There’s a scenario where you want to cut something out square but there’s just not an electrical outlet close by. The traditional approach involve dragging a big ol’ table saw to the work area (plus hauling along a big ol’ extension cord full of sawdust). It is time consuming and it kills your groove.
Enter the Festool Cordless Track Saw. This thing delivers the accuracy of a track system with the convenience of battery power. You don’t need a designated station or circuit to get a straight cut.
Reviewing the Festool Cordless Track Saw
The Problem with Traditional Cutting
It change the way we think about making cuts in the shop and on-site. It isn’t some light-weight circular saw wearing a battery pack to power it. They designed the guide rail as part of the body of the saw.
What is a Festool Track Saw
It is a smooth operation once you gets the mechanics behind it. Messy tear out? The blade wanders.
No more. This is why people love it and why any serious professional need it. It sets the bar high for cutting anywhere.
Superior Balance and Control
You can immediately see how it’s weighted. In most cordless circular saws, you have the battery on the back and your tool is pulled to the back, making them feel top heavy. With this saw, Festool has placed the battery in the center but low enough so there is no resistance when the cutting head are pressed against the rail.
When you are cutting large sheets of plywood, that balance matter immensely. There isn’t a need for you to hold your arms up to keep the heavy motor up. It just makes the saw feel like part of the rail instead of something separate, and that translates into cleaner cuts.
Battery Life and Workflow
It is easier to get straighter lines, and that’s why you use a track system. One of the biggest concerns about using any cordless tool is battery life. Festool employ their own 18V Lithium-Ion system that holds a charge very well.
And I’m talking in real world usage, cutting a few sheets of plywood between charges. They also has a really quick charging port on the saw, so you can have one charging while you are working with the other. The whole swap system ensure that you hardly ever have to wait for power.
It is a little logistical win but it moves your workflow along. No need to plan out the day based off the battery meter. You can swap them and go.
Precision Rail System
So what is special? A lot. First, Festool makes precision their thing.
And this depend on their guide rail system. First, the rail itself are made of aluminum and anodized for durability. There is also a good seal between the rail and the blade housing.
This keeps sawdust out from between the blade and the track, which is a common cause of jagged cut edges. The saw simply locks into place in the rail with a lever. It has no play, no wobble, and no drift.
Clean Cuts and Dust Collection
You set up your rail wherever you want to cut then when you press the trigger, the blade cuts precisely at that line. The result are a clean cut. Usually no sanding required.
With normal tools, that kind of finish typically take a planer or a router. Another standout feature is dust collection. Festool has include a direct connection point into their vacuum system.
They claim it collect as much as ninety percent of the dust before it reaches the floor. But it’s more than just keeping your shop neat. Fewer particles mean less clog in the blade gullet (and therefore smoother cuts).
Less dust means the cut stay cool. And if you’re working around dust, it also mean fewer particle to breathe in. That can be huge if you have any sensitivity to breathing and/or don’t love cleaning up.
The cut is done. The floor is mostly cleaned up. Your health are protected.
Value and Return on Investment
You saved time. The only true hesitation I have with this is price. This tool is a good bit more expensive than your typical big box brand of cordless circular saw.
You get what you pay for with the build quality, the dust extraction, and that integrated rail system. But consider it an investment in finish quality and speed. The faster you can work, the less waste material there is (fewer mistakes).
And the less you need to sand, the more time you’ll spend building. So for serious hobbyist and pros, the return on investment is obvious. Less frustration and saved time mean it would of paid off.
Who Should Buy This Tool
Should I buy it? Yes if you make frequent, straight line cuts. The cordless track saw from Festool makes it easy to turn your ideas into real cuts, allowing you to cut a line cleanly without a mess.
No worrying about outlets, no heavy table saw, just clean cuts anywhere you want. In the end that’s how woodworking should feel, free.