Thread: New toy: Scheppach track saw

Hi,
I'm keen to see your feedback on the Scheppach,
Cheers
Paul

I can't promise a review as all I have to compare it to is my previous panel cutting equipment (circular saw and straight edge),
I'll take lots of pictures.

I've a few sheets of ply sitting in the back of the van just waiting for this saw to arrive. I've even tidied up the shed in preparation!
Better finish off the dust collector before it arrives.

Seems my new toy has gone missing!
Tried the tracking number I was given and it turned out to be a parcel headed for Queensland, since collected so not my saw.

Still waiting to hear what the story is.

EDIT: Just walked up to the PO store and no parcel for me. When I got home, there's an email from H&F telling me that the parcel is awaiting pick-up at the PO!
Perhaps it's just as well, it's too cold to do anything in the shed ...
Update: All is well, picked up the goodies from the post office - and had a nice burger and coffee while I was there. You've got to love a country post office that's also a restaurant (and internet cafe as well)

Just a few pictures and comments.
Packaging of the saw was minimal, no foam insert, just the cardboard box. No damage to either saw or track but a bit of rough handling by
the courier (not that they ever do that!) might be a concern.

The rubber strip that marks the cut line was not installed straight.
Fortunately the glue (double sided tape) is not too sticky and I was able to align it properly. Hopefully the tape wont let go when the saw is in use.
(An initial cut needs to be made to get a proper reference edge prior to use)

In joining the two tracks together, there's a 10 - 15mm gap between the two rubber strips. This could lead to some tear out at the gap.
A minor issue but a bit of QC could have prevented it.
Similarly, the two glide strips don't quite come to the end of the track but this doesn't seem to affect saw movement.
There's a metal strip that joins the two pieces of track together, there really needs to be two - the track has the slot to take it - as the two
bits of track don't sit flush and the saw catches on them. There's no mention of an additional joiner being available so I'll have to make one.
This second strip should help in getting the two tracks straight for long cuts. Movement of the saw across the joint is a bit stiff, perhaps due to this slight misalignment.

While the saw glides on two plastic strips, it does have room to rock slightly from side to side and there's an optional saw tilt stop block to prevent this.
As it's really necessary, it should be included as standard.

The clamps to fix the track to the surface being cut are a little light weight and hard to do up (at least for my cold, arthritic
fingers!) but do the job.

Note: The problems reported are manufacturer issues and not the fault of the supplier, Machinery House (Hare and Forbes).

Hi Geoff, I bought basically the same setup when they had the March? weekend sale. Have had it together to check it out but haven't done any real work as yet. Couple of points from my observation.

Track joiner is undersized so there is a lot of movement in the housing. Might make a wider joiner and if that works make a second one so I have a pair for the junction.

Track ends are not straight or square, butt them together with the single joiner and you can move the joint about 5mm left or right from straight. Rather pointless joining the tracks for a long cut with that. My approach will be to make a decent sled for my table saw, fit my ali blade, and dock both ends of both tracks back about 10mm to square them up. Not elegant, shouldn't have to do it, but bettter than dropping $900 on a 3m Festool track.

The anti tilt bracket is included in the joiner/clamp/etc box and shown in your relevant pic (one of the black plastic bits and the screw, the other placcy bit is a track stop for stopped cuts). Essential for cutting mitres as tilting the saw takes the CoG beyond the safe limits for stability on the track, but also helpful for upright cuts. Destructions book lists it as an accessory but it is included in the accessory box standard with the saw.

Despite being keen to try the saw out as soon as I got it, other things got in the way - cleaning out the shed for one!

Finally got to do the first cut today, just a piece of MDF mainly to cut the rubber strip to size.

Rule one, connect up the vacuum. It needs a 37mm hose which I don't have so I thought 'it's only one cut, how much dust can there be?' The answer is lots! Second cut got the 50mm hose taped on and despite getting in the way a bit, did the job.
The edge came out very clean which youd expect any way with MDF and a perfect 90 degree cut. I'll cut a piece of plywood later and see what that turns out like.

First though, off to the shops to get some 37mm hose.
Secondly, go and sweep the shed again.

Still no joy with the hoses so I decided to tape the 50mm hose I have to the saw and loop the hose overhead so it doesn't get in the way (Thanks BoBL)

A couple of 1200mm cuts on MDF and then a test with ply. The edges on the ply (across the grain) were much better than I've had with the home made straight edge. Needs a bit more practice.

Cutting a 2400 mm strip was a disaster! Try as I might, I could not get the two lengths of track to line up in such a way that it was possible to make a smooth transition across the join.

A number of factors contribute to this:

• The saw is not completely stable on the two plastic runner strips.( It may be a matter of learning the correct technique in using the saw.) The effect is that the cut is not at 90 degrees if the saw does not track correctly. With the anti-tilt clip, this is not a problem.
• You have to turn the two tracks over after inserting the joining piece and in doing so, the tracks get out of alignment.
• Where the tracks join, there's a lip that stops the saw sliding smoothly over the join. Without the anti-slip clip, the saw has a tendency to rock on the sole plate. You can't use the anti-slip clip as it binds on the join between the two pieces of track.

A second joining piece should help keep the two tracks in alignment as well as get rid of the lip between tracks.so I'll see what I can make tomorrow.

Using the saw by itself is OK. The pluge mechansm is a little stiff but easy enough as long as you're not at full stretch. Dust collection via the hacked 50mm hose works OK but needs a proper solution.
I'll do a few more test cuts tomorrow and try to take some photos.

If you're thinking of buying this saw, then this may be of interest.

I sent an email to Machinery House (H&F) from whom I purchased the saw, asking about spare parts.
I was after a replacement for the rubber strip that marks the cutting edge.
The answer I got back was ' we don't carry parts for these saws'
No indication as to who does carry parts i.e. the importer.

While it's not a problem to source a suitable rubber stip elsewhere, this response may make me reconsider future purchases from H&F or at least making sure thay can support a product after it's purchased.

Hi Geoff,
thank you for the full and honest story of your experience with the Scheppach track saw. Back in Apr-May 2013 I was very interested in buying one of these saws (low $) but didn't go ahead as I couldn't find enough real-life feedback on the internet to feel confident. Now you have confirmed to me that it's a tool that would be annoying and fiddly to get working right each time, with lack of confidence about spare parts if I broke or wore out a part.
I'm sorry it hasn't worked out well for you.
Paul

Don't get me wrong, the saw works just fine, no complaints about that.
I was surprised by H&F's admission that they carried no spare for this item, presumably warranty claims are handled, as we've come to expect from cheap Chinese tools, by replacement of the entire saw..
It seems to me though that normal usage would see the rubber strip damaged and need replacement., I'd expect that to be carried as an add on sale.

I did notice that they now have some much better clamps than the ones that came with the saw so I ordered a set..

I just got an email from H&F and it appears that they do at least stock the rubber edge strips - $9.90 each.
I might get a couple before I try a 45 degree mitre cut, rumour has it that the strip is recut and therefore no longer useful for a 90 degree cut.

Pity I didn't find out about this before I placed an order for some of the new, improved track clamps

even with the makita and festool systems, the rubber strip is classed as a "consumable" and yes, they get trashed after a while.

Something to note, The strips are rendered useless one you have the blade sharpened as the blade will not be running hard against the
rubber due to the material taken off the teeth during sharpeneing.

the festool strips are $25.00 each, and i am yet to source the makita ones, so $10.00 is pretty good

Thanks for the info. I'll get a couple of the strips when I next order from H&F. I might also try the local rubber products supplier (Purple Pig!) to see if I can get something locally

I just tried my first 45 degree cut on a piece of 18mm hardwood ply. It cut it but it was struggling and required a fair bit of oomph to push the saw along the track.
If my maths is correct then I was only doing a 25mm deep cut. I might have to look at a better blade.

I did a few test cuts in 17mm CD ply and it was a fair bit easier. Blade did not go down to 45 degrees but thankfully there's a screw adjustment for that.
Quality of the edge on the good face is OK, not as good as if I was cutting at 90 degrees but perhaps the extra effort to move the saw had something to do with that.
The lower edge of the cut (hidden inside the cabinet thankfully) looks as if it was finished off with an axe, and not in the hands of an expert axeman

the edges of all the tracksaw setups get trashed after a while but they are great tools to have.

I use the eurekazone system and have gone through a few sets of edges. It doesnt suffer any of the other problems you have described however.