Sliding table saw recommendations

[SJWiehe]

I'm thinking of getting a sliding table saw to replace my Delta. Who has one and are they worth changing over from a large cabinet saw? A couple of guys on YouTube swear by them but I'm a bit suspicious of what people post on YouTube.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Steve

 

[Henry W]

I have no experience - but have I observed the considerable footprint (and use) of a large slider in a 'light' commercial shop (read not a machine used in FT production).

Worth it? Depends on a lot of factors, especially your expected usage.
1) The footprint can be substantial - but maybe not so much more than infeed and out feed areas (or supports). DIfference is what can happen in that space when you are not using the TS; with a slider and infeed/outfeed tables all the mechanism is still there and in the way (unless the tables are takedown). Can you tell I have a SMALL shop?
2) Cost - if your business (or hobby) can sustain it, sure.
3) Convenience and accuracy - here's where I think the real motivation has to be. As I understand sliding mechanisms can add both convenience and accuracy (but that is NOT 1st hand knowledge).

Are you considering replacing a Delta Unisaw or larger saw with a Euro version with slider? (a Hammer or other?). Do you have models in mind? Space constraints? Budget?
What's motivation your thinking - precision, cool factor, throughput, etc?

Not that you have to answer all that (of course) - but a bit more info on what you are thinking may help others provide real feedback.

 

[Warren]

I have the "Sommerville" from the early 1990's and used for plywood and coated particle board to fab two sets of kitchen cabinets. Worth it. Once finished, not used very often. I have room for it and still use it.

 

[wsrhue]

I have a MiniMax classic combination machine and I have a cabinet saw. I use my cabinet saw more than the slider, but I would have a hard time giving up either. Ripping on a slider is doable, but it is not optimal. I build furniture. I rip on the cabinet saw and crosscut on the slider. I do joinery on both. Sliders come in handy in production shops but they really shine in a cabinet shop breaking down sheet goods. My combo machine is really a hobbiest machine. I brak doawn sheet goods with a track saw. A larger slider like a Martin or Altendorf is relly needed in cabinet shop.

Most of the shops I worked in before going on my own had sliders. When I bought my first cabinetsaw I added a grizzly sliding attachement to the cabinet saw. I was so disappointed. I didn't us it long before removing and selling it. I believe the slideing attachments like the one Sawstop offer are better now, but they still do not compare with a proper sliding tablesaw for production work.

 

[Mike Wilkins]

I also have both a standard cabinet saw and a slider and use them like Wyatt uses his: ripping and joinery cuts on the cabinet saw and cross cuts on the slider. Both operations can be done on both. Right now I am torn between moving the cabinet saw to someone else and using the slider for all operations, especially since shop real estate is tight in my shop.

I have a short stroke slider (60") which is doable in a smaller shop, and most of the time the outrigger is hanging on a wall. But for long cross cuts on solid stock and sheet goods, the outrigger installs in about a minute.

 

[Jar944]

I made the switch from cabinet saw to slider last spring, 100% worth it and I wish I made the move years ago. I kept my pm66 for a while thinking I'd want it for ripping, however I found ripping on the slider to be close enough. Other than different body position no real difference.

I would not get a short stroke slider as my only machine, as the cross cut fence will be in the way when ripping. Not a issue with a 9-12' stroke.

 

[Jack A.]

I made the switch from cabinet saw to slider last spring, 100% worth it and I wish I made the move years ago. I kept my pm66 for a while thinking I'd want it for ripping, however I found ripping on the slider to be close enough. Other than different body position no real difference.

I would not get a short stroke slider as my only machine, as the cross cut fence will be in the way when ripping. Not a issue with a 9-12' stroke.

Which brand/model did you get?

 

[Jar944]

Which brand/model did you get?

I picked up a rojek kpf300a saw/shaper 2700mm table 3000mm stroke. Then I added a short stroke martin t17

 

[David Holzinger]

Depends on what you're planning to use it for. For breaking down sheet goods a slider can't be beat.
I have a 20 year old felder saw/shaper combo that I love but when I get my new shop up later this year I would
consider adding a cabinet saw if I have the room. For ripping smaller things against the fence I find it a little awkward.
Also for sheet goods you absolutely want a scoring blade, preferably with a dedicated motor. My saw has a belt
driven scoring blade which will occasionally slip.
You can clamp all sorts of jigs to the slider.

 

[Jar944]

Used 3ph 10' sliders can be found for short money. 3-5k will buy you a 80s-90s scmi/casolin/casadei/griggio/sac/altendorf or a martin t70/71/75

 

[Echd]

I know its a far cry from a real slider, but could you get by with an Excalibur / Harvey/ sawstop slider on a conventional TS?

 

[SJWiehe]

Great feedback. Thanks everyone. I was looking at a couple of used Felders, but took the plunge and bought this.

BMS.3200.IR - Maksiwa USA

Introducing the new BMS.3200.IR Dado Edition, a reflection of our commitment to bringing you the best. This latest model in our best-selling series has been redesigned to offer superior performance and affordability. With dado blade capabilities, the BMS.3200.IR is a versatile addition to your...

maksiwa.com

It's the only slider I'm aware of that will support a dado stack. They've redesigned the unit, which this and the smaller 1600 are the first releases of the new design.

It will either be great, or you may see a lightly used Maksiwa listed on FB Marketplace in the late fall......

Steve