Track saws collect dust better than circular saws. The blade hood encloses more of the cut and channels chips directly into the dust port. A good track saw with a connected shop vac captures 85 to 95 percent of the dust from a cut through plywood or MDF.
But the port size and adapter you need depends on the brand. Here is the breakdown.
Track Saw Port Sizes
| Brand / Model | Port OD | Connection | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DCS520B (20V MAX) | 32mm | Friction | Cordless, pairs with standard shop vac |
| Makita SP001GZ (XGT 40V) | 36mm | Friction | Cordless, larger 36mm port standard |
| Makita DSP600ZJ (LXT 18V) | 36mm | Friction | Two-battery cordless setup |
| Festool TS 55 REQ-F-Plus | 27mm | Plug-it | Corded, CT system compatible |
| Festool TSC 55 KEB | 27mm | Plug-it | Cordless Festool CT system |
| Bosch GKT13-225L | 35mm | Friction | Corded, uses Bosch click-clean hose |
| Milwaukee 2831-20 (M18) | 32mm | Friction | M18 cordless multi-surface saw |
DeWalt DCS520B: What Adapter You Need
The DCS520B is DeWalt's 20V MAX track saw. It uses a 32mm port. For a standard shop vac with a 1-7/8 inch hose, you need a 32mm to 47.6mm adapter.
If you pair it with the DeWalt DCV586B cordless vac (1-7/8 inch hose), you still need the same 32mm to 47.6mm adapter. If you use the smaller DCV517B (1-1/4 inch hose), you need a 32mm to 31.75mm adapter.
The DCS520B comes with a guide rail and a dust port cover. Remove the cover before connecting a vac. The port stub sits at the rear of the blade guard housing.
Makita SP001GZ (XGT 40V): What Adapter You Need
The SP001GZ is Makita's 40V MAX XGT track saw. It uses a 36mm port. For a standard shop vac with a 1-7/8 inch hose, you need a 36mm to 47.6mm adapter.
If you pair it with the Makita XCV04Z or XCV10Z cordless vacuum, those units also use a 1-7/8 inch hose. Same adapter applies.
Makita's 36mm port is larger than the Milwaukee/DeWalt standard. A 32mm adapter will not fit a 36mm port. Make sure you are ordering the right size.
Festool TS 55 and TSC 55: What Adapter You Need
Festool track saws use a 27mm Plug-it hose end. If you own a Festool CT extractor (CT MINI, CT MIDI, CT 26, CT 36, CT 48), no adapter is needed. The Festool hose connects directly to the tool.
If you want to use a standard shop vac instead of a CT extractor, you need a 27mm to 47.6mm adapter. This lets you run the Festool TS 55 with any standard 1-7/8 inch shop vac. You lose some of the Festool CT auto-clean features but still get good dust capture.
Why Track Saws Collect Dust Better
A regular circular saw has an open blade guard. Chips fly in all directions. The dust port captures maybe 50 to 70 percent of what the saw produces, depending on cut speed and wood type.
A track saw runs inside a housing that sits on the guide rail. The housing encloses the blade more completely. Most of the chips have nowhere to go except into the dust port. That is why track saw dust capture is higher.
On panel cuts through 3/4 inch plywood at normal feed speed, a good track saw setup captures 90 percent or more of the dust. That is a big difference for indoor or finish work.
Hose Management on Track Saw Cuts
The main challenge with track saws is keeping the vac hose from dragging on the panel and interfering with the cut. Two tips:
First, run the hose out the back of the saw toward the operator. The saw moves away from you on the cut, so the hose feeds naturally rather than pulling.
Second, use the shortest hose that will reach your shop vac. A 6-foot hose from the saw to a vac on a cart behind you is much easier to manage than a 25-foot coil.