As a diy enthusiast it's perfect for building bookcases and storage units with 18mm plywood. The 6.0 Ah battery and blade upgrades together make a huge difference to performance
This track saw comes with a 20 tooth blade. Upgrading to a 30 tooth blade gave a dramatic improvement to the cut quality with the saw now feeling like it was cutting rather than chomping its way through the wood.
I like these Bosch 12 v system. I have this saw, the mini router and the drill/driver and impact driver. They are excellent for smaller jobs, the drill and impact driver are quite powerful too. Well worth the money.
Peter i just wanted to say how much i appreciate your videos. Esspecially the videos about building Furniture and the basics. It has helped me alot. I am 5 years into designing and compleatly renovating and constantly upgrading my House on my own as a female with no backround in Carpentry and no handy person to teach me. Kind regards from Germany
I've bought one about 5 years or so ago and I'm very happy with it. Never used the blade that came with it, though. Back then it was recommended at all corners to get a Makita blade with it that significantly reduced tear out on the cuts and that did indeed work very well for me. It's still the "main" saw in my home workshop that I build furniture with. For the rare cases I need to cut something thicker I'd try to cut half and flip it over or go at it with the jig saw. Still remember how the guy in the hardware store claimed it was "only good enough to cut paper" displaying the famous lack of knowledge of people working in large stores...
Second this, I’ve use my own for at least 9years now as a add on to my corded Mafell, same rails is nice touch. But the power of something so small is actually surprising. I’ve also used as you mentioned Makita saw blades- much more accurate and easier cuts.
I never thought I would call a circular saw “CUTE” but it is and I can see it being useful for all types of applications when the big saw is just well er to big. Thanks for another great video Peter
I’ve had one of these for a couple of years and it quickly became one of the most frequently used tools. It’s so versatile and great with a track when you’ve just got one two cuts to do (especially to break something down to go in the car outside the DIY shop!).
Years ago I was gifted a cheap Black & Decker 5.25 plastic circular saw. I looked down my long nose at that saw until we had to side a buddies house with 4" cedar lap siding. That light weight saw was just about perfect for that job. Especially when we hit the gable ends and were up on the ladders trying to trim siding. This would be perfect for that!
Good review - I have seen a few liveaboard sailors who are off on a big adventure carrying these. A good compromise where storage volumes are at a premium.
I've had mine for around 10 years now. Always take it to the lumber yard when I buy sheet goods. Super handy and easy to control. No really high speeds either and a very soft start so feels safe in use.
Got a 18V Bosch Tracksaw, but i love this little one. As you said, cutting full sheets to half, better for transport, this little saw is gold worth Solo is 100€ here in Germany
I LOVE the bosch 12v line. I have been in it since the beginning and I have collected almost all the tools. I live in the states so this one isn't sold here. Next trip over seas i plan on snagging one. I wish did as much in their 12v line as Milwaukee. I could really use a 12v rachet for working on the car.
I have had this saw for 3-4 years now and use it for cutting up full sheets at the lumber yard. Also I find that the blade spins so slow it does not kick up lots of dust (at least MDF).
Hello Peter, thank you for your videos. I have no experience with woodworking and it’s all a bit confusing but you break it down into manageable pieces.
Remarkable. I ordered one of these in the morning and then this video appeared in the afternoon! Delivery, tomorrow. Good to know it will probably meet my expectations. First job will be to cut some 18mm ply to size, so a baptism of fire for such a small device.
I bought this saw after watching your video, and I'm very satisfied with it. As a light hobbyist this is the one I was looking for. A small, light and quiet circular saw that can work with a track, and finally I got it. Now I'm using this one more often than TS55. Thanks, Peter.
What an absolute gem! Never seen that little guy before. Would love having that in my trunk for breaking down sheet goods at the lumber yard. Absolutely love the price. Appreciate the “preview” and look forward to the review. Would love to feature your video on our show if you’re alright with that. -Rob
Yup, that’s exactly why I bought this little saw, for ripping down sheets to get in my car. It’s absolutely brilliant for that, and also has proved handy for cutting floorboards too. Well worth the price for me.
7:01 I have a similarly tiny workshop, and to cut sheets standing vertical like you are doing here, I've found 2 tips that really helped: 1. Have the track on the bottom of the cut. So in your case, you will want to cut from right to left, with the splinter guard pointing up. 2. To avoid having to jam shims in the cut line, you can clamp all 4 corners of the board to two planks of 2x4 standing upright, that way the top board will only drop a very small amount and won't pinch your blade too much. You can still clamp the rail over those 2x4s to secure it.
I've had on of these for a few years now. I got it to cut through floorboards - I can set it to just barely the depth of the boards and know I won't cut through any pipes or cables below. I second what Peter said about it eating batteries though - and don't use a dull blade as the battery will run out in less time than you could possibly imagine!
I once tested mine with a full 2Ah battery. I made two 1.2m cuts in 18mm MDF and one of the battery lights was already gone. Definitely need 4 or 6Ah with this thing !
I've had this for quite some time, I bought into this range of tools and have plenty of batteries (made a French cleat battery holder a while back). I have never found much use for this one in particular, but having never read the manual I completely ignore the use of those grooves on the guide. Thank you for making it more useful :D
I started out with the Bosch 12V drill for my birthday when I started theatre school for stage design and bought that saw as my second or third tool when I needed to do some handy man stuff like placing flooring. (That thing was a life saver in the small appartment). And after that bought almost the entire Bosch pro 12V tools. They are small and not comparable to the 18 or 20V tools but I love their compact size, affordability as a student/starting trades person. Everything I have fits in one ds250 dewalt tough system box (the entire 12V collection would definitely fit in a DS350) which is really nice since I don’t have a car so with only two tool boxes (1 extra for hand tools) and for theatre tours it’s also really nice since you have limited space and weight capacity so we could have a full compliment of powertools with us without any issue. Sadly now after over 6 years and a lot of use and with bigger and more demanding jobs I find their limits more and more so I am gonna start moving over to the Milwaukee 12V system which have more power, more cut capacity and are more resilient to weather and other rough conditions.
Peter, thanx and great video. Out of necessity I bought a small DeWalt cordless circular saw. I've been residing my house, raked cedar sidewall shakes. It works fine but I've been thinking of the Bosch. I may pass along the DeWalt to my brother and get the Bosch. Later, Charlie
Great video as always. I've been using one of these for a few years and couldn't be with out it, it now lives in my hand kit! For a cleaner cut I recommend the Makita specialized coated blade, The battery also lasts longer with this blade as it has a thinner kerf.
I have the Aldi corded version which I used quite a bit until I found that I needed a real track saw (after discovering your channel and watching your videos). It is now gathering dust. If I need to cut something without access to mains power I just use my small(ish) Ryobi circular saw.
I used one of these when I worked for myself 20 years ago. It was then marketed under the name "Skilsaw", but was a Bosch product. It didn't have many of the extras you illustrate Peter, such as a tracksaw facility (there were no tracksaws then that I knew of). And you had to pay extra for a TCT blade. And no dust extraction either. Also, the batteries then were NiCads, not Lithium Ion, so tended to fail afterr a few years. But it was great at cutting up 18mm sheets of MDF. Of which I used hundreds of square feet! Handheld it could cut a reasonably straight line, to be trimmed straight later with a small router and guide.
I have one myself, and it happily chews through 21mm formwork plywood. :) I bought mine with the L-BOXX, but without batteries, as I had 2 2Ah (came with my GSR 12V-15) and 4 3Ah batteries already. The set with 2 3Ah and charger are often on sale here in Denmark.
Hi Peter, looks a good battery saw and very handy for cutting down sheets to put on the roof rack, may be for the price might be better for a mains powered saw for the workshop. As always a good honest review ans a great video, Take care
I bought the Milwaukee m12 cordless saw for cutting down plywood sheets , as I already had other m12 tools and batteries. Although the build quality’s superb, it just doesn’t have the power and stalls at the slightest bind in the wood cutting . My Makita 18v saw has no problem with the same jobs.
I have had this saw for about 2 years. The main advantages are the low weight, small size and the thin cut. And the relatively low price. It is really easy to use, in particular when cutting in difficult spaces. It sounds weak but cuts surprisingly well.
I've long used the similarly sized Makita 9.6V saw for my cabinet installations, particularly for electrical box and any other square cutouts. Very clean on the opposite side of cabinet backs, and the thin back material can usually be cut away in the corners with your utility knife. Just wish this saw was left sided blade like the Makita, then it would be perfect!
This is my track saw. It's really nice to break up sheet goods. Sometimes wish I had an actual track saw but in reality this one does the job just fine. It can be found for ~90€ or less here, definitely worth it if you have the batteries. Bigger batteries are a necessity like you say, it eats through 2ah crazy fast.
Great stuff Peter - your tracksaw videos inspired me to buy one with a rail in 2018 as an alternative to a "proper" saw and it was great for sheet goods. I have since upgraded to a proper tracksaw (well first to the bosch tracksaw and then to the Festool TS60), but still use this to break sheets up. The only shame is it's not great with wet treated wood. It tends to bog down... would be brilliant for trimming cladding etc otherwise. But for sheet goods, it a good budget tool. I paid £90 from German Amazon as there was an offer! The only bother is needing a dedicated rail as the kerf is so far off a tracksaw.
I was never impressed with my makita track saw until I changed the blade to the equivelant Freud....the difference in performance and results were amazing and now the makita is an excellent tool.
I would say that this is also good for beginners who're intimidated by large and unwieldy circular saws. I've managed to overcome my fears of accidents using this over the last year.
I have this saw and we need to keep in mind it’s limitations. Yes, with the base you can use it on a track. You need to manually set the distance every time you install the base, which tends to wear on the rubber strip. You also need to provide your own Allen wrench for the mounting screws. The saw is also very limited in both power and endurance. I wouldn’t plan on more than a couple cuts on only the thinnest stock.
I think these are the type of tools that if you haven’t got one or used one you wouldn’t bother, but the moment you use it you have to have one. They certainly have a place in the workshop
10,8=12V it's the same voltage. I💙 this saw. TS55 + Bosch and I can do anything 😍. My Bosch lives in Systainer, Berner sells Bosch in Tanos, you can buy inserts
Interesting. Good idea. Buuut I already have my parking lot breakdown kit, so it's not for me. However, I'd be interested in the Bosch 12v plainer. Now that looks to be the right size for doing drawers, jigs, and doors. Besides, it would be a great addition to my basic 12v drill that you would have to pry out of my cold dead hands. Bought it reconditioned about 15 years ago. Still going strong for driving basic screws in for most 3/4 sheet goods.
this looks a great little tool for the odd jobs. I hate nothing more than having to get my track saw out and have the power cable tripping me up to cut up some 3mm ply for my small box making, this would be perfect for rough cutting. A major plus using the track saw rail too
Thanks for reminding me that I can use it in combination with my Festool guide rails to cut the cut-out for the new shelves. I would otherwise have done this with the TS60 (which is almost as big as the boards themselves). 🥴 The main reason I bought this saw was to be able to cut larger panel material into car-friendly pieces at the DIY store parking lot. But it has also been very useful during a renovation project to cut removed impact sound insulation boards into handy strips (suitable for building trays)
Great video I have the drill/driver combo and it is great recently purchased their palm router which uses the same battery so purchased the bare unit hot to say it is great as a trim router. Just got the jig saw as I needed a portable cordless saw to cut down wood when I am foraging for scrap wood got to say cuts through 2 inch timber brilliantly ( yes I work in inches as our wood is still technically imperial measure a full sheet of plywood and it’s 8x4 😂) The circular saw would be great for cutting thin sheets of plywood as I tend to make small pieces.
Oh, my goodness - I'd seen these around but I had no idea they ran on the tracks. That's a whole different ballgame. I have a mafel tracksaw, and I'm also on the Bosch 12v platform already, so this is extremely interesting. Shame the kefs don't line up, but hey...
Pretty good for 20t ive got a hychicka plunge saw i recommend 36t or more for better cuts the plunge saw feels safer & easier to use they also have twin blades now going both directions ozito twin blade saw cuts through different materials without changing the blades
Oh Peter - I've had the same thoughts - It's a getting old thing - coping with smaller tools. When in our twenties a good ten inch circular was the thing to have - now we toy with little underpowered tools hoping for a massive result. Reality is a great leveller - if your battery tool doesn't cut the mustard - plug a bigger one in. These low voltage Bosch batteries do not last however.
Using one to cut sheets in the diy store car park, definitely been there & done that! Be careful tightening the bolts that hold the guide, can easily snap off the threaded tabs from the base. BTW i think Bosch pro 12v was just a rebrand of 10.8v based on how other manufacturers measured/labelled their equivalent voltage tools
Nice. Why mafell don't make a little plunge like the kss300 I don't know. I think it would fly off the shelf. Also, with the new Festool 22v battery platform you've got to wonder what there's will be like as it looks like they'll be starting a new range.
To me, this is the kind of tool that a plumber or electrician would use to cut an access point in floorboards or similar. Not something I would routinely use on a guide rail, but definitely a useful option to have if you are on the Bosch 12v platform.
Exactly this. I have seen a few sparks using one to cut floorboards but many just hack away with a multitool, cutting a floorboard one minute and plasterboard for a backbox the next.
I know it's horses for courses but with these kinds of saw I'm in a different sport all together. The only real use I could see me using one is cutting floorboards in situ to run electric or pipe work. Pardon the pun but they seem like a bit of a one trick pony, they're compact. I realise everyone is different and I appreciate the first look video (great content as always!). The big buying factors for me with tools are how often will I choose to pick it up over something else and does it do a job nothing else can do and for me. At least for me the tools that get used once in a blue moon I tend to buy as cheap as practical for the job they need to carry out.
Good video. Not convinced by the saw. I have a Mafell track saw (excellent) and would use that most of the time. I can see this being useful for laying loft board, but based on the video the cutting performance with that blade is pretty rough. I don't want rough edges anywhere. It wastes material and takes time to clean up the cuts. Thanks for the video.
At around 03:45 you mention having to trim back the splinter guard on a rail as the kerf isn't lining up. Did you pull back the blade guard when sitting it on the rail and then tighten the allen bolts on the guide? as mine sits flush to the splinter guard with no trimming required.
Pretty sure what I say is that the kerf cuts didn’t line up **on guiderails with splinterguards that had been trimmed to fit other saws, no surprise there…** 👍👍
honestly I try to make things out of half inch/12mm ply instead of 3/4 inch/19mm ply whenever I can, so this would be great for me. One concern I have is... is the handle comfortable? I've never used those 12v battery-in-the-handle type tools and am afraid it's awkward to wield.
Thanks Peter, very pleased to have your opinion on this. I have had one of these for a few years now, and I use it where using my large and heavy Dewalt corded saw would be difficult or impossible. I would urge anyone to get the 6ah batteries as it's underpowered and short-lived on the 2ah for sure. I recently bought a rail to use with it, but have not had the chance to use it yet, I guess I'll carry on using this and the Dewalt until I can justify buying a plunge saw. Have you seen the video by "Mike M" ( Ten Square Metre Workshop ) where he modifies one of these into a plunge saw ?
Can hardly wait for scary looking router bit. Is it a planer? At that length how does it maintain axis without wiggling around? Inquiring minds must know.
The 12v battery systems are just rebrands of 10.8v - its the way you view the battery - Peak voltage (4.2 x 3) vs the nominal voltage (3.6 * 3) - so full vs flat essentially. Marketing decided that 12v sounds better.
Can the saw be used for plunge cutting like a normal tracksaw ? For example to make cutouts within sheet materials. I am guessing you can loosen the depth control knob and let the saw into the wood but is it still stable and accurate that way ? Thanks. Good review.
I haven’t tried that yet, but I will. Initial thoughts would be that it’s a circular saw that can run on a track, not a plunge saw, so I wouldn’t expect it to be as accurate, and I think the slow running speed would make it prone to stalling. But I’m be trying it, definitely. 👍
I build theatre sets and I find this saw brilliant for cutting hidden access panels for electrics/hydraulics etc. the fine kerf is ideal and I use the exact technique you describe and it works like a dream. Love this little saw
Hmm, I initially dismissed the Parkside version of this saw because I have a full sized track saw and circular saw, maybe I need to think again, might be a handy little saw, especially if I can work out a way to run it on my tracksaw track.
Picked up the parkside today, looks nearly identical to the Bosch on the body, specs for depth of cut, blade size and speed etc are the same. The base is different though, so I can't just fit the Bosch guide rail unfortunately, will have to go DIY.
had a similar tool... craftsman, corded, cut about 7/8" t0 15/16" thick wood, was great for thinner plywood and 1 X "s ... loved it but craftsman totally discontinued it and blades are impossible to find...
As always, great video. I would like to know what was that rail system you used to cut the cross cut? Reminds me almost like a panel saw at the big box store. Thank you
![Tricky Tracksaw Cuts [video 460]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ybSSZ5R31aI/mqdefault.jpg)
![Tricky Tracksaw Cuts [video 460]](/img/tr.png)
I’ve had this saw for years and I didn’t know you could use it on a track. Thank you.
Me too! Off to look for a track now!
@@1966apc I think you need to buy the adapters
As a diy enthusiast it's perfect for building bookcases and storage units with 18mm plywood. The 6.0 Ah battery and blade upgrades together make a huge difference to performance
This track saw comes with a 20 tooth blade. Upgrading to a 30 tooth blade gave a dramatic improvement to the cut quality with the saw now feeling like it was cutting rather than chomping its way through the wood.
Saxton Blades have 44T & 60T blades available.
Looks like a great option for breaking down sheets at the timber yard when you don't have a van. Affordable too!
Definitely! 👍
Exactly what I have used mine for!
I love my cheap Ryobi 6.5"!
@@guitarcarfanatic And me.
That’s why I miss my 1986 Mercedes 300SDL.
I like these Bosch 12 v system. I have this saw, the mini router and the drill/driver and impact driver. They are excellent for smaller jobs, the drill and impact driver are quite powerful too. Well worth the money.
Peter i just wanted to say how much i appreciate your videos. Esspecially the videos about building Furniture and the basics. It has helped me alot. I am 5 years into designing and compleatly renovating and constantly upgrading my House on my own as a female with no backround in Carpentry and no handy person to teach me. Kind regards from Germany
Thank you! I’m making this up as I go along too, learning by doing. Best wishes from London. 🙌👍
I've bought one about 5 years or so ago and I'm very happy with it. Never used the blade that came with it, though. Back then it was recommended at all corners to get a Makita blade with it that significantly reduced tear out on the cuts and that did indeed work very well for me.
It's still the "main" saw in my home workshop that I build furniture with. For the rare cases I need to cut something thicker I'd try to cut half and flip it over or go at it with the jig saw. Still remember how the guy in the hardware store claimed it was "only good enough to cut paper" displaying the famous lack of knowledge of people working in large stores...
Second this, I’ve use my own for at least 9years now as a add on to my corded Mafell, same rails is nice touch. But the power of something so small is actually surprising. I’ve also used as you mentioned Makita saw blades- much more accurate and easier cuts.
Thanks - I’ll check out the Makita blades. 👍
Good tip for the Makita blade. I’ll pick one up for it
Had my Bosch circular saw for around 4 years now, absolutely love it , so handy to have.
I never thought I would call a circular saw “CUTE” but it is and I can see it being useful for all types of applications when the big saw is just well er to big. Thanks for another great video Peter
Cheers Steve! Yes, I seem to be doing nothing by buying cute little cordless saws these days, lol! 😂👍
I’ve had one of these for a couple of years and it quickly became one of the most frequently used tools. It’s so versatile and great with a track when you’ve just got one two cuts to do (especially to break something down to go in the car outside the DIY shop!).
Years ago I was gifted a cheap Black & Decker 5.25 plastic circular saw. I looked down my long nose at that saw until we had to side a buddies house with 4" cedar lap siding. That light weight saw was just about perfect for that job. Especially when we hit the gable ends and were up on the ladders trying to trim siding. This would be perfect for that!
really handy. we keep it in the van for trips to the lumber yard.
Had this saw for 18 months or so, absolutely love it.
Good review - I have seen a few liveaboard sailors who are off on a big adventure carrying these. A good compromise where storage volumes are at a premium.
I've had mine for around 10 years now. Always take it to the lumber yard when I buy sheet goods. Super handy and easy to control. No really high speeds either and a very soft start so feels safe in use.
for me the the best woodworking channel, nice presentet in reallife stuff, no fancy cnc blabla tool just fine :)
Thank you very much! I'm working on the blabla though... 😂
Your reviews are always spot on Peter - really appreciated ❤
Thanks! 👍
I recently picked up a black and decker corded mini saw from homebase. Great value, came with two blades and a carry case.
Hi Peter, you and this video just got a nice mention on the "tool show" over in the states. Keep up the great work.
Oh wow - thank you very much for letting me know! 👍
Very interesting and informative video, Peter. Thank you very much.
Oh my god, I've had this saw for a out 2 years and didn't know about the track trick!
Got a 18V Bosch Tracksaw, but i love this little one.
As you said, cutting full sheets to half, better for transport, this little saw is gold worth
Solo is 100€ here in Germany
I LOVE the bosch 12v line. I have been in it since the beginning and I have collected almost all the tools. I live in the states so this one isn't sold here. Next trip over seas i plan on snagging one. I wish did as much in their 12v line as Milwaukee. I could really use a 12v rachet for working on the car.
I have had this saw for 3-4 years now and use it for cutting up full sheets at the lumber yard. Also I find that the blade spins so slow it does not kick up lots of dust (at least MDF).
Hello Peter, thank you for your videos. I have no experience with woodworking and it’s all a bit confusing but you break it down into manageable pieces.
Thank you! 👍
He has plenty of saws for that reason
Love the saw and the Dovetail clamping table!
Remarkable. I ordered one of these in the morning and then this video appeared in the afternoon! Delivery, tomorrow. Good to know it will probably meet my expectations. First job will be to cut some 18mm ply to size, so a baptism of fire for such a small device.
Hello Peter, good, honest & straightforward review. Thank you.
Thanks Steve! 👍
Thanks!
Thank you! 🙌👍
I bought this saw after watching your video, and I'm very satisfied with it. As a light hobbyist this is the one I was looking for. A small, light and quiet circular saw that can work with a track, and finally I got it. Now I'm using this one more often than TS55. Thanks, Peter.
Great to hear, thanks! 👍
What an absolute gem! Never seen that little guy before. Would love having that in my trunk for breaking down sheet goods at the lumber yard. Absolutely love the price. Appreciate the “preview” and look forward to the review. Would love to feature your video on our show if you’re alright with that. -Rob
Yup, that’s exactly why I bought this little saw, for ripping down sheets to get in my car. It’s absolutely brilliant for that, and also has proved handy for cutting floorboards too. Well worth the price for me.
Love mine had for over a year now great for sheet food and little cuts also good for decking and feather board finishing small and light
Looks good on the Bosch platform for track so perfect for the little jobs
7:01 I have a similarly tiny workshop, and to cut sheets standing vertical like you are doing here, I've found 2 tips that really helped:
1. Have the track on the bottom of the cut. So in your case, you will want to cut from right to left, with the splinter guard pointing up.
2. To avoid having to jam shims in the cut line, you can clamp all 4 corners of the board to two planks of 2x4 standing upright, that way the top board will only drop a very small amount and won't pinch your blade too much. You can still clamp the rail over those 2x4s to secure it.
I've had on of these for a few years now. I got it to cut through floorboards - I can set it to just barely the depth of the boards and know I won't cut through any pipes or cables below.
I second what Peter said about it eating batteries though - and don't use a dull blade as the battery will run out in less time than you could possibly imagine!
I once tested mine with a full 2Ah battery. I made two 1.2m cuts in 18mm MDF and one of the battery lights was already gone. Definitely need 4 or 6Ah with this thing !
Just bought the planer! Fantastic 🥰
I have one and its perfect for small jobs with minimum dust because it is slow cutting, very informative video thanks 👍👍
I've had this for quite some time, I bought into this range of tools and have plenty of batteries (made a French cleat battery holder a while back).
I have never found much use for this one in particular, but having never read the manual I completely ignore the use of those grooves on the guide.
Thank you for making it more useful :D
I bought one two years ago and, for the purposes for which I got it, it's been simply brilliant.
I started out with the Bosch 12V drill for my birthday when I started theatre school for stage design and bought that saw as my second or third tool when I needed to do some handy man stuff like placing flooring. (That thing was a life saver in the small appartment). And after that bought almost the entire Bosch pro 12V tools. They are small and not comparable to the 18 or 20V tools but I love their compact size, affordability as a student/starting trades person. Everything I have fits in one ds250 dewalt tough system box (the entire 12V collection would definitely fit in a DS350) which is really nice since I don’t have a car so with only two tool boxes (1 extra for hand tools) and for theatre tours it’s also really nice since you have limited space and weight capacity so we could have a full compliment of powertools with us without any issue. Sadly now after over 6 years and a lot of use and with bigger and more demanding jobs I find their limits more and more so I am gonna start moving over to the Milwaukee 12V system which have more power, more cut capacity and are more resilient to weather and other rough conditions.
Roofers use these for battens, and they are great!
Peter, thanx and great video. Out of necessity I bought a small DeWalt cordless circular saw. I've been residing my house, raked cedar sidewall shakes. It works fine but I've been thinking of the Bosch. I may pass along the DeWalt to my brother and get the Bosch.
Later,
Charlie
Great video as always.
I've been using one of these for a few years and couldn't be with out it, it now lives in my hand kit! For a cleaner cut I recommend the Makita specialized coated blade, The battery also lasts longer with this blade as it has a thinner kerf.
Really awesome looking like saw, Peter! 😃
It really seems to work great!
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
Thanks! You too! 👍
I've been fascinated by this little saw for a while. I want one!
So it would be great for flooring etc, I think I may have a look and the fact it fits on the festool rail is brilliant
I have the Aldi corded version which I used quite a bit until I found that I needed a real track saw (after discovering your channel and watching your videos). It is now gathering dust. If I need to cut something without access to mains power I just use my small(ish) Ryobi circular saw.
I used one of these when I worked for myself 20 years ago. It was then marketed under the name "Skilsaw", but was a Bosch product. It didn't have many of the extras you illustrate Peter, such as a tracksaw facility (there were no tracksaws then that I knew of). And you had to pay extra for a TCT blade. And no dust extraction either. Also, the batteries then were NiCads, not Lithium Ion, so tended to fail afterr a few years. But it was great at cutting up 18mm sheets of MDF. Of which I used hundreds of square feet! Handheld it could cut a reasonably straight line, to be trimmed straight later with a small router and guide.
Interesting, I didn't know about this! Makes sense as I'm already on the Bosch 12v platform and have plenty of batteries so the outlay isn't bad.
I have one myself, and it happily chews through 21mm formwork plywood. :)
I bought mine with the L-BOXX, but without batteries, as I had 2 2Ah (came with my GSR 12V-15) and 4 3Ah batteries already. The set with 2 3Ah and charger are often on sale here in Denmark.
Hi Peter.
The 'bare saw' link takes you to the after market battery page ..... great review.
Thanks for the heads-up. It don’t when I posted it, but Amazon changes things around sometimes. 👍 🤷♂️
Hi Peter, looks a good battery saw and very handy for cutting down sheets to put on the roof rack, may be for the price might be better for a mains powered saw for the workshop. As always a good honest review ans a great video, Take care
I bought the Milwaukee m12 cordless saw for cutting down plywood sheets , as I already had other m12 tools and batteries. Although the build quality’s superb, it just doesn’t have the power and stalls at the slightest bind in the wood cutting . My Makita 18v saw has no problem with the same jobs.
I have the saw for several years now. The Bosch blade sucks, but together with the Makita B-33819 blade it really rocks.
Thanks. A few folks ave mentioned the Makita blade - I’ll take a look. 👍
I have had this saw for about 2 years. The main advantages are the low weight, small size and the thin cut. And the relatively low price. It is really easy to use, in particular when cutting in difficult spaces. It sounds weak but cuts surprisingly well.
I've got a Makita version, first saw I bought and it's been great at the DIY jobs I've asked it to tackle. Handy little things
Did you ever look into this Bosch instead? Do you or anyone know how they compare in practice?
Can't wait til Lidl bring one out!
If they do, I'll buy one! 👍
I've long used the similarly sized Makita 9.6V saw for my cabinet installations, particularly for electrical box and any other square cutouts. Very clean on the opposite side of cabinet backs, and the thin back material can usually be cut away in the corners with your utility knife. Just wish this saw was left sided blade like the Makita, then it would be perfect!
This is my track saw. It's really nice to break up sheet goods. Sometimes wish I had an actual track saw but in reality this one does the job just fine. It can be found for ~90€ or less here, definitely worth it if you have the batteries. Bigger batteries are a necessity like you say, it eats through 2ah crazy fast.
I got the Black&Decker Matrix System and absolutely love it especially the saw attachment similar to the Bosch, Super Handy
Really helpful once again, many thanks.
Great stuff Peter - your tracksaw videos inspired me to buy one with a rail in 2018 as an alternative to a "proper" saw and it was great for sheet goods. I have since upgraded to a proper tracksaw (well first to the bosch tracksaw and then to the Festool TS60), but still use this to break sheets up. The only shame is it's not great with wet treated wood. It tends to bog down... would be brilliant for trimming cladding etc otherwise. But for sheet goods, it a good budget tool. I paid £90 from German Amazon as there was an offer! The only bother is needing a dedicated rail as the kerf is so far off a tracksaw.
I was never impressed with my makita track saw until I changed the blade to the equivelant Freud....the difference in performance and results were amazing and now the makita is an excellent tool.
I would say that this is also good for beginners who're intimidated by large and unwieldy circular saws. I've managed to overcome my fears of accidents using this over the last year.
I have this saw and we need to keep in mind it’s limitations.
Yes, with the base you can use it on a track. You need to manually set the distance every time you install the base, which tends to wear on the rubber strip. You also need to provide your own Allen wrench for the mounting screws.
The saw is also very limited in both power and endurance. I wouldn’t plan on more than a couple cuts on only the thinnest stock.
I think these are the type of tools that if you haven’t got one or used one you wouldn’t bother, but the moment you use it you have to have one.
They certainly have a place in the workshop
man thats pretty slick
Thanks for sharing.
Awesome!
Been looking for just such a saw
10,8=12V it's the same voltage. I💙 this saw. TS55 + Bosch and I can do anything 😍. My Bosch lives in Systainer, Berner sells Bosch in Tanos, you can buy inserts
Interesting. Good idea. Buuut I already have my parking lot breakdown kit, so it's not for me. However, I'd be interested in the Bosch 12v plainer. Now that looks to be the right size for doing drawers, jigs, and doors. Besides, it would be a great addition to my basic 12v drill that you would have to pry out of my cold dead hands. Bought it reconditioned about 15 years ago. Still going strong for driving basic screws in for most 3/4 sheet goods.
I recommend the 12v planer. Very easy to control with one hand.
@@timh7156 EXCELLENT!
this looks a great little tool for the odd jobs. I hate nothing more than having to get my track saw out and have the power cable tripping me up to cut up some 3mm ply for my small box making, this would be perfect for rough cutting. A major plus using the track saw rail too
Thanks for reminding me that I can use it in combination with my Festool guide rails to cut the cut-out for the new shelves. I would otherwise have done this with the TS60 (which is almost as big as the boards themselves). 🥴
The main reason I bought this saw was to be able to cut larger panel material into car-friendly pieces at the DIY store parking lot.
But it has also been very useful during a renovation project to cut removed impact sound insulation boards into handy strips (suitable for building trays)
Thanks! I was a little surprised - and impressed - that they’d included a notch for the Festool rails. 👍
Great video I have the drill/driver combo and it is great recently purchased their palm router which uses the same battery so purchased the bare unit hot to say it is great as a trim router. Just got the jig saw as I needed a portable cordless saw to cut down wood when I am foraging for scrap wood got to say cuts through 2 inch timber brilliantly ( yes I work in inches as our wood is still technically imperial measure a full sheet of plywood and it’s 8x4 😂) The circular saw would be great for cutting thin sheets of plywood as I tend to make small pieces.
I want to hear more about the helix router bit for cut quality and edge finish.
And when I’ve used it and assessed it, you will. 🤷♂️
Oh, my goodness - I'd seen these around but I had no idea they ran on the tracks. That's a whole different ballgame. I have a mafel tracksaw, and I'm also on the Bosch 12v platform already, so this is extremely interesting. Shame the kefs don't line up, but hey...
Pretty good for 20t ive got a hychicka plunge saw i recommend 36t or more for better cuts the plunge saw feels safer & easier to use they also have twin blades now going both directions ozito twin blade saw cuts through different materials without changing the blades
Oh Peter - I've had the same thoughts - It's a getting old thing - coping with smaller tools.
When in our twenties a good ten inch circular was the thing to have - now we toy with little underpowered tools hoping for a massive result.
Reality is a great leveller - if your battery tool doesn't cut the mustard - plug a bigger one in.
These low voltage Bosch batteries do not last however.
Speak for yourself bruv. 🤷♂️😂
@@10MinuteWorkshop That hurt - those low v batteries are still not worth looking at for a business use - ours lasted circa 4 months in 6 tools !
Using one to cut sheets in the diy store car park, definitely been there & done that! Be careful tightening the bolts that hold the guide, can easily snap off the threaded tabs from the base. BTW i think Bosch pro 12v was just a rebrand of 10.8v based on how other manufacturers measured/labelled their equivalent voltage tools
Nice. Why mafell don't make a little plunge like the kss300 I don't know. I think it would fly off the shelf. Also, with the new Festool 22v battery platform you've got to wonder what there's will be like as it looks like they'll be starting a new range.
To me, this is the kind of tool that a plumber or electrician would use to cut an access point in floorboards or similar. Not something I would routinely use on a guide rail, but definitely a useful option to have if you are on the Bosch 12v platform.
Exactly this. I have seen a few sparks using one to cut floorboards but many just hack away with a multitool, cutting a floorboard one minute and plasterboard for a backbox the next.
I know it's horses for courses but with these kinds of saw I'm in a different sport all together. The only real use I could see me using one is cutting floorboards in situ to run electric or pipe work. Pardon the pun but they seem like a bit of a one trick pony, they're compact. I realise everyone is different and I appreciate the first look video (great content as always!). The big buying factors for me with tools are how often will I choose to pick it up over something else and does it do a job nothing else can do and for me. At least for me the tools that get used once in a blue moon I tend to buy as cheap as practical for the job they need to carry out.
BEST COMMENT MERCI
Good video. Not convinced by the saw. I have a Mafell track saw (excellent) and would use that most of the time. I can see this being useful for laying loft board, but based on the video the cutting performance with that blade is pretty rough. I don't want rough edges anywhere. It wastes material and takes time to clean up the cuts. Thanks for the video.
At around 03:45 you mention having to trim back the splinter guard on a rail as the kerf isn't lining up. Did you pull back the blade guard when sitting it on the rail and then tighten the allen bolts on the guide? as mine sits flush to the splinter guard with no trimming required.
Pretty sure what I say is that the kerf cuts didn’t line up **on guiderails with splinterguards that had been trimmed to fit other saws, no surprise there…** 👍👍
Interesting, cheers.
Thinking of bosch 12v too, could we have an in depth platform review of it please, maybe open an old battery so we could see the manufacturer
honestly I try to make things out of half inch/12mm ply instead of 3/4 inch/19mm ply whenever I can, so this would be great for me. One concern I have is... is the handle comfortable? I've never used those 12v battery-in-the-handle type tools and am afraid it's awkward to wield.
Thanks Peter, very pleased to have your opinion on this. I have had one of these for a few years now, and I use it where using my large and heavy Dewalt corded saw would be difficult or impossible. I would urge anyone to get the 6ah batteries as it's underpowered and short-lived on the 2ah for sure. I recently bought a rail to use with it, but have not had the chance to use it yet, I guess I'll carry on using this and the Dewalt until I can justify buying a plunge saw.
Have you seen the video by "Mike M" ( Ten Square Metre Workshop ) where he modifies one of these into a plunge saw ?
Can hardly wait for scary looking router bit. Is it a planer? At that length how does it maintain axis without wiggling around? Inquiring minds must know.
No, it’s just router bit. A big, scary, sharp router bit. Video should be out next week. 👍
Reckon it'd be great for roofers cutting tile batten
The 12v battery systems are just rebrands of 10.8v - its the way you view the battery - Peak voltage (4.2 x 3) vs the nominal voltage (3.6 * 3) - so full vs flat essentially.
Marketing decided that 12v sounds better.
Pretty sure 12v is 10.8, but measured by the marketing department.
Can the saw be used for plunge cutting like a normal tracksaw ? For example to make cutouts within sheet materials. I am guessing you can loosen the depth control knob and let the saw into the wood but is it still stable and accurate that way ? Thanks. Good review.
I haven’t tried that yet, but I will. Initial thoughts would be that it’s a circular saw that can run on a track, not a plunge saw, so I wouldn’t expect it to be as accurate, and I think the slow running speed would make it prone to stalling. But I’m be trying it, definitely. 👍
I build theatre sets and I find this saw brilliant for cutting hidden access panels for electrics/hydraulics etc. the fine kerf is ideal and I use the exact technique you describe and it works like a dream. Love this little saw
Hmm, I initially dismissed the Parkside version of this saw because I have a full sized track saw and circular saw, maybe I need to think again, might be a handy little saw, especially if I can work out a way to run it on my tracksaw track.
Picked up the parkside today, looks nearly identical to the Bosch on the body, specs for depth of cut, blade size and speed etc are the same. The base is different though, so I can't just fit the Bosch guide rail unfortunately, will have to go DIY.
I wonder if.Makita or Dewalt have a track saw attachment
Nope, not according to comments below. 🤷♂️👍
had a similar tool... craftsman, corded, cut about 7/8" t0 15/16" thick wood, was great for thinner plywood and 1 X "s ... loved it but craftsman totally discontinued it and blades are impossible to find...
As always, great video. I would like to know what was that rail system you used to cut the cross cut? Reminds me almost like a panel saw at the big box store. Thank you
Unless I’m misunderstanding, it’sust a regular tracksaw guiderail.
Does the plastic guide have an adjustment for wiggle or slip?
No, not that sophisticated. It’s a trim saw. 👍