Recommend me a BUDGET track saw

[LennyM1984]

I'm building some plywood cabinet doors (a lot of them) and it's a pain using a circular saw with a "guide" (a piece of 3 x 2 I clamp on 45mm from the line I want to cut). A track saw would be much easier...

I don't want to spend a fortune (I have lots of nice tools but this is something that I won't use that much after this job) and so am looking at sub-£200 jobbies.

Does anybody have a recommendation for a cheap one? Screwfix and Toolstation budget options are all out of stock so I was wondering about a cheapo Amazon one?

The only real requirement is that I want tracks for it (ideally a few long ones for cutting 2.4m plywood sheets)

[xstian]

You maybe able to buy an adapter plate for the saw you already have. I have no experience of them though, but maybe worth a look.

[LennyM1984]

xstian said:

You maybe able to buy an adapter plate for the saw you already have. I have no experience of them though, but maybe worth a look.

My circular saw is a bit ancient to be honest...

[RGG]

LIDL

The cutting blade is great

[Harpoon]

Peter Millard has a slightly old (2024) video on options.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQwIFfn95SM

I went for the Einhell which is currently £88 on Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Einhell-4331300-Tool-Free...

Plus a set of the 2.8m long Evo ST2800-G2 tracks. A quick Google has Buyaparcel listing them for £72 at the moment

https://www.buyaparcel.com/evolution-004-0012-st28...

The video above has a short section on the Evo tracks (make sure you get the G2 not the G1 which, IIRC, had orange strips on the top)

{Edit}

I also got a right angle square which is good:

https://shop.evolutionpowertools.com/collections/e...

Edited by Harpoon on Tuesday 6th January 17:29

[LennyM1984]

Harpoon said:

Peter Millard has a slightly old (2024) video on options.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQwIFfn95SM

I went for the Einhell which is currently £88 on Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Einhell-4331300-Tool-Free...

Plus a set of the 2.8m long Evo ST2800-G2 tracks. A quick Google has Buyaparcel listing them for £72 at the moment

https://www.buyaparcel.com/evolution-004-0012-st28...

The video above has a short section on the Evo tracks (make sure you get the G2 not the G1 which, IIRC, had orange strips on the top)

Just been looking at that one. Will bite the bullet and order it

[lufbramatt]

I’ve got an Evolution track saw. It’s been spot on and once the saw is set up square I’m amazed at how accurate you can get the cuts. Built a cabin bed for my daughter with it from 18mm ply and it was great. Have used it to cut oak window boards, worktops etc no issues. One of my mates uses one semi-professionally doing custom furniture and his has lasted well.

Can get bundles with a 2.4m track for £200 on the evolution website.

[Harpoon]

In case you missed my late edit above, the Evo right angle square works well if cutting full sized sheets down. I've only lightly used my setup but been very happy with it so far

https://shop.evolutionpowertools.com/collections/e...

[jimothyc]

I would recommend against the track adapters for existing circular saws. Didn't work well with my Makita and I ended up taking a chunk out of the track.

Ended up with the Einhell and it works well for what it is. Dust extraction is pretty poor though.

[Condi]

Erbauer (Screwfix brand) are really highly rated for what they cost. Mine has done much more than was probably ever expected of it.

[Pheo]

Just a thought - is it worth getting them cut locally - some merchants will do it for you on their large panel saw, etc.

Or, something like CutMy (local to me but ships nationwide).

Just thinking the hassle factor will be alot less with these options and certainly for cutmy, super accurate.

[LennyM1984]

Pheo said:

Just a thought - is it worth getting them cut locally - some merchants will do it for you on their large panel saw, etc.

Or, something like CutMy (local to me but ships nationwide).

Just thinking the hassle factor will be alot less with these options and certainly for cutmy, super accurate.

I've gone ahead and ordered one so I'm committed now!! There's about 35 cabinet doors in total so getting them pre-cut wouldn't be particularly cost effective (or as fun/challenging)

[GasEngineer]

Harpoon said:

The video above has a short section on the Evo tracks (make sure you get the G2 not the G1 which, IIRC, had orange strips on the top)

I may have missed it in the video - what is the issue with the G1 orange strip tracks?

[biggiles]

LennyM1984 said:

I'm building some plywood cabinet doors (a lot of them) and it's a pain using a circular saw with a "guide" (a piece of 3 x 2 I clamp on 45mm from the line I want to cut). A track saw would be much easier...

I think you've ordered one now (and you will love it) but next time - look at making a "sawboard": https://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/Sawboard

Almost as simple as your 3x2, but infinitely more useful and easier to cut to the line.

[fat80b]

biggiles said:

I think you've ordered one now (and you will love it) but next time - look at making a "sawboard": https://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/Sawboard

Almost as simple as your 3x2, but infinitely more useful and easier to cut to the line.

I came to pretty much post this.

I've got a 1m version and a 2.4m version knocked up and use them with a couple of clamps for all sorts..

[WrekinCrew]

RGG said:

LIDL

The cutting blade is great

It's even better with Peter Millard's tweaks. But it's only available a few weeks a year.

[Harpoon]

GasEngineer said:

I may have missed it in the video - what is the issue with the G1 orange strip tracks?

I think he (Peter Millard) did another video but IIRC, the G2 has wider range of compatibility with 3rd party saws.

[LennyM1984]

biggiles said:

I think you've ordered one now (and you will love it) but next time - look at making a "sawboard": https://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/Sawboard

Almost as simple as your 3x2, but infinitely more useful and easier to cut to the line.

That sawboard idea looks great (and I love how simple the design/manufacture is) but it doesn't help me to justify buying more fun new tools

In truth, my circular saw is pretty old now (an old Makita which has served me well) and getting spares has become a bit difficult. I'll undoubtedly find more uses for this track saw so I can pretend that it is a good investment

[gtidriver]

I was going to suggest 2nd hand route. Im going to be selling a load of Bosch stuff, table saw, chop saw, router, drills, vacuum, sanders. Difficult to price up as all great condition but older models. Also a minefield of idiots offering nothing to take them off my hands.

Edited by gtidriver on Wednesday 7th January 12:41