Circular saws and track saws look similar, but there are many differences between the two. When you need to cut out precise materials, track saws can often get the job done better than their smaller counterparts. Take a look at some key differences of circular saws and track saws in a manner of track saw vs circular saw, so you can choose the saw tool for your next job.
Circular Saw vs Track Saw – What are the differences?
Circular saws and track saws serve the same purpose of cutting different materials; for example sheet metals or plexiglass. Although their functions are similar, the way they cut and the characteristics and features are different in many ways. And if you want to buy one of these saws surely, you would want to get the want that would serve you better. So now let’s see what the differences between these two saws are so that you can decide the better option for you.
Differences:
Structural Difference
The most visible difference between a track saw and a circular saw is how they are built and how they look. Track saws also have rotating blades in the saw body, but the body of the track saw is not like a circular disk. Rather it has a flat surface so that it can be attached to a track and can be used in a straight line. The name track saw came from the rail track on which it can be attached and run for a perfect cut. On the other Circular saw body is round-shaped and cannot be attached to a rail track for a smooth straight cut. A Circular saw body has a flexible lower guard that moves while a cut is being made and a fixed upper guard for protection from dust coming off from the cutting area. Although some circular saws are designed to use tracks and tracks for those saws can be purchased, spending around 30/40 US dollars.
Portability and Work flexibility
A track saw is a fixed body lightweight saw designed to carry anywhere with an attachable track rail. That gives great portability to this saw, but most of the track saws are designed with a corded version that decreases its weight, and that corded design brings another disadvantage of using electricity supply plugs that also decreases its flexibility. The lightweight of a track saw also provides greater work flexibility over a circular saw. On the other hand, circular saws are heavily weighted, and most of the Circular saw comes with either a corded version with a more powerful and heavy motor or a cordless version that has a less powerful motor, but the battery of the saw increases its weight. That decreases both work flexibility and portability. However, cordless circular saws have greater portability over corded track saws and can be used in remote areas where corded saws are hard to work with. However, If you want portability and flexibility of the saw at a time, then it is best to select a cordless track saw.
Cut Types
Another basic difference between a track saw and a circular saw is the cutting type of both saws. The difference in cutting type can be one of the major reasons one might select a track saw over other. A circular saw can perform only crosscut and rip cut, while a track saw can also provide intricate angle cut along with a cross and rip cut. And if you need a variety of cuttings with your saw blade then, it might be best for you to go for a track saw over a circular saw. While a circular saw offers fewer cutting types but the cutting time is much more convenient with a circular saw.
Cutting Accuracy
The cutting accuracy of a track saw is much greater than circular saw cutting accuracy. A circular saw does not use any rail track for precise cutting on the mark, and that increases the chance of making inaccurate cutting and even making a cutting which will totally destroy the work, while with a track saw, you can use a rail track for setting and cutting on the accurate line. Track helps to keep the circular saw blade on the line and gives a precise cutting.
Size of the Saw
The size of a saw is also a great concern for some users. Many people have many different situations that may require a small saw over a large one. And in the case of the track saw, the size of the saw is much comparatively smaller and in the case of the Circular saw, the size of the saw is much bulkier. Besides, this size issue is what greatly affects the working flexibility of a saw.
Cutting Edges
Some work requires precise and smooth cutting, and with a circular saw, you cannot have as smooth a cutting experience as you can have with a track saw. Though cutting edges smoothness largely depends on the type of blade being used and the cutting area typing of the wood, the saw that allows the better blade and better smoothness is countable in case of judging cutting edge smoothness. Track saw gives a much more smooth cutting experience by giving a clean cutting area where the edge is not as rough and dusty as you can see in a circular saw cutting. However, circular saw cuts are much faster than track saw cutting because of using a powerful motor.
Safety
Both a circular saw and a track saw use spinning blades for making a cut, but the safety of those two options is much more different. The circular saws come with an upper and lower blade guard that can effectively provide safety to both your eyes from dust and your fingers from a circular saw blade but yet it is less safe compared with a track saw. Because the blades of the circular saws are much more visible, on the other hand, a track saw its outer cage of saw body hides the blade. And this law visibility of the blade increases the safety level of a track saw.
Dust Cleaning
Track saws come with a clear dust pocket that can effectively collect all the cutting area dust and do not make the cutting area dirty with dust. On the other circular saw can also adopt this feature, but there is no built-in dust collector to reduce the cutting dust in the air in most Circular saw.
Price of the Saw
The price of a blade is one of the main reasons people might select a saw blade over another, even though the not selected one can be much more efficient. Circular saws are comparatively cheaper than a track saw. However, the price may vary, but the varied price of a track saw will also be high than a circular saw, and the main reason for this is the use of a track rail.
Changing Blades
The blades of the saw require changing because of the work requirement, or if the blade needs any sharpening work, you might require to remove the saw blades. And removing a circular saw blade is a hard task to do in the case of a track saw. This is because the saw body hides the blade in it, while circular saw blades are easier to remove because the blade is much more visible.
Bottom Line
Both saws have many advantage and disadvantage, which is visible from the differentiation of the track saw and circular saw. You can select the one best for you based on the advantage you might require, and you can select the best saw for you by going through these differences of both a track saw and a circular saw.