Great breakdown of the pros and cons. For me the table saw mainly scores for doing rips, especially if the rip is very thin, or you want to quickly rip a large number of pieces to the exact same size. For just about everything else, and especially with sheet materiel, the track saw is just easier in terms of handling, and it's also much better for doing scoring cuts on laminates.
This short video is actually much more important than it may seem. You're spot on because the use of track saws is relatively new for many, and in my opinion, it represents the future. However, one aspect you didn't address is the use of track saws to cut repetitive thin strips. This is one of the main reasons why many opt for table saws, as you need a system in place to achieve this with a track saw (such as fences, stops, and supports for the track saw rail). Thank you.
Just bought my Track saw (Makita) still getting comfortable with it and it is amazing for the larger stuff but it’s those little cuts/trims on smaller pieces that have me going back to the tables saw. I will eventually work that out with an MFT/Bench dogs sort of set up. My track saw is cordless, soooo much quieter and 1000% safer. If I had to choose just one…..Track Saw.
Love this scenario, i think its all about risk assessment and doing the task safely, Each one has its pros and cons. Plus either way you do need the space to be able to work comfortably. No claret or missing digits
I bought a Festool track saw and made a few mft style bench tops and manage quite well but a job site table saw could be useful, however I also made a board station (see Nick Engler's work shop companion) with a few enhancements and this covers just about everything with the track saw system
Hi Derek. Not seen that channel so I will have a look. Thanks. I find building MFT benches addictive, you can always find a slightly better idea when finished 😁 Regards JP
You covered pretty much every important aspect between the two saws. I also started out with a jigsaw a few years back. As I developed my woodworking skills, I needed to move beyond the jigsaw. I don't have a dedicated workshop. It's just a spare room that has many other uses and so I have to often pack everything away. That meant that a table saw was entirely impractical. My research also pointed out the safety issues with a table saw v track saw. It was a no brainer that for so many practical reasons, a track saw will do everything I need to do. There are a few rare instances when a table saw would make it easier than a track saw but I just don't have the space for a table saw. So I invested in a Festool track saw because it had the most advanced safety features. It was not the cheapest on the market, but I considered its safety features to be superior and I pay extra for that peace of mind. I did also buy a mitre saw which is fantastic. Still large but I'm building a flip top table for it to simply convert it into another piece of furniture. I can't see a table saw in my future at all, unless I were a commercial operator. As it is, I've got all the tools I need. I am also a great fan of Japanese pull saws because they can cross cut and rip cut with great ease and precision. It seems to cover the gap between the table saw and track saw for my purposes.
Hi. Thank you for your comments. I don’t think I would buy another table saw,. Unless, as you say, for commercial reasons. I still need to get into the Japanese pull saw’s . I have two, one I’ve used once and the other is coated with glue 🙄 regards JP
Interesting timing for this. I am supposed to pick up my first table saw tomorrow - a DWE7492-QS - and I am still on the fence as to whether I am doing the right thing or not :) Like you I have a rather small and cramped small garage workshop but unlike you (I think) I am only just now at a "right old age" getting into woodworking. I actually started off with a track saw (TS 55). I really like the TS 55 and enjoy using it for longer cuts and squaring up larger pieces of sheet goods. However I am finding it extremely uncomfortable for making square cuts on shorter/thinner pieces and this frustration led me to the conclusion that perhaps the combination of the TS with a compact(ish) table saw would make life a bit simpler, more flexible and ultimately more accurate and enjoyable. I wonder...? oh well, I have another 24 hours to dither and ponder.... haha Get well soon!
Thanks Steven. A bit snotty this morning but on the mend. The DeWalt's are great saws. For those cuts making a good saw sled to keep the material firmly held and the hands well out of the way will help. My advice is to build a small sled, I got a bit carried away when I made mine and it was far too big for my space. I dismantled it in the end and used the T slots for my outdoor workbench. Regards JP
Sounds similar to my situation. I have a small single garage. I'll be getting the dwe7492 table saw shortly too. Mainly for cutting dado slots for cabinet doors, cross cutting, and ripping material to size. However, I will also be getting a track saw, to cut those full size plywood sheets down ready for the table saw, and for those crosscuts that the table saw can't manage.
Maybe it was a mistake on my part but I got it stuck in my head that plunge saws were for ripping down sheet goods and table saws were for most everything else. Old school, I guess. I have a new 10 in table and 2nd hand 7 1/4 in circular saw. And a few hand saws. And still (knock on wood) have all 10 fingers. Nice vid JP. Take care, get well & stay safe.
Hi Doug. You are right but rail saws have advanced a bit and you can do some really nifty work with them. Peter at 10 minute workshop as been cutting dovetails with his! Regards JP
Very helpful thanks . I’m a real novice been struggling with a small blade circular hand saw , I though table saws were my answer but this looks like it may be better , I know nothing about these so best do some more research
@@rogerdevries7090 Think of a spindle moulder as a big router table with a 5 inch wide cutters that weight a couple of kilos. When I was an apprentice joiner the saying was “you’ve not mastered the spindle moulder until you’ve lost three fingers!” Silly I know but a terrifying machine to a young apprentice 😱
@@Smallbarnworkshop track saw for me too. Simply no room for a table saw. I’ve yet to find a job the track saw and MFT can’t handle (ok I use the router for dadoes etc)
Don't really have the space for both, so have the track saw with a small mft bench. It works fine for my small garage, however i do have a bandsaw and mitre saw too.
![Tablesaw or Tracksaw for Narrow Rips [video 477]](/img/n.gif)
Great breakdown of the pros and cons. For me the table saw mainly scores for doing rips, especially if the rip is very thin, or you want to quickly rip a large number of pieces to the exact same size. For just about everything else, and especially with sheet materiel, the track saw is just easier in terms of handling, and it's also much better for doing scoring cuts on laminates.
This short video is actually much more important than it may seem. You're spot on because the use of track saws is relatively new for many, and in my opinion, it represents the future. However, one aspect you didn't address is the use of track saws to cut repetitive thin strips. This is one of the main reasons why many opt for table saws, as you need a system in place to achieve this with a track saw (such as fences, stops, and supports for the track saw rail). Thank you.
Just bought my Track saw (Makita) still getting comfortable with it and it is amazing for the larger stuff but it’s those little cuts/trims on smaller pieces that have me going back to the tables saw. I will eventually work that out with an MFT/Bench dogs sort of set up. My track saw is cordless, soooo much quieter and 1000% safer. If I had to choose just one…..Track Saw.
Thanks JP. Regards JP 😊
Thank you for the time and effort you put into your videos.
@@JP-kx6kr Thank You that’s much appreciated. Regards JP
Love this scenario, i think its all about risk assessment and doing the task safely, Each one has its pros and cons. Plus either way you do need the space to be able to work comfortably. No claret or missing digits
THANKS
Thanks Steve. Are you from Derbyshire? My mate down there says claret! Regards JP
@@Smallbarnworkshop from Walsall mucka
I bought a Festool track saw and made a few mft style bench tops and manage quite well but a job site table saw could be useful, however I also made a board station (see Nick Engler's work shop companion) with a few enhancements and this covers just about everything with the track saw system
Hi Derek. Not seen that channel so I will have a look. Thanks. I find building MFT benches addictive, you can always find a slightly better idea when finished 😁 Regards JP
You covered pretty much every important aspect between the two saws. I also started out with a jigsaw a few years back. As I developed my woodworking skills, I needed to move beyond the jigsaw. I don't have a dedicated workshop. It's just a spare room that has many other uses and so I have to often pack everything away. That meant that a table saw was entirely impractical. My research also pointed out the safety issues with a table saw v track saw. It was a no brainer that for so many practical reasons, a track saw will do everything I need to do. There are a few rare instances when a table saw would make it easier than a track saw but I just don't have the space for a table saw. So I invested in a Festool track saw because it had the most advanced safety features. It was not the cheapest on the market, but I considered its safety features to be superior and I pay extra for that peace of mind. I did also buy a mitre saw which is fantastic. Still large but I'm building a flip top table for it to simply convert it into another piece of furniture. I can't see a table saw in my future at all, unless I were a commercial operator. As it is, I've got all the tools I need. I am also a great fan of Japanese pull saws because they can cross cut and rip cut with great ease and precision. It seems to cover the gap between the table saw and track saw for my purposes.
Hi. Thank you for your comments. I don’t think I would buy another table saw,. Unless, as you say, for commercial reasons. I still need to get into the Japanese pull saw’s . I have two, one I’ve used once and the other is coated with glue 🙄 regards JP
Interesting timing for this. I am supposed to pick up my first table saw tomorrow - a DWE7492-QS - and I am still on the fence as to whether I am doing the right thing or not :)
Like you I have a rather small and cramped small garage workshop but unlike you (I think) I am only just now at a "right old age" getting into woodworking. I actually started off with a track saw (TS 55). I really like the TS 55 and enjoy using it for longer cuts and squaring up larger pieces of sheet goods.
However I am finding it extremely uncomfortable for making square cuts on shorter/thinner pieces and this frustration led me to the conclusion that perhaps the combination of the TS with a compact(ish) table saw would make life a bit simpler, more flexible and ultimately more accurate and enjoyable. I wonder...?
oh well, I have another 24 hours to dither and ponder.... haha
Get well soon!
Thanks Steven. A bit snotty this morning but on the mend. The DeWalt's are great saws. For those cuts making a good saw sled to keep the material firmly held and the hands well out of the way will help. My advice is to build a small sled, I got a bit carried away when I made mine and it was far too big for my space. I dismantled it in the end and used the T slots for my outdoor workbench. Regards JP
Sounds similar to my situation. I have a small single garage. I'll be getting the dwe7492 table saw shortly too. Mainly for cutting dado slots for cabinet doors, cross cutting, and ripping material to size.
However, I will also be getting a track saw, to cut those full size plywood sheets down ready for the table saw, and for those crosscuts that the table saw can't manage.
I think they complement each other in the small shop.
Hi. Thank you for your view and comment, it's much appreciated. Regards JP
Maybe it was a mistake on my part but I got it stuck in my head that plunge saws were for ripping down sheet goods and table saws were for most everything else. Old school, I guess. I have a new 10 in table and 2nd hand 7 1/4 in circular saw. And a few hand saws. And still (knock on wood) have all 10 fingers. Nice vid JP. Take care, get well & stay safe.
Hi Doug. You are right but rail saws have advanced a bit and you can do some really nifty work with them. Peter at 10 minute workshop as been cutting dovetails with his! Regards JP
@@Smallbarnworkshop Aye, Peter has better than 20 years' experience and 6 or more plunge saws. I enjoy his stuff too!
I'd like to see your repeat cut jig
Hi David. see video here
th-cam.com/video/Ov5SdeTFREg/w-d-xo.html
Regards JP
Not found any need for a table saw once I went down the MFT route. Track saw is perfect for my needs
Pretty much my view too Paul. Regards JP
Very helpful thanks . I’m a real novice been struggling with a small blade circular hand saw , I though table saws were my answer but this looks like it may be better , I know nothing about these so best do some more research
Glad I could help. I would rather give my table saw up instead of the Tracksaw. Regards JP
Great video, super clear
@@MrShanekelliher Thank you. Regards JP
Thanks
Your welcome. Regards JP
I really prefer the track saw from a purely safety point of view and tbh the table saw scares the shit out of me !!!!
Me too Roger, but not as much as the spindle moulder. It does make you pay attention though. Regards JP
@@Smallbarnworkshop I assume that is to do with the router ?!!
@@rogerdevries7090 Think of a spindle moulder as a big router table with a 5 inch wide cutters that weight a couple of kilos. When I was an apprentice joiner the saying was “you’ve not mastered the spindle moulder until you’ve lost three fingers!” Silly I know but a terrifying machine to a young apprentice 😱
@@Smallbarnworkshop Scary !!!!
Very sensible stuff
Thanks Derek. Regards JP
great stuff
Thank you. Regards JP
Great video Jp !!!!!!! thanks
Thanks Michael as always. Regards JP
"Yes" 👍😀
👍 Thanks Loz. Regards JP
Did I miss it or did you not answer the question in the video title?
Hi Paul. I firmly came down io the track saw side. what’s your preference? regards JP
@@Smallbarnworkshop track saw for me too. Simply no room for a table saw. I’ve yet to find a job the track saw and MFT can’t handle (ok I use the router for dadoes etc)
Thanks Paul.
Buy what's fit for the job and budget 👊🏾👊🏾
you are right! Regards JP
You can't buy elu tools anymore 😢😢😢😢
I used to have an Elu router it was very good. I think they were bought by Bosch (?) Regards JP
@@Smallbarnworkshop Elu - they were bought by Dewalt.
You should have both, one compliments the other, if you don't have the money what you should get is a job, not a hobby!
I have two of each 😉
Don't really have the space for both, so have the track saw with a small mft bench. It works fine for my small garage, however i do have a bandsaw and mitre saw too.