A track saw is one of the most popular DIY tools in the market for woodworkers. These powerful tools make it easy to cut and design through the wood. With track saws, you can cut straight lines through sheet materials, trim doors, and floors. The best part? It leaves smooth and finished edges. Even Homemakerguide recommends using a track saw for creating great products from wood.
Let’s have a look at a few track saw tips for beginners.
Choosing the Blade
The first step towards selecting a track saw is selecting the right blade as per your needs. You can read track saw reviews to get a better idea of which has a better edge. Make sure you choose the right blade as per your needs. If you are working with melamine with plywood, then it is recommended to use a sword with 48 teeth. Otherwise, a module with 14 teeth would be sufficient.
Adjust Cutting Depth
The next step would be to adjust the cutting depth. When adjusting the cutting depth, it is recommended to consider how deeply you want the blade to cut. If you are looking forward to cutting through the wood, make sure that the cutting depth of the blade is more than 1/8 inches. At the same time, make sure that the depth isn’t too deep that it hinders the accuracy. This will increase the risk of blade damage. Also, it increases the chances of kickbacks, which can hurt you.
Create Track Rails
One of the most promising benefits of a track saw is that it lets you use a guide rail with it. This will help you cut a perfectly straight line on materials, such as ply, melamine, doors, and windows.
How to start the tool?
In order to start the track saw, you need to enable both the power trigger and the plunge release. Start by hitting the plunge to extend the blade from the tool’s housing. The next step would be to activate the motor by pressing the trigger. Once you have pressed both the switches, the track saw will get activated. Now you can start working on the woodworking project.
Using the Track Saw
Don’t start using a track saw as soon as it gets started. It is advisable to let it reach the desired pace. If you don’t let it reach the desired pace, it can damage your art and even cause the tool to kick back, resulting in injury. Once you feel that it has reached its maximum speed, start cutting the wood. This will help you cut the wood quickly, cleanly, and more accurately.
Setting up a Festool Track Saw
While there are lots of companies manufacturing track saws, one of the best manufacturers is Festool. The best part about the Festool track saw is that it can be operated easily. Also, the Festool track saw can be fitted onto the guide rail easily.
All you need to do is tighten the fit and watch the track saw cut the wood. However, make sure that you don’t overtight, otherwise, it will increase the friction and resistance between the saw and track. As soon as you have found the perfect fit, it’s time to trim the splinter guard.
Changing the Blade on a Track Saw
While there are tons of companies that manufacture track saws that are easy to use, it is essential to learn how to change the blade. Though different models require different techniques, the basics of changing the blade are the same. You can easily swap the blades in a matter of seconds.
All you need to do is expose the blade using the plunge mechanism. You can then eliminate the arbor bolt. You can then add new blades to the track saw. In the end, tighten the arbor bolt.
Conclusion
Using a track saw is not difficult. All you need to do is choose the right blade, adjust the blade depth, and create track rails. The next step would be to start the tool and use it. Remember, don’t use it until the track saw has reached the desired speed.
