Check out our comparison video or read the details below for a more in-depth look at the differences between a straight-edge guide and the TrueTrac saw guide rail system!
The TrueTrac system offers these features that are hard to find in straight edge guides:
No chip out: The TrueTrac saw guide system uses a replaceable polyvinyl strip to prevent splinters from forming when the blade passes through the work piece by applying downward pressure on the surface of the wood. This strip is sent to you over sized and will be trimmed during the setup of your system. This ensures that the anti-chip is fitted exactly to your saw and blade combination!
No drifting away: Your saw rides on top of the opposing bevels and centers itself on the key-way of the TrueTrac system in order to keep both the saw and router adapter plates locked securely on the track, preventing the tool from drifting away while in use. This is especially useful on longer cuts where it is easy to drift away from an edge guide system.
No offset measurements: The anti-chip edge also provides a line-of-cut indicator, because the first time you utilize the system you will trim the anti-chip strip to your particular saw and blade combination. Simply replace the removable anti-chip strips if you change saws or blade styles and re-trim.
Ripping tapers: Straight edge guides with integrated clamps require square-cut ends for the clamp to function properly, whereas a track saw guide system will sit upon the surface of the work piece.
If you need a tapered cut that is 7ft long with 1/4 inch variation for a built-in bookcase to match your wall, simply mark it out and lay the TrueTrac along the line and make your cut!
Accurate Beveled Cuts: The TrueTrac guide rail has what we call a 'wide side' and a 'narrow side', meaning that the opposing beveled edges are not aligned symmetrically to the track width. The 'wide' side is utilized for standard 90 degree cuts, and the adapter plate/saw can be flipped 180 degrees to utilize the 'narrow' side of the track for beveled cuts - This allows the saw blade to swing under the saw and gives the same anti-chip and line of cut properties to your beveled cuts as well as your standard cuts!
Narrow boards: Due to the requirement of an offset from the line-of-clamp to the line-of-cut with an edge clamp, work pieces narrower than that offset are not possible to easily and accurately cut.
If the work piece is narrower than the TrueTrac simply lay another piece the same thickness under the track, with any excess going out under the opposite anti-chip edging.
Longer cutting capacity: Cuts longer than 8ft are harder to accomplish with edge clamp systems, as they are not inherently designed for expansion. We designed the TrueTrac guide rail system to be modular and expandable from the start utilizing the built-in dovetail connection system!
Optional clamping:On the TrueTrac system, we incorporated anti-skid properties into the underside of our anti-chip strips. The anti-slip in the TrueTrac system is based upon down pressure and friction and does extremely well in most situations.
There are a handful of times clamping is recommended: Rough sawn or reclaimed lumber, finished panels that are glossy, bowed or twisted wood, or if you are using one of our router accessories.
Track Saw 101:
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