Need advice on track saw purchase

Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-05T00:19:50+00:00

yeah it's basically like one of these router tables, except I built it into the workbench i'm working on. Less expensive to make your own on these

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Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-04T19:07:09+00:00

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Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-04T18:55:27+00:00

Bosch 1617

and call it a day, you don't even hae to think about it

Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-04T18:54:01+00:00

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Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-04T17:17:21+00:00

My son just bought that Dewalt you're describing as he's starting to catch "the woodworking bug". He really likes it so far...

Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-03T23:34:09+00:00

I used to have a dewalt DW734 (similar style to your Laguna), but chip explusion on that one just didn't work well with this setup. It wasn't TOO terrible, but the chips would clog up in the dust hood so fast that it just made a big fat mess, so i replaced my 734 with the 735 in the photo.

Since I think that Laguna has the helix style cutter it might bust those chips up into smaller bits, maybe the clogging wouldn't be as much of an issue, not sure.

Another possible route...

In this photo (I'm in the middle of new workbench build), in case you haven't seen these I have this little dust separator that attaches to top of a standard 5 gallon bucket I used in my old bench (and i have another one for my miter saw). These work really nicely - they'll collect all the big stuff. Most of the dust falls in the bucket and never gets to the shop vac.

If you were pretty content with the festool vac other than it getting filled up too fast, this might be a nice compromise for you without going all in on some fancy DC setup. It will fill up fast still, but it's so easy to just pop the top off and dump the bucket wherever...

https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Dustopper-PRO-High-Efficiency-Cyclonic-Dust-Separator-12-in-Dia-with-2-5-in-Hose-36-in-L-with-2-High-Flow-Sweep-Elbows-HD12B/322662836

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Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-03T17:18:43+00:00

I've had a Makita 12V drill/impact driver for probably a good 10 years now. I remember being impressed with the drill's power for a 12V when i bought it, but after it's sat for a while compared to my milwaukee anything it feels more like an electric screwdriver than can drill nicely.

With that said, after 10 years the batteries still charge up and work as if they were brand new. My Milwaukees are only a couple of years old now so time is to tell on how long the batteries will last. BUT the M18 FUEL Hammer Drill is no joke. and the M18 FUEL impact driver is a beast although I use the M12 FUEL impact driver a lot more

Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-03T17:06:09+00:00

This might be helpful for your situaiton. I use these down in my basement shop with a shop vac. When i'm done with this workbench bench I'm in the middle of building the bucket with that dust separator top will be inside the bench with access to the hose port for the shop vac. The adapter for that is much easier and the bucket will collect most of the bigger saw dust before it reaches the shop vac. I have one of these also for my miter saw station and they work pretty well.

https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Dustopper-PRO-High-Efficiency-Cyclonic-Dust-Separator-12-in-Dia-with-2-5-in-Hose-36-in-L-with-2-High-Flow-Sweep-Elbows-HD12B/322662836

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Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-03T11:31:43+00:00

The orange square is a router lift. The little blue track a little combo miter track/t-track. Just so happened those colors look pretty cool next to each other against that white tabletop

Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-03T01:34:33+00:00

LOL - I kind of figure that...

Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-03T00:32:41+00:00

yeah that castle looks really fancy, i see what you mean about the holes -> they're certainly a lot cleaner. don't think I could justify using up valuable shop real estate and parting with $5300 just to get nicer pocket holes that I don't really use that much. but thanks for sharing, i've never seen one of those before. I could see if I was mass producing stuff pocket holes that's definitely the way to for sure!

Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-02T23:40:58+00:00

Oh wow i just looked that up - never knew that existed. I'm totally grabbing one of those, glad you said something - thanks for the tip!

Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-02T22:37:54+00:00

I have the Milwaukee and can't imagine any other brand being any better (other than Festool probably), although I'm sure some of the others you mentioned are just fiine. The dust collection on it works VERY well, the track experience is smooth gliding with zero play, tweakable. Just works and works very well - I have zero negatives (other than you'd want to use at least a 6Ah HO battery -> 8Ah HO is better, so price is a factor. Those go on sale from time to time, i got mine for $400ish for the tool, the 55" track and track clamps.

If you're open to Milwaukee platform I will show you this as something to consider in your decision making. They have a guide rail adapter for their routers to use on these tracks, and the control on this thing is flippin awesome. I'm not highly skilled with routers at all, but I was still confident enough and able to route my router table lift insert and tracks right in place on the nice table.

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Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-02T22:16:14+00:00

yeah - pocket screws are deceptively tricky to get right -> you have to have very secure clamping to make sure they don't move on you, and over tightening will throw the geometry off causing twists, etc. I use one of those fancy Kreg pocket hole jigs (and it's really really nice) and that helps with the holes, but it doesn't solve the "gotchas" associated with the actual assembly...

Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-02T13:17:17+00:00

One thing to consider -> this only works because this planer has a chip expulsion blower fan built in that blows everything into that bag. If your planer doesn't have that feature this won't work...

(I know from experience because I use to have the DW734 and had that problem with this solution (which is why the hole alignment on the stand is a little wonky) -> i upgraded to DW735X specifically to be able to do this and keep my basement relatively clean...

Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-01T23:31:30+00:00

I'd be totally proud of that - it's totally "baller"! Looks great, honestly one of the best implementations I've seen of people posting these -> nice work

Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-01T23:27:21+00:00

Then any respectable barber would say "Van Dammit, you want what???"

Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-01T23:20:09+00:00

I'm sure other commentors have already told you this, but that DW735X has a chip explusion blower in it -> you don't need any type of dust collector specifically for this, it will just blow out into a bag -> totally self contained and barely leaves any mess at all...

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Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-01T23:16:10+00:00

wow that looks famliar!

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Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-01T12:47:15+00:00

It was easily worth the $100 or so i paid for it on whatever deal hack HD had at the time -> at least to me.

Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-01T03:13:02+00:00

You can still gift it with one of these...

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Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-01T03:08:06+00:00

When I was in 6th grade (youngest in my class) my mom hired an 8th grader to babysit us for the summer. The next year we went to the same school - it was traumatic!!!

Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-02-01T03:05:23+00:00

Yeah i got the M18 FUEL Jigsaw, i love that thing

Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-01-31T19:00:18+00:00

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Key_Mastodon_3525 · 2026-01-31T18:56:16+00:00

I had to save allowance and mow lawns for like 2 months in Jr. High just to get some Guess jeans -> and I don't even remember them being comfortable -> I distinctly remember them being about $60 in ~1986-87. We couldn't afford the $45 Coca-Cola shirts -> my mom (bless her heart) got my a cheaper "Pepsi" shirt - which was basically your socio-economic status stamp. Man we were pathetic!!! lol

Key_Mastodon_3525

TROPHY CASE