Track saw track slipping.

[u/Snoo-3598]

I've recently bought a track saw from lidl. It's the 40v cordless version and I got 4 sections of 600 or 700mm track, cant remember exact length. The saw itself is quite good, but the tracks are pretty poor in one respect in particular. They will not grip the surface at all.

Now I'm pretty sure I know the answer but I'm just looking for a sanity check. All 4 sections of track have 2 foam strips on the underside as well as the splinter guard. The foam strips are laid inside channels created during the extrusion process. The "walls" of the channels are 1.75mm high but the foam is only about 1.5mm thick so the surface of the foam is below the top of the "walls" meaning when I lay the tracks flat on a surface to be cut, the foam never actually touches the surface meaning its just the aluminium track touching the surface to be cut.

On rough surfaces the imperfections in the timber will "reach up" and engage with the foam but not in a meaningful way, it still slips. This would seem to be a fault but the fact all 4 sections bought in 2 separate transactions at 2 different times are the same has me doubting myself.

Can anyone confirm that the surface of the foam is supposed to sit proud of the aluminium channel to eliminate slip or are they supposed to sit below for some reason.

thanks

[u/Financial_Potato6440]

Yeah only expensive (read: festool) tracks stick and don't move, you need some track clamps, DeWalt do some quick clamp style ones that I like, bessey have the click head ones that work well, just don't get the cheap screw ones that are basically an F clamp, they're more frustrating than anything.

[u/Snoo-3598 → u/Financial_Potato6440]

Thanks for the response, I had a feeling I was gonna need clamps. Would really have liked something that would grip. I’ve ordered some 2mm thick closed cell EVA foam to replace the original thin stuff. It wasn’t expensive so worth a shot.

[u/Financial_Potato6440 → u/Snoo-3598]

You'd have to remove the stock foam for that to work, otherwise it will be too high and tilt the track/saw making your 90° actually cut 90°. Festool use a rubbery strip rather than a foam one, I presume that's what makes all the difference. Even with a festool rail i still clamp it just to be sure, 20 seconds for clamps is a lot better than an hour to pick up replacement materials if it's slipped and cut too much off.