer in woodworking, providing precise and clean cuts effortlessly. Its guiding track ensures straight lines, making it perfect for cutting large plywood sheets with ease. With the option of both battery-powered and corded versions, I find the battery-powered track saw more convenient and portable, offering smooth cuts without the hassle of cords getting in the way.
A track saw excels in accuracy, especially with its fixed guard and exposed blade when plunging to the pre-set depth. It’s the go-to choice for various tasks, including cutting worktops and sinks, providing more control and better results compared to a regular circular saw.
Simply put, the track saw is like an improved version of the circular saw, offering convenience, accuracy, and versatility. With its guiding rail and rubber strip, it takes cutting to a whole new level, making it the top choice for professionals and woodworking enthusiasts who are looking for exceptional results.
1. Key Features and Benefits of a Track Saw
A track saw comes with a bunch of fantastic features that make cutting an awesome experience:
- The track guides the saw, ensuring straight and precise cuts without veering off track. No more worries about crooked lines!
- With an in-built dust collector, the track saw keeps your workspace clean, making cleanup so easy, and saving you a lot of time.
- The enclosed blade design enhances safety, reducing the risk of injuries due to saw kickback.
- The adjustable depth guard allows you to cut at the desired depth, providing versatility for various projects.
Benefits of a Track Saw:
- It’s perfect for cutting through a large amount of wood, making it ideal for bigger projects.
- It’s accuracy and clean cuts make it a versatile replacement for circular saws, miter saws, panel saws, and table saws.
- It’s the go-to tool for jobs that demand increased accuracy and smoothness of cuts.
2. Pros and Cons of a Track Saw
PROS:
- Precision: The track ensures precise cuts with clean and smooth edges, making it ideal for professionals seeking accurate results.
- Versatility: A track saw can handle various materials, including metal sheets and wood, and offers versatility for a range of projects.
- Safety: With its plunge feature, it’s a safer option compared to a circular saw, reducing the risk of accidents.
- Dust Collection: The track saw excels in dust collection, keeping your workspace clean and tidy, and ensuring a neat working environment.
- Angle Cuts: Easily makes angle cuts up to 48 degrees, providing added flexibility for complex woodworking tasks.
CONS:
- Mobility: It offers less freedom of movement compared to a circular saw, which might be a consideration for more mobile projects.
- Cost: The track saw is typically more expensive than a circular saw, but its precision and performance justify the investment.
- Setup Time: It may take a bit longer to set up initially, but the benefits of accurate and smooth cuts make it worth the effort.
What is a Track Saw Used For?
A track saw is a highly versatile tool that finds its utility in various scenarios:
Cutting Large Sheets: If you often work with large sheets of material like plywood and need to divide them into smaller pieces for specific projects, a track saw is your go-to tool. It ensures precise and clean cuts, making your work efficient and saving you time.
Ripping Large Boards: Need to transform a large board into smaller dimensions? The track saw excels at ripping down large boards, allowing you to create straight and accurate cuts effortlessly.
Establishing Straight Edges: Working with irregular boards, such as rough lumber or live edge slabs? The track saw is perfect for creating a straight edge on these materials, essential for achieving professional-quality results.
Space-saving Solution: In a small workshop, a track saw can serve as a replacement for a larger table saw. Since it doesn’t require infeed and outfeed space, you can work in a much smaller area without compromising on the quality of your cuts.
What is a Circular Saw?
A circular saw is a powerful tool equipped with a toothed circular blade that spins around the axis of the saw. It comes in both corded and cordless models, with corded versions powered by a power cord and cordless versions powered by batteries. A circular saw is capable of making straight and curvilinear cuts in various materials, including wood, plastic, metal, concrete, bricks, and tiles.
While it may not provide the same level of accuracy as a track saw, a circular saw offers more autonomy to cut and direct it wherever needed. It is a popular choice among both DIYers and construction professionals due to its high sawing capacity and portability.
If you’re on a budget, you can transform a circular saw into a track saw using a straight-edge guide. Circular saws are versatile and can handle various types of saw blades, making them suitable for regular ripping or crosscuts and cutting different materials.
1. Key Features and Benefits of a Circular Saw
A circular saw offers a range of key features that set it apart from other saws:
- Circular Saw Blades: Circular saws come with various blade sizes and types, allowing you to adapt to different cutting needs and materials.
- Blade Cover: The blade cover provides safety by enclosing the blade, preventing accidental contact with the sharp edges during operation.
- Depth Adjustment: Circular saws have a deck or base plate that can be raised or lowered, allowing you to adjust the depth of the blade. This feature is useful when you need to make different cutting depths without changing the blade itself.
Benefits of a Circular Saw:
- With its lightweight and handheld design, a circular saw offers portability and ease of use. It can adapt for both right-handers and left-handers, providing flexibility for different users.
- Circular saws are quick and efficient, making them ideal for cutting through plywood, softwood, hardwood, as well as various other materials like soft metals and plastics.
- Circular saws are comparatively cheaper than track saws, making them a budget-friendly choice.
2. Pros and Cons of a Circular Saw
PROS:
- Versatility: With its various blade options, the circular saw can handle a wide array of materials, making it a versatile choice for diverse projects.
- Power and Speed: Circular saws generally possess more power and speed compared to track saws, enabling quick and efficient cutting.
- Type Options: Different types of circular saws are available to suit specific cutting needs, offering users plenty of options to choose from.
- Mobility: Cordless models grant excellent portability, allowing you to work freely and flexibly at any location.
CONS:
- Less Precision: Circular saws produce cuts that are less accurate and smoother when compared to track saws.
- Dust Production: Circular saws tend to generate more dust and debris while operating.
- No Plunging Ability: The absence of a plunging feature in circular saws restricts the starting point of cuts to the end of the material.
- Risk of Kickback: Circular saws carry a higher risk of kickback, necessitating careful handling and adherence to safety precautions.
What is a Circular Saw Used For?
There are many ways how to use a circular saw. It is a handy tool that excels in a variety of cutting tasks, including long rip cuts, beveled cuts, plunge cuts, and cross-cuts.
Circular saws are widely used for cutting timbers, ripping beams, framing materials, decking, and timber floors. The standout feature of a circular saw is its speed, making it an efficient tool for handling various materials and ideal for larger projects. It easily cuts through softwood, hardwood, plywood, and even soft metals like aluminum, copper, or bronze, as well as different densities of plastic.
With its quick and fast working ability, a circular saw is a perfect choice for large projects and situations where time is of the essence. Though it may sacrifice some precision in comparison to track saws, it remains a versatile tool suited for coarser materials used in structural work or roof construction.
How to Make a Guide Rail for a Circular Saw
RELATED: Best Circular Saw Guide Rails
Find This Blog Post Useful?
Join my newsletter to receive the latest news, tutorials, and project plans sent directly to your inbox!
What to Consider When Buying a Track Saw or a Circular Saw?
Here’s a list of factors to consider when choosing between a circular saw and track saw:
- Motor Power: Higher voltage saws with more robust motors can handle tougher tasks more efficiently. They provide greater cutting power and enable smooth operation with various materials.
- Speed Settings: Variable speed control allows you to adjust cutting speed for different materials. It adds to cleaner and more precise cuts while providing you with better control over the saw’s performance.
- Corded Vs. Cordless: Corded saws provide continuous power for demanding jobs without the need for battery management. They are ideal for extended use, while cordless saws offer more flexibility and mobility, which make them perfect for jobs in areas with limited access to power sources.
- Blade Size: Consider the blade size based on the thickness of the materials you need to cut. Larger blades are better for cutting thicker materials, increasing cutting capacity and versatility.
- Portability: Circular saws are easy to carry and maneuver. They are perfect for working on different job sites.
- Dust Collection: A dust collector in the saw keeps your work area clean and safe.
- Emergency Brakes: An emergency brake feature adds an extra layer of safety, quickly stopping the blade in case of any mishap, which reduces the risk of accidents.
What to consider specifically for track saws:
- Track Length: Longer tracks offer better precision and stability during cuts, which is crucial for accurate results on larger materials.
- Depth Setting: Fine depth control with a clear readout adds to more accurate cuts, and makes the track saw more efficient.
- Chamfering Capacity: A track saw’s ability to make angled cuts expands its versatility, making it suitable for complex woodworking tasks, such as creating bevels and miters.
- Electric Brakes: Safety features such as electric brakes and anti-kickback protection enhance the safety of a track saw and make it easier and more secure to work with.
These factors will help you choose the right saw that suits your requirements and will help you decide which one to buy.
Wrap Up: Track Saw vs Circular Saw
In conclusion, the main differences between the track saw and the circular saw lie in their precision, versatility, and price.
While they may look similar, I’d recommend starting with a circular saw, especially if you pair it with a circular saw guide. It’s a great option for most woodworking tasks, you can achieve great results and doesn’t cost as much as a track saw.
However, if you find yourself wanting more precise cuts and greater efficiency, and you’re willing to spend a bit extra, then a track saw might be the right choice for you. It’s definitely worth the investment. With a track saw, you’ll enjoy enhanced accuracy and the ability to take on more complex projects with ease.
Happy sawing!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are track saws safer than circular saws?
The track saw is safer than the circular saw because its blade is enclosed within the machinery, and some models have a riving knife to prevent kickback. With the track saw, you can plunge into the workpiece to a set depth before making the cut, making it safer than the circular saw.
Can you use a track saw without the track?
Yes, you can use a track saw without the track for regular straight cuts, but using it with the track provides better precision.
Are track saws more expensive than circular saws?
Generally, track saws are more expensive than circular saws due to their added features and accuracy.
How to make a straight cut with a circular saw?
To make a straight cut with a circular saw, use a guide or straightedge, align it with your cut line, and follow it while cutting.
