Track Saw Eliminates need for Jointer?

[Edward Weber]

I think everything has been covered.
I just wanted to say that I enjoyed reading a "tracksaw thread" where everyone wasn't fawning over how great they are. They do have limitations that more often than not get overlooked.
They are great for what they do but they don't replace any other tool entirely, IMO

[Jimmy Harris]

As mentioned above, it can cut a pretty straight edge, but it won't do anything to remove any warp, cup, or twist out of a board. With a sharp blade in your track saw, you can, however, get a glue ready surface. It won't be finish ready. But you can get it flat enough to glue from and squeeze any gaps out with clamps. However, if you're not really good with a track saw, and your blade isn't super sharp, you probably won't get a glue ready surface every time.

If you want to skip buying a jointer, you can use a track saw or table saw, and a hand plane, like a No. 7 jointer. The track saw or table saw will get you 98% there, and it won't take but a couple of swipes with the jointer plane to get you to go time. Then, if you have a thickness planer, you can use a planer sled to tackle warp, twist and cup. And if you're boards are thick enough, or you have several that are the same width, you can run them through your planer on edge. If the track saw made them straight, the thickness planer can make them smooth and straight.

I don't own a jointer and never will. They take up too much room to do things (albeit more efficiently) that my other tools can do. And I've never regretted not having one. So you can definitely get by without one.

[Andrew Hughes]

The jointer is a very important machine to have. You can quickly cut a flat surface on a oddly shaped board then make a edge square to this face.From there you can go to the planer or your tablesaw even the bandsaw. Really depends on what your projects demand.
Without a jointer you’ll spend lots of time making silly fixtures on your planer or table saw to do what a jointer does in minutes.
Unless your into goofy work and like doing things the hard way get a jointer!

[mike stenson]

It's faster to use a handplane than it is to make those sleds and jigs.

[Richard Coers]

It's faster to use a handplane than it is to make those sleds and jigs.

Those jigs and fixtures last for decades. How fast can you flatten 4 twisted and cupped 2x10x8's with hand planes for a dining table?

[mike stenson]

It's faster to use a handplane than it is to make those sleds and jigs.[/QUOTE
Those jigs and fixtures last for decades. Just how fast can you flatten 6 twisted and cupped 2x10x8's with hand planes?

Those jigs need modification, storage, etc. Pretty fast. Each board is different. But often enough I do it by hand because I don't feel like powering up my 12" jointer. Thicknessing by hand is another story, but we're not discussing that.