A couple of years ago, Craftsman came out with the Trak-Cut, a small guided circular saw. The idea was a good one, but the saw has since been discontinued. Good news – if you’re looking for similar functionality, Genesis’s TrakRunner plunge-cutting circular saw works in the same way.
The Genesis TrakRunner is not a true track saw in the same way as Festool’s corded track saws (or the new cordless TSC 55), other brands’ track saws, or Grizzly’s mini track saw. Update: An optional track is available, discussed below.
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Instead, like the Craftsman trak-Cut, the Genesis TrakRunner is more intended for trimming, mitering, and cross-cutting smaller materials.
The TrakRunner could be used with or without the included cutting guide. Without the cutting guide, it can plunge-cut up to 3-1/2″ 1-1/8″. The TrakRunner also comes with a rip guide, so you could use it on larger sheet materials if you wanted to.
If you have no need for the cutting guide, you might also want to look at the Rockwell mini circular saw or Dremel Ultra-Saw.
I know little about Genesis, other than that they offer a range of budget-priced power tools and accessories. If you give this a try, please let us know how you like it!
The Genesis TrakRunner comes with the saw, a cutting guide track, a rip guide, a dust collection hose attachment, a 24T wood-cutting blade, 80T metal-cutting blade, and a diamond blade.
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Price: $112
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Although the saw comes with a rip guide, it’s only suitable for certain types of cuts. Since it’s basically an edge-following cutting guide, your material needs to have crisp and straight edge, and you can only make parallel cuts a short length away from the edge.
For other cuts, such as wider rip cuts, or for cutting angles in sheet goods, or in the middle of a sheet, you’ll want a cutting track or other straight edge guide.
Genesis offers a cutting track that fits their TrakRunner saw. It’s $50 for a 3-piece 50-inch system.
Buy Now(Track via Amazon)
VonHaus also offers a mini circular saw with cutting guide, but I’ve never heard of the brand.
See Also(VonHaus Tool via Amazon)
Jacob S
If the track is purchased what separates what this can do from a full size track saw?
Stuart
Sorry, the separate track accessory was a late edition to the post.
Compared to Festool and other brands’ full-size saws, the difference will be power, cut capacity, cleanliness of cut, dust collection.
Mike
Ahh, errr, uuhm…actually the difference of this saw from a Festool is like $500+ and whatnot. But irregardless of all that, this one is the winner of most offensively overpriced. Also (blank) (blank) green kool-aid, of course.
Someone is guilty of posting that this saw plunge cuts a range of 3-1/2″. Tsk, tsk. I assume that is -NOT- referring to cutting gases, like hot air. Or maybe it’s some new quantum time lord/ancient Chinese secret grind angle on the blade. Must be that ‘rock’ carbide. I mean, and please correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t Mandarin-speakers use the same numerals as USA folks?
ps-my spellcheck did not flag ‘irregardless’. Damn kids.
Stuart
Well yes, power, cutting capacity, cleanliness of cut, greater dust collection – these things cost money to build into a saw.
And hey, I only relayed what the manufacturer said: “Plunge Cutting Capacity up to 3-1/2-inch.” It didn’t seem right, but stranger things have been true.
Thanks for the correction!
Sean
If “Mandarin speakers” is synonymous with Chinese people then, yes, they often use the Arabic numeral system, which we “USA folks” use, and additionally use their own numeral system in certain situations.
1-1/18″ is disappointing but something I’m more familiar with; 3.5″ is something I can only dream about!
Porphyre
Speaking of Festool, I think it’s interesting that these folks are copying their color scheme.
Brett
1 1/8″ plunge. The entire blade is 3 1/2″.
Mike
Hey, that was my idea. You know, posting that info first and all.
Stuart
Thanks! I figured that was wrong, but it says “Plunge Cutting Capacity up to 3-1/2-inch.” I made a note to find the true cutting capacity, but must have missed that part.
1-1/8″ isn’t much, but should be enough for sheet goods. I couldn’t say whether it can handle 3/4″ with ease, but it should have enough power for 1/4″ to 1/2″ materials.
John
I have the Rockwell RK3440K VersaCut Circular Saw which looks extremely similar. I wonder if I could buy the track and modify the foot plate slightly to use these tracks and/or the included miter base system which comes with thos Genesis saw. It looks, at least from the pictures on the track alone, the sliding hardware attaches to the side of the foot and that goes into the insert under the lip to hold it along the track. Looks like with a few holes on the side of the VersaCut you could attach that slide and it would work. Now if they only sold the miter base system separately not just the guide track.
Sean
What do you use the Versacut for?
I’ve thought about purchasing something like that but only if it could cut tile. I know they make diamond blades. I just wonder how well it would work for small tile jobs. A track would certainly help that job, even if it’s just an edge-following guide.
John
Honestly Im not a big fan of it and kinda disappointed in it. Its good on paper but its execution leaves a lot to be desired. The “plungability” of it is very stiff and as such you really have to press on it to plunge. As there is no way to “lock” the depth open you have to plunge it on every cut to get it started. Plunge cuts are like the least I’ve ever needed to do and as such I much woulda preferred to lock it to a depth like every other saw. This is probably why they redesigned and came out with the Rockwell “4-1/2″ Compact Circular Saw”:
https://www.rockwelltools.com/en-US/Compact-Circular-Saw.aspx
The plunge also means that pressure pushed down on it must be consistent while also pushing forward, which never happens for me. As such, the foot tends to tilt and the end cut is not straight and angled inward bc of the small foot and inconsistent pressure.
It definitely needs a side handle, while they tout how great it is to use one handed, I rather have the support and I think a handle would have greatly helped the pressure down and forward issue. However there is no place to put one and no insert to attach one.
If it wasn’t a gift I would have returned it, but feel bad so Im kinda stuck with it. What I use it for, mostly cutting small 2X wood and small cuts, would have been better done with something like an M12 circular saw or just bite the bullet and getting a compact miter saw like the Craftsman Craftsman 7 1/4-Inch Compact Sliding Compound Miter Saw which is exactly the same price as a Versacut.
Though I guess this doesn’t really help you for tile work. I suspect a similar priced small tile saw would be a better bet than attempting to workaround with the Versacut as you’d have to worry about the down and forward pushing on tile as well. This is why I was looking at a track that would help stabilize it in any case.
Sean
Thanks for taking the time to let me know! I’ve never really settled on a solution for tile, but eventually want to re-tile the kitchen. I keep putting it off because I really need to gut the entire kitchen and replace the cabinets, which costs money.
It also might be something I leave to the professionals. I recently had some guys tile a new bathroom (added a toilet and shower to the “laundry room”) and they just did fantastic work. The tile I used was completely free. It was just a mix of leftover pieces my brother took from some jobs, and I’m amazed at what they did with it: the borders, the accents, etc. If I had gone to work with that assortment of leftovers, I’m willing to be it would have looked like absolute crap.
My brother insists that one of those glass wheel tile-cutters (on the rails) is all I need. He recently bought a cheap one (not the $20 short one, but a longer one in the $40 range) and he says it can do 99% of what he needs, when combined with an angle grinder. I’m surprised they get terrible reviews on the internet because I’ve talked to a lot of people recently that absolutely love them.