If you're talking about the "anti skid" that allows you to avoid clamping the track. Wipe it down with a cloth and be sure to clean off the work piece before laying it down.

However, I really don't trust the no clamping thing. So, I use the DeWalt track clamps - better than Fess and Mak ones and they work with all the tracks out there.

super quick to clamp and you can do it one-handed.

 

Thanks Phil I gotta look into those

 

+1 for the DeWalt clamps (as well as not feeling comfortable without clamps). They work perfectly with my Makita tracks.

 

+1 What they said above. I use the DeWalt clamps on the Scheppach track, which is the same thing as the Grizzly track.

 

I've had a at least a couple of occasions (more than a couple but who's counting) where things went South because I didn't secure my work adequately. Clamp the bejesus out of your material.
Friction's great if you like sudden surprises...

 

I trust the anti skid with a few qualifications On a smooth surface like MDF and its flat not bowed. When installing slatwall I stack the material face done on the floor and cut the top sheet on the pile. I use a track saw no clamps The key is down ward pressure on the saw.

 

I have had the guide move on me when I was least expecting it. Usually during a crosscut where I clamp the near end, but don't have anything to clamp the far end to. I have learned to keep a framing square handy and hold on good during the cut.

 

I made up a pair of clamps using the connectors (splicers) and hold-down clamps with the appropriate bolts and knobs when I was trimming a door to fit an out of square opening. I've shortened a door without using clamps on the track but got a little nervous when trimming the length. The clamps also let you hold sections of the jamb to trim a taper on the edge.

 

I've been using my Festool TS55 for about a year now and not really noticed it wearing off yet.

I bought a roll of the splinterguard tape as a local place was selling off its Festool stock cheap (I got two more joining connectors, a 4 drawer Sortainer box, two more rail clamps and various other bits and bats in their sale) but so far I've not had to replace that.

I generally don't bother clamping the guide and just put gentle downward pressure on it and it seems fine but if I'm cutting something expensive or that I can't replace with ease I'm more careful and use the Festool clamps.

 

Clamps for me, always.