I finally switched from a miter saw to a track saw for framing

After busting my back hauling a 12-inch miter saw up three flights of stairs in Austin last month, I went with a $350 track saw instead and cut my setup time in half, though the plunge cut took some getting used to anyone else tried this for rough work?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_oscar1mo ago

Have you actually tried framing with a track saw for any real length of time though? I mean, it sounds great on paper but I think you're giving up a lot of accuracy for that lighter setup. The plunge cut is fine for sheet goods but for framing lumber with any kind of twist or bow you'll be fighting the track alignment constantly... Miter saws just lock in that angle way more solidly unless you're spending big money on a track system. And half the time with a track saw you're setting up the track and measuring twice anyway, which kinda eats into that setup time savings.

logan2361mo ago

Man I gotta push back on that one. I've been using a track saw for framing rough lumber with knots and twists for a couple years now and it's not nearly as bad as you're making it sound. Yeah you get a wonky 2x4, you just set the track on the good side of the board and clamp it down tight, then cut. No fighting the track alignment if you take two seconds to check your clamp placement. Miter saws are great for repetition but I've nailed more studs with a 1/16" off because the blade wandered on a bowed piece of lumber than I ever have with the track saw. I'd take the extra 10 seconds of setting up a track over fighting a miter saw that doesn't have enough depth to cut a 2x8 on a 45 anyway. Different strokes I guess but I've been hitting dead nuts more consistently with this setup.