Professional carpenters tend to have many types of saws in their workshop – but if you’re a keen DIYer or hobbyist woodworker, budget or space restrictions might mean you need to choose: track saw vs table saw.
There are similarities between these tools – both options are among the easiest ways to get straight cuts with a circular saw blade. However, you’ll also find important differences between the two, and using the most appropriate option will contribute to the safety, ease and success of your projects.
This article is here to help you choose the right type of saw for your projects: track saw or table saw. Read on for expert advice provided by a saw brand and a power tool retailer, plus some recommended tools of each type.
Article continues below
Evolution Power Tools is a Sheffield-based tool brand, specialising in electric cutting tools including track saws and table saws. As Head of D2C Marketing, James Curran shares Evolution’s cutting knowhow with a broad audience of DIYers, craft hobbyists and professionals.
Table saws
A table saw has a fixed circular blade, which is mounted into a table that provides a worksurface to rest your workpiece (e.g. a wooden board). These tools incorporate a fence and mitre gauge to help guide your cuts.
“The blade sticks up through a flat tabletop surface and cuts material being passed across it – so instead of moving the saw through the material, you push the material through the blade,” says James Curran, head of D2C marketing at Evolution Power Tools. “
“Table saws can make long, straight, accurate cuts (rip cuts) in timber or in sheet materials like plywood, MDF or OSB. They produce consistent repeated cuts and handle crosscuts with a mitre gauge or sliding table.”
Shop table saws
This high-spec table saw from Evolution has built-in dust extraction and a 1,800W motor.
If you have a lot of wood to cut for your DIY projects, an affordable table saw like this Titan model could be a better choice than a regular circular saw.
A cordless table saw is a great choice for users who do not have a mains power outlet in their workspace, or who want to use their saw outdoors conveniently.
Track saws
A track saw is a portable type of circular saw, mounted on an aluminium guide rail.
“Unlike a standard circular saw that is guided by hand, the track saw locks onto its rail to produce perfectly straight, splinter-free cuts,” says Curran.
“They can work on the floor, on a workbench or on-site, and you can use them to make long, clean, precise straight cuts, or make plunge cuts in the middle of a panel.”
In many cases, a standard circular saw can be converted into a track saw when used with a compatible track accessory.
Shop track saws
Track saws are an excellent option for plunge cutting, as is the case with this Erbauer model.
When purchasing a track saw, check the specs to ensure the track(s) provide enough cutting length. This Scheppach model comes with 700mm tracks.
Some standard circular saws, such as this model, can be used as a track saw when combined with a compatible track (sold separately).
Which is better: track saw or table saw?
Precision and finish
Either a track saw or a table saw can cut precisely with a very good finish. Which is best largely comes down to the workpieces you’re cutting (as well as your cutting technique).
Table saws are particularly effective at neatly cutting smaller pieces – although you must take great care while guiding the workpiece towards the blade. Meanwhile, track saws are regarded as a good choice for making long cuts with clean edges. “Their anti‑splinter strips and fine‑tooth blades give very clean cuts with less tear-out, which makes them great for cutting kitchen worktops, plywood and laminate panels,” says Curran.
Winner: it depends what you’re cutting
Power and speed
If you have some repetitive woodworking tasks on your hands and you’d like to maximise the power and speed of cutting, then a table saw is likely your best bet.
“They are typically more powerful than track saws, and their larger motors and higher torque make them better for repeated heavy ripping,” says Curran.
“Table saws are faster and more consistent for cutting cabinetry or furniture, and for ripping long boards such as hardwoods or construction timber.”
Of course a good track saw will still be far quicker than alternatives such as a handheld saw or even an ordinary circular saw.
Winner: table saw
Power Tool World is a family-owned power tool brand based in Newton Aycliffe. Founded in 1998, the company is now among the UK's leading tool retailers. As Procurement Director, Dave Prime is well-versed in a wide range of tools including table saws and track saws.
Ease of use
Using either a table saw or a track saw is achievable for many DIYers, but Dave Prime, procurement director at Power Tool World, believes that track saws are best for beginners. “They edge the table saw in terms of ease of use and safety, and they make it easier to get a higher quality finish to your work,” he says.
“Track saws require minimal set up, whereas a table saw will take more time to set up and adjust. There is also a safety element as the table saw has an exposed blade that requires guards and demands better technique.”
It’s worth bearing in mind that a table saw will take up far more space in your workshop (or shed!) than a track saw would. “Table saws are obviously bulkier and they’re usually designed to be the centrepiece of your workshop, whereas track saws are more portable,” says Prime.
Curran adds that with a table saw, “there’s worse risk when the saw is used incorrectly, due to the exposed blade”.
Winner: track saw
Versatility
With either a track saw or a table saw, the size and material of the blade arguably has a greater impact on versatility than the type of saw. The larger the blade is, the thicker the material it can cut, while multi-material blades open up the possibility of cutting materials such as steel and aluminium, as well as wood.
With that said, one type of saw is definitely superior to the other when it comes to cutting wide workpieces. “Track saws are the more versatile choice for sheet materials,” says Curran, “They’re perfect for cutting down large boards such as full 8 x 4 (2,440 x 1,220mm) sheets, which you wouldn’t be able to manoeuvre over a table saw without using extensions.”
Winner: track saw
Which saw should you choose?
“Buying the right saw is one of the more considered decisions you’ll make when kitting out your workspace or jobsite, and a lot of the time it comes down to specific applications,” says Prime. “Think carefully about the material you’re going to be cutting, and the types of cut you need to make before purchasing. Table saws are generally more suited to repeat cuts whereas track saws tend to be used for more unique cuts.”
Both track saws and table saws have their benefits. If you can spare the money and space, and if you do a lot of DIY or craft (especially carpentry), then it might be worthwhile having both of these tools handy for your projects.
If you’re only going to buy one of these types of saws, here are our recommendations:
Buy a track saw if…
- You’d prefer the most user-friendly option
- You’re low on storage space
- You want a tool that’s similar to a regular circular saw, but with better accuracy
Buy a table saw if…
- You want the best possible tool to use as the focal point of a workshop
- You want to cut lots of pieces quickly for major DIY or craft projects
- You’re aiming for an excellent finish with little need for sanding after cutting
FAQs
How to choose the right blade for a track saw or table saw?
Most track saws come with a standard circular saw blade, designed for cutting various wood products including softwoods, hardwoods, plywood and MDF, as well as certain other materials including plasterboard. If these are the types of materials you’ll be cutting, the standard blade should do the job – but for other materials, you may require a different type.
“We recommend using one of our Evolution multi‑material TCT blades, which cut materials including metals, composites and laminates, and wood with embedded nails, so you can move confidently between different tasks without constantly swapping blades,” says Curran.
For high-quality carpentry, you might also use a fine-tooth blade. “This type has a thinner curve and more teeth, so it causes less splinters,” Curran notes. “You’d use them to make furniture such as cabinets.”
Equipping your saw with a compatible multi-material blade can improve the tool's versatility.
Are track saws and table saws better than circular saws?
Track saws and table saws are somewhat similar to circular saws. They also use a circular blade, and they’re used for many of the same cutting tasks, especially in woodworking projects.
Typically, the advantage to a track saw or table saw is greater accuracy and a finer finish, compared to the results of cutting with a circular saw without a track. They are preferred by professionals, but they tend to come at a higher price and take up more storage space.
There are all sorts of cutting tools out there. If you're still in doubt over which type to use in your DIY projects, our jigsaw vs circular saw and best reciprocating saws guides could help get you on the right track.
