New tools, fall 2026: track saws that stop themselves

The short version

DeWalt announced a new cordless track saw, and Festool's North American fall lineup brings updated saws and batteries. Both track saws have electronic kickback response; Festool offered KickbackStop on earlier models too. The changes worth watching are the saw platforms and battery layouts. The rest is a crosscut saw, two sanders and a printer for anyone who makes their own jigs.

DeWalt 20V MAX XR plunge track saw (DCS525)

DeWalt's new 6-1/2 in. cordless track saw has what DeWalt calls a Kickback Brake: when the saw senses a pinch, stall or bind-up, it shuts off. DeWalt rates it to rip solid hardwood up to 2-1/8 in. thick, with variable speed from 2,500 to 5,400 RPM. DeWalt also claims up to 94% dust capture. Pro Tool Reviews reports that the plunge moved rearward compared with DeWalt's earlier 60V saw, the rails got stiffer, and the old rails still fit.

The US kit pairs the saw with an 8 Ah battery and two 30 in. rails, for 60 in. of track.

In Canada: dewalt.ca lists the bare tool as coming soon, with no price yet.

Festool TSC 55 KSEB cordless track saw

Festool's new TSC 55 runs at full performance on one 18V battery. The previous TSC 55 K could also run on one pack, with two used for maximum performance. The new model retains sensor-based KickbackStop. According to Lee Valley, the single-battery saw matches or beats the old two-battery one. It cuts up to 55 mm (2-1/8 in.) deep, bevels from −1° to 47°, and uses a 1.6 mm thin-kerf blade.

It's built around Festool's new tabless TBX 8 battery (8.0 Ah). Festool's US release claims up to 31% longer runtime for the TSC 55 KS with the TBX 8; that is a claim for this pairing. The older 5.0 Ah pack still works. The September 23 launch is the North American fall rollout; Festool's global announcement listed availability from March 2026. US dealers list the bare tool at US$599 and the TBX 8 at US$165.

Festool HKC 55 KEB-F carpentry saw

Same idea, applied to Festool's rail-guided crosscut saw. It gets KickbackStop, a riving knife and the thin 1.6 mm blade, and works with the TBX battery, sold separately from the Basic tool. It runs on FSK crosscut rails and on standard FS rails, bevels 0° to 50°, and cuts 42 mm (1-5/8 in.) deep at 45°. It replaces Festool item 576164.

In Canada: Ultimate Tools lists the bare tool at $835 CAD.

DeWalt 20V MAX XR random orbital sanders (DCW211 and DCW230)

Two cordless random orbit sanders, both listed as bare tools at Lowe's in the US:

DCW211, 5 in.: low profile, 8,000 to 12,000 OPM, rated for up to 50 sq. ft. per charge.
DCW230, 6 in.: the larger-pad option, listed as a bare tool.

Both use DeWalt's AirLock dust connection. We have left the DCW230's speed and coverage figures out: DeWalt's US page currently gives inconsistent figures between its overview and feature bullets. Check the manual for the exact regional model before relying on those numbers.

Formlabs Form Studio 1 resin printer

Not a woodworking tool. But we make jigs on 3D printers, so it gets a mention. Formlabs launched a desktop resin (MSLA) printer that starts at US$699, with a 200 × 125 × 235 mm build volume. It works with Formlabs' own print software only, and the wash-and-cure unit is US$199 extra. Formlabs' announcement says orders are open and shipping starts November 16, 2026.

Our jigs print on filament (FDM) machines, which suit big, chunky parts. A resin printer this size is for small, detailed pieces. Worth watching. We're not switching.

What we're watching

The practical questions are battery compatibility, the cost of a complete rail setup and Canadian availability. We have no hands-on results for either new saw. Kickback response supplements the tool's safety systems; follow the manufacturer's manual and required setup.

HOLD YOUR GROUND.