Sliding Tablesaws: Is One Right for You?
These premium machines are loaded with features that add precision and versatility
Synopsis: Long a fixture in professional cabinet shops where their accuracy, efficiency, and ability to handle large sheet goods is crucial, sliding tablesaws are becoming more and more accessible to smaller shops. With more manufacturers offering entry-level models, it may be time to take a look at these machines and see if one is right for you. Dan Chaffin has been using sliding tablesaws for years, and here he offers a rundown of their advantages and disadvantages, as seen from a pro’s perspective.
Sliding tablesaws have long been a fixture in production cabinet shops, where they’re invaluable because they handle sheet goods so exceedingly well. But sliders aren’t just for sheet goods; they handle solid wood excellently too. On a slider, the workpiece rests on the sliding table and cutting the stock is simply a matter of pushing the sliding table through the cut. There’s no wrestling with the…
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Comments
This article fails to explain how much space to place around the tool! Can it be against a wall on the non-sliding table side?? Also, why doesn't it provide some examples of low, medium and high price points and the trade offs!!
Also it fails to mention that many European machines can incorporate a tilting spindle shaper, which also makes use of the same slide table capabilities. (This appears to be the kind of machine the author is using).
I have had a sliding table saw for 15 years. It is a beast. At 1,200 pounds it does not move around the shop much. I find it is nimble to use if you work with it. Then I can cross cut a 4 x 8 sheet easily. But, I also have a second 4 foot wide table saw on a mobile heavy metal base I fabricated to be the same height has the slider. I can roll it around the slider easy to act as an out feed table. It is so nice to have 2 table saws set up while on a project. Lessens the blade changes and set ups. A lot of time one is for ripping, and the other cross cut or dado setup. But then I have 2 bandsaws and 2 lathes. Yea I am a nut.
I would tell others to really make sure they have the room and the saw works for them. For example on the slider the rip fence only works on the right side of the table. But then I have my 2nd table saw that does.
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