Better alternative to jigsaw for straight cuts (Edit - Which track saw)?

elsmandino · 15 Aug 2019

Having used my trusty Bosch jigsaw for everything I do, involving wood, I have decided to add something a bit more bespoke to my tool shed.

The problem, I find, is that jigsaws are just not particularly accurate.

Most of what I have made, looks less than professional as edges are never perfectly straight.

What would be the best tool for the job?

I found quite a few alternatives (circular saw, mitre saw, band saw, table saw etc.) but cannot quite decide on which to go for.

Notch7 · 15 Aug 2019

track saw -brilliant tools, so accurate pro carpenters are using them on site to build wardrobes etc.

festool, bosch, makitas etc are the best, but the budget jobbies like scheppach are perfectly usable.

foxhole · 15 Aug 2019

Circular saw is most versatile as can be used just about anywhere.

Tigercubrider · 15 Aug 2019

I have a scheppach derived Aldi tracksaw that cost £60
At work we have a festool that's probably 10times the price
I also have (an Aldi?) mini plungesaw that needs a guiderail

blup · 16 Aug 2019

Cordless circular saw

Blup

pete50 · 16 Aug 2019

Anything battery is rubbish unless you pay silly prices. The batteries don't last and they do not have the power at least the cheap ones don't. Mains track saw is what you need along with a decent sliding mitre saw and a decent table saw. Also don't rely entirely on electric. Hand sawing is, generally, more accurate allbeit more labour intensive.

EddieM · 16 Aug 2019

Ooooh controversial.

Harry Bloomfield · 16 Aug 2019

Notch7 said:
track saw -brilliant tools, so accurate pro carpenters are using them on site to build wardrobes etc.

I have a sliding mitre, I bought for cutting soffits when I replaced all of mine. Great for accurate repetition cuts, providing it is not too wide a material. For wider things, like panels and doors, I use a cheap circular saw, but I made a guide for it to ensure a straight cut. Piece of 8mm ply, long enough for you longest cut, with a bit of 20x20mm glued and screwed along the ply edge to act as the guide for the saw. You then run your chosen circular saw along the ply tight against the 20x20 guide.

You then just clamp your new guide to your door and the saw will cut precisely along the edge of the ply you cut earlier. You loose 8mm of cutting depth of the saw, because of the ply it runs along.

blup · 16 Aug 2019

A good quality cordless saw with a spare a quick charger and a straight edge should cover most of the OP’s demands. And a mains chopsaw. Plus hiring a table saw/track saw and bandsaw where circumstances demand.

Blup

elsmandino · 16 Aug 2019

Thanks everyone.

Really helpful information - I had never even heard of a track/plunge saw.

The idea of a circular saw, with a homemade guide does seem very appealing.

Is the only difference between a track saw and a regular circular saw that the track saw has the guide built into it?

Notch7 · 16 Aug 2019

elsmandino said:
Thanks everyone.

Really helpful information - I had never even heard of a track/plunge saw.

The idea of a circular saw, with a homemade guide does seem very appealing.

Is the only difference between a track saw and a regular circular saw that the track saw has the guide built into it?

Kind of, but a track saw has a track which is an aly extrusion. On the underside are a pair of soft neoprene strips. In use they grip the material enough so thebtrack needs no clamping. Also there is strip of plastic, that is cut the first time the saw is used. That cut edge is exactly the edge of the kerf, so you just line it up with your pencil marks. Its miles quicker and versatile than a diy guide.

Deleted member 174758 · 16 Aug 2019

Track saws also have superior dust extraction when used connected to a vacuum extractor

pete50 said:
Hand sawing is, generally, more accurate allbeit more labour intensive.

As a someone who actually can saw a straight line and knows how to use his tools all I can say to that is rubbish! A guided circular saw with the appropriate blade for the job always knocks hand sawing into a cooked hat for accuracy and cut quality. Try cutting some melamine-faced chipboard and see if your theory holds....

Contentious enough?

Notch7 · 16 Aug 2019

JobAndKnock said:
Track saws also have superior dust extraction when used connected to a vacuum extractor

As a someone who actually can saw a straight line and knows how to use his tools all I can say to that is rubbish! A guided circular saw with the appropriate blade for the job always knocks hand sawing into a cooked hat for accuracy and cut quality. Try cutting some melamine-faced chipboard and see if your theory holds....

Contentious enough?

With a festool and freud blade, cuts in birch plywood are so clean, saw marks can be removed by hand with a cork block and abrasive.

Track saws are quite capable of producing high quality cabinet furniture.

Jigsaw to track saw.......beyond chalk n cheese

Tigercubrider · 16 Aug 2019

All (most?) tracksaw seem to be plunge so you can draw a square on a sheet of ply, in the middle, and cut 4 cuts by plunging into the material . Then finish the corners by hand

foxhole · 16 Aug 2019

Damage to you fingers is so much less with a handsaw. Only cut the tip of my thumb in half with a handsaw , would have been so much worse with a powered saw .

diynot

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.

Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

Better alternative to jigsaw for straight cuts (Edit - Which track saw)?

EddieM

Deleted member 174758

Similar threads