Customer Reviews

DEWALT DWS520CK 6-1/2-Inch 12-AMP TrackSaw Kit with 59-Inch and 102-Inch Track

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have used a Festool TS 55 for a couple of years now. It does a great job and the tool is easy to use. The problem I had on the jobsite was a lack of power. In thick plywoods, high-density fibreboard, or doubled-up, materials the TS 55 just didn't have the power that I was looking for. I considered a TS 75 as a replacement but the Dewalt uses the Festool track and provides similar power for less money. After reading some of the reviews I decided to give the Dewalt a shot. I thought it would be close to my TS 55 in cut quality and it would allow me to get my work done faster. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Dewalt was a better saw in almost every way. In a beauty contest the Festool walks away with the contest but that is where the competition ends. The Dewalt is nicer to use for long periods of time because it vibrates LESS, this was a big surprise. It cruises through the toughest material and the anti-kickback feature makes it safer to use. My Festool did not have that and it sometimes bucked a little in difficult materials. The set-up and ease of use are on par with Festool. The quality of cut is excellent on either the Dewalt or the Festool but if I had to give an nod to one over the other it would be the Dewalt. The added power keeps the blade speed more consistent resulting in smoother cuts. The only regret I have is that my new Dewalt won't fit in the fancy Festool Systainer case.

The saw itself is great. Heavily built and its sturdy. Good fit and finish, nice soft start, and little vibration. I have nothing but positive thoughts on the saw.

The track is junk. The track that came with the saw wasn't flat, the saw rocked as if the track was upside-down 'v' shaped. So it didn't sit flat, with about an 1/8" gap under the saw depending on which side you leaned it. And yes, I adjusted the guides correctly. I had a replacement track sent and it sat flat but the dewalt clamps wouldn't slide on it. They'd get an inch in and then bind. So I tried the clamps on the original piece of track and they wouldn't work either.

I returned the saw for the Festool. Very nice track. If you want the dewalt saw, just get the tool only and buy festool tracks for it. They are more heavily built unlike the flimsy/warped/poorly formed dewalt tracks. Bottom line, great saw, junk track system.

I have been a wood worker for many years out of a small work shop. I bought this saw about a year ago to trim the edge of an 11 ft. table that I was building, it did every thing it said it would and more. I can cut plywood and the formica on counter tops with out any chipping at all. Next to my table saw I love this one the most.

Ive used my track saw to make several cuts in 3/4" plywood. The saw itself is great, the plunge action is very smooth and the included blade makes VERY smooth cuts even though it is not a blade specific to plywood finish cuts (no noticeable tear out). Depth setting is pretty easy but standing on the waste side and trying to loosen the knob can be annoying, it would have been nice to make it a quick release style rather then twist.

The track system keeps the saw in perfect alignment and with the zero cut clearance edge it is easy to line up exactly where the cut will be made.

Main properties that are great:
Easy plunge action.
Zero cut clearance ease of use.
Very clean cut even on plywood.
Even someone like me can make a straight cut now down an 4 and 8 foot sheet.
Depth setting pretty obvious (havent measured accuracy)

Main propeties that are not so great:
Twist knob on depth setting could be better.
Accessories are not included and are fairly overpriced.
Vacuum port must be turned inward (to track direction) to put away, which put its in the way during use so it must be angled back out.
Blade availability limited (Ive read the Festool blades will fit the DeWalt without modification).

After fighting full sheets of plywood through a jobsite table saw this thing is worth its weight in gold. Some may say that the festool is better but for a couple hundred bucks less for a complete kit the Dewalt is the way to go. The only thing I have found so far is that when you connect 2 pieces of track together there is a little bit of lip on one of the tracks but if you hold it down as the saw starts to go over the that portion of track then it is resolved.If you wrestle full sheets of plywood you will love it. Edge joints lumber great too.

I do all my own home remodeling, and own nothing but DeWalt power tools to help me do the quality work I want to achieve. I'm an engineer by profession, and I'll labor over a piece of trim until it fits so snug I don't need to nail it in! It seems like I'm always needing to make lengthwise cuts in plywood sheets: laying down new flooring in my attic, plywood panels for the attic ceiling and knee walls, and re-sheeting the garage walls as well. I'm not very good with a circular saw, in fact I designed my own track saw to help me make these long cuts, but it was bulky and limited in how it could be used.

Then I saw the DeWalt TrackSaw system on Amazon.com and purchased it instantly. Not only does Amazon.com shop the best price for you, you're buying a quality saw system. This Dewalt TrackSaw system is one of the nicest and most enjoyable tools I've ever purchased. It makes 96" long accurate cuts beautifully.

So what's it like to use? It's rugged yet lightweight. The saw starts smoothly and winds down to a stop quietly and quickly. It sits flat on its base when not in use since the blade retracts fully into its guard. It plunges smoothly, the saw pivot points and pivot arm are extremely stout, as a homeowner you'll never be able to abuse it. The plunge depth is easy to set, you'll appreciate this going from 1/8" thk paneling to 3/4" thk plywood. The variable speed is a fantastic feature, glad DeWalt included it. The saw guides have slack adjustment so that you can set up the tightness of your running clearance to the aluminum track - you're in control of your own accuracies. Lastly, the saw guard (for once) does an effective job of allowing the sawdust to be vacuumed away (1-1/4" dia hose), unlike a circular saw that seems built to generate sawdust. It's so easy to make straight cuts, you'll be proud and amazed of the abilities you gain from this system.

Here are some tips that may be helpful:

To set up your saw track, you have to make one initial cut to trim a clean straight edge along either edge of the black plastic edge guides. Both edges are available but I just trimmed one edge for now. Once you trim that particular edge, it's not obvious from the other edge that it was trimmed, so indicate the edge you trimmed by placing masking tape or something towards that edge, between the saw slides, so that you always know which is your true trimmed edge. You'll then find you can line up that edge right up to where you want to make a cut, and it will flush cut that cut for all of 96" long or otherwise. It's your straight-edge and saw in one step.

The DeWalt clamps sold separately to clamp the aluminum track to the work piece need a good 12" of clearance under the work piece, which is fine if you're up on saw horses or a work bench. I made my first cuts on a full sheet of plywood propped up on 2x4's, and what I found is a simple set of strong spring clamps were adequate to hold the track in place while needing little clearance to secure them. Clamp the opposite edge of the aluminum track from your cut edge, but maintain clearance for the saw to slide past these clamps. I can clamp about 3/8" onto the edge of the track, and it stays in place. Some shallow C-clamps would work as well.

Do you have any doors in your house that fit tight? This track saw is more perfect than any other tool you own to take care of that. You can clamp the track to make a parallel or tapered cut the full length of the door, and you can cut a taper starting at 0" wide and taper it to say 1/16" at the full length of the door. So keep in mind the capability of this track saw allows "trimming" of edges as well, to achieve more precise fits.

There is nothing to this saw system that should discourage anyone from considering purchasing it. This DeWalt track saw is an excellent design, it has exceeded my very particular needs. I'm not convinced I need to be wishing I had any other brand of track saw. This saw upped my woodworking capabilities from the day I started using it, it's opened up my creative ideas to what else I can now make and build. The saw and tracks retain their new looks, store and handle your tracks with care, regard them as the precision equipment you are buying them for, and you'll come to appreciate DeWalt's efforts in these track saw packages!

I have been a huge DeWalt fan for years now. I am always first in line to get my hands on their latest and greatest. I am happy I decided to try a buddy's out before I dropped the money on one of these for myself. I think it is a good tool with a few flaws that I am sure DeWalt will work out in the future. The biggest short coming is in the price. When I heard that DeWalt was releasing a track saw I my mouth started watering. I saw the price and I didn't bat an eye. Looked reasonable enough until I dug a little deeper. For the $499 price point I would like to see the clamps and right angle adaptor included. By the time you get the saw, an track extension, and everything you need to get the job done you are into this thing $700. Not quite the bang for my buck I am looking for.

With that being said the saw works well, a pretty cut nearly every time. I love the soft start and how smooth the saw rides on the track. The cuts looked like factory edge and required very little clean up. You must put the track pieces together very carefully or the saw can have a tendency to bind at the joints. Overall I think I will wait to see the Makita version that is going to be released before I commit to buying one of these for myself. I hate to say it but I feel a little let down due to DeWalt price this time around.

Update: Well I went down to my local Woodcraft to pick one of these up and ended up walking out the door with the Festool instead. I have had my TS55 for about 2 weeks now and don't know how I ever lived without it. If you are in the market for a track saw do yourself a favor and look at the Festool as well. For the same money it is IMO a better tool. If the DeWalt comes down in price it would at least get in the running but can't beat the Festool head on.

I bought the dewalt saw and have returned it for the Festool TS75. Festool is twice the saw and twice the quality of cut even if you are just cutting roof sheathing. With one connection point on the rails, the edge lifts up and prohibits the saw from making a smooth transition between rails. In a tool category that demands precision and accuracy, Festool's quality clearly outshines the competition here.

The good: Saw makes splinter free cuts as advertised. Operation is much safer and easier than using a table saw.

The bad: Accessories are way overpriced. Track connector is poorly designed and connected tracks do not align well. The arbor is 20mm and you can't find 6 1/2 inch blades with that size arbor. You are forced to buy DeWalt's ridiculously priced $60 replacement blade. BUT I found a way around this! See below.

To get around the 20mm arbor blade ripoff, buy a step drill bit (unfortunately, I could only find one with metric delineations and it is made by guess who - DeWalt. I got it for $48 on Ebay) Then buy a typically priced $10 blade with a 5/8 inch bore and drill out a 20mm hole. Very simple and works fine. Now you can make as many 20mm bore blades as you want.

If you are one of our competitors in the building construction industry, then DO NOT BUY THIS TOOL! if you're just an average Joe looking to buy an incredibly awesome time saving saw, then you will want this. Never a table saw again!