Track Saw VS Table Saw Guides | Which One is Better For You?

Last Updated on November 28, 2024 by John Patterson

Today, a- variety of power saws are found at the store. And woodworkers tend to collect different types of saws in their shops to complete different interesting projects.

As a specialist in wood, you may be at a loss as to which cutter is the right one. What comes to mind most often is a track saw, and a table saw.

But choosing which one to get is still a hard nut to crack since every power tool has its advantages and disadvantages.

So, you have to be attentive to your purpose. What is your why, and what do you strive to do with your saw?

In short, the title says it all, by the end of this article you will know whether you need a track saw vs table saw or not.

Track Saw vs Table Saw: The Definition

Track saws are becoming a popular choice for woodworking enthusiasts. But as a woodworker, you have to determine if you need to ride the wave or stand against the tide.

So, before we jump into the track saw vs. table saw comparison section, let’s quickly introduce you to these powerful tools.

What is a Track Saw?

A track saw is one type of electrically powered circular saw. It is typically mounted on a rail or track, hence the name track saw.

These machines consume less space and they are more mutation Of the saws. On top of that, the track saw is made for plunge cuts.

But the track saws also have some downsides. That alignment of the rail with the piece of wood takes an age to set. Sometimes the track is less long. That means you’re not able to make those cuts on long pieces of wood with a track saw.

Benefits of a Track Saw

The power tool for cutting straight lines best — a track saw. It features a blade that can be ridden along an aluminum channel, unlike a circular saw.

Now, those of you who might not be familiar with this type of saw, or who just simply have no idea what one looks like, let me describe it to you first and then share some pictures as well.

Hand saws are an essential addition to every DIYer’s tool arsenal. The traditional hand saw has existed for ages and is a proven workhorse for cutting wood.

But a handy old standby can give you more bang for your buck, maybe even save you a few bucks in the process — the track saw.

A track saw, or electric-powered circular saw, is essentially your normal power tools on steroids.

They feature more blades that pull back and forth while cutting through materials, so this type of power tool cuts more quickly than the typical hand or power saw, but with the same quality and accuracy.

If you’re after a quick and accurate way to get the job done with style, then you need

Track Saw A great woodworking tool for the professionals and DIYers. It has many advantages over other kinds of saws such as jigsaws or circular saws.

A track saw can slice through a whole range of materials with little effort from the user while leaving an ideally clean cut. Here’s how to use one for cutting plywood; the video is embedded below:

What is a Table Saw?

Table saws are very common among most professional woodworkers. For daily woodworking stuff, table saw is an absolute beast. And this is why a table saw is one of the very first tools woodworkers purchase.

The biggest benefit of the saw is its versatility. If you can do a table saw, please start with the simplest of straight cuts and work your way up to the heady cuts!

These wizards are outstanding devoted to challenging projects, and you can bet your last zloty on these absolute rippers for repetitive cuts. Also, a table saw is your best friend if you plan to rip any large boards.

However it is larger – you are not able to transfer it from place to place. It is pretty pricy as well.

Benefits of a Table Saw

Traditionally, there is multitude of hand and power tools on the market for cutting wood. But far and away the most versatile of all the options is a table saw.

Invest in high-quality blades when you buy a table or saw, too.

So, we are able to use a good quality Table saw for our various woodwork. A table saw makes it possible to cut wood and other materials with precision and accuracy, great for anyone who loves to roll up their sleeves and do-it-themselves.

Table saws are also quite versatile in their ability to rip, crosscut, miter (a form of miter), and beyond.

Workshop||A table saw is a great addition to any workshop or garage. This saw is used for cutting larger pieces of wood such as ripping lumber. Another benefit is that table saws are great for ripping sheet goods such as plywood, MDF, and OSB.

Track Saw or Table Saw: Choose Your Winner

Both tracks and table saw are necessary for different cutting tasks, so they are indispensable for those who know. However, if you must pick one from them, you could easily entrap yourself and select the erroneous one.

So, here are a few pointers to help you decide between the two.

The Size of the Blades

The size of the blade is very important for the cut to be perfect. Similar to a circular saw, you can get track saws with different blade sizes, where a blade can be anywhere from 5-1/2, 6-1/4, 6-1/2, and 7-1/4 inches. The blade of a table saw can be 8, 10, and possibly even 12 inches.

Now, you need to figure out which one you prefer. You want to pick based on the width of your workpiece.

The Usage of Your Saw

While track and table saws make some of the same cuts, they also have specific purposes.

Something like a track saw is gold when plunge cuts are involved. Woodworking sometimes requires creating special shapes in the wood. This is all a track saw is designed for.

And you can make every cut a track saw can make with a table saw. Though it may not be the most useful tool when it comes to ripping wood or cutting big-sized wood pieces, or when it comes to bevel cuts.

Types of your work table

A track saw does not require any type of work table. Every track saw comes equipped with a track rail to help you cut more consistently and smoothly. Position your wood piece on the floor to make your cut setting.

However, a table saw has a table to place your wood piece over. Using a table saw to cut large wood pieces is fairly comfortable.

Portability

And since a table saw comes with a table, you can’t move it around here and there. In terms of portability the track saw wins out by a long shot.

Track saws are smaller, and you can take them anywhere. And, there are a few track saws that are cordless, rechargeable and battery powered, so that makes things comfy.

On the other hand, table saws are the mount tool machine which is set in the workshop. It is not portable since it has a bigger size. But even so, it is a great tool to use.

Price Range

Price-wise, it’s pretty clear that track saws win. A table saw definitely costs more than its counterpart. But the applications, too, differ from one another.

They both have some specializations and things. As a woodworker, you can choose what you will do and what type of tools you need for the job.

Frequently Asked Questions

#1. Is a track saw better than a table saw?

Track saws are not a new concept, however, they have become refined that they can currently challenge many table saws.

A track saw is a circular saw on rails — the blade slides back and forth along an infinite loop of metal with teeth on one edge.

If the blade remains between these teeth, you will be able to cut in a perfectly straight line, regardless of how curvy and wavy your workpiece might be.

This is because you do not have to make any adjustments when cutting as you would with a table saw this substantially lowers production times.

I understand how maddening is the situation when you are working on a project and you realize you are missing something. Well, that why you have me with this blog post that debates whether an inexpensive track saw could potentially be better than a more expensive table saw depending on your average DIYenthusiast.

Table saws are a staple tool in any handyman’s tool belt. With a circular blade protruding from an otherwise flush surface, you can certainly cut boards and similar materials with it, but there is a problem — the blade does protrude from the table surface so there are certain cuts that you can’t make with it.

A track saw does not have this limitation because it rides on rails on a track system. So, which one should you buy?

#2. Can I use a track saw without the track?

In this post we looked at how important a track saw is, and how to operate one. What good are track saws? Track saws are an absolute must because they make light work of achieving accurate cuts and can be used off the tracks, too.

Do we need the track — many friends have asked me will it work a track saw without the track.

Of course you can, but it depends with a few constraints.

It’s also more precise than a circular saw, which can hike the blade out of alignment with the board’s grain.

The downside?

They chew up space in your garage or workshop and cost a small fortune. But there’s good news! We won’t even have to be tracking it.

Final Words

If you are a professional woodworker as well as a passionate love professional, to be as a professional, you need to have track as well as table saws in the garage.

If you are a beginner, you need to determine what kind of woodwork you enjoy and which tools are most suitable for your task.

We hope this track vs. table saw has done a fair bit of recommending for you and answered many of your questions successfully.