Parkside Plunge/Track Saw

[Job and Knock]

the point about 95% chip free is to do with a normal saw having an aperture around 1" wide around the blade so a large unsupported surface both sides where as the track supports one edge reducing the chipping on the other edge

Yes, I quite agree. In reality the cleanness of the cut is as much down to choosing and using the right blade and using a sharp blade, especially on laminated and veneered stock. There are saws such as the Mafell which allow you to do a backwards scoring cut (about 1mm deep) before making the main cut at full depth, but that's a real time waster IMHO and hardly likely to be used in most (trade) situations.

BTW I wasn't trying to take a pop, just pointing out the restrictions imposed by the sort of environment I work in - surely the target market for the original three saws (e.g. Festool, Hilti and Makita although Hilti have backed away somewhat from the plunge market of late possibly due to design/manufacturing flaws in their original plunge saw designs, the WSC255/WSC265).

P.S Add Virutex to the list of Festool-compatible saw rails and saws, and don't the DW saws also run on Festool-compatible tracks?

[big-all]

didnt think you where having a pop at all
as i work alone my chances off comparison are few and far between especially on woodwork only tools
so i bow to your greater all round knowledge

[Dickie]

the biggest advantage off the track saw is mark lay and cut no clamping or farting about

No real farting around with a home made track like Bob's. Just mark the sheet goods you're cutting, clamp on the the line & Bob is a close relative so to speak!
In fact, there's a few advantages in using a home made track; it's cheap, can be made & used with any circular saw, no clipping together of rails & if it gets damaged - you just make a new one.
Most track systems are made from light weight soft aluminium, bend it & it's knackered.

I use my Bob track with my cordless Makita circular saw, no cord to get caught & a thin keft.

Regardless of my comments, the Lidl saw is a bargain......

[big-all]

yes an absolute bargain for a plunge saw without the tracks never mind with

[Rorschach]

the biggest advantage off the track saw is mark lay and cut no clamping or farting about

No real farting around with a home made track like Bob's. Just mark the sheet goods you're cutting, clamp on the the line & Bob is a close relative so to speak!
In fact, there's a few advantages in using a home made track; it's cheap, can be made & used with any circular saw, no clipping together of rails & if it gets damaged - you just make a new one.
Most track systems are made from light weight soft aluminium, bend it & it's knackered.

I use my Bob track with my cordless Makita circular saw, no cord to get caught & a thin keft.

Regardless of my comments, the Lidl saw is a bargain......

Yep I have a track like that I made and use with my Rage saw, works a treat. I'd still like a plunge saw though, mostly for the plunge ability, cutting holes in the middle of boards easily etc and for vertical cuts where the track helps support the weight of the saw.

Check in my local lidl today, wasn't available yet so I assume it's either coming in tonight or they haven't sorted the stock yet.

[BillyGoat]

Had a quick look before my local closed - the shop guy was asked THREE times by different people if the saw was out and could they have one.

I suspect you'll be lucky if you get one tomorrow.

BG

[steviejoiner74]

Our local gets hardly any stock of the nice deals. Plenty flip flops,garden tools and foot pumps,never any stock of tools

[Rorschach]

Had a quick look before my local closed - the shop guy was asked THREE times by different people if the saw was out and could they have one.

I suspect you'll be lucky if you get one tomorrow.

BG

I'll be down at opening time tomorrow and ours usually gets good stock of items, still got plenty of table saws and stuff today. If they don't have any then my partner works next to another store and my mother drives past another on the way home from work so if needed I can get the ladies to go for me :D

[Rorschach]

Well I was there at half 8 and they had plenty in stock at my local :)

[BillyGoat]

I went to my local at around 8:20 (opens at 8). There were 4 on the shelf.

I looked around the store and it was empty. I thought I'll get some breakfast things and then get the saw. Stopped myself and thought - NO, get it now. I know my luck is not the best.

Anyhow, as I walked off, a bloke rocked up to look at them and his mate shown up with a trolly. They put the last three in the box and all the impact drivers and rolled off.

I can see this happening a lot. Got to be worth it for the tracks, let alone the free saw that comes with them!

BG

[Rorschach]

I went to my local at around 8:20 (opens at 8). There were 4 on the shelf.

I looked around the store and it was empty. I thought I'll get some breakfast things and then get the saw. Stopped myself and thought - NO, get it now. I know my luck is not the best.

Anyhow, as I walked off, a bloke rocked up to look at them and his mate shown up with a trolly. They put the last three in the box and all the impact drivers and rolled off.

I can see this happening a lot. Got to be worth it for the tracks, let alone the free saw that comes with them!

BG

Blimey!

I guess with tools like the impact driver they are so cheap they are essentially dispoable, I couldn't buy a new battery for my makita for the cost of the parkside one, if it lasted a year and then got chucked it would still be a bargain.

[BillyGoat]

I went to my local at around 8:20 (opens at 8). There were 4 on the shelf.

I looked around the store and it was empty. I thought I'll get some breakfast things and then get the saw. Stopped myself and thought - NO, get it now. I know my luck is not the best.

Anyhow, as I walked off, a bloke rocked up to look at them and his mate shown up with a trolly. They put the last three in the box and all the impact drivers and rolled off.

I can see this happening a lot. Got to be worth it for the tracks, let alone the free saw that comes with them!

BG

Blimey!

I guess with tools like the impact driver they are so cheap they are essentially dispoable, I couldn't buy a new battery for my makita for the cost of the parkside one, if it lasted a year and then got chucked it would still be a bargain.

I think that's the point - they also have 3 (THREE!!!!) year warranty!

I suspect if you take it into the store after 2 years, the staff don't care if it's a building site use or DIY - they will just give you the money back.

Try taking a tool back to your local tool place or DIY store and they shine a light in your face and give you the 3rd degree interview!

BG

[Puma]

Got mine at 9.30. Only 2 on the shelf, but I think they are putting them out like that so people don't bulk buy? Anyhow it has a splinter guard and adjusters so it runs tight on the rails. Usual kind of sound level for circular saw - slightly quieter if anything. Pretty happy; it will save a lot of time on the DIY I do.

[Rorschach]

Got mine at 9.30. Only 2 on the shelf, but I think they are putting them out like that so people don't bulk buy? Anyhow it has a splinter guard and adjusters so it runs tight on the rails. Usual kind of sound level for circular saw - slightly quieter if anything. Pretty happy; it will save a lot of time on the DIY I do.

Mine is certainly quieter than my Rage circular saw, less of a kick on startup too.

Set the zero stop (it was quite a way off) and adjusted the guides and it runs pretty smooth. Cut quality on contiboard was slightly better than I would usually except from a circ saw so that was nice, depth stop is pretty accurate, just need to add 1-2mm onto the thickness of the material.
Dust extraction is not great, better that my other saw but still too messy for indoor use, I will have to see if I can improve that at all.

In general though I am very happy with my purchase, darn site easier to cut a nice clean line than any other tool I own save maybe the bandsaw.

[Grumbledook]

I managed to grab one, if I had the spare cash I may have got a second one. Only 3 left when I went, looks like they had 6 out given the empty space.

Now to find some time to use it!