SS Tracksaw

[jda]

I still would like for someone to be able to tell me how these products are better than my straight edge on a board?

~the anti-chip edges help prevent splintering

~ Dino's "deadwood" concept

~ EZ smart table, as simple as it is, provides expandable support for the material. You could always find other things to support your material, but this is very convenient.

[bigjohn1]

~the anti-chip edges help prevent splintering

~ Dino's "deadwood" concept

~ EZ smart table, as simple as it is, provides expandable support for the material. You could always find other things to support your material, but this is very convenient.

Thanks jda for the info added I'm sure it will help educate here about what a track can do or become not just a straight edge of coarse this is a no brainer fix and has been out for years in many versions. Its the bridge and ripsizer and all the parts that make the system just like the multi tool shopsmith can do more with less space takin up of your shop or work area. So for all the need to find out what this is all about and not shot the messenger head over to Eurekazone and compare for yourself don't cut it up just have a look around and watch some video. Its not hard to cut up things you don't understand and also we know its hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Like when shopsmith came out many years ago ahead of the field Eurekazone and the dead wood concept is the future. So If this forum is about tools and there use along with how to use your shopsmith have a look and then judge for yourself then you will see i'm not just a fanboy or over zelous customer or even a miss informer OMG that one kills me I guess that comes from years back. So without throwing stones at me just have a look be informed.

[tool72]

I still would like for someone to be able to tell me how these products are better than my straight edge on a board?

There are contractors who make cabinets using veneered sheet goods. Using a tracksaw it's easily cut to exact size and is then ready for gluing.

If your method lets you go from a saw cut to gluing up with no jointing or sanding the cut edges then why change?

This is the #1 question people have when first looking at a trac saw
1- when using a edge guide you must measure the offset between the blade and the edge of the saw plate and then factor that into the measurment of your cut. Sounds easy but many woodworkers we talk to tell us they use the edge guide to get it close then finish with a 2nd cut on the table saw. With a track saw your anti chip edge is matched to your saw and by placing the anti chip edge on your mark your dead on- it's fast, easy and accurate

2- elminate chip out- When cutting sheet goods we learn good side down because of tear out as the blade comes up through the wood. What happenes on a bookcase when both sides must be good? The anti chip edges that we use on the trac and the saw plate gives you a true 0 clearence insert that eliminates chipout on both sides of the blade as wellas the top side even when crosscutting oak plywood

3- Narrow cuts- If anyone has tried to trim a narrow cut of off a sheet of ply you realize how difficult it is to maintain control of your saw when most of it is unsupported. Try trimming a 1/2" off the bottom of a door. With your track saw the saw is supported and guided by the trac. The easy and speed with top results is why so many pros are switching to trc saws

4- Ripping dimensional lumber- Try to use an edge guide and circular saw to rip a 1"x4" in half. When ripping narrow stock with a trac saw(when the stock is narrower then the trac) simply place a 2nd board the same thickness next to the board you are cutting, place the trac on top and you are ready to cut

I could keep going with many more examples,but it is safe to say you will use your trac saw for much more then breaking down sheet goods, and the more you use it the more use's you will find

[dusty]

I'll try to answer this question. The best one is the one that fits your needs!

In my opinion, a straight edge is a straight edge, as long as it is straight!

If a straight edge is used as a guide for sawing/routing/scoring/etc. it is a often called a saw guide.

If the saw guide has a feature that holds the saw/router/ or other tool from wandering away from the guide = it is called a tracksaw (I think )

If a woodworker uses either a straight edge or a saw guide or a track saw to mill straight lines successfully then there is none of these any better than the others. In my opinion! The best one is the one that better fits the needs of the user.

Some folks prefer to use a multi dollar tool to do what can be done with hand tools. This choice is clearly up to them.

If a contractor thinks he can save $ by using an expensive tool and thereby save customers $. He should choose the more expensive tool. If a hobby wood worker likes the expensive tool (or brand of tool), he/she should use it, if affordable.

Final thought as it applies to my shop - a straight edge is a straight edge. I have one especially made for drywall installation. You've seen my saw guide in a previous post.

I think your question has already been answered but I have two bits to throw in anyhow.

There is no straight edge that is any better than the one you already have unless you want something else. About the only characteristic, other than straight, that must be typical of your straight edge is that it is long enough and you have a means to secure it in place.

For a very long time all I used was another piece of plywood, MDF or masonite.

In the beginning, I used c-clamps. I now use two spring clamps that I really like.

After watching the router boys, I have added a small rubber faced hammer for "fine tuning" the straight edge location.

[ycfdino]

Festool designed & patented the first track saw back in the mid 1960&#8217] Dino studied Festool and designed a better system. We studied Festool, DeWalt, Makita, & EZ and developed a better system. I want to emphasize that we have carefully studied all of the relevant patents and our design does not infringe upon anybody’s patents, including Dino’s. [/B]

.

I don't like to be called a copycat.
I never studied how other systems work.
I don't even do patent searches to see how I can go around excisting designs. I Invented all ez tools and the new ez product line that is under contract with over 4000 stores worldwide.

If this is how you design products

( we have all studied all of the existing designs and tried to improve on them when we developed our designs)

good luck with future offerings...
waiting to see what else you can twist and make it better ( in your mind) instead of inventing real solutions.

ycfdino
eurekazone

[Ed in Tampa]

My, Oh My! I've never seen such ado about a straight edge! Maybe if "they" would make it "micro adjustable" it would attract even more attention.

Here's mine - even partly aluminum:) and it is even micro adjustable! Just tap one end with a hammer!!!

P.S. got the design from a woodworking Magazine where copying was encouraged:)
[ATTACH]13879[/ATTACH]

Chuck
You are fortunate in that the left side of your saw base is apparently parallel to your blade. I have never had a circular saw where that was true within tolerances usually used to align tablesaws.

The big advantage of the tracksaw system and Ez guide is guide plate can be installed on the saw perfectly parallel to the blade. They don't require the base of the saw to be anything more than a holder.

Also while I don't know about the tracksaw system but with EZguide, Festool, Dewalt and Makita you have tearout prevention in place. That is like using a zero clearance face plate on a tablesaw.

Lastly I don't know what yours weights but when I built on like it, it was a pain in the rump to store and more around.

[SDSSmith]

I had used home made tracks and clamp guides for a number of years. I wanted to upgrade to a guided tool system (tool trapped on rail) and wanted to use my own tools. I opted for the Eurekazone EZ smart system. The system has worked great for my uses (breaking down sheet goods, routing panels, building cabinets, etc.). As noted by others the True-Track has many similar features to the EZ system, so I would expect the results to be similar to my results.

I must say that I feel that I am working more safely with the guided tools. The improved accuracy and reduced chipout are added benefits. I would encourage folks to take a look at these systems (True-Track, EZ, etc.). Besides the Shopsmith special pricing on the True-Track, Eurekazone has announced a 30% off (and possibly free shipping on orders over $100) starting next Monday. I plan to pick up a few accessories to compliment what I have already.

YMMV;)

[dickg1]

I may be the only one, and all may care less, but this thread has lost my attention. I watched both videos. One used a real saw, the other used drawings. I thought the real saw video was a REAL demonstration. I then read a message from the inventor of the drawing saw video who stated that his product is available from 4000 outlets, worldwide. I guess this results from a video that uses drawings. Who the hell cares!
If you believe that the product ShopSmith is offering, is worth your investment and you can use it, BUY IT!
This entire thread truely appears to be a competitive marketing effort to discredit the offered product. Use your own judgement and spend your dollars as you, and only you see fit. That's if you even see fit.
But gees guys, ENOUGH!!!!
Dick

[bigjohn1]

I may be the only one, and all may care less, but this thread has lost my attention. I watched both videos. One used a real saw, the other used drawings. I thought the real saw video was a REAL demonstration. I then read a message from the inventor of the drawing saw video who stated that his product is available from 4000 outlets, worldwide. I guess this results from a video that uses drawings. Who the hell cares!
If you believe that the product ShopSmith is offering, is worth your investment and you can use it, BUY IT!
This entire thread truely appears to be a competitive marketing effort to discredit the offered product. Use your own judgement and spend your dollars as you, and only you see fit. That's if you even see fit.
But gees guys, ENOUGH!!!!
Dick

Dick I'm not sure why you even comment If you don't care and really the video you picked to watch from EZ is only one done in sketchup just to show what can be done with the program there are a 100 videos on you tube and other places. But you are right people do have a choice. One thing I must say for some that live here at the shopsmith forum If you never heard of EZ or Eurekazone before you have now and thats good for all concered.
But please don't make a comment If you don't have the facts I think this is good info for all and again you can change the page. Would have never commented but you brought up the video thing look deeper dang.

[jcraigie]

I still would like for someone to be able to tell me how these products are better than my straight edge on a board?

There are contractors who make cabinets using veneered sheet goods. Using a tracksaw it's easily cut to exact size and is then ready for gluing.

If your method lets you go from a saw cut to gluing up with no jointing or sanding the cut edges then why change?

Ok, I'm not a cabinet maker and don't know any better so I'll go with this one.