Track saw

Suggest or recommend suitable tools for use in constructing your model railway.
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Steve M
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Track saw

#1

Post by Steve M »

Have just treated myself to a new track saw. Only a cheap one from B&Q but ideal for making dead straight cuts in sheet materials.
The best part is it hardly cost me a penny - a combination of some Christmas money and vouchers from the ONS Covid testing scheme.
Already put to good use, first of all to make a cross cut jig and then a slim drawer to fit under my painting bench for additional paint storage, but more of that once it’s been installed later in the week.
"Not very stable, but incredibly versatile." ;)
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Walkingthedog
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Re: Track saw

#2

Post by Walkingthedog »

I thought you meant for cutting track. Doh!

Brilliant tool aren’t they. I inherited mine from my son.
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twalton1145
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Re: Track saw

#3

Post by twalton1145 »

Steve M wrote: Sun Jan 09, 2022 3:37 pm Have just treated myself to a new track saw. Only a cheap one from B&Q but ideal for making dead straight cuts in sheet materials.
The best part is it hardly cost me a penny - a combination of some Christmas money and vouchers from the ONS Covid testing scheme.
Already put to good use, first of all to make a cross cut jig and then a slim drawer to fit under my painting bench for additional paint storage, but more of that once it’s been installed later in the week.
Could you possibly show a link, Steve?
Ted
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Walkingthedog
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Re: Track saw

#4

Post by Walkingthedog »

This sort of thing


Image
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Steve M
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Re: Track saw

#5

Post by Steve M »

Happy to oblige Ted.
I’ve been viewing some YouTube clips from a guy by the name of Peter Millard - he has produced a series of tutorials on track saws which I found useful.
I also upgraded the blade on this one to a 40tooth version from Screwfix.

https://www.diy.com/departments/mac-all ... 579_BQ.prd

This one is fully compatible with the Makita in Brian’s photo so I may treat myself to some of their clamps and guides in time.
"Not very stable, but incredibly versatile." ;)
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Walkingthedog
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Re: Track saw

#6

Post by Walkingthedog »

It is the first time ever that I managed to cut in a straight line. Me and my dad could cut a curve with our eyes shut. Ah perhaps we should have had them open.
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twalton1145
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Re: Track saw

#7

Post by twalton1145 »

Thanks Steve.
Ted
Tricky Dicky
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Re: Track saw

#8

Post by Tricky Dicky »

Steve M wrote: Sun Jan 09, 2022 3:37 pm Have just treated myself to a new track saw. Only a cheap one from B&Q but ideal for making dead straight cuts in sheet materials.
The best part is it hardly cost me a penny - a combination of some Christmas money and vouchers from the ONS Covid testing scheme.
Already put to good use, first of all to make a cross cut jig and then a slim drawer to fit under my painting bench for additional paint storage, but more of that once it’s been installed later in the week.
A good investment for the track saw is a rail square that attaches to the track for making perfect right angle cuts, got one for my Makita SP6000 from these people and it produces perfect crosscuts. Its a bit pricey but you may find cheaper ones elsewhere.

https://benchdogs.co.uk/collections/rai ... re-festool

Richard
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Steve M
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Re: Track saw

#9

Post by Steve M »

Thanks Richard, I had looked at those and if I were in the ‘trade’ I would probably go down that route. For my purposes, I made a crosscut jig based on one I saw in the videos I mentioned - the cost was a small sheet of 12mm MDF.
Used it to cut the timber for the desk drawer - probably some of the neatest carpentry I have ever achieved! That’s a fairly low bar though. :D
I will change the drawer runners though, bought the short ones but now it’s all assembled it really needs something longer. Remember - measure once, cut twice? Well I didn’t measure them at all. :o
"Not very stable, but incredibly versatile." ;)
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Re: Track saw

#10

Post by sandy »

Seems a lot of money to spend on a job that can be done with a 4ft level a pencel & tape measure. :D
Sandy
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