Originally Posted by
Chris Parks
I have used both a home made saw guide and a Festool track saw a lot for breaking down large sheets. There is zero advantage in using the Festool for simply breaking down sheets and I would not waste a lot of money buying any track system just for that. Both the home made and the Festool are used the same, make the mark, put down the guide on the mark and cut.
Originally Posted by
mark mcfarlane
Chris, FYI, that is only one of the ways to use a Festool rail for breaking down sheet goods. Another way is to use the parallel guides. Another way is to use an MFT & rail for perfect 45 and 90 degree cuts.
No marks to make, very fast setup for 'the next cut' (after the initial-purchase calibration), no worry about drifting off the mark and running back and forth end-to-end readjusting clamps, integrated clamping beneath the work you are cutting, and you get multiple pieces that are exact same width with the parallel guides,....
Then there are all the sheet good breakdown cross cut options (with an MFT,...) for perfect 90 degree cuts without measuring and drawing lines,....
I don't use my Festool tracksaw in any way even remotely similar to how I used to use a homemade track jig.
OK - so I think the answer to my question comes down to this: Would I be using the track saw system as a replacement for a table saw, or for sheet goods breakdown?
If my predominant work is in sheet goods.......... then the "system" has advantages.
If construction out of sheet goods is only an occasional task, then I can afford the extra set up time Mark correctly notes.
Any problems with my summary analysis? I am trying to get my head around this topic, and welcome comments.
When I started woodworking, I didn't know squat. I have progressed in 30 years - now I do know squat.