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Squares for track saws

A

Andy Kev.

Nordic Pine
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I'm making a book case and I'm happy that I've got the rear edge of the sides straight with a jointer plane. However, I want to get the top and bottom bang on square to the rear edges. That would be a bit fiddly to do on the bench with a hand plane (they're 5 ft long) and I'd heard that there are squares available for track saws.

So I had a look on the internet and couldn't get over the prices. I don't mind paying for good tools but in this case it would be something that would not be used very often. Can anyone recommend a good track saw square at a reasonable price? The track and saw are Festool.
 
I can't recommend one but I have a mixture of tools that I use frequently and those less so.

I have a few Festool machines, but for less frequent use, I have bought Rutland products where I couldn't justify the cost of the likes of Festool. I note they have a rail square.
 
I made my own square for my ts 75 out of ply also made a 2500mm long one. Was very easy to make. If you interested I will dig then out and take photos
 
Jonathan said:
I made my own square for my ts 75 out of ply also made a 2500mm long one. Was very easy to make. If you interested I will dig then out and take photos
Click to expand...
It's very kind of you to offer but don't go to the trouble. I've decided to get old fashioned on this, given that I use machines so rarely. I'll use a normal square to mark the cut (which will be about a foot long), then clamp the track onto the board and make the cut. I imagine that that will be accurate enough for the top and bottom of the sides of a book case.

Some of the purpose built squares look like serious bits of kit but given the amount of use I would give them, they're probably not worth the effort.
 
Andy Kev. said:
It's very kind of you to offer but don't go to the trouble. I've decided to get old fashioned on this, given that I use machines so rarely. I'll use a normal square to mark the cut (which will be about a foot long), then clamp the track onto the board and make the cut. I imagine that that will be accurate enough for the top and bottom of the sides of a book case.
Click to expand...
That's how I do it usually. I've got a 3D-printed track saw square but I find it more faff to add it to the track than just to mark the line and cut to it. Sometimes I'll double-check the set-up by offering a square up to the track after plonking it down on the line, but usually I just trust the line.
 
Just about to post this (below) but see your comment (above) so just disregard mine 😊. The way you've decided is probably going to be the best ways to go 👍

I bought an Erbaurer plunge saw a couple of years ago - came with 2 700mm tracks. Bought the longer Evolution tracks soon after - just before they brought out their Version 2 ones. I also bought the square they do for the track but, for me, I don't seem able to get it to stay 'square' ... It's also got holes in it and I've not been able to find out the purposes for these holes - even asking Evolution support can't give an answer...
20260903_104924.jpg

Making your own square - as @Jonathan has - would probably be a better first approach.
 
Clamping a track to the end of the board will probably be more accurate than using a track square as the square is prone to human error ……I built mine to use when I was doing some solid wood floors, it was quicker to use on the floor rather than get up and walk to the chop saw….. I really don’t like doing floor work 😰
 
Thanks Mike... that would make sense looking at the photos you've put up. Shame that Evolution CS etc., don't appear to know this - and don't (as far as I'm aware) make parallel guides. I sent them this photo and they couldn't give an answer
20250710_123346.jpg
 
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A decent rafter square and clamping the rail if needed works for me.

Cut both sides at the same time if you can then you know they are both exactly the same length.
 
Completely agree with @Doug71 I just use a large square on the face edge of the timber or board & against the back of the track which is as accurate as those bolt on track squares & a large square is very handy for many other things in the workshop were as a track square is an expensive one trick pony to my mind.
 
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